ℕ𝕀 𝕃𝕆𝕀

Oh, he was excited.

" Hm, I'll start with the first guess, aha! " He lifted one finger from his unoccupied hand, that intimidating grin of his never leaving. " Tragedy, maybe? Somethin' real heavy. You look like the type that likes a little bit of pain. " He looked at them, trying to search for any type of confirmation before lifting the second finger. " Second. Maybe there's a thief in it. Someone who thinks they're smarter than everybody else, but not really. You like those, don't you? " His voice dipped, playful, needling as he lifted the third finger. " Third. Oh - hoho, my last chance! How exciting! " He leaned in again, closer, more personal. " Maybe it's not the story you're really interested in. Maybe you're reading it again because of the ending. Or wondering if reading this book is worth the trouble. "

The redhead rests their chin on laced together hands as they listen to him rattle off his guess. The first is a good guess [ and they supposed that they did enjoy a little pain sometimes ] but unfortunately it wasn’t correct. The second earns an amused breath and a little squint. It’s a little too on the nose for their liking but… if they didn’t share as many similarities with the subject in question, then perhaps that would’ve been a good read for them…. Honestly, it likely would’ve been exciting for someone that knew nothing.

And the last… another good guess but still not quite right. They wondered what he was trying get at with that, though…

“...Why would I read a book I’m only half invested in? I would already know the premise and the general plot so if I’m wondering if it’s “worth it” while I’m reading it, that kinda answers itself, doesn’t it?” they tell him, “The book being about tragedy or a thief that thinks too highly of themselves are pretty good guesses. All wrong, though.”

“Sooo…. I guess you’ll have to live with not knowin’, sadly.” Their smile stretches across their lips a little wider now. “Or I could be nice and give it to ya anyway… if y’can explain t’me what exactly ya came over here t’do, mm?”

Mikah shakes their head and makes a whole song and dance out of sighing dramatically, head lolling back with an audible groan. “No, no…” they then say, “If you’re pretendin’, there’s no point, you know? It ruins the novelty of it all… There’s nothing fun about it anymore.”

Though, their definition of “fun” was definitely skewed in some manner. Whether or not that would put the stranger off… well, they weren’t really concerned with that. Given that the stranger didn’t really seem all that put off by the notion that he was being followed — that he was being watched — they figured that it was okay. For now, at least.

“Knowing ya knew and didn’t say a thing makes me feel some type ‘a way. Makes me think y’ where tryna trap me.”

“No-one would believe I could run away all by myself…” – she agreed instantly; there was no need to pretend otherwise – “And of course you’d have to pay back all that money… but don’t even try to tell me you’ve already spent it all…”

“And what I was merely suggesting… is that you let me call and let me do the talking…” – but even as Nunnally tried to reason with them, she came to the conclusion that it was not promising. They had already made up their minds – out of fear, out of loyalty, or whatever reason drove them. It didn’t seem there was anything she could have done to change them.

She closed her eyes. Nunnally had always taken waiting badly; she would have much preferred for it just to happen. But in this case, she knew it was wrong to want that. It was better for her now, in their company, because the future might simply be worse.

“Could you at least tell me how long we’ll be waiting here…” – she coughed. She was getting tired, and cold. And thirsty. But she would not ask for water. But why not, really?; Because you are too proud; she answered herself. You should ask for that water; her inner voice prompted.

Mikah stares — oh, they stare — and yet another bubble of laughter rises into their chest. With it comes an excuse of something along the lines of “My goodness” as they reluctantly push themselves to their feet once more. They approach her again, this time stopping right in front Nunnally and bending forward at the waist. The thief also takes their proximity to touch, curling a finger or two beneath her chin and forcing her head up a bit to forcibly meet their gaze.

“You talk too much.” they tell her, “Y’try t’ bargain too much. Y’just say things in the hopes that ‘m gonna listen without actually tryin’ t’convince anyone. Y’might think that you’re slick — mentionin’ your father….mentionin’ showin’ mercy on me… mentionin’ money — just anything, huh?”

The way they let go is a bit cruel, but not harsh. A little push of their thumb forces her head to the side a bit as their hand withdraws. Mikah then stands up straight again and gives her a little nose tap.

“Y’gonna be in big trouble when the person you’re dealin’ with is a actually a threat. They’re not gonna be as nice t’ya as I am and they’re not gonna let y’threaten them as much either.” After that, the thief steps off into the side to exit the room calling over their shoulder. “But don’t worry — I’ll get ya somethin’ t’drink, princess.”

compilation of phrases taken from twin peaks: fire walk with me, directed by david lynch and released in 1992. please, adjust as needed.

your behavior is not funny.

you're lucky i'm not wasting you.

nicotine's a drug. caffeine's a drug.

i am powerless to stop it.

when the next murder happens, you will help me solve it.

you're talking about half the high school girls in america!

the angels wouldn't help you because they've all gone away.

i'm gone. long gone.

we're gonna keep her out of it.

who do you think this is there?

the stories that i wanna tell you about...

there is no other person who could have known where it was.

he says he wants to be me, or he'll kill me.

you always hurt the ones you love.

where are the cookies?

i was standing right behind you but you're too dumb to turn around.

if i had a nickel for every cigarette your mom smoked, i'd be dead.

you made me write it all down.

you'll be safe.

when this kind of fire starts, it is very hard to put out.

write it in your diary.

it was a dream! we live inside a dream!

guess what? there's no tomorrow...

he is going towards the hiding place.

don't take the ring.

he was never here.

that really was something with the dancing girl, wasn't it?

there's nothing good about it.

i was having a bad dream anyway.

goddamn, these people are confusing.