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   (sigh)

AD   Stop moving.

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   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 in front of you, ushering him to take it. Since he continues to stare at it, you continue with the conversation.

AD   Clearly, you were preoccupied.

AD   Dropping a hefty tome such as this.

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

VC   I-I am focused!

VC   This Program... 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   I lose things along the way...

AD   Right.

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

AD   And 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   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   Your flowery prose was unmistakable.

AD   It's different from the way you speak, but,

AD   There was a strange eloquence to it.

AD   It was strange how you managed to stutter in writing, just as you -

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 -

VC   Spare me from your storm, winter king!

He bolts before you can react.

AD   Are you serious?

AD   Hey! I'm trying to get rid of this, for heaven's sake!

Despite running on shaky legs, he manuevers himself strangely masterfully, to the point where it takes you much too long to finally corner him.

AD   Vinc-

VC   Wah!!

AD   If you could please cooperate wi-

VC   W-Wahhh! Aaaahhh!!!

You slam your fist on the wall, successfully freezing him still.

AD   Stop the theatrics for a single second!

VC   ...

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...

AD   (sigh) Of course prose calms you down.

AD   Poets.

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

VC   ...I can't.

AD   Why not?

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

AD   It remains perfectly intact and awaiting for your retrieval.

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.

AD   You miserable, sopping imbecile!

VC   W-waaaaah...

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

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 judgeful eyes...

VC   Harsh... it's always so harsh...

He bows his head.

VC   Worthless... meaningless art...

AD   What are you on about?

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

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 words about your craft.

He jolts, as if your words were daggers.

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.

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

VC   You... wouldn't?

AD   No.

AD   Especially when you're comparing my words to what seems like banal degredation.

His hands clutching the book next to yours, Vincent gazes upwards at you. His expression is oddly sentimental.

VC   ...

VC   You're... kind...

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

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

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

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

VC   Wah! Okay!!