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Pepper's hostility melted a little at the kiss but then came right back when he pulled away. She raised a eyebrow, "Two can play this game," she reminded him.

--

"Why does everything I do... upset you?" James asked, a little pain coming through.

"Don't you like this game?" Tusk asked.

--

"... I don't know," Yue repeated with a sigh. "It just... isn't as exciting as it used to be."

Pepper raised the other eyebrow, "If our situations were reversed," she smirked.

--

James stared at the floor for a moment, "But you weren't happy when it was exciting," he replied before pausing, "And you didn't trust me when it was exciting."

"Hmm..." Tusk mused as he leaned in again. "You'll just have to win next time."

--

"... It's not the same," Yue replied unhelpfully. "You're not the same."

Pepper snorted again before giving in to Tusk.

--

James cussed a little, "Of course I'm not the same!" he spat at Yue, "You wanted me to change, so I did... and now you're still unhappy?" he let out a long sigh, putting a hand on his head in an effort to calm down.

"I wanted you to stop flirting with other girls," Yue replied a little angry that he was turning this on her. "Not become this passive puppy that follows me everywhere. You've lost your edge."

James slowly turned his gaze to Yue. His eyes were passive as he looked her over.

Yue sighed a bit again, looking away.

"I love you, Yue," James said quietly, "but you don't seem to love me. You just love the spark."

"... No," Yue replied quietly, still not looking at him. "... I was starting to fall in love, but then that man disappeared somewhere..." She shook her head a little before starting to walk off.

James continued to watch Yue, "... Yeah... I guess he did. You drove him off."

Yue stopped. "... What the terra did I do?" she asked, quiet voice trembling with anger. "I'm trying to love you - all of you back, but how am I supposed to love someone who's not being himself? You're stepping on egg shells around me like I'm about to break. I'm not as weak as you think I am."

James was silent for a long moment, "I guess... I've just seen you weep too many times."

"... Maybe," Yue replied quietly before starting to walk off again.

"You want space?" James stated quietly, "Fine, you got it." And he walked off in the other direction.

--

At dusk, Rosen came into Long's new room with a bunch of carts. On them were about every crafting item imaginable.

--

Laurel went looking for Raven a second time.

Long was sprawled out on top of the covers like he had just collapsed out of exhaustion on the bed, but he immediately woke up as Rosen entered. He sat up, a little dazed and confused by all the colors on the cart.

--

Raven was much easier to find now. He was humming a peppy tune as he worked in the garden a bit.