#pe2terlog2

[07:46] TA: hey AA. what'2 up?

[07:48] AA: a few things actually! but m0stly i wanted t0 check in and see h0w the hive search was g0ing

[07:49] TA: you're iin luck. ii've jotted down at lea2t four vacanciie2 ju2t iin my buiildiing alone, and diid a couple 2top2 at 2ome of the other2 around the periimeter. there'2 liike, two iin the one on the ea2t end and

[07:49] TA: well, okay, why don't ii ju2t 2how you.

[07:50] AA: thats a g00d idea hehe

[07:53] TA: okay, wanna ju2t meet me here then? diid ii mentiion ii cleaned the place.

[07:54] TA: ii thiink ii mentiioned iit? ii 2hould have.

[07:54] TA: iit'2 weiird and probably worth mentiioniing ju2t becau2e iit'2 really weiird.

[07:57] AA: wh0a

[07:57] AA: that is s0mething

[07:57] AA: i l00k f0rward t0 seeing it!

[07:58] AA: ill be there in n0 time :D

[08:01] TA: alriight, 2ee you 2oon.

[08:17] AA: *Having already taken down her camp site from the clearing where she found refuge the morning before. As much as she was enjoying her trek through the wild, it would be nice to have a home to return to, and she was eager to get started on finding that home. With everything gathered, she spread her wings to make the journey to Sollux's hivestem. It was a somewhat lengthy flight, but she hurried herself along, and after a while she was tapping on his window like she so often had in the past.*

[08:22] TA: *Even with having mentioned the prior cleaning, some part of him got antsy enough to glance around and wonder if he should be tidying up a little more anyway. Finishing touches, or whatever. As if she actually cared what the place looked like. But he'd mentioned it being clean, so shouldn't it be spotless? Wow, he really had emptied his head. The knock on the window came at a time interval in which he had to guess which direction she'd come from, but he supposed he'd ask when he let her in.* hey. ta-daaaa. *lamey lame hand gesture*

[08:39] AA: *she let out a laugh at the gesture before getting a proper look around, hair falling and swishing all over the place as she moved inside the space while glancing from one side to the other.* very impressive *with feet now planted firmly on the ground, she looked ahead at her host with her usual wide smile.* im s0 pr0ud *it was impossible to stifle another giggle after such a remark, but she wasn't really trying to anyway.*

[08:53] TA: *He kind of expected it, and smiled at her as he rolled his eyes, setting his hands on his hips.* lot2 of free tiime. who knew you had two plug the vacuum /iin/ for iit two do the diirt 2uckiing thiing.

[09:16] AA: y0u learn s0mething new every day *she allowed herself to wander about the room, taking in all that hard work a little more. It really was unusual for him to put the effort into such a task, even if he had lots of free time, so she figured it would be appreciated if she took notice of that.* s0 ab0ut th0se hivebl0cks

[09:18] TA: yep. *nods, readily stepping towards the door for once. Whoa. A door. That functions? Let us display how that works via holding it open for the lady.* we 2hould take the elevator2 for the one2 iin thii2 buiildiing. block number2. ea2iier two fiind than gue22iing at the wiindow2 and acciidentally peekiing iin on 2ome people eatiing diinner or whatever el2e people don't want two be peeked upon whiil2t doiing.

[09:41] AA: 0h yes the imaginati0n can run wild with scenari0s *she passes through the door, pretending to be perplexed by it momentarily to further run with the gag. She continues down the hall after she exits, trying to remember where the elevator was. She'd used it before, sure, but it'd been a while.*

[09:56] TA: *The way that communal hivestems were constructed, there were short hallways that all led to the central elevator system, and staircases (who the FUCK would use those. Ever.) It was fairly simple, though it looked more complex from the inside. He leads her to the nearest one, pressing the button and waiting for it to arrive.* the fiir2t one ii2 only a couple level2 down. the other2 are more 2cattered around the very miiddle, kiind of.

[10:31] AA: 0kay *she teeters back and forth on her feet as they wait for the elevator to reach them, eager to see the prospective new home. When it arrives, she hops enthusiastically onto the lift and twirls around to eye the buttons. She wants to press them herself, but she doesn't know the exact number.* d0 y0u kn0w h0w l0ng these bl0cks have been vacant?

[10:33] TA: *he punches in the floor number for her when they get inside, shrugging a little* the one ii'm gonna 2how you fiir2t look2 liike iit'2 only been empty for a couple month2, top2. the one2 iin the miiddle are a liittle du2tiier, but hey. ii have thii2 awe2ome thiing called a vacuum ii ju2t fiigured out how two operate. 8)

[10:33] TA: eheheh. the one2 iin the other hiive2tem2 are about the 2ame. one of them'2 fre2her than the other, but. eh. you'll 2ee.

[11:01] AA: hehe alright! *as they reach the proper floor, she takes yet another eager hop off into the hall, looking back at Sollux expectantly.* i w0nder if theyre haunted *of course that would be her first thought.*

[11:04] TA: *he doesn't even bother arching a brow at her, kind of having half expected something like that to come up.* iif you're lucky? *snorts*

[11:27] AA: *she laughs, beckoning for him to lead the way with another bounce and a gesture of the hand.* well heres h0ping then!

[11:29] TA: *He leads her along the next hallway, though, and at the very end, there's a door that they should have no trouble opening. He does so and gestures for her to enter the hive ahead of him.* tell me iif you 2ee any 2poopy thiing2 iin here. but really, iit'2 mo2tly empty 2pace and al2o a decent 2iized ablutiion trap.

[12:13] AA: *she gladly obliges, peeking in curiously before stepping through fully and venturing the space without any further signs of (theatrical) caution. It was almost as if she saw this new hive as a tomb to be explored.* i like it! *she concludes this almost right away, but she really wasn't picky.*

[04:27] TA: *He watched her as she looked around, surveying her expression before glancing around again himself.* okay, that'2 one plu2. let'2 check out the other one2 really quiick, when you're done lookiing here. one of the hiive2 ii2 on a certaiin wall of the 2tem that ha2 a kiiller viiew of the re2t of the ciity.

[04:37] AA: *By the time he was half way through his sentence, she was exploring the large abulation trap he mentioned. She poked her head out when he finished to give him a nod.* alright! lets g0 see that 0ne next *she exited the block to quickly survey the other rooms it had to offer. She wasn't sensing any lingering lifeforms, so this hive had lost some points, and she was ready to head out to investigate the next.*

[04:51] TA: *He nodded, meandering to not quite follow her but still keep from standing idly, and when she looked about ready to leave, he made his way to the door again. The next hive was a couple more levels down, but the door opened just as easily when they got there, too.* put a cu2hiion or 2omethiing over there you could be liike one of tho2e giirl2 iin the moviie2 that gaze wii2tfully out at the 2unrii2e wiith a cup of cocoa and a pet of 2ome 2ort pranciing around your feet. then the 2un come2 up for real and you have two roll away but. the novelty ii2 there.

[05:16] AA: that s0unds like a silly way t0 spend my time *she said with a sideways glance and a cheesy grin, but made her way over to the window to get a gander of that view all the same. A hand found its way to the pane as she leaned in close to look as far down and out as she could. It was certainly a beautiful sight and noteworthy for her choice. Ironically sighing wistfully, either on purpose or not, she

[05:16] AA: pulled away to scope out the rest of the hive. She was enjoying it thus far. It suited her needs. Was she sensing a ghostly presence here? If she was, it was faint.* g00dness i like this hive t00

[06:01] TA: *He knew she wasn't the type of person who would actually spend time doing that, but he'd joke all the same, this time stepping to check out the nutrition block quickly to make sure this wasn't the one with the leaky drain. Nope, all clear. Meeting her again, he nodded again.* yeah, thii2 one'2 pretty niice. moviing on?

[06:21] AA: *After a quick sweep of the area, she gave him another nod in return* yep! lets get g0ing *she made her way to the door, following the appointed route to their next destination.* s0 is there a special selling p0int f0r this next hive?

[06:23] TA: not really, iit'2 pretty average. ii mean, ii thiink thii2 one had a cool potted plant or 2omethiing. that or a leaky draiin, iin whiich ca2e, we could 2kiip iit. but ii'm not 2ure iif that'2 iin thii2 one or the la2t one here? *sighs* but we can explore anyway.

[07:01] AA: might as well *Honestly, she was enjoying spending this time with Sollux most of all, so checking out hives she likely wouldn't be interested in didn't really matter to her. But for the sake of eliminating repetition, we will say they explore the next couple of hives as they have the previous two. After which, Aradia stands outside the door of the last, stretching her arms over her head as she thinks over her options.* im pretty sure theyll all suit my needs... but that 0ne with the nice view is pr0bably my first ch0ice *smiles* i th0ught i felt s0mething there

[07:03] TA: 2omethiing liike that novelty bu2iine22 or 2omethiing liike a 2pooky 2pecter who'2 probably gonna be chuckiing kniive2 at the wall2 whiile you 2leep? *cocks a brow, amused and only half hoping she means the view? The other half is just glad she likes a place in this particular hivestem.*

[09:34] AA: b0th actually *more light giggling ensues and she makes her way back to the elevator, so they can either return to the vacant hive, or Sollux's.* but when it c0mes d0wn t0 it im n0t t00 picky and id really just have a place t0 settle d0wn in *glances sideways at him* a place that has the perk 0f being cl0se t0 y0u *there's a small hint of embarassment in her smile but she does well to hide it* s0 when can i m0ve in? i d0nt supp0se there are any rules 0r restricti0ns

[09:38] TA: *There's a trace of the same in his face as he turns his gaze to the ground in order to smile privately, leaning against the elevator wall.* well, nobody liive2 there, and no one made note of iit. ii take iit the landlord 2topped giiviing a 2hiit? frankly iit'2 liike he'2 not even a factor. ii'd 2ay you can move iin whenever you've got your 2hiit, and ii can forge you a key card. *shrugs*

[09:53] AA: 0h h0w c0nvenient f0r me *she shuffled her feet a bit, watching them scuff against the floor.* i m0stly have everything with me in my sylladex s0 i d0nt see why i sh0uldnt just set up camp n0w

[10:25] TA: oh, 2weet. ii can help you out wiith that whiile we're here, yeah. *le correcto button press* oh, and ii can get an order of new 2opor or whatever for your 'coon, two, 2iince ii'm pretty 2ure even iif there wa2 any left there iit'd be jank a2 hell 2o. iif you want, even, ii could riig the bottom liike ii diid wiith miine 2o you can heat iit up. *shrug* ii kiind of need project2 anyway.

[10:45] AA: *it was flattering to know he was willing to go to such lengths and the smile already on her face softened into one of gratitude.* that w0uld be great thank y0u *As the elevator doors opened, she made her way back to the hive, hastily letting herself in, since it was her's now, after all.*

[10:54] TA: no problem. *He smiled back. It really wasn't; he did need things to occupy his time and energy, and what better way to fill that quota than with things he knew he wouldn't mind doing for a person he wouldn't mind doing things for? He follows her, stepping around to the other wall to face her and clapping his hands once* alriight, let loo2e the juiice. and by that ii mean your furniiture and whatnot. (ii ju2t wanted two rhyme...)

[11:07] AA: 0kay! *and with that, she unceremoniously dumped her belongings on the floor. Not all of them, of course, because she had some very delicate artifacts on her person, but everything else didn't need that sort of care in her opinion. There wasn't much to speak of, anyway, and there was hardly any furniture. Just a couch and a discarded tent from her latest camping trip. Everything else could be defined as miscellaneous... Books, blankets, movies, knick knacks.*

[11:19] TA: *He watches the avalanche of items come a'raining down, eyes immediately zeroing in on the tent before he goes to pick it up* where have you actually been?

[11:23] AA: *watches him while gathering up some things, only to put them in a pile. This is how she organizes things.* ive been 0ut expl0ring ar0und the palace

[11:24] TA: iin a tent. *of course in a tent, sollux. that's why she has a tent. It's just odd to think of her using tents again after so long of not needing to imagine that at all, knowing she was in a safe and solid place.* fiind anythiing cool? *steps to help with the organizing*

[11:32] AA: *smirks a little, amused that he felt the need to add "in a tent".* n0t really *sighs* it was very disap0inting! but i wasnt 0ut f0r very l0ng... next time i g0 adventuring im sure ill find s0mething n0tew0rthy *picks up a blanket and flops onto her couch, already bored of "moving in"*

[11:36] TA: okay, no. ju2t poiint. *he chuckles, employing psionics now to wrap around miscellaneous objects and suspend them in the air* thii2 can go way fa2ter.

[11:37] TA: but iin regard2 two the adventuriing, ii'm 2orry iit 2ucked. better luck next tiime, yeah? maybe when you're not actually forced two 2tay out there iin a tent.

[11:53] AA: *snickering, she gives him some guidance, pointing out the general areas where she'd like her stuff to be placed. She could do it herself, but watching Sollux move things around was much more fun.* pr0bably! plus im a little rusty after being 0ut 0f the excavating game f0r s0 l0ng *stifles a yawn* yep im certain things will g0 m0re sm00thly 0n the next 0uting

[12:11] TA: *He places all the items where she directs, and after a while, most things seem to be in suitable places, and he turns to her again before glancing at the tent that he'd left on the floor.* any iidea when that'll be?

[12:16] AA: *shrugs* im n0t t00 sure... i think id like t0 settle in here f0r a while bef0re i g0 running 0ff again *follows his gaze to the tent before hopping up and wandering over to it. She straightens it out and tosses her blanket inside.* but i d0 like sleeping in this tent hehe

[12:28] TA: *He snorts a little, shifting his weight from one foot to the other* ii gue22 iit'll have two do untiil ii get you that 2liime. ii'll work on gettiing the key fiir2t though 2o you don't get 2acked. *kind of half stepped after her on instinct*

[12:32] AA: 0kay *kneels down so she can crawl inside, popping her head back out an instant later* w0uld y0u like t0 hang 0ut in here f0r a little while?

[11:43] TA: *tilts his head a little, and gets to his knees to shuffle towards the tent opening, making a shoo gesture at her to get her to go back inside and make room for him to join her.* aw yii22.

[11:56] AA: *she backs that booty up, then planting in on the further end up the tent, following the motion by pulling her legs up to her chest. There was now plenty of room for the two of them! except not really. it was pretty cramped.* welc0me t0 my special secret club

[11:57] TA: *He crawls inside and sits back on his heels, though he still remains kind of slouched forward, glancing around the tent as if there was actually anything to see* 2peciial 2ecret club for what? people who camp iindoor2?

[11:57] TA: that'2 a 2hiitty iidea for a whole club. even iif iit'2 ju2t the two of u2 currently.

[12:09] AA: *snickers* if y0u d0nt like it then theres the exit flap! but y0ull miss 0ut 0n all the fun

[04:49] TA: ii never 2aiid ii diidn't liike iit. *scoffs, and eventually shifts to sit crosslegged, scooting awkwardly* jeez, thii2 ii2 the 2malle2t tent of all tiime why do you have thii2 2hiitty thiing.

[05:08] AA: hehe it suits me just fine 0n my 0wn *wraps her arms tight around her legs* ive never tried t0 share it like this bef0re

[05:14] TA: luckiily ii take up about a2 much 2pace a2 a cardboard cutout. maybe iif ii turn 2iideway2 all you'll have two make room for ii2 the 2iingular protru2iion that ii2 my no2e. ii'll be liike a ziipper.

[06:01] AA: hey theres an idea *sticks a foot out to poke his leg with her toes* get t0 it! 0ur c0mf0rt is 0n the line

[06:17] TA: ii'm on iit. *and thus he turns sideways as if that'll actually work, straightening his back and making a funny face* (doe2 iit feel more 2paciiou2 iin here yet.)

[06:31] AA: lets see *flops down onto her stomach beside him, kicking her legs cheerfully as she assesses the area* n0 its still pretty cramped in here but i feel a little c0zier n0w

[06:33] TA: *slumps again and sighs like he'd been holding his breath as he sucked in his gut. What gut. Literally there is no gut to suck in. It's all a ruse, Aradia.* but now ii feel liike an accordiian. ii2 there no 2olace for the 2ollux. *what the fuck is he even doing i think he needs a nap, friend.*

[07:24] AA: 0f c0urse n0t *props her head up with her hands. oh no, commence the chin hands.* w0uld y0u expect anything besides misery and w0e fr0m my super secret club? y0u fell right int0 my trap!

[07:25] TA: *gasps* you fiiend. there'2 no way ii'm 2tayiing iin here wiith you now. *tips over especially slowly, like actual slow motion, to not-really-crawl and make a fake break for the exit flap*

[07:31] AA: *casually rolls onto her back to "squish" him and keep him in place* y0u think y0u can escape but y0u cant

[07:32] TA: oof, *saw that coming, honestly, but relents his fake escape attempt in favor of wiggleflailing his limbs lamely* oh my god do ii try.

[08:34] AA: y0u try but y0ur eff0rts are f0r naught *isn't enough of a NERD like SOLLUX to get that reference. jk she's her own special kind of nerd. she continues to just lay there like a sack of starchy ground nuggets, giggling to herself*

[08:41] TA: *If she had somehow actually said the phrase starchy ground nuggets he would be giggling (in a very manly fashion) too, but he's chuckling anyway for the sake of laughing at all and being here in a tent in a hive in the same complex as his. He eventually folds his hands to rest his cheek on them, comfortable with her just kinda chilling on top of him like a stack of starchy ground nuggets.*

[08:41] TA: ii'm glad you liiked thii2 one.

[09:21] AA: *she shifts a bit to get herself more comfortable, sighing contently as her lips curl into a soft smile at his words.* im glad t00... i definitely feel like i c0uld call this place h0me

[09:31] TA: you determiined that pretty quiickly. *scoffs a little, but he's smiling, too, sort of attempting to look at her but really only getting her shoulder within eyeshot.*

[10:01] AA: hehe i kn0w but i can just tell *stretches her arms over her head as she yawns,nearly smacking Sollux right in the face.* mm im already t00 c0mf0rtable... i feel like im g0ing t0 pass right 0ut

[10:02] TA: *there's nowhere to duck oh no she knocks his glasses askew -- did I mention he'd begun wearing those again? Well, now you know.* pfft. 2hould ii leave you two that?

[10:25] AA: thatd pr0bably be best *turns her head to look at him* itll be a shame t0 l0se such a nice pill0w but i d0ubt y0ud agree hehe

[10:27] TA: *sighs in false contemplation, before chuckling again and gently pushing on her shoulder a little* eh. but ii 2hould probably get goiing anyway, iif we wanna make 2ure thii2 ii2 the one and only tiime you're 2leepiing iin a tent iindoor2.

[10:49] AA: 0h yeah thats right *heaves herself up with a small "oof" and twists herself around to look at him* y0u have w0rk t0 d0

[10:52] TA: eeee-yup. *pushes himself up, too, reflexively arching his spine to crack it. Ah. The scalene spinal bubblewrap. Charming.* ii'll have two jack the hub and briing iit two where my tool2 and 2hiit are, but ii'll 2wiing by agaiin when iit'2 done. *crawls out of the tent, but pokes his head back in to nod at her* key card fiir2t though.

[11:20] AA: *proceeds to wrap herself up in her blanket like a grub when he he crawls out* 0kay s0llux *smiles appreciatively up at him* thank y0u f0r d0ing all this f0r me

[11:22] TA: iit'2 no biig deal, *shrugs, and smiles back* ca22erole2 are lame. giift new neiighbor2 wiith technology, ii 2ay. eheheh. *backs out entirely, but calls from outside the tent* 2ee you later.

[11:28] AA: *peeks her head out and wiggles an arm out of her makeshift cocoon to wave after him* hehehe bye y0u nerd

[11:30] TA: ii know you are but what am ii, *sings it before he leaves the hive BEFORE SHE CAN SAY "a nerd 0u0" ah ye2 ii got the la2t word... nerd...*

[08:26] GC: YOU H4V3NT W1TH3R3D 4W4Y 1N YOUR H1V3ST3M, 1 HOP3

[08:27] TA: your undyiing faiith iin me ii2 2o upliiftiing.

[08:28] TA: ii'm cool. iit'2 clean here.

[08:28] TA: what'2 up?

[08:29] GC: WH4T 4BOUT TH4T 'R1OT'? WH4T H4PP3N3D W1TH TH4T?

[08:29] GC: OH NOTH1NG MUCH

[08:30] GC: JUST GO1NG TO HOP OV3R TO 34RTH 2 TO 1NFL1CT SOM3 JUST1C3 ON S3V3R4L V1OL4T1ONS 1N TH3 3TH1CS D3P4RTM3NT

[08:31] TA: the riiot wa2 ou2ted quiickly. con2iideriing ii wa2 giiven the liittle red button that put everybody'2 fate under my thumb. we had a bla2t, really.

[08:31] TA: viiolatiion2 liike?

[08:44] GC: OH SO TH3R3 R34LLY *W4S* 4 R1OT? YOU W3R3NT JOK1NG?

[08:45] GC: TROLL K1DN4PP1NGS

[08:45] GC: 1NTR1GU1NG HM? >:]

[08:46] TA: why the fuck would ii be jokiing about the riiot? you can a2k anybody, the fuckiing miiliitary wa2 there and everythiing.

[08:46] TA: hm.

[08:47] TA: what el2e you got on thii2 jam.

[08:49] GC: B3C4US3 YOU OCC4S1ON4LLY M4K3 3XCUS3S TO G3T OUT OF C3RT41N 3V3NTS H3H3H3

[08:50] TA: wow.

[08:52] GC: FROM TH3 1NFORM4T1ON 1V3 R3C31V3D, TH3R3 H4S B33N MULT1PL3 K1DN4PP1NGS 4ND D1S4PP34R4NC3S TO TH3 3XT3NT TH4T 1T 1S 4 C4US3 OF CONC3RN

[08:53] TA: locatiional radiiu2?

[08:53] GC: TH1S 1S OCCURR1NG 1N D4V3S 'ST4T3' WH1CH 1 4SSUM3 1S 4 T3RR1TOR14L UN1T OF SOM3 SORT

[08:54] TA: hm.

[08:54] GC: T4X3S?

[08:54] GC: T4XUS?

[08:54] GC: T3XUS?

[08:54] TA: texa2.

[08:54] GC: R1GHT

[08:55] TA: got anybody el2e on board or are we tackliing thii2 two try and redeem our2elve2 lmao.

[08:57] GC: YOU H4V3 4 V3RY GOOD PO1NT TH3R3

[08:58] GC: TH1S WOULD B3 4 GOLD3N OPPORTUN1TY TO PROV3 W3 H4V3 4 H4NDL3 ON OUR M3NT4L C4P4C1T13S

[08:58] TA: ii'd 2ay.

[08:58] GC: 1T M4Y NOT B3 MY PL4C3 TO 4SK, BUT...W1LL F3F3R1 KNOW 4BOUT TH1S?

[08:59] TA: well, how diid you fiind out about iit.

[09:00] GC: 1T W4S POST3D ON TH3 BULL3T1N BO4RD OUTS1D3 TH3 COURTHOUS3

[09:00] GC: TH3Y USU4LLY 4NNOUNC3 M33T1NGS, N3WS, TH3 L1K3

[09:01] TA: ii'm pretty 2ure the bulletiin board ii2 an iimperiial dii2triibutiion.

[09:02] TA: con2iideriing ii'm 2tiill hacked iintwo the maiin forum and get update2 on every feed eheh.

[09:02] GC: H4H4H4H4

[09:02] GC: 1 M34N W1LL F3F3R1 KNOW TH4T W3'R3 GO1NG?

[09:02] GC: TOG3TH3R

[09:02] GC: 4G41N

[09:02] TA: ii don't 2ee why iit would matter.

[09:03] GC: 1 DONT KNOW

[09:03] GC: CONS1D3R1NG TH3 SUCC3SS OF OUR L4ST M1SS1ON...

[09:03] TA: thii2 doe2n't 2ound liike a crii2ii2 iin whiich there'2 a liine any thiinner than fiifty kiilo2 between liife and death.

[09:04] GC: WH4T 4 R3L13F >:/

[09:04] TA: the 2ucce22 of our la2t mii22iion ii2 debatable by defiiniitiion of 2ucce22.

[09:04] TA: iit doe2n't determiine what wiill happen on the next.

[09:04] TA: that'2 all that matter2.

[09:04] GC: BY 4LL 3XT3NS1V3 PURPOS3S 1T W4S 4 SUCC3SS

[09:05] GC: BUT 1 W4S R3F3RR1NG TO TH3 BOD1LY D4M4G3 W3 SUST41N3D 1N TH3 4FT3RM4TH

[09:05] GC: BUT L3TS NOT G3T 1NTO THOS3 JU1CY D3T41LS

[09:05] TA: let'2 not.

[09:06] TA: anyway. iif you were hopiing two recruiit me, con2iider that a 2ucce22 two.

[09:06] TA: when do we head out?

[09:07] GC: SOON 1M HOP1NG

[09:07] TA: very 2peciifiic. want two convene and formulate 2ome 2oliid plan2 beforehand?

[09:08] TA: you 2hould really 2ee my place, ii wa2n't kiiddiing when ii 2aiid iit wa2 clean.

[09:08] GC: 4R3 YOU S3R1OUS?

[09:09] TA: why do you keep a22umiing ii'm full of 2hiit.

[09:09] GC: WH4T H4V3 YOU B33N DO1NG OV3R TH3R3?

[09:09] TA: exii2tiing.

[09:09] GC: OBV1OUSLY

[09:10] GC: 1T S33MS TO M3 YOUV3 DON3 SOM3 3XT3NS1V3 SCOUR1NG 1N YOUR OTH3RW1S3 UNN4V1G4BL3 H1V3ST3M

[09:10] TA: ii could alway2 naviigate ju2t fiine.

[09:11] GC: TH4TS B3C4US3 YOU C4N JUST FLY OV3R 4LL YOUR STUFF

[09:11] TA: nah, ii ju2t know where everythiing ii2.

[09:11] GC: 1 HOP3 YOU C4N H34R M3 S1GH1NG FROM WH3R3 YOU 4R3

[09:11] GC: B3C4US3 1 4M S1GH1NG

[09:12] GC: S1111GH

[09:12] TA: whoa. ii ju2t fell out of my chaiir from the 2econdhand force of that 2iigh.

[09:12] TA: miight ii 2ugge2t a miint.

[09:12] GC: H4H4H4 YOUR3 H1L4R1OUS

[09:13] GC: TH4T 4-S1GH3D, W3 M4Y N33D 3XTR4 P4RT13S FOR TH1S ON3, SO 1 W4S GO1NG TO P3ST3R 4 F3W OTH3RS TO S33 1F TH3YD L1K3 TO 4TT3ND

[09:15] GC: 1 W4S TH1NK1NG M4YB3 D4V3 4ND ON3 OF TH3 Z4HH4KS?

[09:15] GC: K4RKL3S 4LR34DY KNOWS

[09:15] GC: H3S JUST W41T1NG ON TH3 D3P4RTUR3 T1M3

[09:20] TA: a zahhak? hm.

[09:20] TA: equiine mon2tro2iitiie2 a2iide, TZ are you ju2t roundiing up your gaggle of douchebag2 for 2ome qualiity a22 kiickiing tiime?

[09:21] TA: 2ound2 liike you're roundiing up your gaggle of douchebag2 for 2ome qualiity a22 kiickiing tiime.

[09:34] GC: YOUR3 4BSOLUT3LY R1GHT

[09:34] GC: 1 *4M* ROUND1NG UP MY G4GGL3 OF DOUCH3B4GS FOR SOM3 QU4L1TY 4SS K1CK1NG T1M3

[09:36] TA: riight on.

[09:44] GC: 1LL B3 SUR3 TO 1NFORM YOU WH3N TH3 QU4L1TY 4SS K1CK1NG T1M3 1S TO B3G1N >:]

[09:44] GC: 4 P4RT OF M3 W4NTS TO COMM4ND33R 4 SP4C3SH1P

[09:45] GC: 1NST34D OF TR4V3LL1NG TH3 BOR1NG W4Y V14 TR4NSPORT4L1Z3R OR F3N3STR4T3D PL4N3

[09:45] TA: let'2 2tiick two bulkiing up on proteiin bar2 and power 2hake2 and maybe we can do the planetary da2h.

[09:45] TA: you know, you could fly coach.

[09:46] GC: WH3R3S TH3 FUN 1N TH4T?

[09:46] TA: have you ever traveled between planet2 iin mere miinute2?

[09:47] GC: COM3 TO TH1NK OF 1T 1 DONT B3L13V3 1 H4V3

[09:47] TA: ii've gotten iit down two multiiple2 of 2even.

[09:47] GC: WOW

[09:47] TA: want two?

[09:48] GC: 4LL R1GHT BUT YOUR3 GO1NG TO B3 FLY1NG TH3 NORM4L W4Y

[09:48] GC: 13 W1TH YOUR GODT13R W1NGS

[09:48] GC: 13 W1THOUT YOUR PS1ON1CS

[09:49] TA: what the fuck that defeat2 the purpo2e of flyiing coach.

[09:49] TA: ii'll pa22, you can jack a 2pace2hiip by your2elf lmao.

[09:49] GC: >:[

[09:49] GC: OK4Y F1N3

[09:50] TA: eheheh.

[09:50] GC: 1LL 4LLOW YOU TO DR4G M3 4LONG H4NG1NG ONTO YOUR F1GUR4T1V3 HUM4N CO4TT41LS 4S W3 BL4ST OFF 4G41N

[09:53] TA: iif KK want2 two joiin he can hang off your2 and we can explode iintwo a 2iingle twiinkle iin the niight 2ky.

[09:53] TA: liike iin the human aniime2.

[09:53] TA: or whatever the fuck tho2e are.

[09:54] GC: HMMM Y3S 1 L1K3 TH4T

[09:54] GC: DOUBT H3 WOULD 4GR33 THOUGH

[09:54] GC: W3D H4V3 TO T13 H1M TO US

[09:54] TA: 2ound2 liike a plan.

[09:55] GC: H3LL B3 FL41L1NG L1K3 4 HOOK3D G1LLB34ST 4ND SHOUT1NG 3XPL3T1V3S TH3 3NT1R3 W4Y

[09:56] TA: ii per2onally thiink that add2 a certaiin charii2ma two the getaway.

[09:57] GC: YOUR3 R1GHT

[09:57] GC: 4ND 1T WOULDNT B3 K4RK4T 1F H3 W4SNT

[09:57] TA: exactly.

[10:14] GC: SO 1 GU3SS WHO3V3RS ONL1N3 WH3N SOM3 OF TH3 OTH3RS POP UP W1LL GR4B 4ND K33P TH3M UPD4T3D W1TH TH3 H4PP3N1NGS

[10:15] TA: affiirmatiive.

[10:17] TA: check iin wiith you then.

[10:20] GC: SM3LL Y4 L4T3R!

[10:20] GC: <>

[10:20] TA: <>

[07:43] TT: Mind if I ask you a quick question?

[07:43] TT: It's for research purposes.

[07:45] TA: the fact that you ju2t had two confiirm my iidentiity make2 me que2tiion the durabiiliity of your memory bank, and therefore the valiidiity of thii2 2o called re2earch.

[07:45] TA: but yeah, 2hoot.

[07:45] TT: That's good enough for me.

[07:45] TA: excu2e me?

[07:45] TT: Anyways.

[07:46] TT: A little birdy told me that trolls have different reproduction methods than humans.

[07:46] TA: well no 2hiit.

[07:46] TA: don't tell me ii have two giive you the talk, 2triider. you couldn't have piicked KA for thii2?

[07:47] TT: I don't need a damn sex talk.

[07:47] TT: I just want to know: Does the term "bucket list" have a different connotation as well?

[07:49] TA: waiit, that'2 a phra2e you people actually u2e on a regular ba2ii2?

[07:50] TT: Some people do.

[07:52] TA: what the hell doe2 iit mean two you? becau2e there'2 pretty much only one per2on ii can even thiink of who'd have a lii2t liike that and ii don't thiink that giive2 iit crediibiiliity a2 a common hiivehold phra2e.

[07:54] TT: I told you, this is for research.

[07:54] TT: I'm not telling you what it means to humans until you tell me what it means to trolls.

[07:54] TT: Let's take it easy.

[07:55] TT: What is your first reaction to hearing the phrase "bucket list"?

[07:55] TA: okay, how about ii tell you the per2on who miight have the lii2t and you can gue22 for your2elf, biig2hot.

[07:55] TA: god, 2top 2ayiing iit wtf.

[07:55] TT: "Subject is objecting" isn't really something I want to write down.

[07:56] TA: holy 2hiit.

[07:56] TT: It doesn't help with data collection.

[07:56] TT: What person might have this list you speak of?

[07:56] TA: cronu2 ampora.

[07:56] TT: Cronus Ampora has a bucket list.

[07:56] TT: Duly noted.

[07:56] TA: iit'2 a wiild gue22 but probably not two far off.

[07:57] TT: I see.

[07:58] TT: You still didn't tell me what it means to you, though.

[07:58] TT: I can't just go around asking people if they have bucket lists when it has different connotations to both of us.

[07:58] TA: let me put iit thii2 way. he'2 the only one ii can even thiink of who would have a liiteral lii2t of people he want2 two paiil wiith or 2omethiing becau2e he'2 a fuckiing 2keezeball wiith the egotii2tiical ela2tiiciity of a wad of gum that you couldn't 2crape off the bottom of your 2hoe wiith a jackhammer.

[07:59] TA: two a human iit miight be a 2exual 2piin on a two-do lii2t or whatever. whiich ii am aware ii2 not actually 2uppo2ed two be 2exual.

[07:59] TA: ii mean for ab2olute 2keezeball2, a2 2aiid.

[08:00] TT: Dude.

[08:00] TA: dude.

[08:00] TT: Humans just call a bucket list a list of things they want to do before they die.

[08:00] TA: lmfao.

[08:00] TT: Ever heard the term "kicked the bucket"?

[08:02] TA: only iin the relayiing of embara22iing 2toriie2 where the iimperiial drone ii2n't 2atii2fiied or 2ympathetiic.

[08:02] TA: 2o ii gue22 you could 2ay kiickiing the bucket mean2 death two troll2, two. you know. at a 2peciifiic bad tiime, back on alterniia.

[08:05] TT: Well then.

[08:05] TT: To humans it just means dying in any old way.

[08:05] TT: Boring ways, exciting ways, and tragic ways are all included.

[08:06] TA: okay 2o what you're tryiing two deduce ii2 that bucket2 equal death.

[08:06] TT: Not at all.

[08:06] TT: It's just an old saying.

[08:07] TA: okay, 2o have you collected all the freakii2h data that you requiired.

[08:08] TT: So far you're the only person I've asked so it isn't really credible data.

[08:08] TT: Not yet.

[08:09] TA: alriight, let me rephra2e. have you collected all the freakii2h data that you requiired from me 2peciifiically.

[08:09] TA: a2 iin can we not be talkiing about thii2 anymore.

[08:09] TT: Yeah, sure.

[08:09] TT: You're free.

-- tacticalTechnopath [TT] gave up trolling twofoldAffliction [TA] at 20:09 --

-- tacticalTechnopath [TT] began trolling twofoldAffliction [TA] at 20:09 --

[08:09] TT: For now.

SOLLUX: *He'd had time to get acclimated to his hive again, naturally. His bees had gathered angrily again when he returned, but he got out without a single sting, and began to clean. There was crap on the floor that even he didn't want to be on the floor, there was absolute garbage in the thermal hub -- basically everything had settled into dusty abandonment once again and he was honestly surprised to have not found a squatter in one of the rooms. Change the sopor -- both sides, -- chuck the rotten food, shake out the clothes and blankets strewn about, open a god damned WINDOW and air this place out. It a lot to do, and it was still done too soon for him to have something continuously occupying his attention. He'd gone shopping then, alone, and that was when he first caught wind of the city boiling over in rage. He'd ignored it in favor of focusing on other things, and he returned to his hive with a few hefty bags of actual food for once. He set alarms to sleep, and let himself sleep in a little for the first few days. All in all... quiet. Quiet, and freakishly routine, and none had disturbed him until the noise outside grew unavoidable, and he called for the proverbial regime. The city was clear now, and it was quiet again, though the debacle left him in search of more to stare at than a familiar wall. And thus he wound up on the roof of his hivestem, lying on his back beneath the archway he used to chain his lusus to. Or the thing that looked like the archway he used to chain his lusus to. He had to remind himself that this wasn't the same world, every now and again. He stared at that instead, and the stars beyond the beam, until his phone rang and he lifted it to read over the vaguely worrisome messages that Mituna had decided to leave him, responding with a cautious;*

TA: and iin all my 2weep2 ii have never 2een 2omeone get 2o exciited over front junk. TA: fucking 3C57471C you ju57 don7 know TA: look TA: are you bu5y TA: nope. TA: im no7 7rying 7o be a burden like u5ual bu7 i need 7o be pa7he7ic more 7han 7he normal amoun7 TA: 5o TA: can i come over TA: ii'm on the roof. TA: be 7here in five TA: roger.

MITUNA: *It was four. He hadn't carried himself that swiftly since well...he couldn't remember when, but soon he was landing on the roof of his dancestors hivestem. He looked relaxed, peaceful, everything he needed to be really and Mituna felt guilty for disturbing that peace now. Taking up residence next to the other psionic he sighs quietly*

MITUNA: 5up?

SOLLUX: *He decided not to move from where he had settled, instead setting his phone aside to link his fingers behind his head and cross his ankles, tapping his foot as he waited. Four minutes. When the bright ruby sapphire glow of psionics came into view he tilted his head, not moving much still, because he knew Mituna would sit next to him moments later.*

SOLLUX: contemplatiing the uniiver2e and iit'2 iidiio2yncratiic value a2 oppo2ed two the lack thereof that would probably be ea2iier two 2tudy.

SOLLUX: 2up wiith you?

MITUNA: wow 7ha75 deep 7roll 5hi7cra7e5

MITUNA: haha

MITUNA: fuck no7 a lo7 excep7 bleeding my5elf ou7 and 5hi77ing down my own 7hroa7

MITUNA: mo57ly figura7ively

MITUNA: ...i haven7 been righ7 dude

MITUNA: i don7 know wha7 7o do anymore

SOLLUX: *He scoffed a little as he was called out on his bullshit, which he had expected seeing as it was bullshit, but the acquiesent humor died down quickly.*

SOLLUX: what happened.

MITUNA: i wa5 an a55hole 7ha7 de5erved 7o ge7 fi57ed

MITUNA: you 5aw me back in 7he dream5

MITUNA: oh boy

MITUNA: le75 no7 even ge7 57ar7ed wi7h 7he conver5a7ion i had wi7h k a week ago

MITUNA: 7hrew 7ha7 ou7 7oo

MITUNA: i can7 keep pre7ending im okay

MITUNA: i wan7 my moirail back

MITUNA: bu7 i don7 know if i can 7ru57 him anymore

MITUNA: and i know everyone will 7ell me 7o no7

MITUNA: and i don7 wan7 7o hear 7ha7

SOLLUX: *The mention of him apparently having discontinued his moiraillegience makes Sollux's nose twitch; for a second, just a second, he considers being spiteful and throwing back the same reaction he'd gotten from Mituna when he explained what happened with Feferi. But he wouldn't, and he instead acquiesced to how he 'didn't want to hear' the other things he must be used to getting.*

SOLLUX: follow your gut.

MITUNA: my gu7 7ell5 me he5 a 5hady douchecun7

MITUNA: bu7 he5 my 5hady doucehcun7

SOLLUX: then ii gue22 that 2olve2 that.

MITUNA: i wi5h i7 wa5 7ha7 5imple

SOLLUX: yeah nothiing ii2 2iimple.

MITUNA: wha7 abou7 you

MITUNA: how are you

SOLLUX: lol what about me.

MITUNA: *kind of curls into himself*

MITUNA: how are you feeling

MITUNA: don7 an5wer 7ha7

MITUNA: i know

SOLLUX: *the words come forward without much restraint, even if he doesn't want this to turn into another situation about him.*

SOLLUX: ii’m exii2tiing iin 2D ii2 how ii am.

MITUNA: wha7 doe5 7ha7 even mean

SOLLUX: everythiing ii2 flat and ii forget whether ii have a pul2e or not 2ometiime2.

MITUNA: fuck

MITUNA: here 7ake my pul5e

MITUNA: i don7 wan7 i7

SOLLUX: dude ii dont want iit eiither lmao.

MITUNA: i 7hink im going 7o re7urn i7

MITUNA: i75 overra7ed lmao

SOLLUX: iif only iit were that 2iimple hm.

MITUNA: ba5ically

MITUNA: im 5orry dude

MITUNA: i wan7 you 7o be be77er

MITUNA: 5o bad

MITUNA: youre 7he lea57 awful of u5

MITUNA: you de5erve 7ha7 much

MITUNA: 7o be okay

MITUNA: i 5hould ju57 go back 7o being a braindead muppe7

MITUNA: ahaha

MITUNA: im 5uch fucking 7ra5h

SOLLUX: take that back.

MITUNA: no

SOLLUX: miituna.

SOLLUX: take. iit back.

MITUNA: N0

SOLLUX: you realiize we are goiing iin ciircle2, riight?

MITUNA: 1M 71R3D 0F FUCK1NG 3V3RY7H1NG UP

MITUNA: 1M 50 51CK 0F PR373ND1NG 1M 0KAY

MITUNA: 1 K33P FUCK1NG UP AND HUR71NG P30PL3 1 C4R3 480U7 4ND 1 JU57 W0N7 570P

MITUNA: 1 W4N7 3V3RY7H1NG 70 83 0K4Y 3V3N 7H0UGH 1 KN0W 17 W0N7

SOLLUX: *just listens for now and stares at the sky because this really is the same exact shit he’d said himself a month or so beforehand. seems tuna just caught up with the vocalization.*

MITUNA: 4ND 3V3RY0N3 7H1NK5 1 D0N7 C4R3 8U7 1 D0 1 JU57 D0N7 KN0W H0W 70 D34L W17H 7H1NG5 1N 4 H34L7HY W4Y 50 1 JU57 7URN 1N70 4N 4L00F 455H0L3 7H47 C0M35 0FF UNC4R1NG

SOLLUX: *and because he’s the same he almost scoffs at that*

MITUNA: 1 C4N7 CH4NG3 5H17 N0 M4773R H0W 84D 1 W4N7 70 4ND 17 P15535 M3 0FF 83C4U53 1V3 L173R4LLY 833N 4 5L4V3 70 F473 MY WH0L3 L1F3

MITUNA: i can7 do any7hing righ7

MITUNA: i ha7e my5elf

MITUNA: and all i do i5 hur7

MITUNA: and im a burden

MITUNA: and i make all 7he wrong deci5ion5

MITUNA: ju57

MITUNA: fuck 7hi5

SOLLUX: *drapes an arm across his eyes and sighs*

MITUNA: *wraps arms around legs and buries face in knees*

MITUNA: im 5orry

SOLLUX: *there’s actually literally nothing to say when everything has already been said and all he wants to do is hold his breath until his body gets the message and just turns off. comfort is hard. being a doom player is hard. how the fuck were they supposed to help each other when they couldn’t help themselves.*

SOLLUX: me two.

MITUNA: you don7 ge7 i7

MITUNA: im 5orry

MITUNA: for wha7 i 5aid

MITUNA: for once i didn7 under57and you

MITUNA: and i la5hed ou7

MITUNA: and i didn7 wan7 7o li57en

MITUNA: and i could have lo57 you

MITUNA: and i didn7 li57en

MITUNA: and i yelled in57ead

MITUNA: i 5hould have li57ened

MITUNA: i don7 even know wha7 im 5aying anymore

MITUNA: lmao

SOLLUX: iit doe2n’t really matter anymore.

SOLLUX: but thank2.

MITUNA: youre righ7

MITUNA: i7 doe5n7

MITUNA: none of 7hi5 really ma77er5 7hough doe5 i7

SOLLUX: no

SOLLUX: iit doe2n’t.

MITUNA: 7ha75 wha7 i 7hough7

SOLLUX: we’ve ba2iically an2wered every que2tiion there ever wa2 two a2k. and now we have two 2iit and waiit for people two under2tand the meaniing of the word “iineviitable.”

SOLLUX: everythiing that happen2, happen2 becau2e iit’2 meant two happen, for whatever 2tupiid 2oundiing rea2on there mo2t defiiniitely ii2. SOLLUX: and there ii2 nothiing. we can do.

MITUNA: 7he wor57 par7 i5

MITUNA: i75 inevi7able 7ha7 im going 7o keep 7rying 7o change 7he inevi7able hahaha

MITUNA: 7ha75

MITUNA: our bigge57 difference

MITUNA: and i ha7e i7

SOLLUX: yeah.

MITUNA: i wi5h i could ju57 accep7 i7

MITUNA: bu7 i can7

SOLLUX: iimortaliity ii2 a biitch.

MITUNA: being dead ain7 much fun ei7her

MITUNA: you only know 7he half of i7 7hough huh

MITUNA: *snort. he made a death funny*

SOLLUX: *snort. it was so not funny that it warranted a laugh.*

SOLLUX: you’d know the full deal though 2o how can we even 2iit here wii2hiing we were dead when we know the alternatiive ii2 ju2t a2 much iif not more of a viiciiou2 cycle.

SOLLUX: there ii2 liiterally. no optiion. ever.

MITUNA: keep 7rying i gue55

MITUNA: *sighs*

SOLLUX: wanna ju2t try and not be mii2erable for now or.

MITUNA: i know i can be no7 comple7ely mi5erable

MITUNA: bu7 wha7 abou7 you

MITUNA: ehehehe

SOLLUX: that wa2 a funny joke.

MITUNA: ive go7 an even be77er one

MITUNA: Y0U!!

MITUNA: 4H4H4H4H4H4H4H4H3H3H3H3H3H3H3H3H3H33H3 *SNORT COLLAPSE Tuna ur having too much fun dude.*

SOLLUX: *how did he even inhale enough of a breath to support that laughter what. The corner of his mouth twitches.*

SOLLUX: okay yeah that wa2 of margiinal iimprovement.

MITUNA: *flips self upright, wiping away a tear* damn 57raigh7 i7 wa5

SOLLUX: *snorts, shaking his head in the cradle of his hands behind it* got another one or wa2 that your magnum opu2.

MITUNA: of cour5e i have more bu7 im no7 going 7o wa57e 7hem on you righ7 now becau5e i7 5eem5 like 7ha7 one did 7he 7rick you grumpy bulgewader *idly floats by*

SOLLUX: lame. lazy, even. *watches him out of the corner of his eye, still generally relaxed and not wanting to give that up lest he never get it back.*

MITUNA: youre one 7o 7alk abou7 lazy dildopop

SOLLUX: ii'm comfortable.

SOLLUX: and ii'm not lazy, you 2hould 2ee my hiive. *snorts* iit'2 cleaner than ii thiink iit'2 ever been.

MITUNA: 5o i7 only look5 like a mild ca7a57rophe now?

MITUNA: *tuna bby you can't talk*

SOLLUX: more liike a placiid dii2a2ter. except not. iit'2 really clean.

SOLLUX: have you ever even 2een my hiive.

MITUNA: fuck i don7 remember

SOLLUX: ii don't thiink you have lol.

SOLLUX: *moves a hand to slap the base of the archway next to him* thii2 ii2 miine two.

SOLLUX: not liike ii u2e iit anymore but even back before re2et thii2 wa2 miine.

SOLLUX: *daddy f33ls*

MITUNA: wha75 5o 5pecial abou7 7ha7?

SOLLUX: ii tiied my lu2u2 two iit.

MITUNA: why 7he fuck did you do 7ha7

MITUNA: wai7

MITUNA: i75 becau5 he wa5 a comple7e and u77er fuckwi7

MITUNA: wa5n7 i7

SOLLUX: that, and he wa2 two biig two keep iin the hiive.

SOLLUX: he u2ually plopped hii2 fat butt riight where you're hoveriing.

SOLLUX: but we, *scoffs a laugh* we u2ed two 2triife up here when ii had two feed hiim and 2hiit.

MITUNA: ehehe

MITUNA: bicyclop5?

SOLLUX: yep.

MITUNA: 5ame

SOLLUX: how diid ii gue22.

MITUNA: i didn7 ge7 7o know him well

SOLLUX: why?

MITUNA: *he snorts*

MITUNA: go7 culled

SOLLUX: *blinks*

SOLLUX: well, 2hiit.

MITUNA: 5o 7hey 7ook me from him when i wa5 pre77y young

MITUNA: did i ever 7ell you abou7 culling on beforu5?

SOLLUX: ii thiink you almo2t diid but never actually got around two iit. but ii already know what iit wa2 liike, ii wa2 2tuck on a 2hiip wiith p2ycho 2erket 2.0 and 2he defiiniitely touched on the 2ubject. for liike. three hour2.

SOLLUX: you can tell me agaiin though.

MITUNA: ba5ically i75 7he oppo5i7e of your ver5ion

MITUNA: 7he highblood5 7ake in lowblood5 7ha7 are a7 ri5k or a danger or ju57 can7 7ake care of 7hem5elve5

MITUNA: 5ure bicyclop5 had 7wo head5 and half a brain be7ween each bu7 he 7ried

MITUNA: anyway i go7 7aken away

MITUNA: i did alrigh7 for a new lu5u5

MITUNA: go7 7aken in by 7he empre55 haha

MITUNA: *He gives a small grin at his dancestor*

MITUNA: 5o i grew up wi7h meenah

MITUNA: 7ha7 wa5 fun

MITUNA: excep7 no7 really

SOLLUX: *blinks at him again and fails to find words at first before he nods a little*

SOLLUX: that explaiin2 a lot ii gue22.

MITUNA: like wha7

SOLLUX: ii dont know actually.

SOLLUX: *The way you reacted to my quadrant news maybe. But let's not bring that up a second time. #butthurt*

MITUNA: liar

SOLLUX: no ii really dont know what el2e two 2ay two that ahah.

SOLLUX: *gulps*

SOLLUX: ii kiilled my lu2u2.

MITUNA: i don7 know wha7 happened 7o mine

SOLLUX: the one tiiime the roof wa2n't the be2t place for hiim. *snorts quietly, rolling his eyes. He'd kind of mumbled that to himself.* gue22 iit doe2nt. matter anyway.

MITUNA: wha7 happened?

SOLLUX: miind honey. two tiime2, that ranciid 2hiit got iin my mouth, and both tiime2, 2omebody diied becau2e of iit. *drags his hands down his face* you'd thiink ii'd 2top thiinkiing about that crap. but then ii remembered thii2 wa2 up here and ii remembered how ii blew iit two 2miithereen2.

SOLLUX: eh.

MITUNA: fuck 7ha75 rough

MITUNA: 5orry dude

SOLLUX: lol nah forget ii brought iit up. iit'2 cool.

SOLLUX: where do you even liive anyway. liike, before we were palace bound.

MITUNA: mo57ly wi7h 7ula and k

MITUNA: whichever

SOLLUX: *grunts a little in acknowledgment, nodding again*

MITUNA: *he looks over at the archway*

MITUNA: im 5ure hed be proud of wha7 an in5ufferable 5hi7 youve become

SOLLUX: *laughs out loud at that*

MITUNA: *He grins. That laugh felt natural*

SOLLUX: yeah your2 two.

MITUNA: *snorts* 5ure wha7ever dude

SOLLUX: *Thinks his dad would probably just be sad.*

SOLLUX: you know, ii'm lookiing around the ciity for vacanciie2, and here ii am thiinkiing maybe that'2 not 2uch a good iidea 2eeiing a2 riiot2 and 2hiit apparently 2tiill break out around here.

MITUNA: well wha7 7he fuck are you gonna do?

SOLLUX: no, not for me, for AA.

SOLLUX: 2he doe2nt have anywhere 2oliid two go eiither. ii wa2 gonna 2ay ii'd look around for you two iif you wanted 2omewhere ju2t your2 but then ii remembered lol thii2 place blow2.

MITUNA: bro 7he palace ha5 unlimi7ed cake

MITUNA: why would i leave 7ha7 life

MITUNA: plu5...7ula5 7here

SOLLUX: *makes kind of a face to himself at the prior sentiment* well yeah ii ju2t meant everyone2 gonna dii2per2e agaiin at 2ome poiint and even iif you go liive wiith her 2ometiime2 iit'2 good two have a place that'2 ju2t your2. nevermiind ahahah.

MITUNA: no i ge7 i7

MITUNA: and i feel you dude

MITUNA: ill 7alk 7o her and maybe well 57ar7 looking

MITUNA: *But the palace is home...kind of. It's just like the one he grew up in*

SOLLUX: *This is where they differ. He simply nods once more* ju2t a halfbaked offer eheh.

MITUNA: i hope youre proud of your5elf for 7ha7 one becau5e holy 5hi7 wa5 i7 undercooked

SOLLUX: JC never gave me that le22on ii 2wear 2he promii2ed me.

MITUNA: haha

SOLLUX: what'2 been goiing on over there anyway.

MITUNA: *shrugs*

MITUNA: fuck if i know

SOLLUX: 2ound2 fun.

MITUNA: 5orry

MITUNA: i 5pend 7oo much 7ime wi7h my own head 5hoved up my a55 7o really ge7 a feel for wha75 happening

MITUNA: 7ha7 and i don7 really care

MITUNA: 7he par7y wa5 pre77y cool for wha7 i7 wa5

MITUNA: 7he mu5cle57eed5 go7 in a 57reng7h compe7i7ion and 7he le55 weird one lif7ed 7he hive

SOLLUX: uh.

MITUNA: i7 wa5 fucking grea7

MITUNA: un7il roxy go7 hur7

MITUNA: 8(

SOLLUX: what the fuck.

MITUNA: and eridan blew up a7 him

MITUNA: and meenah choked 7he o7her one ou7

SOLLUX: *rolls onto his face and makes an exasperated noise against the roof*

MITUNA: and feferi punched equiu5 in 7he face

SOLLUX: *muffled snort*

SOLLUX: niice.

SOLLUX: but whiich one ii2 the one you con2iider le22 weiird becau2e

MITUNA: 7he one 7ha7 doe5n7 7hink he5 a pony

MITUNA: al7hough horu55 i5 pre77y cool now

SOLLUX: wow.

SOLLUX: yeah that'2 one of our partiie2 for you.

SOLLUX: every. fuckiing. tiime.

MITUNA: yep haha

MITUNA: bu7 i7 wa5 cool

SOLLUX: that'2 good ii gue22. *fold his arms under his head to rest his cheek against his forearm*

MITUNA: 7ha75 abou7 i7 really

MITUNA: i go7 baking le55on5 from jane before the rio7 5hi7

SOLLUX: no faiir.

SOLLUX: ii need two learn two bake my offer2.

MITUNA: a5k meenah ehehe

SOLLUX: not a chance iin any corner of hell.

SOLLUX: 2he 2tiill doe2nt know ii jacked up one of her cake2 from liike eiight month2 ago.

MITUNA: 5he will now 8V

SOLLUX: dude you knew about that though wtf.

SOLLUX: you were my aliibii.

SOLLUX: where ii2 the tru2t.

SOLLUX: ii'm gonna have two kiick you off the roof now.

MITUNA: aww fuck 7ha75 a long way down

SOLLUX: ii know lol ii've fallen off here before.

SOLLUX: you'll love iit, really.

MITUNA: im 5ure i will haha

SOLLUX: *backfiiiired.*

SOLLUX: wanna go iin2iide or 2omethiing and play a game or whatever.

MITUNA: yeah 7ha7 5ound5 cool

SOLLUX: *manually pushes himself to his feet and stretches. Yes, they are using the trap door. Andale.*

MITUNA: *Follows the other captor dude*

SOLLUX: *And voila. My beautiful hive. So beauty. Much clean.*

MITUNA: holy 5hi7 i7 15 clean

SOLLUX: ii told you, dog.

MITUNA: you warned me bro

SOLLUX: *snorts and plops on over to his chair here tuna you can have the beanbag chair and we will fade into fun vidya game times*

[01:46] TG: this is red one

[01:46] TG: do you copy

[01:46] TA: yeah.

[01:46] TA: what ii2 iit.

[01:47] TG: uh just checkin in on a homie who isnt really a homie but more like a homies homie like yeah i know that guy

[01:48] TA: why.

[01:50] TG: does it matter

[01:51] TG: im not trying to scope your social security number so i can take down the regime from the inside or anything

[01:51] TA: maybe not, but ii 2tiill faiil two under2tand why you'd be checkiing iin on me.

[01:55] TG: i dont know but there are 33 other people in the universe who are in the same shitty holey boat as me and i guess it would be pretty depressing if that number shrunk

[01:55] TA: the fuck'2 that 2uppo2ed two mean.

[01:55] TG: also we have really tenuous connections that wont hold water weight but provide some kind of excuse under pressure

[01:55] TG: which is what i am

[01:56] TA: alriight let me rephra2e.

[01:56] TA: what do you thiink you know.

[01:57] TG: about life the universe and entropy

[01:57] TG: a lot but not enough

[01:57] TG: like where do people go beyond the dreambubbles

[01:57] TG: is death just a cycle of shitty identical afterlives

[01:57] TG: successively growing more and more pointless

[02:04] TA: probably two 2omeone.

[02:05] TG: what

[02:07] TA: there were probably 2ome dead dude2 iin there who liiked the afterliife better and broke pattern. there'2 liiterally no way of knowiing, they were all diifferent.

[02:07] TG: sure but at the same time they were kind of all the same

[02:08] TG: you just die and date forever

[02:08] TA: there'2 probably a poiint where you lo2e track and iit doe2nt matter.

[02:09] TG: it is so close on the horizon

[02:09] TG: and im not even really dead anymore

[02:11] TA: halfway wa2n't 2o bad.

[02:12] TG: how can you even be half dead

[02:14] TA: ii diidn't que2tiion iit.

[02:15] TA: 2ometiime2 everythiing ii2 2tiil 2D.

[02:17] TA: 2tatiic, you know?

[02:20] TG: sure

[02:20] TG: maybe

[02:20] TG: ive never been half dead

[02:21] TG: but if you mean that dead and not dead are more or less the same

[02:22] TG: and sometimes you still feel like you are swimming in some emo otaku preteens wet tentacle dream of dark dank awfulness

[02:22] TG: or other times everything is just kinda flat and youre like dang son where did all this gravity come from

[02:22] TG: then yeah

[02:23] TA: yeah.

[02:23] TA: but that briing2 me back two the fiir2t que2tiion ii wa2 tryiing two a2k.

[02:23] TA: how diid you know.

[02:25] TG: how did i know what

[02:25] TA: you know what.

[02:26] TG: feferi told me

[02:26] TA: niice.

[02:27] TG: yeah it was some prime bonding time

[02:28] TG: that was sarcasm by the way

[02:28] TA: thank2 for cleariing that up for me.

[02:33] TA: 2o wa2 thii2 ju2t a pul2e check or were you expecting 2ome kiind of verbo2e re2pon2e.

[02:36] TG: i guess i was expecting a verbose pulse

[02:47] TA: 2orry two dii2appoiint.

[02:47] TG: its ok i can forgive you

[02:48] TA: lol.

[02:48] TG: i was just thinking about tz and our mass hallucinations you know

[02:48] TG: it wasnt really about the thing that feferi told me

[02:49] TG: that aint my business

[08:30] TA: no, iit really ii2n't your bu2iine22.

[08:30] TA: 2o iif iit ii2n't about that, how diid thiinkiing of TZ and the ma22 halluciinatiion2 lead you here.

[08:31] TG: dude

[08:31] TG: youre her moirail

[08:31] TG: her wicked pale bro

[08:32] TA: you were wiith her though weren't you? you'd probably know better than even me how 2he'2 doiing.

[08:32] TG: her diamonds

[08:32] TG: her weirdly platonic romantic cuddle buddy

[08:32] TG: her vent blog

[08:32] TA: can you not.

[08:32] TA: ii thiink you exhau2ted all the metaphor2.

[08:32] TG: her respiration administration and emotional baggage porter

[08:33] TA: ii 2tand 2omewhat corrected.

[08:34] TG: yeah i was with her

[08:34] TG: but i havent talked to her since

[08:35] TA: 2he told me 2ome 2tuff about what happened but iit feel2 2potty.

[08:35] TA: wa2 2he okay?

[08:35] TG: do you want the honest and also obvious answer or the answer that will make you feel better

[08:36] TA: ii2 that even a que2tiion.

[08:36] TG: obviously since im asking it

[08:37] TA: ju2t tell me what happened.

[08:37] TA: you can 2kiip the 2ea tu2kbea2t.

[08:37] TA: ii got the freaky dl on that already.

[08:37] TG: wait she didnt tell you

[08:37] TG: huh

[08:37] TG: well i know its bullshit because i talked to karkat

[08:38] TG: but while we were there we got some bogus pchum messages

[08:38] TG: did she mention it

[08:39] TA: yeah that part ii got.

[08:40] TA: ii ju2t feel liike there'2 2omethiing el2e 2he ii2n't telliing me, beyond that.

[08:40] TA: whatever, ii'll fiigure iit out my2elf.

[08:41] TG: if youre gonna try and sleuth your way around pyrope good luck

[08:41] TG: especially considering that none of this really happened so theres nothing to sleuth anyway

[08:41] TG: it was all just a big fakey fake fuckfest

[08:42] TA: well, obviiou2ly. but ii've been around the block a few tiime2 wiith fakey fake fuckfe2t2 2tiill feeliing real.

[08:43] TA: all thii2 iinva2iion on mentaliity ii2 gonna 2tart weariing hole2, whether we feel iit riight now or not.

[08:43] TA: pan2 aren't iinde2tructiible.

[08:45] TG: in human society yes they basically are but ill let that slide

[08:45] TG: are you implying that we are all gonna lost it because that already happened remember

[08:45] TA: ii ju2t mean iit'2 taxiing.

[08:46] TG: yeah

[10:13] TA: 2o diid you come here hopiing ii had 2ome deet2 on her or 2omethiing that ii'd be wiilliing two relay.

[10:14] TG: yes TA: well, ii don't. 2orry two dii2appoiint agaiin.

TG: does that mean you dont want to tell me

TG: or does that mean she actually hasnt told you anything

TA: iit mean2 ii haven't talked two her iin a couple of day2 eiither. iif iit help2 ii wa2 planniing on fiixiing that twoniight but how about iin2tead of waiitiing for me two tell you all her 2hiit, you do the 2ame and a2k her your2elf. 2iince you're that worriied.

TG: fine

TG: i will

TG: thanks for nothin

TA: ii really can't beliieve you actually thought iit'd benefiit you two a2k me iin2tead of her.

TG: i have my reasons

TG: but they are so full of mysterious and complicated bullshit that you could never understand

TA: ii thiink you mean "don't want two under2tand."

TG: it all comes out to the same thing doesnt it

TA: ju2t know iit'2 entiirely voluntary.

TG: yeah sure

TG: keep telling yourself that bro

TG: you just dont get me because i am all kinds of complex

TG: im an enigma

TG: a puzzle that your geeky fingers are just begging to touch

TG: well guess what

TG: no one gets to see whats behind these shades

TG: im more mysterious that the pyramids

TG: ive got more dead bodies buried inside me than the great wall of china

TA: oh 2o that'2 why you reek.

TA: you 2hould really get that checked out.

TG: please as if you have even been that close to me in the past six years

TG: nice try huckleberry hound

TA: ever thiink ii could 2mell you from all the way over here.

TA: ii diid take a couple le22on2 iin 2niiff aerobiic2.

TG: is that why your nose is so damn long

TG: have you been stretching

TA: okay my no2e ii2n't that long.

TG: you could use people to stop up your nosebleeds

TA: and ii merciifully do not.

TG: yeah well im just saying those nose aerobics really paid off

TG: you could use that sniffer as a weapon

TG: in fact you probably do

TG: do you ever cut yourself blowing your nose

TA: do you ever look back at your log2 and realiize you're iin2ufferable.

TG: i try to live in the present but its so hard when youre a time traveller

TA: that'2 deep.

TG: thanks i worked on it for a long time

TG: been waiting to use that one

TA: diid you ju2t try and make another tiime pun ju2t now.

TG: did i

TG: oops

TG: what are you going to do about it

TG: call the pun police

TG: they might be here in a jiffy but the only think jiffy means to me is second rate peanut butter

TA: 2o what you're 2ayiing ii2 you're ba2iically tryiing two 2ummon a 2hiitty 2andwiich.

TG: no you are

TG: i would be out of here before you could say 'peanut butter jelly time peanut butter jelly time'

TA: ii'm about two be out of here ju2t becau2e you 2aiid that.

TG: what

TG: why

TG: which part

TA: pretty much everythiing you've 2aiid 2iince you me22aged me.

TG: dang

TG: i thought i was being charming

TA: an attempt wa2 made.

TG: right sure

TG: hey by the way which candy ass shroom trip did you land your pointy nose on

TA: the one wiith the church and the 2hiitty clown and the coiin2 and a bliimp.

TA: ro2e wa2 there.

TG: oh great did you guys bond

TA: no lol.

TG: perhaps you are now in a clandestine relationship with my sister filling some other polyromantic bullshit quadrant i didnt even know about

TA: what the 2hiit?

TG: i mean who knows since there are all kinds of crazy secret relationships going on right under everyones nose

TG: free love on the streets right

TG: like in one type of romance you cant wear shoes in each others presence but in the other

TG: youre legally required to braid each others hair once a week

TG: i dont know man i dont know who is in bed with my sister nowadays

TG: metaphorically kind of

TA: wow.

TA: ii don't know what el2e two 2ay two all that but wow.

TG: whats that supposed to mean

TG: i dont need your judgment you lispy fuck

TG: i am completely in control of all my relationships

[ | Edited 11:50:48 PM] TA: ii thought we were talkiing about LL'2 relatiion2hiip2.

TG: she is completely in control of all her relationships too

TA: okay 2o then why are you biitchiing about them.

TG: thats none of your beeswax

TA: you diid not ju2t.

TG: what

TA: nevermiind.

TG: what

TA: nevermiind.

TG: what did i do

TG: i can make it right

TG: just tell me what to do so i can win your love back

TA: no, the damage ii2 done.

TA: omfg.

TG: ill regret this day for the rest of my life

TA: damn 2traiight.

TG: the day i used an awful colloquialism and lost sollux captor forever

TA: the only thiing left two do ii2 move on.

TG: but where do i go from here

TG: baby its cold outside

TA: not really my problem.

TG: fine

TG: i guess ill have to make some grand gesture or something

TG: you wait

TA: what the.

TG: its gonna be hilarious

TG: anyway bye

TA: well then.

[11:41] TA: *He had retreated to the cafeteria some time after hearing Feferi' voice over his shoulder in the infirmary, not ready to face her in the least and not ready to be back in this place after he had made the decision to leave. Made a decision that he apparently wasn't allowed to make, because apparently, whatever string of fate he was riding didn't want to let him do a single thing to help himself. He poked at a little bowl of macaroni and cheese before deciding that he didn't actually want it right now, moving to throw it out, and in a short glance through the doors he caught the sight of a familiar set of horns set in wild hair. Stepping out to meet her, he cleared his throat a little bit.* hey.

[11:51] AA: *the sudden voice didn't startle her, because part of her was anticipating him. It was just a feeling she had. Possibily because she was just thinking about him, so it seemed only natural that he show up out of the blue. She turns her head to smile at him and cast a greeting his way.* hi s0llux

[12:01] TA: *He returns the smile, fighting the urge to lean against the wall and glancing up at the painting she was looking at instead. A painting he'd seen a million times before. Pacing. Wow. He thought he'd have words by now, but now that they'd all...woken up, it was strange. Because now there were thoughts that were made real that he hadn't known were figment before, or even bothered acknowledging that he had at all. It had felt natural to be close to her without a thought of consequence or circumstance, and now that those things existed again, he was at a momentary loss for words. Maybe if he tried smiling again.*

[12:16] AA: *his loss of words made her giggle softly to herself, smile widening to match his. It was wonderful to be back and here with his dorky self again. But as similar thoughts crept back into her mind, she turned back to stare up at the painting. Now she was at a loss for words. How strange. She supposed there was no harm in defaulting to small talk.* h0w are y0u feeling?

[12:23] TA: *Wow, he was even lamer than he'd bothered to remember this entire time, and he made a slight face at himself when she looked away again, shrugging a shoulder even though she couldn't see.* ii'm not 2ure. ii thiink ii'm okay. what about you?

[12:30] AA: im 0kay *the smile fades. was she really, though? perhaps saying "I'm okay" had just become so second nature that she didn't think twice to really question it anymore. But maybe... maybe for once, she wasn't actually okay.* well i think *laughs, but it's humorless* i guess were in the same b0at there!

[12:35] TA: *He glanced over at her face, his mouth twisting to the side a little.* yeah. ii gue22. *he pauses a little, clasping his hands behind his back and cracking his knuckles idly.* ii wii2h ii had liike, ju2t one rea2on why ii wouldn't be 2ure about that.

[12:56] AA: me t00 *teeters back and forth on her heels, humming to herself as she chooses her next words* were all back in 0ne piece and every0ne seems t0 be fine! im thankful f0r all that

[12:56] AA: i guess maybe there were just s0me things ab0ut 0ur dream that

[12:56] AA: im s0rt 0f missing

[12:58] TA: *his gaze falls to the ground at that and he chews on the inside of his cheek a bit, also taking the time to choose his own words, though no matter how many ran through his head, the obvious and most truthful answer was always,* me two.

[01:18] AA: i had a place t0 stay that was all my 0wn! n0w im back and immediately i saw... *doesn't even bother finishing that statement* i was reminded i d0nt have a h0me

[01:18] AA: eridan t0ld me that r0xy 0ffered her place but h0nestly i was enj0ying staying with y0u bef0re we fell asleep *pauses* and while we were asleep t00

[01:18] AA: but it w0uld pr0bably be best if i did stay with them *flinches as she's quick to realize the implication that staying with Sollux wasn't something that was okay and she looks off down the hall, away from him, covering her tracks with another chuckle*

[02:44] TA: *It was strange even now for her to visibly allow any traces of being troubled slip through the cracks, even to him, maybe especially to him, because after so long what right did he really have to know? He wrings his hands a little behind his back, nodding to himself a few times, though the last words stung more than he would have cared to admit. He still had a decision to honor.*

[02:44] TA: probably.

[08:20] AA: *perhaps it would be best to divert the conversation to something less depressing... She didn't intend to be avoidant, but shifting the focus to something more positive was probably something they could both use* but while im there

[08:20] AA: it might be a g00d idea t0 l00k int0 finding a new hive 0f my 0wn

[08:20] AA: *taps her chin with one finger* which is such a strange c0ncept t0 me! im s0 used t0 living in the hives c0nstructed in 0ur y0uth *though that in itself was odd for her... having her home reconstructed upon revival was as surreal as anything else* maybe i sh0uld try living in the city near y0u

[08:24] TA: *He shifted to lean against the wall anyway after a bit, no longer able to will himself to stand straight and think at the same time. He hummed a little in contemplation.* you 2ure you can deal wiith the noii2e? ii mean, ii know there are vacanciie2 iin 2ome of the communal hiive2tem2 due two death and abandonment, the u2ual 2hiit, but you know how bu2y iit get2 there. there aren't any cool place2 two excavate.

[08:41] AA: thats the thing th0ugh *turns on her heel to face him again, now that she was feeling a little perkier* i d0nt suspect ill be spending t00 much time in the hivebl0ck. i d0nt require a l0t 0f space h0nestly! i just need a place t0 return t0 f0r resting

[08:41] AA: plus after being in such a huge and empty hive f0r s0 l0ng *sighs through her nose, a hint of sadness in her eyes, though her smile doesn't falter* i w0uldnt mind the hustle and bustle 0f a city

[08:44] TA: huh. *nods a little* yeah, ii can 2ee iit. plu2 the 2hop2 are clo2er. and iit'2 not liike there are anymore drone2 knockiing down the door2. *looks down at the ground for a second; things were different now, they were better, so why didn't it feel that way?* the ciity would be better two liive iin than iit wa2 2o maybe you're riight.

[08:44] TA: ii can look around for tho2e vacanciie2 iif you want.

[08:44] TA: let you know iif ii fiind anythiing good. *shrug*

[09:22] AA: thank y0u s0llux *her smile widens, the fragment of melancholy melting away into sincere gratitude. she laughs lightly at herself for what she wants to do, but extends her arms all the same in offering of a hug.* y0uve really been l00king 0ut f0r me and i appreciate it a l0t *come on let me thank you*

[09:26] TA: *He stared at her for a second, chewing on the inside of his cheek again as he stepped to lean into the impending embrace* nah, ii'm pretty 2ure iit wa2 the other way around. *It usually was, wasn't it? Just before this began, she'd been doing that, and she hadn't stopped. But still, the swirling in his stomach at the sound of those words probably had to do with the fact that he had always wanted to return the favor somehow.*

[09:27] TA: 2o, you're welcome. and thank2, two.

[10:12] AA: *slowly her arms coil around him into a tight embrace, her forehead finding the place on his shoulder where it fits perfectly. She relished in the affection, realizing that it was something she really needed at that time, even if it wasn't something she was typically reliant on. Her eyes shut as she, ironically, loses track of time in the embrace.*

[10:29] TA: *He fell silent as he did about the same exact thing, leaning against the solidity that was everything she always stood for, could stand through, and pressing his face to her hair. Some parts of him were still tired, but most of him just wanted to find some reason not to hightail out of this place in a bright flash right on the spot, and the fact that she was almost always that reason should have been reason enough to back away. But he didn't want to, not when it was just them, and he could stay still with no fear. Like it had been when the antics in Lethargum had died down to leave only them in a house together with all they could ever need; probably the only good thing about that place, because it had been real once, and had always been good*

[11:56] AA: *she realized that she was lingering long after an appropriate amount of time had passed, but she felt so comfortable there, that for that prolonged moment she could only focus on those feelings. She was going to miss the routines they had visited once again, and while the reason behind that frightened her a bit, she wouldn't let it consume her. All things would work out at they should, and with that bit of comfort, she finally left the hug, but with a smile.*

[11:57] TA: *He sighed a bit through his nose when they finally parted, rolling his shoulders idly with a sniff and a smile of his own.* ii thiink ii 2hould get goiing 2oon.

[12:04] AA: alright s0llux *folds her hands behind her back, bobbing her head up and down while considering the things she should be doing herself* me t00 actually... there are s0me pe0ple id like t0 catch up with

[12:04] TA: eheheh there are people ii'd liike two not. *glances down*

[12:09] TA: *reaches to rub the back of his head* ii'm gonna probably talk two TZ and KK before headiing out agaiin. check out tho2e vacanciie2 eheh.

[12:15] AA: *laughs lightly at his first comment before nodding with understanding* all g00d ideas! ill be waiting anxi0usly f0r devel0pments 0n the hive situati0n hehe

[12:18] TA: all the more rea2on for me two get back a2ap. *nods back, smiling crookedly and glancing down the hall to deflect from the fact that some instinct told him to just lean for another embrace despite having just stepped out of one.* 2o. ii'm gonna go and. do that. yep. *it requires you walking away sollux gdi*

[12:34] AA: *her giggling persists enough to bring color to her cheeks. It seemed like they were both reluctant to go their seperate ways, but she takes the initiative and casts a wave his way while backing away to head down the hall* ill talk t0 y0u again s00n

[12:32] GC: *1n her dream Terezi had only been standing in the black. 1t wasn't a deep shadow of space that spanned endless miles, but rather a pleasant, peaceful blackness where she felt safe and secure and had a place to think. Gradually she realized she was no longer alone in the dark; a gentle touch on her shoulder by someone she couldn't sense followed by a soft, familiar voice she vaguely recognized pulled her from her slumber like she was rising out of a recuperacoon to take the first breath of night air. Blearily opening her eyes, her senses focused to the realization that Sollux was awake. Further inspection revealed that she was drooling all over his blanket. Slurping up her spit and wiping the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand then wiping said hand on her pant leg, she straightened up to make herself appear more presentable. That is, as much as she could with pressure lines from the blanket all over her face.*

[12:37] TA: *A faint smile pulled at his mouth as she tried to compose herself and wipe the drool away, drool he hadn't even felt the need to make fun of her for because it was her drool and it was gross and funny and perfect because it was /her/ drooling all over his blanket and he hadn't had the opportunity to make fun of her drool in far too long. So, he'd privately appreciate the drool.* niice nap? *His voice was crackly and quiet with sleep and the effort of trying not to wake anyone but her.*

[12:42] GC: *Her face lights up like it's Troll 1ndependence Day* YOUR3 4L-W4K3

[12:46] TA: *Ohshit, tthat face makes his chest burst with his own relief mixed with the inevitable guilt of knowing she had been awake before him.* 2orry for the delay. had a problem at checkout. made me re2can my IID and everythiing. do ii look under 2even 2weep2 two you?

[12:50] GC: *1t initially confuses her when he starts off with a joke; she almost took it seriously, but after a second, her wide smile spreads into an even wider one.* DO YOU W4NT TH3 COLD H4RD TRUTH OR TH3 SUG4RY 1RR3S1ST4BL3 GL4Z3?

[12:53] TA: eheheh. up two you. eiither way, ii'm good. *huffs a barely detectable laugh through his nose, still smiling at her* are you?

[12:57] GC: M3? 1M GR34T >:] *One could almost hear the "1'm better now that 1've been reassured of your status as alive, well, and functional.'*

[01:04] TA: *He could hear something, alright, even if he had no way of knowing her prior worries. He continues to smile, nodding a little bit, before scooting backwards a little to make more room on the mattress. Get over here, Pyrope.*

[01:05] GC: *Clambers up next to him without a word. Thought 1'd have to start dropping hints, Sollux.*

[01:07] TA: *Nah, he just wanted to give the drool puddle a chance to dry a little, ya dig.*

[01:09] GC: *Oh. Right.* JUDG1NG BY YOUR 3XPR3SS1ON TH4T S33MS N31TH3R 4L4RM3D NOR CONFUS3D, 1 4SSUM3 YOU 4LR34DY KNOW WH4T H4PP3N3D TO 4LL OF US

[01:10] TA: *He curls his arms around her shoulders without question, tucking her close and sighing against her hair* yep. ii woke up for a liittle before, and KK explaiined iit. you were 2leepiing agaiin.

[01:10] TA: ate a 2andwiich. pa22ed out agaiin. *snort*

[01:11] TA: two be hone2t ii had a feeliing iit wa2 2omethiing kiind of liike thii2. ju2t. *sigh* diidn't know how two get the fuck out. where were you?

[01:12] GC: TH3Y MOV3D M3 W1THOUT MY CONS3NT *frowns a little but it returns upon the mention of the return of the sandwich*

[01:13] TA: they probably ju2t diidn't want you giiviing your2elf a cramp or whatever.

[01:15] GC: TH3 THOUGHT 1S 4PPR3C14T3D *The following sigh is long and drawn out* 1F YOU R34LLY C4NT CONT41N YOUR CUR1OS1TY, 1 W4S 1N 4 PL4C3 WH3R3 3V3RYTH1NG SM3LL3D OF COTTON C4NDY

[01:16] GC: TH3 4TMOSPH3R3 F3LT L1K3 W3 W3R3 STUCK 1N 4N 3NDL3SS C1RCL3 OF R3GR3T 4ND M3L3NCHOLY TH4T B4S1C4LLY SUCK3D B4LLS

[01:16] GC: W1TH3R3D B4LLS

[01:27] GC: TH3R3 W4S 4LSO POUR1NG R41N, 4 S4CR1F1C3 OF 4 P1NK1SH BLOB HUM4N CR34TUR3, 4ND 4 S34 TUSKB34ST

[01:27] GC: *purposefully omitting Gamzee for now*

[01:28] TA: *His brow dips, and he frowns, too, listening to her rattle off what she'd been through and wondering why it seemed everyone had a harder time than he did. Maybe that was part of what made his place so disgusting; it fed on regret, too.* that. 2ound2 utterly riidiiculou2 what the hell.

[01:29] TA: piinkii2h blob human creature2 and 2ea tu2kbea2t2 why.

[01:34] GC: 1 DONT KNOW 1TS NOT L1K3 1 D3S1GN3D TH3 PL4C3 *Shrugs her shoulders* 4S1D3 FROM 3V3RYON3 H4V1NG 4 LOT OF S4DS 1 GU3SS 1T W4SNT TOO B4D *Still rather torturous though*

[01:34] TA: ii'm 2orry you had a lot of 2ad2.

[01:36] GC: *Shrugs again, trying to play it off as nothing* L1K3 1 S41D 1T W4SNT TOO B4D

[01:37] GC: WH4T 4BOUT YOU?

[01:37] GC: WH3R3D YOU L4ND?

[01:39] TA: thii2 really annoyiing place that wa2 2uppo2ed two be liike. a utopiia, ii gue22, and get u2 two 2top tryiing two get out. eventually we found 2ome 2hiit that ii gue22 twii2ted 2ome fork2. there wa2 a creepy clown and we got flu2hed down a load gaper and fought a 2elf de2tructiing 2liimeball that came out of NP'2 diitzy dance2tor'2 no2e.

[01:42] GC: *Blinks* 1M R3P34T1NG TH4T 1N MY H34D 4ND 34CH T1M3 1 DO SO 1T B3COM3S L3SS 4ND L3SS D3C1PH3R4BL3

[01:42] TA: eheheheh.

[01:43] TA: well, we were liike. a22iigned the2e hiive2 that were fiilled wiith 2hiit we liike. there wa2 a curfew. we were 2ent on 2tupiid. 2cavenger hunt2. iit wa2 all a dii2tractiion ii gue22.

[01:43] TA: really fuckiing 2tupiid.

[01:45] GC: *1n comparison it sounds like you had a blast* UH...DO YOU KNOW HOW W3 3V3N /GOT/ TO TH3S3 PL4C3S? OR WH4T TH3 3NT1R3 PURPOS3 OF TH1S W4S?

[01:46] TA: ii'm pretty 2ure there wa2 2omethiing about exploiitiing our weakne22e2. calliie found a book wiith our profiile2 iin them.

[01:46] GC: SH3 D1D?

[01:47] TA: yeah. what a great read. 8I

[01:47] GC: SO...

[01:47] GC: WH4T D1D 1T S4Y?

[01:49] TA: ii diidn't read any other2 but miine, ii got two pii22ed off. you could a2k calliie.

[01:52] TA: iit wa2 ju2t. ii don't know, the whole place kiind of wanted two throw iit iin my face that ii'm a giiant coward.

[01:52] GC: OH *Can't say she's disappointed. Maybe it is a good thing Sollux didn't know right off.*

[01:52] GC: W41T WH4T?

[01:52] TA: whiich ii gue22 ii2 why ii wa2 put 2omewhere that wa2 2uppo2ed two make me giive up. *shrug* yeah there wa2 a bunch of other 2tuff we found.

[01:52] GC: 1 THOUGHT YOU S41D 1T W4S SUPPOS3D TO M4K3 YOU H4PPY?

[01:53] GC: >:?

[01:53] TA: eheheh. iin thii2 ca2e the two are 2ynonymou2.

[01:53] TA: giive up a2 iin 2top tryiing two get out of there.

[01:53] GC: TH4TS CR33PY ON 4LL L3V3LS

[01:53] TA: oh yeah defiiniitely.

[01:54] GC: DONT L34V3 M3 H4NG1NG, SOLLUX >:/ WH4T D1D YOU F1ND?

[01:56] TA: *Lethargum is easier to talk about than Miseria.*

[01:57] TA: well, we found the2e creepy a22 per2onaliized DVD'2 really early on and ii'm pretty 2ure almo2t everyone'2 wa2 a huge liie. they liike... made realiity look ugly, liike people diidn't want them around and were talkiing behiind theiir back2 or betrayiing them 2omehow. but miine wa2 the only one that could be proven, whiich made all of them look real ii gue22?

[01:57] TA: the place kiind of only 2howed me 2hiit ii already knew 2o ii wa2n't two caught up. not liike 2ome other people.

[01:57] TA: *cough Mituna cough*

[01:58] GC: 1F YOU DON'T M1ND M3 4SK1NG, WH4T W4S ON YOUR T4P3?

[01:58] TA: *purses his lips and hesitates for a second, but sighs, hiding his face a little as if it mattered*

[01:59] TA: me breakiing up wiith feferii.

[01:59] GC: YOU WH4T

[01:59] TA: yeah.

[02:00] GC: *Blinks. 4nd you didn't tell me about this beforehand?* WH3N?

[02:01] TA: plea2e 2pare me the yelliing, ii caught an earful from miituna already. he cared more about me breakiing up wiith her than the rea2on why. *rolls his eyes* liike, riight before thii2 all happened, e22entiially. ii wa2 gonna tell you.

[02:01] TA: but ii gue22 we all got a liittle 2iidetracked.

[02:09] GC: *4 /little/ sidetracked? H4H4H4H4.... The last thing she wants in all of this is to show him how much that tidbit of information hurt her - that he chose to talk to his dancestor instead of her. She began to feel as though she was inessential in his life and there was no point of her being there, really, when he spoke so readily to others about difficult situations. Making a small grunt, she forced a partial smile and hoped it didnt appear too fake.* NO, DONT WORRY 4BOUT 1T 1 KN3W YOU W3R3 GO1NG TO T3LL M3 3V3NTU4LLY H3H3H3H3

[02:15] TA: *His mouth twisted to the side. He could hear things, the tiniest of things in her voice even through the renewed screaming in his head, and he sighed.* ii only told hiim becau2e he me22aged me fiir2t and made me go boardiing. 2liipped out when ii told hiim about what we diid. *sniffs idly, tightening his arms around her a little.* ii'm 2orry.

[02:15] TA: *theres a small pause* take iit you don't want two talk about the 2ad2 huh.

[09:53] GC: *3ven though she's still a little upset, she knows he didn't do it intentionally and feels a little better at his explanation.*

[09:53] GC: *Bites her lip* 1TS NOT TH4T 1 DON'T W4NT TO T4LK 4BOUT 1T

[09:53] GC: 1TS JUST TH4T 1 DON'T KNOW /HOW/ TO T4LK 4BOUT 1T

[09:54] TA: *brow dips again* 2tart from the begiinniing ii gue22? what happened when you fiir2t got there?

[09:55] GC: TH3R3 W4S 4 FUN3R4L

[09:55] TA: liike AA'2 corp2e partiie2?

[09:55] GC: NOT 4S CH33RFUL, NO

[09:55] TA: who diied?

[09:56] GC: TH3S3 P1NK BLOB TH1NGS W3R3 CRY1NG 4ND H4ND1NG US WR34THS 4ND BUR13D 4NOTH3R P1NK BLOB 4T S34

[09:56] GC: 1 DON'T KNOW

[09:56] GC: SOM3 1MPORT4NT F1GUR3H34D

[09:56] TA: hm..

[09:56] TA: piink blob2 though.

[09:57] TA: what'2 the deal wiith tho2e?

[09:57] GC: TH3Y W3R3 P1NK

[09:57] GC: 4ND BLOBBY

[09:57] TA: well, ii got that.

[09:57] TA: that'2 weiird.

[09:58] GC: 1 H4D 4 STR4NG3 V1B3 TH4T TH3Y /D1D/ H4V3 F4C3S, BUT W3 JUST COULDNT S33 TH3M

[09:58] GC: *shrugalug*

[09:58] TA: that'2 weiirder.

[09:59] TA: what happened next?

[09:59] GC: TH3Y G4V3 US W4FFL3S

[10:00] TA: wow.

[10:00] GC: H3Y 1'M T3LL1NG YOU HOW 1T H4PP3N3D

[10:00] TA: ii know eheh. *trying to make it easier to talk about by being casual-ish I'm sorry* carry on. waffle2, then?

[10:02] GC: 4FT3R W3 L3FT TH3 3ST4BL1SHM3NT, TH3R3 W4S 4 BLOB CRY1NG B3C4US3 D4M4R4 W3NT PSYCHO 4ND K1LL3D SOM3BODY

[10:02] GC: 4 BLOB, TH4T 1S

[10:02] TA: woooow.

[10:04] GC: 4T TH4T PO1NT 1 ST4RT3D TO R34L1Z3 TH4T W3 W3R3 B31NG DR4WN 1N TO WH4T3V3R TH3 TOWNSP3OPL3 W3R3 F33L1NG 4ND W3 W3R3 'R3L13V1NG' TH31R P41N

[10:06] TA: what, you mean liike ab2orbiing that up your2elve2 whiile they got le22 mopey?

[10:09] GC: 1 GU3SS? TH3Y W3R3 ST1LL PR3TTY MOP3Y THOUGH

[10:11] TA: huh. *absently petting her hair kind of, as she tells the story*

[10:13] GC: 4T TH4T PO1NT W3 TR13D TO G3T TH3 H3CK OUT

[10:13] GC: N3P3T4 TR13D FLY1NG BUT SOM3TH1NG H4PP3N3D, SH3 C4M3 B4CK DOWN, 4ND BURST 1NTO T34RS

[10:15] GC: /1/ TR13D FLY1NG 4ND SOM3WH3R3 B3TW33N TH3 GROUND 4ND TH3 41R, SOM3TH1NG 1N MY M1ND TOLD M3 3FFORTS W3R3 PO1NTL3SS

[10:16] GC: *her mouth sets into a grim line and she partially turns away* VR1SK4 C4UGHT M3

[10:17] TA: *frowns openly, tucking himself nearer to her as she turns, a little more irrational guilt for not being there to catch her instead. He's fallen silent.*

[10:21] GC: 1T W4SNT UNT1L 1 W4S ON SOL1D GROUND 4G41N TH4T MY TH1NKP4N ST4RT3D WORK1NG NORM4LLY

[10:21] GC: 1 4CTU4LLY THOUGHT TH3YD L3T M3 F4LL

[10:26] TA: they wouldn't do that.

[10:27] GC: *quietly* 1 know th4y wouldnt

[10:27] GC: som3th1ng up th3r3 m4d3 m3 th1nk th3y would

[10:30] TA: ii'm gue22iing none of you triied agaiin.

[10:31] GC: YOU WOULD B3 ON3 THOUS4ND P3RC3NT CORR3CT

[10:32] GC: NO, W41T

[10:32] GC: TWO THOUS4ND P3RC3NT

[10:32] TA: *'eheheh's softly against her forehead*

[10:37] GC: TH3N...W3 4LL H4D TH3 S4M3 DR34M 4BOUT 4 S1CKN3SS TH4T W1P3D OUT 3V3RYON3, TOWNSP3OPL3 R4N 4W4Y FROM M3 4ND W3 3ST4BL1SH3D TH4T TH3Y B3L13V3D W3 CONTR4CT3D 1T, 4ND TH3N W3 TR13D 3SC4P1NG V14 TH3 FOR3ST, BUT TH3 GROUND D1S4PP34R3D 4ND W3 L4ND3D B4CK 1N TOWN.

[10:38] TA: *the pause made him squint, but he listened, steadily more confused as she went on* thii2 2ound2 fuckiing iin2ane.

[10:39] GC: TH3 N3XT D4Y TH3Y DR4GG3D US OUT OF OUR B3DS 4ND 4LMOST S4CR1F1C3D ROXY TO 4 S34 TUCKB34ST, BUT SOM3 BLOB G1RL TOOK H3R PL4C3

[10:39] GC: W3 FOUGHT TH3 S34 TUCKB34ST

[10:39] GC: TH3 S34 TUCKB34ST D13D

[10:41] TA: and that'2 how you got out?

[10:42] GC: Y34H 1T W4S STR4NG3 B3C4US3 W3'D B33N S4D FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG, TH3N 4FT3R ROXY ST4RT3D... 4PP4R3NTLY SH3D GOTT3N TO KNOW TH3 BLOB G1RL?

[10:42] GC: 4FT3R TH4T W3 GOT 4NGRY

[10:42] GC: 4ND W3 4CTU4LLY D1D SOM3TH1NG PROGR3SS1V3

[10:42] GC: BUT 4FT3R TH3 F1GHT WH3N D4M4R4 K1LL3D TH3 H4NDM41D 1 TH1NK? W3 D1DNT F33L 4NYTH1NG 4T 4LL

[10:46] GC: 1 W4S SURPR1S3D 4T F1RST BUT TH3N 1...1 F3LT L1K3 1 D1DNT H4V3 TO R34CT

[10:47] GC: L1K3 1 H4D JUST S33N 4 NORM4L 4SS CONV3RS4T1ON 1NST34D OF ON3 M3G1DO ST4BB1NG TH3 OTH3R W1TH N33DL3W4NDS

[10:48] TA: where the fuck diid the other megiido come from though what.

[10:48] GC: SH3 W4S 4 BLOB

[10:49] TA: ii thought you 2aiid the blob2 were blob2.

[10:49] GC: TH3 LONG3R W3 W3R3 TH3R3 TH3 MOR3 TH3Y ST4RT3D TO LOOK L1K3 P3OPL3

[10:52] TA: ...aw 2hiit. *sighs, because the potential for that kind of illusion was... well, endless.*

[10:54] GC: TO B3 HON3ST 1 H4D NO 1D34 WH4T W4S GO1NG ON H4LF TH3 T1M3

[10:58] TA: iit 2ound2 liike ju2t a2 much a hunk of bullcrap a2 my place diid.

[11:00] GC: *lets out a shaky, "Y34H?"*

[11:01] TA: yeah. *it's quiet still, and he squishes his nose against her hairline* ju2t. a bunch of 2tuff geared two pu2h our button2. *sighs* they even triied two u2e you agaiin2t me at one poiint.

[11:02] GC: *intense furrow of the brow* TH3Y D1D?

[11:03] TA: yeah. the church of terezii pyrope.

[11:03] GC: *SNORTS*

[11:04] TA: iit. *hesitates, swallowing somewhat roughly* yeah iit wa2 a bunch of bull2hiit, ii wa2 iin there for liike a miinute before ii turned back but.

[11:04] TA: they had liike, 2taiined gla22 mural2 up telliing a 2tory.

[11:04] TA: and ii knew before ii went iin that iit wa2 per2onaliized two everyone and whatever but miine wa2 me l...eaviing you on the meteor.

[11:05] GC: *serious faces when she senses the rough swallow and the following tone of his voice*

[11:05] GC: ...OH

[11:06] TA: remiindiing me that ii about a2 good a2 abandoned you aha. *it's a mirthless laugh* liike ii 2aiid, they piicked at me beiing a coward a lot. even though ii diid everythiing fate 2pelled out for me two do, dammiit. ju2t.

[11:06] TA: ii don't know ii gue22 the uniiver2e know2 ii 2tiill regret iit even iif ii had two.

[11:07] GC: *Moirailly squish hug* YOU KNOW 1 DONT BL4M3 YOU FOR TH4T, R1GHT?

[11:07] GC: L1K3 4T 4LL?

[11:08] TA: *clings back, sighing again and closing his eyes* yeah ii know.

[11:09] TA: ii 2tiill wii2h ii could have been both place2 2omehow.

[11:09] GC: BUT YOU W3R3

[11:10] GC: YOU S4V3D 4LL OF US

[11:10] TA: *kind of makes a "nnn" sound in cut off protest*

[11:10] GC: YOU D1D 4ND DONT YOU ST4RT D3NY1NG 1T

[11:11] TA: ii 2tiill wa2n't there when you needed me. *mutters it*

[11:12] GC: *blinks*

[11:12] GC: N31TH3R W4S 1

[11:13] TA: *blinks also* what?

[11:14] GC: 4LL TH4T SH1T YOU W3NT THROUGH WH3N 1 W4S BUSY W4ND3R1NG 4LT3RNUS FOR N34RLY THR33 MONTHS? 1 W4SNT TH3R3 FOR YOU

[11:14] TA: that wa2n't your fault.

[11:15] GC: OK4Y SO W3 SHOULD STOP TH1S CYCL3 OF S3LF-BL4M3 WH3N WH4T OCCURR3D W4S CL34RLY OUT OF OUR POW3R OR CONTROL *gives him a pointed look*

[11:21] TA: *sighs again, hiding his face by bumping their foreheads together. Now isn't the time to go on another schpiel about things he shouldn't bother trying explaining.* ii know.

[11:21] TA: anyway.

[11:23] GC: *she knows that sigh* SOLLUX 1N S4Y1NG TH4T i KNOW 1M 4 B1T OF 4 HYPOCR1T3

[11:23] GC: 1 W4SNT TH3R3 FOR YOU 4G41N 1N TH3 DR34M

[11:23] GC: OR WH3R3V3R W3 W3R3

[11:23] TA: eh?

[11:25] GC: 1 TR13D T4LK1NG TO YOU 4ND YOU D1DNT R3SPOND

[11:25] GC: SO 1 TR13D K4RK4T

[11:25] GC: 4ND...

[11:26] GC: H3 D1DNT SP3C1FY, BUT H3 TOLD M3 YOU H4D DON3 SOM3TH1NG

[11:26] GC: H3...

[11:26] GC: H3 W4S 4 B1T D1STR4UGHT

[11:26] TA: ...

[11:27] GC: 1 H4D 4 T4LK W1TH H1M WH3N YOU W3R3 4SL33P

[11:27] GC: 1T W4SNT H1M TH4T CONT4CT3D M3, SO DONT B3 M4D 4T H1M

[11:27] TA: no, ii'm not, ii know. ii ju2t.

[11:28] TA: you and ii both know that'2 2omethiing even ii could never accomplii2h.

[11:29] GC: *nods* FOR 4 WH1L3 1 W4S CONV1NC3D YOU W3R3 D34D, BUT TH3N 1 ST4RT3D TO WOND3R 1F H3 M34NT SOM3TH1NG 3LS3

[11:30] TA: what el2e could he have meant lol.

[11:31] GC: 1 B3G4N TO TH1NK YOU 3ND3D UP L1K3 HOW M1TUN4 W4S B3FOR3

[11:31] TA: *a 'hrrk' noise almost catches in his throat at that*

[11:34] GC: *Yeah, 1 know*

[11:37] GC: *What do you have to say to that, Sollux? Because 1 have nothing.*

[12:07] TA: *he just continues to cling to her in silence for a moment, thinking, because well, what could he say? Both were two of the worst things for him to be proverbially pegged as, dead or damaged like that, because both would have been his choice and that defeated the purpose of literally everything. He hated himself just a nuance more, he thought, for being how he was and leaving her open to even be told such things with actual backup for them being potentially true.*

[12:07] TA: well, iit wa2 a load of crap liike the re2t of iit. 2o.

[12:21] GC: *nods vigorously* YOU WOK3 UP 4ND YOUR3 JUST F1N3

[12:21] GC: 1T /W4S/ 4 LO4D OF CR4P

[12:21] TA: yep.

[12:30] TA: how about we ju2t forget any of iit happened.

[12:31] GC: *Shaking her head to focus on something other than the rising bile in her throat of the memory of that entire night, she made herself believe that nothing like that would happen to him. Not as long as she was around. This time, though. This time she would be there for him, and if anyone tried to separate them again, whoo boy. They'd better start running. Because with Fake Karkat's message, she didn't just see a future where Sollux was dead or brain damaged. She saw a future where she had failed him, just as she feared she would even now. That future was one she rejected, no, /denied./ That was one thing she wouldn't accept, no matter the visions Sollux had and no matter the hypothetical inevitability. She only hoped that she could live up to this vow if were to ever happen.*

[12:31] GC: TH4T WOULD B3 STUP3NDOUS

[12:53] TA: glad we're on the 2ame page. *shifts to lay more comfortably, not about to release her quite yet. They'd been separated for long enough, often enough and without either of their permission, against the promises they kept making, and god, he didn't think there was anything he detested more in this moment than the fact that she was so easily torn away from him no matter how hard he tried to keep her. Even if he wanted more than anything to leave this palace right now, he wouldn't budge as long as she was here waiting for something, and was in his reach at all.*

[01:01] GC: *4 part of her just /dares/ whatever is out there to throw their best at them, because now she's angry and she's had enough.

[01:01] GC: W3 USU4LLY 4R3 FOR TH3 MOST P4RT

[01:01] TA: thii2 ii2 true.

[01:03] GC: SO

[01:03] GC: WH4TS N3XT?

[01:04] TA: ii. haha, ii don't know. ii'm tiired. *so fucking tired.*

[01:04] TA: we all ju2t need two 2liip iintwo our own 2tandby and take a damn breather whiile we can.

[01:05] GC: *gives a relenting sigh* DO YOU TH1NK 1TS GO1NG TO G3T WORS3?

[01:10] TA: ii don't know. ii don't have any bad viibe2 riight now hone2tly.

[01:10] GC: GOOD N3WS FOR ONC3! >:]

[01:11] TA: ii u2ually have liike. a piit iin my 2tomach lately. and ii had tiime two focu2 on that wiithout the headache2 back there but now iit'2 kiind of gone 2o yeah. ii gue22 that'2 okay.

[01:12] GC: YOU COULD S4Y TH1NGS H4V3 ST4RT3D LOOK1NG UP >:D

[01:12] TA: ii wouldn't go that far quiite yet but, iif you reeeally want two.

[01:12] TA: ii won't 2ay you're dead wrong.

[01:13] GC: Y3S 1 R34LLY W4NT TO

[01:13] TA: okay. go ahead.

[01:14] GC: 1D 4CTU4LLY L1K3 TO L1V3 SOM3 OF TH1S N3W L1F3 R4TH3R TH4N CONST4NTLY SN1FF OV3R MY SHOULD3R

[01:15] TA: yeah. *Even now he doesn't quite know how to say he wants some kind of future past the next hour, even if he does. The words are words he hasn't learned yet.*

[01:18] GC: *sollux senses tingling; moving an arm to wrap over his shoulders, she does her best to make him feel safe. They deserved to be safe. /3veryone/ deserved to be safe, not just 'feel' safe. There will be a future Sollux, you'll see. 1'll smell, of course. *

MEULIN: *walks out of her house and frowns when seeing the places closed* WHAT THE HEY!!!!!!!!!!!

SOLLUX: *Meulin's thunderous roar was what bothered Sollux enough to roll his eyes and investigate outside because it probably cracked the very sky*

JAKE: *Drowsily tumbles out of the bathtub where he spent the night to once more bounce down the stairs to join the crew.* Hey the what?

MEULIN: efurrythings closed!!!!!!!!!!!

JAKE: Oh! Well thats new then. You chaps and chapessess finished collecting all the coins then i take it?

ARADIA: *joins the crew a moment later, looking between everyone curiously*

CALLIE: *Callie is still inside her home, very groggy today, but a quick face wash and some candy should fix that*

ARADIA: *fixates on jake and nods* i think s0!

JAKE: Even that horacey persons that jade is sweet on? Excellent!

JAKE: ... Now what.

MEULIN: yes i turned in his coins!!!!!!!!

CALLIE: *Callie is finally out of her house, hoo boy*

CALLIE: hello everyone!

ARADIA: hi callie! *waves, then starts to contemplate what they should do* did anything special happen after we c0llected all the c0ins? *sorry she missed so much she was busy making a mess of the grocery store*

JANE: *having fallen asleep in the church last night, she awoke with a headache in her house. so she isn't terribly chipper but she's at least sort of smiling when she comes out* Hi.

JAKE: *waves like the proper gent he is* Hello! And im afraid i havent the foggiest, i shipped out early.

CALLIE: oh!!

CALLIE: mitUna and i foUnd a lot of them, bUt it felt right to wait for everyone else to tUrn them in...

JAKE: Right right. You think itll be a breakthrough of one kind or another?

CALLIE: i have no idea... i sUppose we'll find oUt soon.

JAKE: *claps his hands together and starts off at a brisk pace towards the school* Lets get cracking then!

ARADIA: thats the spirit! :D

CALLIE: jUst a moment! *runs over to knock on Mituna's door, c'mon dude*

MITUNA: *groggily opens the door* wha75 up

MITUNA: *rubs eyes sleepily*

JAKE: *whateeeever who needs that ponce i mean fine ok i'll stop* Were off mituna!

MITUNA: off 7o where?

JAKE: We have accomplished our goal and may soon be seeing the back of this place!

CALLIE: to the school!

MITUNA: 7o 5ee 7he wizard?

JANE: *watches. they're so enthusiastic and it hurts her head*

MITUNA: yeah okay wha7ever

CALLIE: oh, no, silly. uUu *i'm right here*

MITUNA: *follows everyone to the school. He's such a sleep rn*

ARADIA: *oh you face at callie*

JAKE: *vague feeling of "we're missing some tts here" but she's a smart thing she'll catch up*

CALLIE: *yes we are missing a tt or two*

MITUNA: *glances up at Jane. Oh my she looks annoyed.*

SOLLUX: *its okay jane I feel u*

JANE: *sorry bro my head just hurts*

MITUNA: excu5e me *politely pushes past Callie and walks up to Jane*

MITUNA: hey uh

MITUNA: look i know im a 7remendou5 bilgewaffle bu7

MITUNA: im 5orry

JANE: *blinks when he comes over*

MITUNA: 7ha7 wa5n7 fucking okay a7 all

MITUNA: and 7here5 no excu5e for 7ha7 5hi7

JANE: Oh. Thanks... I'm sorry I called you a prick. Even if you did deserve it.

MITUNA: ehehe i alway5 de5erve i7 *weak smile*

MITUNA: bu7

JANE: *snorts and smiles as well* Be that as it may. It's far enough in the past now.

MITUNA: alrigh7

MITUNA: are we cool?

JANE: Uh durr. *she isn't the biggest movie person, but remembers something from one jake made her watch one time. she raises her fist for bumping*

MITUNA: *he raises his own fist and presses it to hers*

CALLIE: *Callie watches with a distinctly ;U; face*

JANE: *pchoo*

SOLLUX: 8)

JANE: :B

JAKE: *aaah it warms the cockles of me heart is does ok we're at the school entrance now*

MITUNA: 8')

MITUNA: *instant transmission is a bitch. SHoutout to Goku*

MEULIN: *following whoever whereever*

CALLIE: *hop skip and a jump into the school*

JANE: *there's no need to mention that being in the church had her thinking and she remembered the dreaming thing. she's convinced once again that rufioh isn't dead.*

JANE: *TO THE SCHOOL. for hopefully the last time*

JAKE: *Were too cool for school! But not really*

[[Inside the school isn't any different than normal.]]

MITUNA: 7o 7he fucking prize boo7h

[[Except the mascot is gone and the store says it's closed.]]

MITUNA: *leads the pack*

JAKE: *ollies through the door after him*

JANE: *follows, looking around with knit brows*

MEULIN: *following along like a good kitty*

ARADIA: aw that squiddle guy is g0ne

JANE: *silently thanks whatever power got rid of him*

MITUNA: 7hank fuck

MITUNA: uh

JANE: *snickers quietly*

MITUNA: *standing in front of the prize booth like wat do*

[[The clown smiles at him.]] Do you need anything?

CALLIE: ...

MITUNA: we have all 7he coin5

CALLIE: *pops up in front of said clown* *i mean* *no she was totally here the whole time*

MITUNA: *Callie what the eff*

JANE: *stays the back. just in case he you know. goes honk. don't want that shit.*

Honk.

JANE: *yeah see*

You'll have to hand the coins over.

CALLIE: *casually plops coins on the counter*

:o)

CALLIE: *moves out of everyone's way*

MITUNA: *plops his down too*

:o)

[[He looks pointedly at the others who have coins.]]

ARADIA: *takes the coins out of her hat and sets them down as well* :)

JANE: *oh right i think i still have a nepeta and an equius coint. goes forward and puts them down*

JAKE: *nervous shuffling as he deposits any random not his coins he may have*

JANE: *then steps the hell back again. flippin clown*

MEULIN: *is coinpletely coinless so she just stands and watches*

[[He gives Rose a sink when she hands in her coins.]]

[[Looks pointedly at sollux now.]]

[[Also gives Aradia a bar of soap.]]

SOLLUX: *was too busy making it rain to pay attention to what he got but whatever it is he just carelessly hands it over*

SOLLUX: *don't look at me like that, you creepy fuck.*

ARADIA: *what scent is the soap*

ARADIA: *sniffin that soap*

[[Corpse scent. Except not really, it's mint scented.]]

[[Hands Sollux a toilet brush.]]

MEULIN: *what scent is meulins shampoo*\

ARADIA: h0w pleasant :)

SOLLUX: 8I

ARADIA: *looks at toilet brush* 0h

[[Meulin's shampoo is hemp scented.]]

MEULIN: *hell yes*

And for your final reward for all of your friend's coins. [[He pulls out the toilet]]

JANE: *stares at it*

MEULIN: *gasps*

ARADIA: a l0ad gaper!

CALLIE: ...

MITUNA: oh how fucking gloriou5

JANE: A toilet...

Also here. [[Pulls out a booklet]] These are your instructions.

MITUNA: 7hi5 i5 bull5hi7

JANE: Oh.

JAKE: What is this.

JAKE: I know what it is! But.

ARADIA: 0n h0w t0 use a l0ad gaper?

CALLIE: *Callie snatches the instructions*

JANE: *shakes her head. aradia please*

[[It's an instruction booklet on how to do plumbing]]

MITUNA: wha7 7he ac7ual fuck

[[when everyone looks up from the booklet, the clown will be gone.]]

MITUNA: wha7 7he ac7ual 5hi7 7hrobbing fuck

CALLIE: *as in how to install a toilet?*

[[Yes]]

ARADIA: *peeks from behind callie to look at the booklet*

[[Except the final instruction on how to install a toilet says to place a rubber duck inside and flush.]]

MITUNA: *lisps angrily*

JANE: *glares at the now empty prize booth*

CALLIE: .

MEULIN: HUH!!!!!!!!!!

JAKE: *looks at the intructions over their shoulders* Are you in fact telling me, telling us all, that we have to contruct a flipping bathroom?

CALLIE: hmm...

CALLIE: it seems so.

MITUNA: *facepalms*

MITUNA: ugh le75 ju57 ge7 7hi5 over wi7h

CALLIE: bUt there's something aboUt flUshing a rUbber dUck at the end!

[[It says all pieces must be in place for the bathroom to work properly and each piece they were given has a location.]]

JANE: Flushing a rubber duck?

JANE: *pulls out her duck and stares at it*

CALLIE: *Callie also has a rubber duck*

MITUNA: he5 7he one

JANE: That... is ridiculous.

MITUNA: he make5 ba7h 7ime lo75 of fun

CALLIE: where oUght we install it thoUgh...?

JANE: *rubber duck buddies*

JAKE: All pieces have a location? Does that mean they have to be... together? Or not?

MITUNA: i7 look5 like 7here5 5pecific loca7ion5 for each piece

MITUNA: mo7her

MITUNA: fuck

MITUNA: goddammit7 jake

MEULIN: i wonder what the whole point of this is!!!!!!!

JAKE: *smacks his forehead* I left the bath in my room!

MITUNA: go fucking ge7 i7 7hen

MITUNA: i75 7ha7 5imple

JAKE: *already gone* Wait here for meeeeee!

ARADIA: *he was already not here*

JANE: *that sums up jake pretty well*

JANE: *uh... no offense

JANE: *

MITUNA: *BOY HOWDY*

JAKE: *none takeeeeeen*

CALLIE: *rereads the instructions to try to decipher if that means they're all supposed to be in the same room or if there's any specific room they're supposed to use or what because I am confused*

JANE: Maybe it has to be in the blimp. *said flatly it's a joke*

MITUNA: ...

MITUNA: 5ollux did 5ay i7 wa5 emp7y

MITUNA: bu7 7ha7d be dumb a5 fuck

JANE: *slow turn to mituna*

JANE: Yes. It would be. There's no way to get the water up there.

MITUNA: yeah okay bu7 weirder 7hing5 have happened here

MEULIN: does it have to have water??????????

JANE: *slow turn to meulin* That's how a sink works, yes.

MITUNA: al5o a load gaper

ARADIA: unless theres a water tank inside the blimp s0mewhere? *not sure how sturdy the blimp is*

MEULIN: wouldnt suprise me!!!!!!!!!

JANE: There would have to be some sort of filter system in there too, though. Nobody wants toilet water to wash their hands.

[[The instructions don't specify where the bathroom is to be constructied.]]

MITUNA: *rubs temples*

MEULIN: but its just to flush a rubber duck!!!!!!!

ARADIA: hmm

MITUNA: oh my fucking god meulin

ARADIA: well if it d0esnt say where it needs t0 be built

ARADIA: we can build it anywhere!

CALLIE: well, someone coUld check there, and the rest of Us coUld try to find a place down here that might work?

CALLIE: right?

ARADIA: 0r that!

JANE: Let's put it in the middle of the street. *that'd be a hell of a thing*

CALLIE: hee hee!

JANE: *thumbs up perfect. that would make a good prank though, if you could pull it off fast enough*

MITUNA: le75 ju57 5e7 i7 up here

CALLIE: ...well

CALLIE: *shrugs* if that's okay?

MITUNA: *fidgeting impatiently*

JANE: *was starting to actually like the middle of the street idea* If we can find the pipes, why not.

CALLIE: *setting up a bathroom sounds complicated*

MITUNA: *we've got instructions, we'll deal*

CALLIE: we're in a cafeteria, aren't we? shoUldn't there be something near the kitchen?

MITUNA: *we can do it*

MITUNA: yeah probably

MEULIN: works fur me!!!!

CALLIE: all right then! *heads toward the kitchen?*

MITUNA: *follows Callie*

MEULIN: *follows as well*

[[The kitchen is now unoccupied and there is no food in the clean food...things...]]

JANE: *as long as we can get to the pipes, no one curr*

[[You can definitely get to the pipes.]]

[[There's even a set of tools laying around and everything.]]

MITUNA: alrigh7 callie

CALLIE: *YAY*

CALLIE: :U?

MITUNA: 57ar7 reading 7hoe in57ruc7ion5

CALLIE: okay then!

MITUNA: *picks up some tools. Tuna the builder is here*

CALLIE: *casually reads. Push It To The Limit begins to play softly in the background*

MITUNA: *lol he has no clue what he grabbed*

MITUNA: *bulding montage ensues*

JAKE: *kicks the school door open, returning with bath held aloft over his shoulders* Got it! ... Where is everyone.

JANE: *grabs a drill. gonna push through the headache to get this over with*

MITUNA: *I miss my headaches 8(*

JANE: *hears the doors get kicked* Over here!

SOLLUX: *lolsame*

[[As they work with the magic of teamwork, it'll go a lot faster than they thought. some of the pieces are practically putting themselves in.]]

CALLIE: *U gUys are weird*

JAKE: *jogs through into the kitchen* We setting up here then? Grand.

JAKE: *flips the bath over and puts it... somewhere that looks right*

MITUNA: *Mituna is somehow very versed in plumbing. Must be because he's good at almost everyhting he does. Which is weird considering who he is*

ARADIA: *PUSH IT TO THE LIMIT plays in the background. or at least in aradia's head.*

MITUNA: *It's literally blaring through everyones heads at the same time*

JANE: *it plays on the school's broadcast system*

SOLLUX: *it precipitates bathroom appliances*

MITUNA: *that too. Tuna's tongue is stuck out in concentration as he builds and builds*

CALLIE: .

MEULIN: *just building whatever she sasked to*

CALLIE: *sassked*

CALLIE: *FINALLY they have the bathtub and toilet in place*

CALLIE: *and the sink i guess*

MITUNA: *and the bath mat and all the accesories*

MITUNA: *wipes brow*

JANE: *where the heck did we put those tho*

JANE: *we're talented i guess*

[[Where the book tells you to put them]]

MEULIN: *and the hemp shampoo and the loofa*

CALLIE: *BUT WHERE DOES IT SAY TO PUT THEM*

JANE: *haha. good thanks*

JAKE: *takes the loofah from meulin and hooks it over the bath* There!

JAKE: *JUST MAKE IT UP*

[[FINE. it says put the bathmat in front of the bathtub, the toilet brush in the sink, the loofah on top of the toilet, and the shapoo and soap inside the tub.]]

SOLLUX: *is helping somehow*

JAKE: *moves the loofah*

JAKE: *it is now on top of the john. not that john*

[[One of the toilet brushes magically turns into a hand towel]]

JANE: This is such a weird bathroom.

JAKE: *MAGIC*

[[It says to stuff it down the sink drain]]

SOLLUX: *kurbam*

JAKE: *shrugs if it works it works*

SOLLUX: *goes on and stuffs it down the sink drain, what the hell*

CALLIE: it is...

SOLLUX: ii ju2t.

SOLLUX: *no words*

MITUNA: jane

MITUNA: duck plea5e

CALLIE: wait a minUte!

CALLIE: *whips out her own duck*

CALLIE: i got this from the clown...

MITUNA: oh

MITUNA: righ7

CALLIE: what do we do?

JANE: Oh, yeah. *think think*

MITUNA: 7hrow 7ha7 5queaky bi7ch in 7here

JANE: I think we should use yours.

CALLIE: okay...

MITUNA: flu5h hi5 rubbery a55

CALLIE: *plops it in*

JANE: Mine was contraband from the arcade anyway.

CALLIE: *reaches slowly for the toilet handle*

MITUNA: callie 7he plea5ure i5 all your5

CALLIE: *everyone breaks a sweat*

JANE: *watches intently*

[[The handle stares at you.]]

CALLIE: *suddenly*

[[It awaits.]]

CALLIE: *FLUUUUSH*

JAKE: *oh man, oh god, oh man*

JANE: *sweats loudly*

ARADIA: 0_0

JANE: *making up for horuss not being there*

[[Suddenly, everyone is flushed down with it, somehow dragged into the watery abyss.]]

ARADIA: w0ah!!

MITUNA: 50N 0F 8UCK37

JANE: *various water logged yelling*

CALLIE: EEP!

JAKE: ODDSBODSKINS!

MEULIN: 3333333333333333333333333333K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SOLLUX: *a string of curses like no other*

[[On the other side, everyone lands in a pile of... cotton candy of every color. All around them is nothing but candy and food of every sort, especially the kinds they all like. The walls and ceiling... all food. There is no door here. There is, however, just... piles of food everywhere. What a wonderful place.]]

[[Although you came here through water, you are all somehow dry]]

CALLIE: OOF! *lands on the sugary fluff*

JANE: Wha! *poof*

SOLLUX: *skadoof*

CALLIE: well... that sUre was something. *peers around* now where the devil have we ended Up?

MITUNA: FUCK*ploof*

MITUNA: *gets up and looks around too*

JANE: *looks around, suddenly very distressed* What... No, this isn't what was supposed to... *punches the cotton candy* We were supposed to wake up! *holds head. yelling hurt*

JAKE: *stays face down in sugar* Shit.

MITUNA: woah

JANE: *flops backward to lay in the pink*

MITUNA: *of course she's in the pink*

CALLIE: *sighs a long sigh before pushing herself up and squatting next to Jane* are yoU all right love?

MITUNA: *floats up to get a better lay of the land*

JANE: Yeah. I'm fine. *covering her face*

SOLLUX: *just lays there for a second why is this hAPPENING*

CALLIE: *stands up to peer around, too* i jUst see... lots of food.

ARADIA: *plops onto a giant marshmallow that she bounces off of, but lands daintily on her feet like a kitty*

CALLIE: .

CALLIE: *looks up* the ceiling is also food?

JAKE: *struggles up to give a pile of liqorice a good kicking* So now we have to flipping *eat* our way out, is that it?

MITUNA: *Squints at the ceiling and does the dumb thing aka flies at it full speed to see if he'll break through*

CALLIE: not necessarily! perhaps if we coUld jUst... move the food oUt of the way...

MEULIN: *goes poof into some cottoncandeh and munches her way back out* WOAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CALLIE: or-- oh! *watches Mituna like water u doan love*

JAKE: *hes gonna do it - hes gonna shoot the candy*

[[Mituna bounces off the ceiling.]]

JAKE: *not really*

JANE: *picks some pink cotton candy and pops it in her mouth, watching mituna as well*

SOLLUX: *eventually just follows, annoyed, not even about to do the same thing as Mituna because wtf bro*

MITUNA: 5H1771NG D1CK N1PPL35

MITUNA: *splats into the cotton candy*

CALLIE: :u.... *there he went, everyone*

SOLLUX: 2iign.

MITUNA: *pushes self up with a sigh*

JANE: *tosses a piece of cotton candy at mituna's head*

MITUNA: *catches it in his mouth*

MITUNA: come on callie le75 ju57 ea7 everyone ou7

CALLIE: *im imagining a huge chunk rn*

MITUNA: wai7

CALLIE: ...

CALLIE: :U

MITUNA: i didn7 mean

CALLIE: *the innuendo whooses over her head*

CALLIE: *whooshes even*

JANE: *covers mouth and blushes, giggling like mad*

JANE: M... Mituna, no.

JAKE: *didn't get it either* What?

SOLLUX: ...

CALLIE: didn't mean what?

MITUNA: don7 worry abou7 i7

JAKE: Im certainly not eating anyone out, tush.

SOLLUX: *shakes his head slowly*

MITUNA: *stuffs more cotton candy in mouth*

SOLLUX: dude.

JANE: *can't do it cannot handle. makes me miss roxy tho*

SOLLUX: *jake no*

JANE: Jaaaaake, stop. Omg.

CALLIE: *jane no why*

ROSE: *cannot believe any of this is happening*

SOLLUX: eheheheheh dumba22 ii'm. *whoa is that rose*

JAKE: *goes over to a wall, pulling out le pistole* What? What?

MEULIN: *rolling around happily*

ROSE: *Yes, yes it is*

CALLIE: are yoU going to shoot it, jake? ~3u

SOLLUX: *eyyyy rose sup*

CALLIE: *she thinks that's a spectacular idea*

JAKE: Im darn well going to try, unless anyone has a better idea!

JANE: Go ahead. *eats more cotton candy*

MITUNA: *thinks and looks up at the ceiling*

MITUNA: fuck i7

MITUNA: may a5 well 7ry

MITUNA: *GAZEBLAST PEEEEEEEEWN at the ceiling*

[[Nothing happens.]]

CALLIE: meep!

MITUNA: figured

JAKE: *stands about a metre away, lines up the shot* Might as well?

JAKE: *PEW PEW*

ROSE: *blinks at...whatever the hell is going on*

JANE: *sighs, sits up, takes out various utensils, and starts digging pretty quickly*

[[Once again, nothing happens.]]

ARADIA: *starts to poke around the room while the others try to work on their escape plans*

[[There's a growl that resonates throughout the room.]]

MEULIN: *decides to follow aradia since shes just curious*

JANE: *stops and stares*

MITUNA: *begins jittering more and more as he noms on candy*

JAKE: *pokes at the hole in the wall, or lack thereof* ... Shit.

MEULIN: WOAH WHAT WAS THAT!!!!!!!!!!!

ARADIA: :0

MITUNA: wha7dafuckwa57ha7

CALLIE: excUse me? was that someone's tUmmy?

ROSE: *raises an eyebrow* I don't think anyone's stomach produces such noises.

CALLIE: ... *hers used to could*

JANE: Oh... Um... *looks all around*

JAKE: *pulls out the other fabulous rootytootypointandshooty as he whirls around* Look lively everyone!

CALLIE: right! *pulls out her white magnum*

SOLLUX: *ayooo ninja starsss*

MEULIN: nahhh i dont think theres any danger~

MITUNA: *currently doesn't have anything in his strife specibus*

SOLLUX: (okay but can you liike 2hut up though.)

JANE: *replaces her utensils with her more battle appropriate skaia fork*

ROSE: *why hello there needlewands, it's been a while*

MITUNA: *finishes his cotton candy and jumps up, eyes sparking*

SOLLUX: *sparky sparky boom men*

[[There's another GROOOOOOOOOWL]]

MEULIN: (='o'=)!!!!!!!!

MITUNA: bo55 figh7 7ime?

JANE: *stands up to get ready for whatever it is*

JAKE: Form a circle? Whats our strategy?

CALLIE: that's jolly well enoUgh of that i'd think! what a rUde cUstomer.

MITUNA: *hovers above the candy*

MITUNA: 57ra7egy?

ROSE: *Let's do this in Avengers formation*

MITUNA: FUCK 5H17 UP!!!

ROSE: *I mean, what?*

JAKE: *oh oh, i call hawkeye!* Fair enough!

[[Meulin starts to glow.]]

JAKE: Eh?

MITUNA: wa7

JANE: Oh dear... *why is this a thing*

ARADIA: *looks back at Meu. DRAMATIC SLOW TURN.*

ARADIA: *WHAT IS IT, MEULIN?*

[[Goo starts to come out of her nose and starts enveloping her.]]

MITUNA: *gdi Jeanradia*

CALLIE: *cannot see Meulin as she is with aradia*

SOLLUX: oh, fuck.

JAKE: Eegad!

MITUNA: 7hi5 i5 5ome 5hi7

[[It's purple goo]]

MEULIN: (=OoO=)

JAKE: Miss leijon? Are you alright?

SOLLUX: (ii need an old priie2t and a young priie2t.)

ARADIA: gr0ss!

ROSE: *blinks dumbly at Meulin*

JANE: (Sollux, no.)

MEULIN: *makes some weird noses from the goo*

MITUNA: *floats away from the Meu*

CALLIE: *Callie finally hops into viewing range since everyone is staring at something*

MEULIN: *chokes on it a little and plops onto her knees*

[[It just keeps growing until it formes a huge mass. a head forms on the top of the mass.]]

SOLLUX: what kiind of que2tiion ii2 that, englii2h, 2he'2 /leakiing from her face./

SOLLUX: *what do tho*

SOLLUX: hooooly...

MITUNA: uh

MITUNA: 7hi5 i5 5ome legend of zelda 7ype 5hi7

MEULIN: *welp*

MEULIN: *is probably completely covered now*

CALLIE: oh no!

JANE: *kicks off the candy floor to float as well. kinda wish i had those rocket hooves with me.*

JAKE: *stows a gun actually down the back of his jeans wand style to try and grab meulin* Not on your nelly!

MITUNA: J4K3 W7F N0

MITUNA: D0 N07

JAKE: Shell drown!! OR SOMETHING!!

MITUNA: 84D 70UCH

CALLIE: jake!!

CALLIE: *Callie is just completely gobsmacked.*

JANE: *that's jake, acting before thinking. he can't help it when there's a gal in trouble*

JAKE: *yes*

JAKE: *probably just bounces off it or gets stuck or something*

[[She is covered. It grows legs and it stands. IN A BOOMING VOICE IT SAYS.]] ¡¡¡ƎS∩OH ⅄W NI Ǝp∩ɹ┴NI ∩O⅄ Ǝɹ∀p MOH

MITUNA: excu5e 7he lovecraf7ian fuck ou7 of you

ROSE: *is actually a little startled by the voice at first and takes a step away from Meulin*

CALLIE: *looks helplessly at Jane* what do we do? can we fight it withoUt hUrting her?

JAKE: *Well that didn't work time to reclaim that wand before he blows off a buttock and aim both of them at the head* Is that even her?

(◣_◢) ƎƎƎƎƎƎƎƎƎƎΛΛΛΛΛΛΛΛΛɐɐɐɐɐɐɐɐɐɐɐɐɐɐɐɐƎ˥

JANE: *cringes at the loud voice* There has to be some way. Maybe if we aim for the edges and stay away from the center.

[[Spews goopy purple stuff at everyone.]]

MITUNA: *dodges adeptly*

CALLIE: *was too busy talking to Jane, is goo'd*

ROSE: *frowns because this is gross*

JAKE: *gets dunked also* Gah!

JANE: *oh same* Oh, eeewww. *tries to wipe that crap off*

SOLLUX: *le force field i dont want goo on me*

CALLIE: *is smushed by goo*

JANE: *digs out of it with fork*

CALLIE: *can't dig with a gun, just kind of wriggles around awkwardly*

JANE: *when she's out and done spitting it out of her mouth, she goes to help callie out*

JAKE: *kicks his way free with pure boyish moxy* *can't see shit though*

MITUNA: lol you guy5 go7 5limed

MITUNA: *tuna now is not the time bby*

[[SPITS Meulin out, at Sollux]]

JAKE: Yes thank you captain obvious!

CALLIE: *she is free with Jane's assistance and shoots Mituna a VERY UNIMPRESSED look*

MEULIN: *goes flying, semi concious*

CALLIE: *she looks pretty gross right now*

MITUNA: *giggles and mouths a "sorry" at Callie*

MEULIN: *watch out purple cat coming through*

JANE: *we both do sweetie, dw*

[[Swings a tentacle goo limb at everyone not in goo.]]

MEULIN: *thumps into sollux*

JAKE: Right, thats done it! *wipes his face on his shirt and starts SHOOTING AT THE HEAD*

MITUNA: *makes fast upward movement to avoid*

MITUNA: N33N3R N33N3R N33N3R

ARADIA: *ducks down to avoid goo limb after jumping out of the way to avoid globs a moment ago. cracks whip up at limb to maybe cut through it??*

ROSE: *Is 100% done with tentacles by now*

JAKE: *jumps through the air shooting two guns at once, feels really cool doing it*

MITUNA: *where are the doves*

JAKE: *i ordered them they should be here any minute*

ROSE: *does magic work here now?*

MITUNA: *gazeblasts at the creature. It's really all he can do*

SOLLUX: *oh oops catches the gooey cat UHM*

[[Seems to be absorbing all of these projectile attacks. Does a swirly spinny thing in anger because aradia's whip crack does manage to cut through it, the limb kind of falling to the ground, splattering.]]

MEULIN: *sputters out purple goo, a little dazed and not sure what just happened and whats going on around her* w-what....

JANE: *charges to try and rip it apart*

JANE: *one chunk at a time*

[[I AM SWIRLY SPINNING AT YOU GUYS.]]

SOLLUX: *floats a little to pull Meulin away from the fray, and set her down somewhere at least semi safer* wiill you be okay by your2elf? *HIDE BEHIND SOME DAMN CANDY*

JANE: *yep and charging was a bad idea oh dear*

CALLIE: jane, look oUt!!

MEULIN: y-yeah i furink so

ARADIA: *oh snap time to hoof it away but WILL SHE ESCAPE?*

ROSE: *nopes into the nopesphere*

JAKE: *pauses to reload, also ends up legging it*

CALLIE: *crap i feel so useless, time to dart after Jane without thinking*

[[Manages to smack callie, jane, and aradia]]

JANE: Oh, flip! *stops where she is, kinda slicing but then she's smacked so nevermind*

MITUNA: *dodging tentacles and concentrating his gazeblasts to try and cut through*

SOLLUX: *yeah no time to actually gag at that pun he's turning around to launch an assault on the creature with some good ol' fashioned bullet-speed shuriken*

[[Speficially spews more purple goop at mituna]]

MITUNA: *8(*

CALLIE: *wheeee*

MITUNA: *dodges it all successfully or so he thinks. Splat right in the face*

MITUNA: ew

JANE: *pushes herself back up, wincing a little, then goes to try tearing chunks off again*

MITUNA: gro55

JAKE: *resumes shooting from behind a floss pile* You ROTTER!

ARADIA: *there sheee gooooes*

JAKE: You absolute ROTTER!!!

CALLIE: *she just rolls to a stop*

[[yeah mituna you woulda gone down from that if it got you right in the face.]]]

MITUNA: *shakes head and wipes goop off his face and shouts over to sollux* Y0U M1ND 5H4R1NG 50M3 0F 7H053?!!

MITUNA: *well poop*

MITUNA: *nvm mituna is down*

[[covered in goo]]

[[Anyway, it glares at Jake now because he's ANNOYING THE BEAST]]

SOLLUX: *oh, wanna catch them? NURP.**summons the stars back when they get goo'd oh man*

JAKE: *oh nutterbutters*

JAKE: *head shooting intensifies*

[[It rolls up into a ball and starts ROLL CHARGING AT HIM]]

JAKE: *turns on his heels and runs as fast as his short shorts will let him* Shit shit shit!

MITUNA: *groans as he pushes himself up* ew ew ew ew *Trying to wipe all this goo off*

JANE: *watches it roll away from her. oh dear. flies after it frantically trying to stab at it*

MITUNA: *goo b gone*

JANE: *must save the booty*

JAKE: *protect the booty at all costs*

CALLIE: *Callie begins to push herself up dazedly. She isn't very resilient or used to fighting*

MITUNA: *Shakes head and floats back up. He tries to observe for a weakness this tme*

MITUNA: .

CALLIE: *sits in place and tries to figure out what's going on, apparently the creature is rolling*

[[KEEPS ON ROLLING. It's taking out piles of food like nobodies business.]]

ROSE: *suddenly this is temple run*

JANE: *stabbing is not helping. frick.*

MITUNA: i75 like a ka7amari of pure nope

MEULIN: *finally gets up just in time to dodge the rolling* FURICK!!!!!!!

JAKE: *it's catching uuuup save me neytiri*

JAKE: *or anyone really*

JANE: *tries to remember the simple kid friendly science stuff roxy taught her. there's gotta be something sciencey they can do with this thing since everything else isn't working????*

MITUNA: *nyooms after the beast, optic blasting at it to try and draw its attention*

JAKE: *might as well try shooting it over his shoulder yep* *be glad his aim is sharper than his noggin*

CALLIE: *distantly roxy yells something about salting it*

CALLIE: *i mean*

JANE: *thank you distant roxy*

CALLIE: *ur welc janey*

MITUNA: *thank you based roxy*

SOLLUX: *gives up on his stars for a while, simply remembering how his powers had been ineffective until apparently now. various musical grunting + optic blast of his own*

CALLIE: *they've all rolled pretty far away from her now* umu;;

JANE: *stops chasing it and floats there, thumping her temple with her free hand* Think think. Think think.

CALLIE: *finally stands back up and attempts to catch up with them*

[[It finally does stop rolling after jake just so it can spew goo at anyone that was still pursuing it]]

MITUNA: W47CH 0U7!!!!

CALLIE: *Callie is not spewed, she is too distant still*

MITUNA: *ducks the goo, still scanning for the slightest hint of a weakness. Then he just starts chucking food at it with psionics*

JAKE: *gasping for breath, he pivots around, winces, and takes the chance to reload again*

JANE: *good thing she stopped chasing i guess*

[[It absorbs the food and starts to grow]]

JANE: Oh. God.

JAKE: *robbed for words for once, just stares in horror*

MEULIN: *eyes widen* what have i done!!!!!!!!

MITUNA: mo7her of god

CALLIE: oh, bUgger it all...

SOLLUX: *an even more impressive string of curses than the previous*

JANE: *thumps her temple more quickly* Thinkthinkthinkthink.

[[It charges back towards callie and jane]]

MITUNA: *stops chucking food post haste*

CALLIE: OH, BUGGER IT ALL!

JAKE: No! *starts shooting again for lack of anything better*

[[It does one of those jump dives and starts to roll at them again.]]

CALLIE: *she certainly can't outrun it, so she just tries shooting it with her wand, instead*

JANE: Oh, flip. *flies toward callie to try to pick her up to get her out of the way* Thinkthinkthinkthinkthink!

MITUNA: *nothing but curses and optic blasts coming out of Mituna*

ARADIA: *jumps out from where ever she got thrown, apparently knocked out of commission for a moment. She pursues the monster, trying to hack away at it some more*

CALLIE: *oh hello Jane!*

CALLIE: *off we go*

CALLIE: *Callie clings* whew, thank yoU!

JANE: No problem! *let's get high, maybe we can get out of its range*

[[As it rolls at them, it runs into one of the piles of food, making it go weird gooey, but it continues to pursue jane and callie]]

[[It's pretty big now, and the room really isn't super tall]]

JANE: *well frick

JANE: *

MITUNA: *squints in between blasts. Tries to remember wtf it just ran over*

JANE: *in circles we go, then*

CALLIE: *Callie is too busy being chased with Jane to realize it hit something bad* oohhhh dear!!

JANE: Ohhhh! Where is a fire extinguisher when you need one??

MEULIN: *starts to attempt her best at attcking it without getting run over*

JANE: *remembered a science-y thing*

JANE: *so proud*

JANE: *roxy be proud of me*

CALLIE: *ROXY IS PROUD*

JANE: *yaaaaaay*

CALLIE: .

ROSE: *How did our lives become this mess?*

MEULIN: *is regretting this completely*

JAKE: Oi lavenderbrains! Over here! *distract distract*

CALLIE: .

[[ROLLIN ROLLIN ROLLIN. meulin if you're attacking it, you're gunna get absorbed again]]

MEULIN: *oop*

[[But it's okay because it's going to use you as a projectile at meulin and jane]]

[[also it didn't roll over anything specific, it was just a food pile]]

[[CALLIE and jane

MEULIN: *pchooooo flies into callie and jane*

MEULIN: *she might as well be a purple blod herself by now*

MEULIN: *blob

MITUNA: *Gurgles and continues shooting at the beast*

JANE: FLIP. *flies backwards, facing the pchoo'ing meulin* Callie, try to catch her! *my hands are full*

SOLLUX: *just pewpewpewing*

CALLIE: Uhhhh!! *attempts to catch her, but she's not very strong, so she's probably just gonna flop*

MEULIN: *callie cat pile*

CALLIE: *fwomp*

JANE: *WELP*

JAKE: *there are like a thousand bullets in that thing by now it is beginning to vaguely occur to jake that this is perhaps not working* *much frustrated gurgling*

MEULIN: *gets up and starts shooting magey heart blasts at the thing since claws arent going to work*

[[as it rolls past a wall it splatters a little, continuing to pursue them]]

JAKE: *throws a gun at it's head in pure helpless anger*

JAKE: *its wow. wow*

SOLLUX: *so done with this monster what even is happening how do proceed*

JANE: *continues flying around, maybe it'll splat itself to death*

SOLLUX: *we can only hope at this point*

MEULIN: *tries to walk backwards and slips cause of all the goo on her, accidently flings a heart blast in a random direction*

CALLIE: *oh god*

JAKE: *oh no soul lightning* Look out!

CALLIE: *WATCH OUT FOR THAT SOUL SHATTERING BLAST*

[[Jane has the right idea, and it starts splattering as it hits things she's probably leading it into]]

JANE: *yes good*

SOLLUX: *watches, squinting, and piecing things together in his head. Let's go catch up with Jane and lisp in her ear* you've got iit. can you handle beiing a lure untiil iit'2 fiinii2hed?

ROSE: *tries to avoid stepping on goo to help Meulin not fall over*

JANE: *is getting kind of tired but nods* Yeah. Just make sure the others stay out of the way. *tosses one of her less valuable forks at the thing to keep it aiming for her*

CALLIE: *is still in Jane's arms??*

CALLIE: *idfk*

SOLLUX: ii can take over. *flicks his fingers to toss sparks* tap out iif you need me-- *oh is she? omfg*

ARADIA: *attempts more whip slashing as she flies after the globby guy cuz cutting him up seems as affective as letting him break himself apart*

MEULIN: thank you (=;~;=) *gets back up with the help of rose*

[[The whipping also helps, and chunks are goin a flyin]]

[[It finally starts to look like it's getting smaller]]

CALLIE: *WELL SHE NEVER STOPPED BEIN CHASED SO*

MITUNA: *Flies up next to Jane* you wan7 me 7o 7ake 7ha7 for you? *motions at callie*

ARADIA: *oop gotta dodge the chunks now. more grodiness. but time powers help with that.*

JAKE: *just sort of running around like a headless cluckbeast but hey he's staying out of the way*

JANE: I'm fine. Callie, you wanna go with him?

CALLIE: u~u;;;;

CALLIE: i don't want to weigh yoU down, love!

JANE: Oh, pshaw. You weigh like twenty pounds.

[[as it gets smaller, it gets angrier and faster... until.... IT SELF DESTRUCTS]]

ROSE: *nods* You're welcome.-

ROSE: Oh.

JANE: *whoa frick*

[[Goo everywhere]]

ARADIA: *there she goes agaaaaain*

CALLIE: oh... oh i sUppose we don't need to worry anymore.

ROSE: *makes a face* ...

JANE: *the four of them get splattered*

ARADIA: *cuz she was too close*

CALLIE: *ew*

JAKE: *is blasted back wheeeeee*

MITUNA: *hears an explosion behind him and turns around just to see goo flying at him*

MITUNA: *splat*

SOLLUX: well then.

MEULIN: *just more goo on top of goo*

JANE: That's disgusting. *holds callie close anyway*

JAKE: *these bonbons sure are soft i think i will stay here for a bit*

CALLIE: *attempts to scrape it off*

CALLIE: blUck.

MITUNA: gro55

MITUNA: *wiping off goop now*

CALLIE: now what do we do?

MITUNA: fuck if i know

ROSE: *wipes goo off of her face and frowns when she notices her hair is gross and sticky as well*

JANE: For now... *slowly goes back to the floor and lets go of callie for self cleaning purposes*

[[As you are no doubt feeling glad this thing is finally gone, you start to feel tired. A calmness fills you, until soon there is nothing around you.]]

SOLLUX: *bzzrt*

JANE: *blinks and gets a little dizzy from it*

JANE: *goin down*

MITUNA: *yawns&

MITUNA: *sugar he's going down swingin*

JAKE: *bonbon nap*

MEULIN: *almost immediatly passes out*

MITUNA: *totes out*

CALLIE: *wheeee*