*˚; | gladiolus

          “GONNA TAKE A WILD guess and say that’s your paired master?” She cocked a brow. “They came up with it somehow, right? Try to make a kangaroo or something, see how long it takes.”

          “RIGHT?” SARITA ADDED on before turning back to the device before her, a small smile tugging humorously at the words. “I can do the complaint though. No offence or anything, but I feel like they wouldn’t take you too seriously.”

          "NOW NOW, I’M about ninety percent sure being nice wasn’t listed in guidelines here,” she joked, walking over to the male. “Didn’t even realize?” Her brow lifted in humour at the statement, a faint chuckle leaving her lips. “I feel like you can sorta tell when you produce sound, but maybe that’s just me.”

          “YOU COULD SAY MY ex-husband — even if I openly can’t,” she shrugged in turn. “Mostly, yeah. What else would drive you somewhere like this in retaliation, right? I’m not petty enough to imply I’ll go fuck a bunch of captives because a red sock made it in the washer.”

          “SORRY TO HEAR, Dorothy,” she gave a hollow chuckle. “Mm. So you’re just new. Got it,” the woman shrugged, arms crossing over her chest before going on. “I don’t think it’s that permanent. I don’t see that many older pets. Or any that have been here too long. I don’t know much more than you do, though. No one really gets a pamphlet or anything, just better treatment.”

          “I COULD SPARE the rest of my life if I felt so compelled to,” Sarita answered rather dully, never really being one to join into conversations too cheerfully. She paused for a second before realizing her answer likely wasn’t that clear, continuing with a sigh. “That was a yes. Need something?”

          “DON’T BE SORRY. I was mostly like, joking about the fact that I don’t really have anything going on,” she forced a laugh, a bit amused at how quick he was to offer help. “I would appreciate some recs though. I’m the type that only watches shit with good reviews.” She nodded as he went on, offering a smile. “Oh, that’s good. Glad to hear it."

          CONSIDERING SHE WAS only walking by, Sarita had half the mind to act like she hadn’t spotted anything out of the norm, but she was humoured, and slightly entranced, by the fact that anyone would be so bold in a public area. She stood back for a bit before raising her palms up to interrupt the tune with a slow-clap. “Don’t let the turnout discourage you, really. You have talent,” she teased, lips curling into a smirk. 

          “OH GOOD,” SARITA sighed, brow raising to look at the blonde as she spoke. “I was hoping it wasn’t just me waiting for them to stop,” she turned to the same wall, hand lifting off of the device between her fingers to motion towards it, “Like, what the fuck are they laughing about? Did someone start a fucking club or something? I don’t get it.”

          “FOR YOU? NOTHING. Unless you convince a master to get you something, or permission to go somewhere,” she shrugged. “Have you tried origami?”

          “UH- THE FRONT entrance,” Sarita answered rather stiffly, eyeing the other suspiciously as she found herself torn between assuming his status. “The same place you came in by. If you don’t remember coming in, odds are you can’t go out. But you can try,” she shrugged, hands falling over her hips. “Don’t think I’ve actually seen anyone try yet,” she went on, muttering mostly to herself.

         “CLOSE,” SARITA GAVE a hollow chuckle at the guess, not exactly heartbroken about actually needing to clarify her situation. “But that’s almost embarrassing on my end. No — I’m wasting my husband’s,” the word left her lips sourly, “Hit them where it hurts, right?”

          LONELY. SHE COULD work with lonely. At least, she could resonate with it. Somewhat. “I’m fine,” she shrugged. “Running out of things to watch on Netflix, but otherwise fine.” The sentence felt strange to utter; the smile curling weakly at the corners of her mouth even stranger. It felt like ages had gone by since she last spoke in pursuit of genuine, pleasant conversation. “Uhm,” her lips pulled together awkwardly, “How’s your dog?”