I need game help, but it's sort of not game related.

[LadyMaria]

You have someone you are trying to drive away from you for their safety, but they won't accept that it being dangerous as a hint so you are actively mean to them.

What would you do to help cheer them up, without encouraging them to stay?

 

[RetroBoy]

Being short and cold would probably be best. Simple yes and no answers. Long pauses. Replies like "Is that it?" and stuff like "I'm busy, leave me alone" and the forever heartbreaking... "I need more time."

 

[LadyMaria]

That's good, but since it's part of a game, common sense like changing your name and restraining orders won't work. Plus the rule is the annoying person must leave on their own.

The person the hero wants gone is a friend despite trying to drive the person away. The person chooses to internalize the hate instead of leaving. I have a game over if the person dies so I need a way to help console the hero's friend while driving them away.

 

[Philosophus Vagus]

If it is actively dangerous for them to be around me then I wouldn't worry about cheering them up, assuming that they are staying to help you regardless doing anything positive would only reinforce the fact that you are worth helping in the first place, which is counterproductive to driving them away.

Unless your game has a main hub world where the characters gravitate for story reasons the easiest way I can think for the character in danger to accomplish his or her goal would be to wait for the character they don't want to endanger to fall asleep one night and then just leave them, or take it a step further and have them spike that character's food so that they won't be able to wake up and pursue them in time to catch up. Either way this establishes distance as well as evoking feelings of betrayal that would be at the forefront of this person's mind when considering whether to pursue their friend further and make the idea of "forgetting them and leaving them to their fate" feel like less of a betrayal for all but the closest of relationships.

If they are bound to a hub or the friend is an expert hunter/tracker or something then @RetroBoy has the right idea I think. Answer any question that can be answered with a yes or a no as such, and simply keep silent when confronted with any question or statement that requires more than a one word response. The vast majority of people in this world cannot stand extended periods of silence, and this revulsion is doubly felt when they are speaking seriously with someone. It'll drive most people away faster than verbally assaulting them (where they can compartmentalize the abuse and get over it for their friend's sake) would.

 

[LadyMaria]

That's very smart and normally that would be brilliant.. but the Hero and the friend sold their freedom to serve a witch. Getting into spoiler town, but the Hero is trapped with no escape, but the friend is free to leave when they wish. Even the witch wants the friend gone but she honors the contract. The friend has a reason for staying beyond 'You were my best friend' but the hero isn't aware.

So, while drugging them and leaving them in a safe, far away place would be perfect, it wouldn't work partially because this friend is that dedicated, and partially because other forces would bring them back. The other forces couldn't stop the friend in time if they internalize the mean things the hero says to make them want to leave.

*So far positive compliments seem to be working as I can't really use anything to ease the crushing self hatred the friend character will place on himself if the hero isn't careful.

Might need to have him buy stationary or hire someone to deliver the note in game so he can claim he didn't send it.

 

[Chaos17]

None of the choice because th person stayed and hold my hand because I was in pain even if it was for her own safety.

 

[LadyMaria]

True, it is best to not be cruel them in the beginning, but some things can hurt without meaning it to. Like if you are giving presents to long time friends and you get them the worst choice of gift, you accidentally mock some show a friend secretly watches.. Of course these are tiny things that don't matter much.. it's harder when you are constantly trying to discourage your friend from staying and you feel the only way you can do that is to stop being their friend.

Of course this situation wouldn't happen in real life where you can both get away from the danger.

 

[LaFlibuste]

Well it might not be satisfactory as you said it applied to a game world but really in any real life situation, playing mind games like these are never the good answer and an honest, truthful talk is always better. Or if you don't mind the person at all, you can just generally ignore her (this works better as an adult when you don't have to see someone on a daily basis because you're in the same class or something). But being mean is not to achieve much good at all and giving gifts (even the worst ones) or anything that could possibly confused for concern/friendliness will be sending the wrong message.

 

[LadyMaria]

Very true, and there are a few times Hero talked to his friend frankly about staying with the witch. The friend is just that unwilling to leave the hero both as a slave and alone. Hero is just very dense in this area. The friend can't even tell the hero what is going on. Of course you bring up a great point. I will need to work around the fact that buying forgiveness is not right.

I'll give some rough sketches of the ideas I have. All aren't preferred but someone new stumbling into a game over because the player felt he was doing right is kind of unfair.

1. A small item that is useful. Bandages so she can heal herself or him.
2. A positive compliment. Forge letters saying they saw her traveling and saying she had potential and she should go practice her skills.
3. Suggestions on other fun places they could be.Secretly send her invitations to stay in some inns or other nice places, and if she agreed, pay for it if she went
4. Remind them they are wasting their time and talent being here. She has a few talents and as a friend, the Hero knows it. So he'll find some places she could earn a living, and have them send pleas to hire her. He'd probably have to pay then
   to hire here, but he wants her out of the witch' grasp that badly.
   
   Don't let this color your choice as I may need to tweak it to fit.