- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] began trolling nitroMerc [NM] at 08:43 --
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] is sitting on the couch, reading some romance novel or another. It's pretty tame, really, but it's more than engaging enough to keep her attention! --
- -- nitroMerc [NM] is of course, bored again. And what does she do when she's bored? Bother Paloma, of course! --
- -- nitroMerc [NM] sneaks up behind her, trying to see what she's up to. --
- -- absoluteAltitude's [AA'S] book is lovingly describing a flushed reunion, of two trolls once seperated by different squads who have now managed to unite on the same battleship. --
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] seems entirely unaware of Cucali... --
- -- nitroMerc [NM] is now an idle chum! --
- -- nitroMerc [NM] suddenly leans over the couch, intruding her personal space to get all up and close to her face. --
- NM: Heeeeeeeey!
- NM: Whatcha readin'?
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] blushes, closing up the book quickly as she looks to Cucali. --
- AA: <\ No, nothing! It's just a story! />
- NM: ☼☼☼☼h, a st☼ry? Ab☼ut what??
- NM: Let me see!
- -- nitroMerc [NM] reaches for the book. --
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] holds it out of Cucali's reach. --
- AA: <\ It, it's nothing you would be interested in! Just a little romance! />
- NM: Y☼u're such a sap!
- -- nitroMerc [NM] leeeeans over further to reach it! She might be almost tipping here. --
- AA: <\ Whoa, careful! />
- NM: Then give me the stupid b☼☼k s☼ I can make fun ☼f it!
- AA: <\ But! />
- -- nitroMerc [NM] vaults over and plonks next to Paloma. --
- NM: But whaaaat? Are y☼u g☼nna blush and stammer at me s☼me m☼re?
- AA: <\ Well, well yes, but that's not the point! Why do you always have to make fun of the things I like?! />
- NM: Because it's fuuuun, dumb☼!
- -- nitroMerc [NM] leeeeans into Paloma this time to try to reach for the book. --
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] blushes, holding the book away, but without the couch between them she doesn't have much chance of keeping Cucali from it. --
- -- nitroMerc [NM] transitions to leaning over her lap to try to snatch the book. --
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] is foiled by a lucky grab on Cucali's end! She loses her book to the terrible clutches of the bombster. --
- NM: Leeeeeet's see what lewd material y☼u g☼t here!
- AA: <\ It, it isn't lewd! />
- NM: I bet it is! That's why y☼u're stammerin'!
- AA: <\ No, no it is not! />
- NM: CHAPTER SEVEN!
- NM: ...
- -- nitroMerc [NM] reads it and finds that it's not as racy as she thought it would be. Wow boring. She tosses it over. --
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] catches it with a huff. --
- NM: Geeeeez, even y☼ur dumb r☼mances aren't interestin'!
- AA: <\ What were you expecting?! />
- NM: S☼methin' interestin' t☼ make fun ☼f!
- AA: <\ This, this is plenty interesting! />
- NM: H☼☼☼☼w?
- NM: All I see is b☼rin' sexual tensi☼n!!
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] blushes. --
- AA: <\ That's not all there is to it at all! />
- NM: ☼☼☼h, tell me then!
- NM: When d☼es the acti☼n start, huh?
- AA: <\ There's an entire dramatic plot underpinning their romance! They can't be together unless their squadrons merge, so they have to assist a covert overthrowing of their commanders! />
- AA: <\ If they're caught, they'd be killed - or worse! />
- AA: <\ But they go through with it anyway because they can't bear to be apart! />
- NM: That is s☼☼☼☼☼ stupid!
- AA: <\ It is NOT stupid! />
- NM: It's incredibly stupid!
- NM: Wh☼'d be stupid en☼ugh t☼ d☼ that f☼r pity??
- AA: <\ It's not stupid! It's true pity! />
- NM: Ha! Like that exists!
- AA: <\ It, it does! />
- NM: Then sh☼w me, dummy!
- NM: ☼h wait, y☼u can't!
- NM: Because it d☼esn't! Exist!
- AA: <\ It does! I know it does! />
- AA: <\ Even you should be able to see that! What about your moirail? />
- NM: Eh! I was kiiiiinda c☼erced int☼ that. S☼ I dunn☼ if that really c☼unts!
- AA: <\ But you pity her, don't you? />
- NM: What's it matter t☼ y☼u??
- AA: <\ If you pity her, surely you know that true pity must exist! />
- NM: Ha! D☼ y☼u think all types ☼f pity is true pity??
- AA: <\ No... but you must know that where one sort exists, so does another! />
- NM: Save y☼ur breath! I d☼n't believe in that kinda bs!
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] sighs, shaking her head. --
- AA: <\ I can't convince you, huh? />
- -- nitroMerc [NM] smiles. --
- NM: N☼☼☼☼☼pe!
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] reaches over and shoves Cucali's shoulder lightly. --
- AA: <\ Then you're a dummy! />
- -- nitroMerc [NM] frowns and shoves her back. --
- NM: Well, y☼u're the bigger dummy f☼r believin' in stupid grub st☼ries!
- AA: <\ My stories make me happy! How happy are you in your scroogey mindset? />
- NM: Perfectly happy!!
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] grins. --
- AA: <\ Really? />
- NM: Um, duuuuh? I mean, c'm☼n, I'm radiatin' c☼ntentment here!!
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] reaaaches over and holds a hand over Cucali's shoulder, as if she's checking for something. --
- AA: <\ ... nope! I can't feel a single contentment wave. />
- -- nitroMerc [NM] shoves her again, grinning. --
- NM: Liiiiiar! I am perfectly happy, dumbass!!
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] grins back to her. --
- NM: I'm the m☼st fuckin' c☼ntent tr☼ll ☼n Alternia! I g☼t everythin' g☼ing f☼r me!
- AA: <\ Good. You'd better be happy, Cucali. />
- AA: <\ 'Cause if you're not, the Happiness Drones are gonna come take you away. />
- AA: <\ And do you know how sad I'd be if that happened? I would be so sad. />
- NM: Ha ha! What kinda lame m☼nster is that?? Try harder, m☼☼☼☼ssybl☼☼d!
- NM: An' I d☼n't care if y☼u're sad ☼r n☼t, just sayin'!
- -- absoluteAltitude's [AA'S] grin gets some smirky overtones to it. Yeah. Suuure she doesn't. --
- -- nitroMerc [NM] doesn't like the look that Paloma suddenly has ;/ What is she so smug about?? --
- NM: Whaaaat? Y☼u d☼ubtin' me?
- AA: <\ No, no! Not at all! />
- NM: Y☼ur dumb, ugly face says ☼therwise!!
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] clears her throat against a curled fist, schooling her expression into neutrality. It isn't a very good mask. --
- AA: <\ You were saying? />
- -- nitroMerc [NM] leans uncomfortably close to her face. --
- NM: I'm sayin' that y☼u're a liiiiiar!
- -- absoluteAltitude's [AA'S] neutrality falls under the weight of Paloma's grin. And her blush. Of course there's a blush. --
- AA: <\ Ehehe, why would I lie to you? />
- NM: Because y☼u're tryin' t☼ be smart with me! Which I sh☼uld've expected fr☼m s☼me dumb l☼wbl☼☼d!!
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] sticks her tongue out at Cucali. --
- AA: <\ For your information, I didn't say anything. />
- NM: Y☼ur face said en☼ugh!!
- AA: <\ My face can't talk, silly! />
- AA: <\ ... I mean, aside from the obvious. />
- NM: It d☼esn't need t☼ talk, because aaaaall y☼ur em☼ti☼ns are written all ☼ver y☼ur face!
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] blushes at that, stammering a little. --
- AA: <\ No, not all of them... />
- NM: I can read y☼u like ☼ne ☼f y☼ur stupid r☼mances, m☼☼☼☼☼ssy!
- AA: <\ But... />
- NM: But whaaaat?
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] looks away, still blushing. --
- AA: <\ No, nothing... />
- NM: See? Lyin' t☼ my face again!!
- AA: <\ Let, let me clarify, nothing you'd be interested in! />
- NM: ☼☼☼☼☼☼☼h?
- NM: H☼w d☼ y☼u kn☼w??
- NM: Why d☼n't y☼u tell me, huh?
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] is starting to look a little uncomfortable! Mission accomplished?! --
- AA: <\ I, I was just going to say that, but if you can read me so well, why, why don't you call me out? />
- -- nitroMerc [NM] is now an idle chum! --
- NM: Y☼u're blushin' because I'm cl☼se t☼ y☼u an' because I'm makin' fun ☼f y☼ur dumb b☼☼ks!!
- NM: That right?
- AA: <\ That, I... I guess... />
- NM: Aaaand when the pr☼tag☼nists are thiiiis cl☼se t☼gether in y☼ur dumb b☼☼ks, they kiiiiss, right?
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] blushes furiously, still not looking at Cucali. Her silence is damning! --
- NM: Is thaaat what y☼u want?
- AA: <\ I... />
- -- nitroMerc [NM] stays where she is, her smirk beyond smug. --
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] whispers, --
- AA: <\ ... I know you wouldn't... />
- NM: Kiiiiiiss y☼u, y☼u mean?
- -- absoluteAltitude's [AA'S] breath catches in her throat. Oh god no stop thinking of that. --
- AA: <\ Y, yeah... />
- NM: Weeeell, y☼u kn☼w what?
- -- nitroMerc [NM] suddenly pulls away. --
- NM: Y☼u're right!!
- NM: I d☼n't give a shit ab☼ut y☼u! Why w☼uld I even want t☼ kiss y☼u anyway??
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] blushes, looking generally uncomfortable with her life as she loosely folds her arms. --
- AA: <\ Cucali... why do you have to keep messing with me like this? />
- -- nitroMerc [NM] shrugs! --
- NM: I'm b☼☼☼☼red! What, I g☼tta have a reas☼n?
- NM: ☼h my g☼d, y☼u're g☼nna give me a wh☼le lecture ab☼ut h☼w I sh☼uld behave, aren't y☼u??
- AA: <\ N, no... />
- NM: Y☼u are!! Y☼u're g☼in' t☼ talk ab☼ut feelings and shit with me!
- AA: <\ You say that as if you want me to go on about it! />
- NM: N☼ I'm n☼t!
- NM: I'm just saaaaayin' what I think y☼u're g☼nna d☼!
- AA: <\ Well maybe you're right! Maybe I'm going to tell you that you should respect my feelings! />
- NM: I'm n☼t 'maybe' right!
- NM: I'm always right!
- AA: <\ You, you really shouldn't just treat me as a plaything when you're bored you know! />
- NM: Why n☼t?? Y☼u pretty much are a plaything already!!
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] bites at her lip. --
- AA: <\ I'm not a plaything, Cucali. />
- NM: Y☼u are t☼ me!
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] sighs. --
- AA: <\ At least I'm something... />
- NM: Whaaaat? Are y☼u happy with that??
- AA: <\ You can read me with a book, so can't you tell? />
- -- nitroMerc [NM] rolls her eye. --
- NM: Maybe I'd just like t☼ hear it fr☼m y☼ur ☼wn lips!!
- NM: It's b☼rin' t☼ keep tellin' y☼u what I see!!
- AA: <\ ... of course I'm not happy with that. />
- NM: Are y☼u crushed that I didn't fall head ☼ver heels int☼ y☼ur arms??
- AA: <\ No, that's not it, I just... />
- NM: St☼p stallin' and tell me!
- AA: <\ ... />
- AA: <\ I... I'd rather not, okay? />
- NM: Aaaw, are y☼u afraid that I'm g☼nna hurt y☼u again?
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] bites at her lip and doesn't answer, looking away. Translation: Yes. --
- -- nitroMerc [NM] scoffs. --
- NM: Well, here's y☼ur less☼n that y☼ur dumb r☼mance n☼vels are aaaaaall fakey-fake and stupid!
- AA: <\ I don't believe that... />
- NM: Stupid, stupid, stupiiiid, as usual!
- NM: Y☼u're just a dumb m☼ssybl☼☼d wh☼ d☼esn't kn☼w reality!!
- AA: <\ I, I know reality. />
- AA: <\ I just choose to believe. />
- NM: Well, y☼u ch☼☼se t☼ believe in shit that'll never c☼me true, then.
- AA: <\ ... I guess I'm just weird like that. />
- -- nitroMerc [NM] is now an idle chum! --
- NM: Whaaaat? N☼ c☼mplaints?
- AA: <\ It's clear I can't change your mind, and wouldn't it be impolite to try? You've made it clear you're not interested. />
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] actually has a reasonably good poker face about that. Because it's /important/ Cucali doesn't know that Paloma knows she likes her. She can't stop herself from looking a little fond, though. --
- NM: Entertaaaaaain me, m☼ssybl☼☼d!
- NM: Isn't that what slaaaaaves are f☼r?
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] didn't seem to like /that/. She glares at Cucali. --
- AA: <\ I'm not your slave. I'm your friend. />
- -- nitroMerc [NM] smiiiirks. --
- NM: What makes y☼u think that?
- AA: <\ You're helping me, aren't you? />
- NM: Because it's useful t☼ have a g☼☼d little l☼wbl☼☼d ☼n haaaaand, ☼f c☼urse!
- AA: <\ That's, that's not the reason and you know it. />
- NM: ☼h really?
- NM: What's my reas☼n then??
- NM: My reeeeeeal reas☼n, since y☼u kn☼w me s☼ well!
- AA: <\ It, it's because you're we're friends. />
- AA: ((*you're, we're))
- -- nitroMerc [NM] puts a hand on her head, gripping her hair. --
- NM: Is that what y☼u think??
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] stares Cucali down, unflinching. --
- AA: <\ Yes. />
- -- nitroMerc [NM] yanks her by the hair forward. --
- AA: <\ Nnh- />
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] gets yanked. She throws a hand out to support herself on the couch. --
- NM: Reeeeeally? W☼uld y☼u still think that way if I kicked y☼u ar☼und like a barkbeast??
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] grits her teeth, glaring up at Cucali. --
- AA: <\ I really wish you wouldn't. But I know that's how you are. />
- AA: <\ Always gotta prove yourself. Gotta prove you don't care, that you're you're a strong independent troll. />
- AA: <\ I understand, okay? />
- NM: Wr☼ng! I d☼n't have t☼ pr☼ve anythin'!
- -- nitroMerc [NM] lets go and bends down. --
- NM: Y☼u understand jack shit ab☼ut me.
- AA: <\ Alright, okay... />
- NM: D☼ y☼u get it n☼☼☼☼w?
- AA: <\ ... you're dangerous. I know that already. />
- NM: Then keep that in mind that we're n☼t friends an' we'll never be friends.
- AA: <\ Cucali... />
- NM: D☼ y☼u wanna get hit again?
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] looks away. --
- AA: <\ ... no. />
- -- nitroMerc [NM] speaks in a low voice: --
- NM: Then d☼n't call me y☼ur friend.
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] flinches. --
- AA: <\ Sorry... />
- NM: Glad we g☼t that cleared up then.
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] swallows at a lump in her throat. --
- NM: G☼ back t☼ readin' y☼ur stupid n☼vels.
- AA: <\ ... />
- AA: <\ I... okay. />
- -- nitroMerc [NM] leaves to go keep watch around the hive. Let the mossblood do whatever it is she does. --
- -- absoluteAltitude [AA] curls up on the couch, burying her head against her knees. Stupid seadweller and her stupid being mean... --
- -- nitroMerc [NM] gave up trolling absoluteAltitude [AA] at 12:05 --