Luther's Adventure Log

Farewell, Arisa

"Do you really need to go? We could still use somebody strong around to carry our stuff."

"Yeah. I don't think there's anything to worry about. You seem to have everything under control." Arisa replied, adjusting the straps on her armor one last time.

"Careful. That was almost sincere."

"Sorry. I just couldn't get through that whole sentence with a straight face." She said dryly. "But you have the thing I was supposed to keep an eye on you for under control, even if the entire rest of your life is a complete and utter mess."

"Sure you don't want to hang around to watch me humiliate the Duke in his own court?"

"As tempting as watching you fail miserably in front of a crowd sounds, I really do need to be getting on my way. Besides, Arisen, and I mean this in the nicest possible way, you are one of the most obnoxious, self-centered assholes I've ever had the displeasure of knowing. It's a mystery how you have any friends, and I honestly don't know how Monica puts up with you."

"Would you believe you're not even the third person to tell me that today?"

"I actually would."

"It was Arlo. He had like a half hour rant about it after I told him to stop mumbling all the time because nobody could understand him."

"Let me guess; you killed him."

"Technically, it was the Brine who killed him."

"Of course it was. Tell Monica I said goodbye."

"Will do." I said, waving goodbye to Arisa as she turned on her heel and disappeared into the crowd.

"Wow. So... people tell you that kind of thing all the time?" Meridith asked, having been eavesdropping once again.

"Oh, yeah. They even voted me 'Most Likely To Remain An Obnoxious, Self-Centered Asshole That Nobody Likes' in high school. Even the teachers."

"...And that wasn't a red flag?"

"All of the flags were red when I was done, Woman's Name. I'm the only one who survived to graduation. I had to shake my own hand, give myself my own diploma, cheer for myself, take my own picture... Well, I would have had to do that anyway, because, you know, no parents."

"And you never thought that maybe you should change?"

"Sure, I could change myself so other people would like me. Or I could just be the most awesome version of myself I could be, fuck all the jerks who didn't like it, and make friends with people who liked the real me."

"But the real you is an obnoxious self-centered asshole that nobody likes."

"I didn't say it was working, Woman's Name, just that I was doing it. But hey, odds are somebody has to like me eventually, right? Especially if I save the world! ...Right?"