I've Finally Learned, Haven't I?

My assurance that things would go just fine took only a day to be shattered.

Fate was more generous than I thought, it seems.

dropsgum: Are they done yet (μ_μ)
TowersFall: nope
TowersFall: at least its remained civil enough
TowersFall: not like they’re flaming the shit out of us

Though I’m not sure that ‘I don’t like anything about your format, change it to something we like better that you’ve never seen done before’ is much of an improvement. The way I wanted to host this RP was entirely through the Group we made, with channels separated and labeled for in character roleplay and out of character talk and communication, with several read-only channels made to explain lore, RP format, and to send Group-wide announcements without them getting buried under messages.

I had hoped that anyone interested would have looked at the format before asking to be included, but as kind as rainDrips friends had been so far, it seemed that most of them neglected to glance over it on the site, with the rest somehow hoping we’d change our minds with their feedback.

japesandjokes: okay but i don’t think it’s that big of a deal to just set a forum up, i can help!
krackatoc: ^^
Wintersreprieve: I’m just saying but if a majority of your group is unfamiliar with the format you’re putting out I think it’s the best option to just adjust, no need to be stubborn about it
rainDrips: That’s not what they mean. I know it seems odd, but it’s a format I’ve worked with time and time again. You get used to it quickly.

No matter what I’d told myself, my fingers remained frozen in indecision. dropsgum hadn’t done much better, having fled to my DMs the moment people began expressing their thoughts.

I knew I had to say something and not let rainDrips handle it all, as a admin, but I’d be lying if I said I had any experience in conflict management.

Or…wait.

Did I?

Explain how it made you feel, use some personal comparisons. If that doesn’t work, then it’s up to you whether you want to continue that friendship or not.

If it’s just as before, then this should work. I swallowed the lump of hesitation in my throat and started to type, back hunched into a tight angle of anxiety.

TowersFall: hey
TowersFall: i understand a lot of you came in here wanting a place to rp and arent exactly getting the lay of the land
TowersFall: thats fine
TowersFall: im not mad that you guys arent familiar with the format, but im going to say for the record that we did have this in our guidelines and that everyone has a choice in what they want to participate in
TowersFall: but we designed the rp for an instant message format, and id prefer that since this is our first time running a thing on this scale that we try it out at least
TowersFall: of course we really love this idea and we’re willing to adapt but if you can can you guys try it our way?
TowersFall: please

I typed as fast as possible and slammed my back into the depths of my chair when I was done. I had to resist the urge to shove my face into my screaming pillow, though my fingers still wrapped around the arms of my chair like they were the edge of a cliff.

krackatoc: ohhhh
krackatoc: wait how old are u?
TowersFall: uh
TowersFall: 16

Internet safety: failed.

japesandjokes: shit we’ve been arguing with kids???
Wintersreprieve: Oh my gosh I’m so sorry!!!
Wintersreprieve: It’s completely okay then, we can try Eclipse then
krackatoc: tbh had no idea that people even used it to rp but it makes sense
krackatoc: we’re good then sorry for the trouble
dropsgum: It’s alright!!! (*ﾉ∀`*)

…It was that easy, huh?

I had a feeing, but I’m glad they backed down. Even if it was for a patronizing reason like my age. Seriously, just because I’m a teenager, it doesn’t mean I can’t handle an argument. Ugh—at least dropsgum felt comfortable talking again. That was all that mattered.

I didn’t spend time lingering, though, as soon my notifications popped with a message from her.

dropsgum: Omg…ur the same age that I am!!! It’s totally fate
TowersFall: what
dropsgum: Wait wait wait
dropsgum: If you’re comfortable asking
dropsgum: Where do you live? Like generally you don’t need to give me your address
TowersFall: uh

Internet safety: even more failed.

TowersFall: colorado-ish
dropsgum: WAIT THAT’S THE SAME STATE AS MINE ∑(O_O;)
Towersfall: really?
dropsgum: get on call get on call

I grunted as I pulled myself out of my chair to fish up my microphone. Damn thing slipped somewhere within the deep junk pile of my desk. Once it was hooked up and ready, I slipped my headphones on and join the call she made, though the voice that filled my ears was a wholly unfamiliar one.

“In a second! Okay, uh…”

She hadn’t noticed me join, as after she muted her microphone, she typed ‘be right back actually’ in our messages. Surely she hadn’t, otherwise she would’ve been more flustered.

After all, her voice…

No, it wasn’t wholly unfamiliar. It was much deeper, more masculine, unmistakably so, but in its cadence I could feel an effort to pitch it up a bit, the cheer, the little carefree flair to her words that could never be separated. It sounded exactly like I’d imagine her hypothetical twin brother would.

But she never mentioned anyone like that.

Could it be?

“Hey, are you there?”

I hit my unmute button faster than the speed of sound. “Yep!”

“Hah, your voice cracked.”

“What? No. No it didn’t.”

“It so did.”

“No it didn’t!”

“Yes it diiiiiid!”

As we bantered back and forth, that little thought wormed in the back of my mind. The intonation of her voice always sounded a bit artificial—but if there’s something she’s not telling me, then I’ll wait. It’s not as though it’s the first time I’ve met someone who used voice modifiers for some reason or other, maybe she was insecure over her deep voice.

Whatever it was—she was my friend, my best friend. Nothing would change that. We built our own world away from the world together, and I wouldn’t give that up so quickly.