@Yael

[weaseled]

@yael

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[weaseled]

[Catching on to the anxiety laced between Barrett's words, Yael is quick to nip that worry in the bud.]

For me. Not for you. Don't go around worrying that the sky's going to fall if you get injured on the field.

[Barrett's a good kid with a good outlook. If he were to suffer the same injury, it wouldn't ruin his life as easily as it did Yael's. He wouldn't let it.]

[gluttoning]

[He wishes it were an injury. At least an injury he could work on and recover from and rely on his strength and discipline. An injury wasn't the end of his world.]

It's not that.

[But it was his problems to solve. Not Yael's.]

I'm sad to see you talk like that, like you have to give up now. But I think a lot of the guys get scared like that. Even the ones that are doing really well.

It's hard to know how to encourage each other. Especially the ones with the leagues watching them.

[weaseled]

[This kid...

People like Barrett piss him off. They really piss him off, nettling him with all these little things he can't help but be concerned by until he's unable to help himself, carving into them to find the source of that unhappiness. As if he can fix it. As if he can make anyone happy when he's so goddamn miserable.

People like Barrett should be happy, damn it. Live the dream I never could. Give me something, anything, to be happy about.]

Why are you so afraid? You, a strong kid who carries his team and his brothers on his back?

[gluttoning]

I'm not. [A lie.] I try not to let that kind of stuff sit with me.

Some things are just harder to think about.

[weaseled]

You seemed pretty damn scared to me.

On top of being gullible, you're also a damn bad liar. Spit it out.

[gluttoning]

You're not really making me want to, even if I had something to say.

I've got pressure on me just like any other guy out there. But I'm not on any draft radar, and I've got a good family, and I've got a good team and a good school. If I want to make it work, I'll figure it out on my own.

[weaseled]

Then don't, but don't let what I've got going on convince you that you'll end up right where I am if you get injured. That's how you screw yourself over.

You want my honest opinion? Whatever's eating at you is holding you back. That's the kind of thing a good coach or GM can smell on you.

[gluttoning]

You're not wrong or anything. They know already. [Of some of it, anyway.] I don't say I owe Yuui a lot just cause I'm feeling nice.

[weaseled]

Oh?

I won't pry the answer out of you this time, but you know you've got me curious.

[gluttoning]

Sorry. I've got school and conference reputation to think about.

[He's surprised Yael hasn't already figured it out, given what he already knows... but he's already saying way too much.]

Thanks for being honest with me, though. Even if you're rougher, I kind of like you better that way.

[weaseled]

Just don't go around calling me a jerk with a heart of gold. I've been accused of that too often lately.

Anyway, I'll see you at the game. Until then, don't sweat the small stuff.

[gluttoning]

Jerk with good intentions. :-P

See you later. Thanks again, Yael. Shoot me a message if Yuui is holding your ticket hostage or something and I'll have it sent to will call.