I have changed

[onlyasign]

Who: Sufferer, Psiioniic, and Dualscar
Where: Dualscar's their hive
When: sometime after Sufferer's last post, and also December 10th
Style: prophetic
Status: closed

[Two things going on here! First, Sufferer and Psii talked about Dualscar and Psii asked Sufferer to talk to the big lug for him. Regarding... feelings and stuff.]

[Second, it's the holidays, and Sufferer has noticed that Psii has been hoarding twinkly lights. What are you doing with those, Psii? And wouldn't they look better if everyone else could share in their twinkly goodness?]

Comments

for Dualscar, backdated a couple weeks

[onlyasign]

[That conversation with Psii had been enlightening. Sufferer isn't quite sure what to do with the information he's gathered, but he knows he needs to talk to Dualscar about it. He also knows he shouldn't necessarily be jumping to conclusions, but it certainly sounded like Psii was... well, like he had more than a strictly academic interest in Dualscar's happiness. Either way, he needs to chat with his moirail, and goes looking for him.]

Dualscar?

[devwocean]

[Dualscar's sitting and reading one of the rather large pile of books he recently acquired from the library, something he does on a pathetically regular basis. He looks up, marking the spot with a bookmark and closing the book.

Ever since their last deep conversation, Dualscar's been even more concerned about his moirail's state of mind, so he perks and his fins lift at the moment he sees Signless looking like he might want to pull up a pile.]

You all right?

[onlyasign]

[Sufferer likes it that Dualscar reads! He enjoys books himself, but never had much access to them, living the kind of lifestyle he did. As such, while he can read, he's not all that great at it, and secretly is a little in awe of the thick, complex books Dualscar devours.]

I'm fine.

[That's not going to keep him from trying to crawl into the chair and settle himself across Dualscar's legs, though.]

I want to talk to you about something, though.

[devwocean]

[Dualscar is totally okay with the lap sitting. He wraps his arms around the shorter troll and rests his chin on Signless' shoulder]

A course, you can talk wwith me about anythin', Signless. You knoww it.

[withoutasign]

[Sufferer lets the name slide as he settles in, getting himself nice and comfortable on Dualscar's lap.]

Okay. I want to talk about Psii. Specifically, your relationship with him.

[devwocean]

[Oh. Dualscar's fins flick a little in confusion and uncertainty. A discussion about his relationship with Psii doesn't sound like something he's going to enjoy]

Uh...shore, wwe can talk about that. Wwe don't really havve any kind a relationship, other than him sometimes gettin' me things, an such. Er, havve I been disrespectin' him too much again?

[onlyasign]

[Pat pat pat on Dualscar's fins.]

No, you've been fine. I think you must have been nicer and friendlier than before recently, in all honesty.

Dualscar... do you think of Psii as your friend?

[devwocean]

[Okay, that's reassuring. His fins smooth out under the patting, but then quiver a little at the question, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.]

My friend?

[It never even really occurred to him]

[withoutasign]

Yes, your friend.

[Sufferer knows that Dualscar hasn't exactly had a lot of friends in the past, so he's prepared to be patient about this whole thing.]

He told me that he likes it when you're happy, so I think he's starting to think of you as a friend.

[devwocean]

[Blink.....] I thought if anythin' he hates me in a kind a platonic wway.

[onlyasign]

[That moment of confusion over the thought of someone wanting to be his friend just makes Sufferer's pale feelings for Dualscar grow.]

Do you remember what we talked about, when we talked about forgiveness?

[devwocean]

...Yeah? I mean, sure, I remember.

[withoutasign]

Well, I think that when you told Psii he had legitimate reasons for hating you, that let him know that it was okay to have those feelings, and he was able to forgive and move past them. Now that he isn't stressed or anxious about hating you any longer, he's been able to get to know you, and finds things about you he likes, and so wants to be your friend.

[At least, that's what Sufferer thinks is going on here. It's hard to tell with Psii sometimes.]

for Psii, and also Dualscar!

[withoutasign]

[What have you got there, Psii? Those strings of lights would look better outside, don't you think?]

[p2iioniicii2t]

[ Psii didn't expect someone to walk in on him rearranging his legitimately bizarre hoard of Christmas decor. It had been the first human holiday he had experienced in Vatheon, and he had just started obtaining the decorations since they had first become available in the bubble this year.

It helped that these kinds of things were free, really, because he's been obsessing, but it wasn't his hive to decorate freely.

Which is why he guiltily jumps when Signless comes into the room. ]

[withoutasign]

[Why is he acting guilty, it's not like he's done anything wrong!]

Those are pretty.

[It's said calmly, gently, and Sufferer steps closer to look over Psii's shoulder. After a moment's hesitation, he puts his hand on Psii's bony shoulder.]

Do you want to hang some of them up, like the humans do?

[p2iioniicii2t]

[ He can't help but look extremely self-conscious about the whole thing even as he finds himself fidgeting with the lights. The strings of them are of a number of different sorts; there's seasonally shaped ones, assorted colors, and even the kinds that blink and flash.

He might have a problem. ]

It is not appropriate to do so. I will put them out of sight.

[onlyasign]

No, Psii, you don't have to put them away!

[Sufferer has gotten used to Psii fixating on things, and holiday lights seem like a pretty harmless thing to pack-rat away.]

Humans hang them up on their houses this time of year. We could do that, if you want to.

[p2iioniicii2t]

You do not think it would be disruptive to alter the hive aesthetic.

[ It's not a question, surprisingly. Signless was up front about these things, there was no reason to wonder if he was being honest. ]

[withoutasign]

[Of course Sufferer isn't lying. He has researched this, okay, he knows all about this human holiday.]

Well, we'd have to be careful where we put them inside. But outside, we could put them wherever we want!

[p2iioniicii2t]

I would like that.

[ He almost doesn't mean to admit it. It is, after all, such a strange thing to want to engage in the human holiday the way the other people of the bubble do.

And then, shyly: ]

There is a phenomenon that consists of timing outside lights to other cues.

[withoutasign]

[Probably no stranger than preaching peace and love on Alternia.]

Yeah?

[Sufferer was digging through Psii's lights, in search of a particularly enticing bright red strand, but he sits up and devotes his entire attention to his friend.]

What kind of cues?

[p2iioniicii2t]

Sound. Movement. It is to entertain those that may observe.

[ He's fidgeting with one strand of red now, actually. He's quite able to sort through his strange light pile without even thinking, and red is always a soothing color. ]

[withoutasign]

You mean... like putting them together with music or something similar?

[This is starting to sound better and better all the time.]

[p2iioniicii2t]

Yes, it could be a synchronization of human holiday music and these strings of lights set to engage at predetermined cues.

[ He feels a little self-conscious now. Well, more so than usual. ]