tale as old as time

Evie: Doesn't everyone have a type of thing? Because I'm guessing, Benjamin, and you're not giving me any clues as to what that is. And it's peacocks, not unicorns.

Evie: I can imagine. But not really because I could watch fashion shows all day. Have you heard of What Not to Wear? That. Show. How have I lived before this show?

Ben: I don't think a 'type of thing' is that common if I'm being completely honest. I think people like what they like when they like it and that it changes a lot because people are complex. And right, a peacock, how could I forget? :-P

Mal: Yeah, but if you lose track of them seems like your focus breaks and they should come crashing down to earth again. Like when you levitate something and lose focus.

Mal: You just always sound kind of... tense? I mean, do you ever let yourself relax and just be really honest with anyone, or are you always kind of cookie cutter with your words so you don't offend people?

Mal: Really? I thought it was like, against the law to skip when you're on one of the other teams or something. 'Scouting the competition' or 'Quidditch obsession' or whatever.

Ben: Usually for me what the visualization is is that the cups just kind of poof silently out of existence when I lose count. Not as fun, I'm afraid.

Ben: Honestly? I'm pretty sure that talking to you is the most myself I ever feel lately so lol. It's kind of funny that you think this is me being cookie cutter when for me, this feels like being more. I feel like being everything.

Mal: My first thought is 'more breakable?' Every time you lose count all those tea cups are shattering :-p

Mal: You don't sound like a lunatic. Maybe a little bit like someone who's kind of rehearsed in pumping people up, though. Not to say you don't mean it, just... I don't know. I'm not good at this stuff. My bad.

Mal: So uh... Slytherin's Quidditch team sucked today, huh?

Ben: LOL it's not as if I count them as I start holding them, I picture them floating. No crash required. Thank goodness, because I think that would just keep me from sleep longer.

Ben: No, it's good to know how you really feel about it. And that way I can assure you that I'm not reading from a script or whatever. It's true that I want everybody to find what makes them happy but that doesn't mean my want is generic, especially with you.

Ben: I don't know why I said the 'especially' part haha.

Evie: I'm not the one into dragons. I mean, I'm not into dragons. They seem like your type of thing though. Powerful and fearsome yet graceful and beautiful?

Evie: But boo, that sounds boring. I was expecting something more like musical thrones.

Ben: I seem like I have a type of thing? That's interesting lmao and good to know. What would be your creature counterpart then? I'm thinking unicorns?

Ariana: I'll disregard nothing. Tattoos are a big part of my culture so I'm claiming diplomatic immunity. I think? Can I do that??? ANYWAY, I'm not going to test it probably because trying to make magic tattoos, especially with uhi ta moko which are basically chisels, sounds like a good way to accidentally not have an arm. But you didn't even answer my question, BEN. What would you get if they weren't possibly illegal?

Ben: I don't know if the laws about hiding magic have diplomatic immunity options? I can definitely see why that idea would be extra appealing to you though, I didn't even put that together with the fact that you were from Motonui lol. There are ways to bring arms back! Not that I'm encouraging testing it, but there are ways, that's all.

Ariana: If you could get a tattoo that moves around on your body like a portrait moves around in it's frame, what kind of tattoo would you get? I'd get Heihei riding on a turtle!

Mal: What do you count instead? Please tell me you're not a sheep guy.

Mal: No offense, but the idea kind of gives me hives. Look, I appreciate that you're trying to help. It's... sweet, or whatever. But how I see myself and how you see me are just two totally different things and I don't think I'm ready.

Ben: I count teacups, actually. Is that better or worse?

Evie: Hm. Interesting.

Evie: There's a game for thrones? How do you play?

Ben: Yes, that's me, Mr. Interesting. I knew someone was bound to notice eventually lol.

Mal: Might I recommend counting spiders to put yourself to sleep instead? Because dude, seriously. It's a much better use of time.

Mal: I guess it's different when you were just born the center of things instead of like, clawing your way into being the biggest and scariest person around. And no, not really. I thought about art club but art's like... personal. And I don't play well with others. The only person that I ever like... let help me with anything back home was Jay, really. Otherwise it was every man for themselves and I was so, so good at 'for myself'. I'm not good at like... for others yet. I don't know if I'll ever be.

Ben: You may. I've tried counting sheep before and failed epiclly but maybe spiders will make a difference :-P

Man I thought that stuff was only for adults and stuff.  I don’t think I’ve ever been that formal with someone that wasn’t over like 50 or a teacher.  And PB and J’s are amazing but this here cat is only one half of the combo to my other half.  Wait, crap that was a hint.  Well you just got a free hint.  Though I guess all hints are really free.  It’s not like I’m going to charge a fee for hints that would be weird.

Yeah, well, when I'm not here, I spend most of my time talking to adults so J guess it sticks. So is the cat's name Jelly then? Or Peanut Butter? Because it has to be one of those two. You could charge for hints if you wanted but I'd probably just stop guessing, honestly.

Evie: Really? First dream ever?

Evie: Never dreamt of anything... particularly dragony?

Ben: First dream ever! If I could, I'd hang it up on my fridge along with my first handprint and my first doodle :P

Mal: You DO get embarrassed? I figured that would be like, against the law as the prince. When do you even have the time?

Mal: I just like feeling important, I guess. Here it's like no one takes me seriously sometimes. I mean, there wasn't like an OFFICIAL prince or princess on the Isle who was in charge or anything, but I don't know... If there had been, sometimes I kind of think it was basically me. How would you feel if you ended up somewhere else and suddenly you were just... I don't know, another person in the crowd?

Ben: When I'm laying awake in bed at night, thinking back to all the embarrassing things that happened and cringing.

Evie: Not dumb at all! In fact, it's very sweet that you're worried about me, but I can assure you that there are no big, scary things over here!

Evie: But while we're on the subject of dreams, ever have any really interesting ones?

Ben: I suppose sometimes a bird is just a bird and a dream is just a dream lol.

Mr. Whiskers?  That’s an awful name for a cat or any animal really!  Its supposed to be your friend, you don’t call your friends Mr and Lady do you?  Actually do you?  Either way, that’s not their name. I’ll give you a hint, its part of the best food combo in the world!

I have most definitely called friends by their titles or respectively Mister and Miss before, but that might just be me, apparently. The best food combo is a great hint, though! That has to be peanut butter and jelly.

Mal: Well this is embarrassing.

Mal: Or it would be, if I got embarrassed. But yeah, I guess you're as good of a person to talk to about it as any. I mean, I doubt you'd understand, but I do kind of miss it.

Ben: You don't get embarrassed? That's amazing, you'll have to teach me how to do that lol.

Mal: Do you ever miss how scared people were of us back on the Isle? I mean... we were LEGENDS, Jay. Legends!

Ben: There are some that say being a legend is vastly overrated :-P