Watching and Listening - An Empires SMP AU

Mental

           "It's not like that!" Jimena responded quickly before the sheriff got the wrong idea. "I want to tell her, of course! It's just that every time I try to tell her... something happens. I can't say anything about the Watchers at all." Jimmy stared at her in surprise, trying to comprehend and understand what that implied.

          "Hey, Jimmy," Jimena said someehat cautiously, "Is it just me, or are you mad at Grian for not telling you about his experiences with the Watchers?" The sheriff sighed, absentmindedly drumming his fingers on the wooden closet door. "Yeah, a little bit. How'd you know?" "I know you well enough. Also I think Watchers are sensitive to emotions because they eat it."

           "It's just that, I thought we were good enough friends to not keep that big of secrets from each other," Jimmy burst out. "And then you came along and he was basically forced to explain to us about being a Watcher and all that. But I understand why. It's a lot of trauma and I wouldn't have wanted him to be uncomfortable just to know what happened. But I guess I still feel a little... betrayed." "This wouldn't be the first time, would it?" Jimena asked softly. There was a strong undercurrent in the sheriff's voice that lead to a deep well full to the brim with resentment and anger.

           "Yeah." Jimmy said glumly. "fWhip. He used to be my deputy. My best friend. Then he gave me a warden in a present box and wouldn't help me get rid of it. A lot of people got hurt that day. And isn't the sheriff's job supposed to keep the people safe? And I'm terrible at it. Maybe that's why I don't get respected by anyone at all."

           Jimena was silent for a second, wondering what to say. She knew more or less how the sheriff's brain worked, how his mental state was when he was sad or angry and what thoughts would lead to other thoughts and imperfect conclusions when he traversed through well-worn mental roads that he had mentally walked one two many times. What do I say to make him feel better?

            "You're still the sheriff, even though there are other people who could do your job," Jimena pointed out. "Doesn't that mean the people think you're capable enough of being their sheriff?" If there was one thing Jimmy really liked and wanted, it was being called capable. "Oh yeah," He said, a wooden smile slowly drawing across his stiff toy face that restricted most facial expressions, although Jimena knew that he was mentally jumping up and down and grinning broadly.

            Then something shifted obviously in his face and the toy sheriff stopped to think. "Wait, Jimena, I just realized. You were able to tell me about the Watchers." Jimena stopped too. Huh. Guess Jimmy's mental workings aren't that bad if he figured that out before I did. That's somehow more surprising than what he actually figured out. But she didn't say any of that aloud, though.

           "How come I can tell you about it and not False?" She asked, wondering. "Don't ask me," Jimmy said, shrugging. "Then who do I ask?" The answer came to them in an instant. "Grian!" They shouted at the same time. Then they quickly quieted when they remembered that False was taking a nap.

           "Grian!" Jimena called as she flew into Hermitopia with the toy sheriff on her arms. It was honestly pretty cute how she could just carry him anywhere now. Jimmy didn't like it though, and made that very clear when she picked him up, but that somehow just made it all the more cuter. "Grian!"

          Apprehensive hermits moved away from Jimena as she landed. "Why are you holding the sheriff like a toy?" Joe asked hesitantly. Jimena could feel the tense emotions running through the room. It was thick enough to cut with a butter knife. But why do they feel like this around me?  Ugh, I wish I had some mental power to read their thoughts. What's the word for it again? Telepathy?