The Nineteenth Trial

[hot_mess_express]

Who: Everyone
When: Day 43, evening
Where: The Mermaid's Beach

Come on, come on heroes...! Come hither!

[ There's a playful giggle and the sound of splashing as the Mermaid's beach appears in the clearing. ]

Let's play a game...!

Comments

[schrodingerscockroach]

[Noting that but]

[Well, he's a big dude, it really is the least awkward way to do this for five minutes.]

[But will move down, resting his head on her knee and taking her hand closest to him.] See, easy hand holding and petting.

[voreaciously]

[this is really fucking intimate, but she tries not to think of that as she starts to pet his head in gentle strokes.]

[schrodingerscockroach]

[Yeah, but honestly, this train likes to pull this kind of thing. He's rolling with it.]

[And honestly, he does like the petting. It's relaxing.]

So how have you been?

[voreaciously]

[Her team is shrinking, their progress seems stalled, and she doesn't have the usual suspects to turn to, at the moment.]

Fine. And yourself?

[schrodingerscockroach]

[Yyyyyeah, things he also tries to not get stuck on.]

Well, hopefully Clover will get a new expansive for the car. Fingers crossed on it being slightly less child-like.

[voreaciously]

I would not count on it.

[if you don't, you won't be disappointed!

but she continues to pet in long strokes. she seems used to this.]

[schrodingerscockroach]

I know, but I hope. At the very least, I'll feel less trapped everytime I walk into the kitchen.

[He is too, really. Relaxing a lot.]

[voreaciously]

What is wrong with your kitchen?

[schrodingerscockroach]

Only big enough for one person to really work in there.

And I'm a big person.

[voreaciously]

Ah, right, of course. I'd nearly forgotten about that.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Guessing Jasmine got that expansion a while ago?

[voreaciously]

Inasmuch as it could be a "while", but I suppose I have gotten quite used to it.

[schrodingerscockroach]

...it is weird how long days feel here.

[voreaciously]

It is not strange. No one wishes to be here and so the days drag on.

[schrodingerscockroach]

But it seems like a lot can happen in a day. It's weird it can be busy and dragging.

[voreaciously]

As you say.

[she doesn't think that refutes her argument, really. they're given and assigned tasks, but, ultimately, not many people enjoy them and would rather be elsewhere overall.

but she negative cares to argue the point.]

[schrodingerscockroach]

Just...weird, I guess. [He shrugs.]

Have anything you want to talk about from your card?

[voreaciously]

[when the time is up she doesn't stop stroking and instead her hands rub his head with deeper strokes against his scalp, very clearly a massage.]

Not particularly, but I will do so nonetheless.

[schrodingerscockroach]

[Well, okay then.]

[Laughs.] Of course.

I am supposed to tell someone something I like about them. [If she could take it.]

[voreaciously]

I will not keep you all day.

[because clearly he doesn't have anything good to say to her.]

[schrodingerscockroach]

[Oh you]

I like how you're always willing to help. Whatever your reasons are, you've helped a lot of people and made things better.

[This is what you get when you try to be dismissive.]

[voreaciously]

My reasons are entirely selfish.

[schrodingerscockroach]

I just like that more.

Selfless reasons means there's always that chance of saying 'fuck it' and washing your hands of it.

Being selfish about it means you're getting something out of it, so you'll keep doing it.

[voreaciously]

In my experience, those are reversed. Selfless people cannot help themselves. At any rate, I am not a photographer, but I can picture you and I together.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Selfless people have limits. Either for themselves, or self destruction. Neither are very reassuring for the people around them.

If I had a garden, I'd put your tulips and my tulips together.