VC   Wah!

VC   N-no... get away...!

You firmly grab his shoulder. Despite this, he continues skittering around like a bug with too many legs.

AD   Stop moving, damn it.

VC   W-wah...

AD   Stop making those noises, while you're at it.

AD   I wouldn't be approaching you if it wasn't something important.

VC   Is it... punishment...?

AD   What? No.

AD   I'm returning something of yours. That's all.

He freezes, slowly turning around. You hold the offending item out to him.

VC   My...

VC   Why... do you have it?

AD   It was on the floor.

AD   Go on.

You shake it, ushering him to take it. Since he continues to stare at it, you continue with the conversation.

AD   This is quite the hefty tome.

AD   Clearly, you were preoccupied.

AD   Your time is better spent focused on the competition at hand.

VC   I-I am focused!

VC   All this... it plagues me, day in and out.

VC   But writing is how I think.

VC   I can't help it... I'm always thinking...

VC   And I lose things along the way...

AD   Right.

AD   Meaningful thoughts such as assessing what rhymes with 'zealous'.

AD   Was that little love scribble in the corner a fruit of mental labor?

VC   It's a work in progress!

He snaps at you, then suddenly balks.

VC   ...wait.

VC   You... read it?

AD   ...

If he's going to ask, then there's no better time to issue feedback, you suppose.

AD   Yes. How could I not?

AD   Utter verbosity, etched onto every page.

AD   Hardly a blank area in sight.

VC   You read... everything...?

AD   I had to flip through it to find the owner.

AD   You could've labeled it on the cover, you know.

AD   That would've saved me the work.

AD   And any perusal through your aforementioned 'thoughts'.

VC   ...

AD   Clearly, you know how to choose your words on paper.

AD   However, your flowery prose was unmistakable.

AD   It's different from the way you speak, but it had the same affect.

AD   How you managed to stutter in writing was beyond -

VC   Wah - so you ARE here to humiliate me!

A very rude, accusatory finger is pointed at you.

AD   Undoubtedly, this is a humiliating situation.

AD   But that isn't my intention.

AD   Now take it.

VC   No!

AD   Take the damn journal.

VC   Spare me from your storm, winter king!

He bolts before you can react.

AD   A-Are you serious?!

AD   Come back here!

You embark on a chase through the corridors. Despite running on shaky legs, he manuevers himself strangely masterfully, to the point where it takes you much too long to finally corner him at the lounge. Luckily, no other competitors are out at the moment. You would've suffered your own humiliation if you'd been spotted doing something like this.

AD   Vinc-

VC   Wah!!

AD   If you could please cooperate wi-

VC   W-Wahhh! Aaaahhh!

VC   Aaaaaaauugghghhghgh!!

You slam your fist on the wall.

AD   Stop the theatrics for a single second!

He looks up, trembling and silent.

AD   Can you keep still? For once?

AD   זבל עופות.

AD   You are the flightiest coward I've ever known.

AD   It's as if you're possessed by all of nature's prey.

VC   Possessed...

He holds himself and begins muttering under his breath.

VC   Yes, overcome would be accurate.

VC   The spirits of the hunted would accompany me...

VC   And the haunted, surely...

AD   (sigh) Of course prose calms you down.

AD   Poets.

AD   Now, take your little book already, before you waste more of my time.

You hold it towards him once more. Even if a page or two got crumpled in the chase, you've magnanimously kept it intact.

VC   ...I can't.

AD   Why not?

AD   And don't argue that I've done something to it.

AD   It's right here, awaiting for your retrieval.

VC   ...yes.

VC   Physically, it remains so...

VC   But, once it's been seen... torn asunder...

VC   My work is...

He lets out a mournful wail.

VC   T-T-Tainted!!!

He even drops to his knees, the melodramatic fool, and you have to grab the front of his sweater to lift him back to a standing position. You hastily look around, just in case there are any witnesses to this sad display.

AD   You miserable, sopping dimwit!

AD   Have you heard a word of what I've said?

VC   W-waaaaah...

AD   All I offered was commentary and criticism.

AD   As correct as it may be, you're not obligated to follow it.

AD   How is that not clear to you?

VC   You say that but... your judgemental eyes...

VC   Harsh... it's always so harsh...

AD   Are you not a grown adult?

AD   Pull yourself together!

VC   Worthless... meaningless art...

He bows his head.

VC   You'll never move anyone... never...

VC   It'll all amount to nothing, Vincent... all of it...

AD   ...

AD   I don't intend to pry, since I've already wasted enough time returning this -

AD   - in what is increasingly becoming an act of charity -

AD   - but it sounds like you've received some harsh feedback before.

He jolts, as if you had struck him.

AD   Even if your prose isn't my taste,

AD   Writing is a dignified skill.

AD   I wouldn't want anyone to quit simply due to my own judgment.

VC   You... wouldn't?

You let go of his sweater and shove the journal onto his chest. He fumbles to catch it, so you keep your hand there.

AD   No. Of course not.

AD   Especially when you're comparing my critique with banal degredation.

AD   I would hope you think better of me.

His hands clutching the book next to yours, Vincent gazes upwards at you.

VC   ...

VC   You mean it...

AD   Assess me with that Value all you like.

AD   I don't mince words.

VC   You're... kind...

His expression is oddly sentimental. It brings you more discomfort than anything else that's happened so far.

VC   It's still scary... but it's nice.

VC   Your feelings... they're shrouded in suspicicion and doubt.

VC   But you're genuine... and you have a beautiful heart.

VC   Underneath it all, you feel strongly, don't you?

VC   You care just like the rest of us.

VC   Exquisite...

AD   If you drop it when I let go, I'm throwing it in the trash.

VC   Wah! Okay!!