[ Eddie hums thoughtfully at her answer. She seems a little surprised at the fact that she might come off as better-than-thou, which he thinks means it's unintentional. She speaks in a low, measured tone but he thinks it's more to show she doesn't really care than because she's above explaining it. ]
Exactly. People see what they want to see. So what's the point?
[ He'd learned a long time ago that you couldn't change other people. Manipulate, yes, sometimes, but in the end people were going to do what they would. It was easier to let them think what they would than try to fight it. It also, usually meant, in Eddie's case anyway, that he was left alone to do what he wanted. ]
Human condition. I like that. [ He rubs at his mouth. ] Just another two words for suffering, right?
[ He huffs, crossing his arms. ] Look, you've got this loner thing down. It's beautiful, really. But, if you ever get tired of it, there's a group of guys over there who would probably shit themselves if a girl sat with us. [ He holds up a finger. ] That's not my selling point. It's this - if you can look past the initial awkward - they're actually some really great guys. If you take the time to get to know them. All hearts of solid gold.
And they've all sat at this very table the way you are. So call it fate, or destiny or Meatloaf Monday, but I think you're not meant to sit her on your own.
There isn't really a point to much of anything other than whatever significance we ascribe to it ourselves, but I've been told that nihilistic conversation isn't the best way to win people over.
[Not that she much cares about winning Eddie over or winning over anyone in general; if she were, her hair would be teased and she'd be wearing significantly more pink. But it seems like, for whatever reason, he's interested in striking up at least a passing friendship with her, so maybe it's best not to scare him off with some Nietzsche quotes right off the bat.
But then he claims that "human condition" is just another phrase for suffering, and that catches her a little by surprise.]
There's more to the human experience than that. But not much more, so I'll give you that one.
[Then it seems like he finally makes his pitch, and MJ frowns a little. Is he trying to set her up with some of his lonely outcast friends? That seems phenomenally sketchy, but she hears him out to the end, at which point she steeples her fingers and leans in towards him a bit.]
Let me just make sure I have this little proposition of yours straight: you recruit people who appear to be lonely and corral them into a social group where they can all pretend they're no longer lonely, but they're still lonely enough that having a female member of the species simply sit with them and treat them like human beings would be mind-blowing enough to make them defecate themselves? And you're asking me to be this female? Unless I'd rather sit here and continue happily reading my book?
[She does have something of a soft spot for the weirdos in any social situation, given her status of a loner, and that's why she keeps her voice relatively light rather than letting her whole vibe translate into, Get lost.]
You're not much of a salesman, Eddie. Luckily, people aren't merchandise, so they can speak for themselves if they actually want me around. Just don't expect much in the way of small talk; nothing against them, just against people in general.
Depends on the person. I like a good dose of nihilism, keeps things in perspective.
[ He grins at her, his mouth stretching wide before he chuckles and shakes his head. ] Well, when you put it that way, it sounds terrible.
[ He crosses his arms over his chest and leans forward over the table.] A few corrections, though. Yes, I snatch up the lonely so they're not sheep led to the slaughter of mindless conformity, or worse, eaten alive by bullies. We call our social group The Hellfire Club and the shitting of themselves was more figurative than literal, except maybe in Jeff's case. But don't tell him I said that.
And it's not about you being female, it's about you being on your own. I just wanted to warn you that most females don't actually bother with these guys, so they might be awkward as hell. I'm not trying to get them a date, I'm offering an invitation in case you ever get tired of reading your book.
[ He shrugs. ] You don't have to talk at all. I'll consider any conversation an added bonus to your presence. [ He slaps his hand on the table, getting to his feet.] Think about it. Invitation stands. Any day. Any time.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Exactly. People see what they want to see. So what's the point?
[ He'd learned a long time ago that you couldn't change other people. Manipulate, yes, sometimes, but in the end people were going to do what they would. It was easier to let them think what they would than try to fight it. It also, usually meant, in Eddie's case anyway, that he was left alone to do what he wanted. ]
Human condition. I like that. [ He rubs at his mouth. ] Just another two words for suffering, right?
[ He huffs, crossing his arms. ] Look, you've got this loner thing down. It's beautiful, really. But, if you ever get tired of it, there's a group of guys over there who would probably shit themselves if a girl sat with us. [ He holds up a finger. ] That's not my selling point. It's this - if you can look past the initial awkward - they're actually some really great guys. If you take the time to get to know them. All hearts of solid gold.
And they've all sat at this very table the way you are. So call it fate, or destiny or Meatloaf Monday, but I think you're not meant to sit her on your own.
Unless you want to.
no subject
[Not that she much cares about winning Eddie over or winning over anyone in general; if she were, her hair would be teased and she'd be wearing significantly more pink. But it seems like, for whatever reason, he's interested in striking up at least a passing friendship with her, so maybe it's best not to scare him off with some Nietzsche quotes right off the bat.
But then he claims that "human condition" is just another phrase for suffering, and that catches her a little by surprise.]
There's more to the human experience than that. But not much more, so I'll give you that one.
[Then it seems like he finally makes his pitch, and MJ frowns a little. Is he trying to set her up with some of his lonely outcast friends? That seems phenomenally sketchy, but she hears him out to the end, at which point she steeples her fingers and leans in towards him a bit.]
Let me just make sure I have this little proposition of yours straight: you recruit people who appear to be lonely and corral them into a social group where they can all pretend they're no longer lonely, but they're still lonely enough that having a female member of the species simply sit with them and treat them like human beings would be mind-blowing enough to make them defecate themselves? And you're asking me to be this female? Unless I'd rather sit here and continue happily reading my book?
[She does have something of a soft spot for the weirdos in any social situation, given her status of a loner, and that's why she keeps her voice relatively light rather than letting her whole vibe translate into, Get lost.]
You're not much of a salesman, Eddie. Luckily, people aren't merchandise, so they can speak for themselves if they actually want me around. Just don't expect much in the way of small talk; nothing against them, just against people in general.
no subject
[ He grins at her, his mouth stretching wide before he chuckles and shakes his head. ] Well, when you put it that way, it sounds terrible.
[ He crosses his arms over his chest and leans forward over the table.] A few corrections, though. Yes, I snatch up the lonely so they're not sheep led to the slaughter of mindless conformity, or worse, eaten alive by bullies. We call our social group The Hellfire Club and the shitting of themselves was more figurative than literal, except maybe in Jeff's case. But don't tell him I said that.
And it's not about you being female, it's about you being on your own. I just wanted to warn you that most females don't actually bother with these guys, so they might be awkward as hell. I'm not trying to get them a date, I'm offering an invitation in case you ever get tired of reading your book.
[ He shrugs. ] You don't have to talk at all. I'll consider any conversation an added bonus to your presence. [ He slaps his hand on the table, getting to his feet.] Think about it. Invitation stands. Any day. Any time.