Emi Ibarazaki's past encounters...

[YZQ]

Goes into new territory when logically, she has no reason to hate herself. She didn't start the fire, for one.

Logic plays no part in this.

Hanako's fears and problems aren't very logical, but it's hard for her to say "it's not my fault you don't like me," when everybody else can't even stand to look a her.

True. Emotions are not governed by logic. But sometimes, just sometimes, you hope that they should be. "It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters." Coming from W. Mitchell (quoting an ancient fellow), I find it quite convincing.

[Guest Poster]

There's nothing logical about phobias and the kind of anxieties Hanako has to begin with. Logically Hanako has no reason to hate herself, but low self-esteem is hardly ever addressed by a simple "logically you're not a bad person". Hanako was treated like a sub-human for a significant part of her life...that notion is now part of her subconcious where logic can't get to it. Anxieties can't be reasoned away just like that. The heart doesn't listen to reason, only to experience. Good experiences might eventually lessen the impact of the bad ones or even cancel them out at some point. But it'll take time.

Edit: Of course, Hanako's mannerisms are part of the problem now. You need to stand pretty close to her to notice her scarring, but her behavior is obvious from way across the room, making the situation worse. In the end though, it's hard to fault Hanako for reacting to others the way she does given how she's been treated in the past. If lots of others keep giving you the impression you're damaged beyond repair you'll eventually start wondering "maybe it's not them, it's me".

[YZQ]

The confusing thing is that she still has enough in her to stand up for herself, if she needs to. Poor girl probably IS very confused.

[Guest Poster]

That only seemed to happen when she hit the emotional equivalent of rock bottom. She was in the middle of her birthday depression, feeling even worse about herself than usual and then Hisao came in and started telling her how he just got off the phone with Lilly talking and worrying about her. That final safety switch might also be why, despite hating herself and living in almost complete social isolation, Hanako never jumped in front of a train or something.

[pandaphil]

It boggles my mind how anyone could mistreat someone as sweet as Hanako. But then I don't spend much time around children...

And yes, self-esteem issues can be a miserable experience. Your reasonable mind can tell you sometimes that your being irrational, but then all it takes is one wrong word from someone, one mis-interpreted sign, or even making a simple mistake that anyone could make to send you back into the depths of depression, and beating yourself up about how stupid or ugly you are. Even when someone says or does something good, most of the time the person will dismiss it by thinking "They're just being nice", or "They want something." LSE people have been programmed to block positive input for so long that it takes a lot of positive reinforcement over an extended period to convince them otherwise.

I'm just grateful that Hanako made the choice to seek out Lily during one of her more lucid moments, and that Lily was such a kind, patient soul.

[Steinherz]

It boggles my mind how anyone could mistreat someone as sweet as Hanako. But then I don't spend much time around children...

And yes, self-esteem issues can be a miserable experience. Your reasonable mind can tell you sometimes that your being irrational, but then all it takes is one wrong word from someone, one mis-interpreted sign, or even making a simple mistake that anyone could make to send you back into the depths of depression, and beating yourself up about how stupid or ugly you are. Even when someone says or does something good, most of the time the person will dismiss it by thinking "They're just being nice", or "They want something." LSE people have been programmed to block positive input for so long that it takes a lot of positive reinforcement over an extended period to convince them otherwise.

I'm just grateful that Hanako made the choice to seek out Lily during one of her more lucid moments, and that Lily was such a kind, patient soul.

Never doubt the maliciousness of children. They're more vicious and cruel than any adult.

But yeah, misinterpreted signs can be bad. One made my life living hell for about 6 years... until I basically snapped and dislocated one of my bully's arm (I popped it back into place though)

[Xanatos]

It boggles my mind how anyone could mistreat someone as sweet as Hanako.

You underestimate how truly disgusting humanity can be. Isn't innocence fun?

[Steinherz]

We've derailed the thread long enough. From speculation on Emi's past conquests (if any) to Hanako...

That's what this thread was originally about? Emi's past conquests?
Well, this may be trying to hard to get the thread back on topic but why do I see Miki and Emi having a possibility?

[Xanatos]

We've derailed the thread long enough. From speculation on Emi's past conquests (if any) to Hanako...

That's what this thread was originally about? Emi's past conquests?
Well, this may be trying to hard to get the thread back on topic but why do I see Miki and Emi having a possibility?

Because it'd be awesome.

[Steinherz]

That's what this thread was originally about? Emi's past conquests?
Well, this may be trying to hard to get the thread back on topic but why do I see Miki and Emi having a possibility?

Because it'd be awesome.

QUICK, SET SAIL FOR MIKIxEMI!

[pandaphil]

That's what this thread was originally about? Emi's past conquests?
Well, this may be trying to hard to get the thread back on topic but why do I see Miki and Emi having a possibility?

Because it'd be awesome.

QUICK, SET SAIL FOR MIKIxEMI!

The angry sex possibilities are damn near endless.

"You like that don't you bitch."

[Xanatos]

The angry sex possibilities are damn near endless.

"You like that don't you bitch."

Oh god...

[Steinherz]

The angry sex possibilities are damn near endless.

"You like that don't you bitch."

Oh god...

No, Oh My.

[Xanatos]

The angry sex possibilities are damn near endless.

"You like that don't you bitch."

Oh god...

No, Oh My.

In a perfect world, the Comfort Misha option would bring up a fullscreen pic of George Takei with flashing text that reads "It's okay to be Takei."

[Steinherz]

No, Oh My.

In a perfect world, the Comfort Misha option would bring up a fullscreen pic of George Takei with flashing text that reads "It's okay to be Takei."[/quote]
YES.
JUST.
YES!!!