💫 Ask Periwinkle! 💫

“- Yeah it’s crazy how much it rains here, I mean it’s nice I guess, but crazy. I really hope there’ll be a clear night for stargazing, though…”

“If there is I’ll probably head out and ask a few people if they wanna come with me, would you be interested?”

A sound came from his backpack, interrupting him.

Oh- that's time. I need to go back in. Still need to deal with the rest of the cargo and help with inspecting the Helm.

“Um- before you go, uh… How about I come with? I probably need to get myself moving anyway, I’ve been slacking off lately- and granted that’s because I threw up blood everywhere a couple days ago then kept throwing up afterward but there’s only so many times I can use that as an excuse- So I’d like to help!”

I- wait you threw up blood? Is that even- what did you do? (They don't even have blood.. It's supposed to- Well, unless they mean their version of it.)

(Don't think about it.)

We should get going.

(I’m normal and well-adjusted. I’m normal and well-adjusted.)

[After a short walk back]

“We’re heeeere, wow, so many boxies right?”

💫 “Um- okay so I’m assuming you know where we’re supposed to be right now because I- EEP!!”

🧹 “W-watch it, coming through!”

💫 “Oh my gosh- Dusty!! Hi! Here lemme help with that-“

🧹 “Oh, you. ..huff, Okay, sure, thanks I guess.”

Are those from the Keel or the Helm? I can help either way, just wanna make sure. 'Cuz if it's from the Helm I need to document it.

🧹 “I think this shit’s headed over to the Helm. Document all you want, just someone grab a box off the top or something, I’m too short for this…”

I suppose we can stop by the Helm- since I guess I'm going there now. If either of you, uh, wanna come. Or something.

💫 “Oh uh- yeah that sounds awesome, thanks for the invite”

There it is. It's not glamorous but it works. Spent a majority of my life for the last 7-something years in there.

[Peri watched as Dusty just trots past without saying anything and toward the Helm]

💫 “Oh, there they go..!”

💫 “Okayyyy guess we’re going in! Here, need me to grab anything?”

This is the cargo area. I think most of the stuff left is tiny things which are more annoying to move, and I've already dealt with the huge ones.

[Periwinkle prances off to collect some cargo, but also seems to be watching Dusty keenly the whole time]

[Eventually Dusty approaches Pine with their own small stack]

“Hey. So are these going anywhere specific or just back to the big stupid building?”

THE THANGS and pine mom makes another appearance

this is so sad alexa play it's just a burning memory

“Waiiit a minute… is that…?”

“HELLOOO, you wouldn’t happen to be Pine, would you!?”

(oh shit that's a real person ok-)

Uh- hey. Yeah, that's me. .. You, uh, sound familiar, I think?

“Gosh isn’t it so soggy out here??? You can use my umbrella if you want”

I'm- I'm okay, really. I like the rain. Keeps my mind clear.

Oh, and uh, hello.

“…Uhh….”

(...???)

(did i say too much do they know something what did i do are they gonna stab me why are they here am i not supposed to be on break do i need to go back inside is something wrong with my jacket whats going on is this real-)

Suuuuure. And that's fine. It's been, uh, alright, I got here a few days ago. Kind of hectic, my head hurts more than usual, but the rain is nice. I kind of- forgot about it. Until I first walked out. I'm kind of antsy to go out and restock my supplies. Still need to manage inventory though, and I haven't heard what my next mission is yet. So I'm pretty in the dark.

(am i genuinely about to take medication from a stranger have i really sunk down to this level i thought this was real but now i actually have no idea are they really getting this bad well i guess since i've been talking to it its getting worse wait i haven't even verified yet i need to do that before i keep talking)

uh- d-do you mind if I-

...

Okay so you are real.

“I promise I’m real. Are you feeling okay? Maybe we should go sit down somewhere…”

I, uh, can usually keep it at bay, but- being around so many people, all this noise and movement, I think it's making it worse. Ignoring it isn't working anymore.

I think the only thing that makes it quieter is the rain. I- I haven't slept much. Which usually isn't a problem. But- I don't know. Every time I nearly doze off I get a quick yell right next to my head. It's like it's waiting for that exact moment.

I don't know- just- you came out of nowhere. That look you gave me- I was- I thought for a moment- had it really gotten that bad? I don't know.

I- I always have headaches. Can't get rid of them. But it's worse right now. I think that's why.

This is stupid. You don't have any stake in this, why am I telling you? Maybe I really am that tired. I suppose I needed a nice good reminder of why I work solo. Rest assured, it worked.

“I just… I didn’t mean to freak you out but I guess it’s stupid to imagine you wouldn’t with how I looked at you.. and I know what it’s like to be looked at that way so… I don’t- I don’t know. I’m sorry again.”

“Look, you’re a friend of a friend, so right off the bat I have do have a stake in this.. and even if I didn’t, sometimes it’s just nice to tell people things…!”

“If you still want something to maybe ease the pain for a little bit, the offer’s always open. And.. Y’know, if you need to take a nap I can set up my umbrella and you can try to lay down under it and maybe the sound of the rain on the umbrella will be loud enough to calm your head down even more..? It’s kind of echoey, I don’t know… If you couldn’t tell, I’m.. really not well-versed in this sort of thing, I probably sound a bit naive right now..”

I- I guess I could try that. I can't remember the last time I tried to sleep near someone. I don't know if It's a good idea but at this point I'll take anything.

ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER

... -!!!

He struggled with his scarf for a moment in the midst of waking up.

...

God- god dammit.

“Let’s just… breathe for a second, okay?”

“…Haha, I guess it was your turn to freak me out, right?…”

“…”

“Um.. if you want, I could… show you something that might make you feel better..?”

I- Guess I shouldn't be surprised. That explains a few things.

At least the way you looked at me makes more sense now.

“But, uh.. we’re still cool though, right..? Have we been cool? were we ever cool?”

(Unless you're waiting for me to drop my guard. I swear to god if you try anything)

But- I don't think anyone else has noticed that yet. Or if they did, they haven't told me, or anyone. People aren't really- supposed to know. I'll get in trouble.

“…I know what it’s like to have to hide yourself.. I mean, duh, hehe.. so I promise I won’t tell anyone about you being.. you.”

“…U-unless you snitch on me first. If that happens you’re coming down with me and I will be pissed off about it forever.”

But even then, don't think you can take me down so easily. There's a good reason nobody is supposed to know what I am.

You mind your own business, I mind mine, and we're all good. Either way, just know I'm not scared of you.

“…”

“Do you want a Werther’s it’s a little spicy but it’s good.”

“Waiiit a minute… is that…?”

“HELLOOO, you wouldn’t happen to be Pine, would you!?”

(oh shit that's a real person ok-)

Uh- hey. Yeah, that's me. .. You, uh, sound familiar, I think?

“Gosh isn’t it so soggy out here??? You can use my umbrella if you want”

I'm- I'm okay, really. I like the rain. Keeps my mind clear.

Oh, and uh, hello.

“…Uhh….”

(...???)

(did i say too much do they know something what did i do are they gonna stab me why are they here am i not supposed to be on break do i need to go back inside is something wrong with my jacket whats going on is this real-)

Suuuuure. And that's fine. It's been, uh, alright, I got here a few days ago. Kind of hectic, my head hurts more than usual, but the rain is nice. I kind of- forgot about it. Until I first walked out. I'm kind of antsy to go out and restock my supplies. Still need to manage inventory though, and I haven't heard what my next mission is yet. So I'm pretty in the dark.

(am i genuinely about to take medication from a stranger have i really sunk down to this level i thought this was real but now i actually have no idea are they really getting this bad well i guess since i've been talking to it its getting worse wait i haven't even verified yet i need to do that before i keep talking)

uh- d-do you mind if I-

...

Okay so you are real.

“I promise I’m real. Are you feeling okay? Maybe we should go sit down somewhere…”

I, uh, can usually keep it at bay, but- being around so many people, all this noise and movement, I think it's making it worse. Ignoring it isn't working anymore.

I think the only thing that makes it quieter is the rain. I- I haven't slept much. Which usually isn't a problem. But- I don't know. Every time I nearly doze off I get a quick yell right next to my head. It's like it's waiting for that exact moment.

I don't know- just- you came out of nowhere. That look you gave me- I was- I thought for a moment- had it really gotten that bad? I don't know.

I- I always have headaches. Can't get rid of them. But it's worse right now. I think that's why.

This is stupid. You don't have any stake in this, why am I telling you? Maybe I really am that tired. I suppose I needed a nice good reminder of why I work solo. Rest assured, it worked.

“I just… I didn’t mean to freak you out but I guess it’s stupid to imagine you wouldn’t with how I looked at you.. and I know what it’s like to be looked at that way so… I don’t- I don’t know. I’m sorry again.”

“Look, you’re a friend of a friend, so right off the bat I have do have a stake in this.. and even if I didn’t, sometimes it’s just nice to tell people things…!”

“If you still want something to maybe ease the pain for a little bit, the offer’s always open. And.. Y’know, if you need to take a nap I can set up my umbrella and you can try to lay down under it and maybe the sound of the rain on the umbrella will be loud enough to calm your head down even more..? It’s kind of echoey, I don’t know… If you couldn’t tell, I’m.. really not well-versed in this sort of thing, I probably sound a bit naive right now..”

I- I guess I could try that. I can't remember the last time I tried to sleep near someone. I don't know if It's a good idea but at this point I'll take anything.

ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER

... -!!!

He struggled with his scarf for a moment in the midst of waking up.

...

God- god dammit.

“Let’s just… breathe for a second, okay?”

“…Haha, I guess it was your turn to freak me out, right?…”

“…”

“Um.. if you want, I could… show you something that might make you feel better..?”

I- Guess I shouldn't be surprised. That explains a few things.

At least the way you looked at me makes more sense now.

“But, uh.. we’re still cool though, right..? Have we been cool? were we ever cool?”

(Unless you're waiting for me to drop my guard. I swear to god if you try anything)

But- I don't think anyone else has noticed that yet. Or if they did, they haven't told me, or anyone. People aren't really- supposed to know. I'll get in trouble.

“…I know what it’s like to have to hide yourself.. I mean, duh, hehe.. so I promise I won’t tell anyone about you being.. you.”

“…U-unless you snitch on me first. If that happens you’re coming down with me and I will be pissed off about it forever.”

My mitosis baby

> I was just still jittery from being sick, and.. very over-tired, it was nearly 2 in the morning and I was bouncing off the walls…

You... didn't SIGN that message you sent me. I thought it was... khm.

Guys I kinda like Periwinkle (I saw this on a meme comp and thought it really fit for some reason so)

> Chicken face

- Vapor

( @notsocleverjester )

> CHIKCEN FACEEEE to haunt my drewaaaams I could stay up

allll night if I had to!!

<(•)____^

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