> Paloma: Doom your moirail. (< What have I done? />)

-- hinderingHijinks [HH] began trolling absoluteAltitude [AA] at 15:47 --

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  is sitting on the couch with her husktop in her lap, looking downhearted. --

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  plops down next to her, munching on something she found in the nutrition block. she notices paloma and looks at her curiously. --

-- absoluteAltitude's [AA'S]  screen shows Cirrin's handle and text colour! Looks like she's staring at a recent log between them which she still hasn't closed out of. Paloma looks up at Solena, trying to mask her sadness with a smile. --

AA: <\ Hi, Solena. />

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  swallows and peeks at her husktop, frowning when she recognizes the text color and quirk. --

HH: ....

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  notices, and captchalogues the whole thing, clearing her throat awkwardly. --

HH: Who were you talking to?

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  is deadly quiet. --

AA: <\ Don't, don't worry about it. />

HH: Oh, I'm not worrying. I'd just like for you to tell me.

AA: <\ It's really not important... />

HH: Humor me then.

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  bites at her lip, looking away. --

AA: <\ Cirrin. I was talking to Cirrin. />

HH: Ah, I see.

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  nods --

HH: And what were you two all up and conversing about, little sister?

AA: <\ It... it's just some personal business. />

HH: It's okay, you can confide in me. My lips are motherfucking sealed.

AA: <\ I, I really don't know if I should. It's just, it's nothing important anyway.  />

HH: Well if it ain't important, then you can tell me.

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  seems prrretty nervous about this whole thing. What gives? --

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  has noticed! --

AA: <\ He just, wanted me to help him with something. />

AA: <\ That's, that's all. />

HH: With what did he want your assistance?

AA: <\ Nothing! I mean, nothing. Just, just a little thing which he probably doesn't want spread around everywhere... />

HH: Come on now, no need to dance around the answer. Just be STRAIGHT with me, little sister.

AA: <\ ... he, he needed my help with some details about a particular singer for trivia night? />

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  is, perhaps, the worst liar in the history of Alternia. --

HH: You know

HH: I'm not to fond of being LIED to

HH: And I don't see why you'd need to LIE about something SMALL.

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  flinches. --

HH: So I'll say this one more time.

HH: OUT

HH: WITH

HH: IT.

AA: <\ S, Solena... I'm sorry... />

AA: <\ ... I can't, I can't tell you. />

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  smiles slightly, eyes glittering --

HH: I see.

HH: But, little sister.

HH: I have faith in you.

HH: I think you CAN tell me.

HH: SO tell me.

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  feels fear biting at the back of her mind, but regardless of it, she shakes her head. --

AA: <\ Really... really, I'm sorry! />

HH: Paloma.

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  is no longer smiling. --

HH: TELL ME.

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  shakes like the leaves she isn't -quite- high in blood colour enough to resemble. She looks away from Solena to try and steel her resolve. --

AA: <\ I... I can't! />

HH: You WILL.

AA: <\ Please... don't... />

HH: Oh, I'm SORRY.

HH: Am I making you UNCOMFORTABLE?

AA: <\ Just, just leave it alone, Solena! />

HH: I DON'T THINK I WILL.

HH: Just TELL me, little sister.

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  wraps her arms around herself, shaking her head. --

AA: <\ It, it's best for, for everyone if I don't so... />

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  is the room getting... darker? --

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  breathes quickly, like a cornered animal. It's not quite hyperventilation, though - yet. --

HH: I don't think it is. I think it'd be best for EVERYONE if you LET ME GET MY KNOWLEGDE ON about this, especially for YOURSELF.

-- absoluteAltitude's [AA'S]  voice comes out as a frightened little squeak. --

AA: <\ I... can't... />

HH: Oh, HONEY.

HH: I think you CAN.

AA: <\ No... p, please... />

HH: Yes, PLEASE.

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  shudders. /Now/ she's starting to hyperventilate a little. --

AA: <\ ... n, no, I, I... can't... />

HH: You seem a bit TENSE.

HH: Maybe you need to get something OFF YOUR CHEST?

HH: I'm ALL EARS, LITTLE SISTER.

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  shakes her head, wordlessly. --

HH: Go on, Paloma, SHARE.

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  heaves a dry sob of fear, shaking terribly, her eyes squeezed shut. By now she's not even replying to Solena. She's just trying to deal with the terror at this point. --

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  momentarily lets up on the chucklevoodoo, putting a hand on paloma's shoulder. she almost looks... desprate? --

HH: Paloma, tell me.

HH: Please.

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  looks to Solena, tears in her eyes. --

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  meets her gaze. --

AA: <\ I'm sorry... I'm really sorry, Solena... if, if it were in any way a good idea, I'd tell you, I would! />

HH: Please....

HH: I need to know...

HH: You've gotta understand. If it's about Cirrin then...

HH: I've gotta know.

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  sniffs, shaking her head. --

AA: <\ You, you don't want to know this. Please, trust me. />

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  isn't even trying to conceal the desperation in her eyes now, and isn't quite in control of her own chucklevoodoo now... --

HH: Please... PLEASE.

AA: <\ I'm, I'm sorry! />

HH: I've said FUCKING PLEASE. WHY CAN'T YOU /MOTHERFUCKING/ TELL ME!?

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  just about wails: --

AA: <\ Because it will only make things worse, Solena! />

HH: WHAT!?

HH: WHAT THE /FUCK/ WILL IT MAKE WORSE?!

AA: <\ I'm sorry -- I can't -- />

AA: <\ I, I have to go! />

HH: Oh NO YOU DON'T.

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  wrests herself away from Solena and stands abruptly, running for the door. --

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  suddenly stands in front of her, looking /livid/ --

HH: You do NOT want to make me your ENEMY HERE, LITTLE SISTER.

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  pulls up, fear commanding her expression. She backs up, and tries to take off in the other direction. She has to find Cucali, she-- --

HH: Just make this EASIER ON YOURSELF, and on anyone you happen to LIKE that I can get my HANDS ON.

AA: <\ I'm sorry! I'm sorry! />

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  wails as she runs. But she still runs. --

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  steps easily in front of her again, grabbing her this time. --

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  startles as she's grabbed, trying to pull away. --

HH: I can't even admire your LOYALITY anymore. YOU ARE MAKING ME SICK.

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  digs her nails into paloma's arm, snarling --

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  sobs, looking away. --

AA: <\ I'm sorry! I just can't! />

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  grabs paloma's face with her free hand and makes her meet her gaze. --

HH: You don't have to FIGHT it, little sister, just TELL ME and it'll all go away.

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  looks over to Solena, barely down at her, her breathing quick and shallow. --

AA: <\ You, you don't understand... please... please, Solena...! />

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  holds her gaze, waiting. --

AA: <\ Please don't make me do this...! />

-- absoluteAltitude's [AA'S]  fearful tears run down her face, wetting Solena's fingers. She's terrified. Absolutely terrified, and it shows. --

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  continues to wait --

AA: <\ I... I can't... />

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  holds her gaze for a moment longer before letting her go and stepping back, giving her a look of absolute contempt. --

HH: Tch.

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  wraps her arms around herself, staggering backwards and looking away from Solena. --

HH: Absolutely disgusting.

AA: <\ ... I'm sorry... />

AA: <\ I can't... I can't betray them... so please understand... />

HH: Fine.

HH: I'll find out though.

HH: May take a while.

AA: <\ Please just let it go... />

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  laughs coldly --

HH: Let it go?

HH: LET it go?

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  shudders, biting at her lip. --

AA: <\ Yes... just, just let it go, Solena... />

HH: If someone had some knowledge about, say, CUCALI, that was SO IMPORTANT they couldn't tell you, you'd just let it go?

AA: <\ ... />

AA: <\ I... />

HH: You don't have to answer.

HH: Just know this:

HH: I will find out who you're trying to protect.

HH: And I will find out why.

HH: And I will do what I think needs to be done.

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  thinks fast. If Solena pries into this, she'll find out /everything/, and Paloma can't have that. She has to give her something to distract her. --

AA: <\ S, Solena, no, wait! />

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  raises an eyebrow --

AA: <\ He just... he threatened to kill me to my moirail, and wanted me to protect him from him since he didn't really mean it, that's all! />

AA: <\ That's all this is, okay?! />

HH: That's it?

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  looks... stunned, and confused. --

AA: <\ I, I didn't want you to go after my moirail so... />

HH: That's seriously all there is to this?

AA: <\ Yes! So, so don't go into it! />

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  stares at her in stunned silence for a while longer... --

HH: ...

HH: ...........

HH: ...................Pfffffthahahahahaha!!!

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  can't seem to stop laughing now --

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  somehow /isn't/ comforted by this. --

AA: <\ S, Solena? />

HH: Hahahaha... Haha... Oh my... Hahaha.... I...

HH: You... That...

HH: Holy FUCKING shit.

AA: <\ Wh, what? />

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  abruptly stops laughing, fixing Paloma with a menacing look. --

HH: Now tell me the whole truth.

-- absoluteAltitude's [AA'S]  breath hitches in her throat when she sees that look. --

AA: <\ That, that's all there is to tell... />

HH: There is no MOTHERFUCKING way you'd be so RELUCTANT to give me that little TIDBIT, LITTLE SISTER.

HH: Nice try, but I KNOW YOU AREN'T THAT STUPID.

AA: <\ I... />

HH: Although, now I know something.

HH: A LITTLE INSIGHT I didn't have before.

HH: Your moirail's involved.

-- absoluteAltitude's [AA'S]  expression turns terrified. --

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  all but whimpers out, --

AA: <\ Oh god... no... />

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  smiles. bullseye. --

AA: <\ No... it's nothing like that... />

HH: And I'd wager THAT'S who you're trying to PROTECT.

AA: <\ Please, no... />

HH: So maybe, since you ain't talking....

HH: HE'LL tell me.

AA: <\ No! Solena, please! />

AA: <\ Please don't! />

HH: Yep, just gotta go and work it out of him. I wonder how long he'll be able to HOLD UP.

HH: I possess far more INFLUENCE over those LOWER on the hemospectrum.

AA: <\ No! No, you can't! />

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  seems to get especially agitated when Solena mentions that. --

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  hit number two! so he's a lowblood... --

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  seems to be pondering something... --

AA: <\ Solena, please, I'm begging you, just leave him alone! />

HH: Don't THINK so, little sister. I think I'll just march RIGHT UP to his little lowblood HIVE.

AA: <\ No, don't! />

AA: <\ R, really don't! It wouldn't end well for anyone! />

AA: <\ Cucali would never forgive me if I let you do that..! />

HH: What sort of PROBLEM would she have with it, sh--

-- hinderingHijinks's [HH'S]  eyes widen --

HH: Oh.

HH: THAT'S who it is.

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  is taken by a new wave of fear as she realises. --

AA: <\ You didn't know?! />

AA: <\ Oh god... no...! />

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  smiles --

HH: Looks like I'll have to find a NEW DEALER, won't I?

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  buries her face in her hands, sobbing to herself. --

AA: <\ What have I done? />

HH: Well, now I've got my INFO. Thanks for your COOPERATION.

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  looks up, shaking. She withdraws her umbrella from her strife specibus, drawing shallow breaths. --

AA: <\ Solena... you... you absolutely cannot harm him! />

AA: <\ I'll stop you before you do! />

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  watches her with mild amusement. --

HH: You know, despite your GULLIBILITY, and STUPIDITY, I still admire your GUMPTION.

HH: You're SHAKING LIKE A LEAF YET YOU STILL WISH TO ATTACK ME.

HH: That takes SPUNK.

AA: <\ I, I won't let you hurt him! />

AA: <\ No matter who it is, I won't let anyone hurt him! />

HH: You can rest assured I will HURT him, little sister.

HH: THAT'S THE WAY OF OUR WORLD, isn't it?

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  wavers, something terrible crossing her face. She leaps at Solena, umbrella-blade first. --

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  steps around behind her, holding a lighter next to her face with one hand, and her own blade at her neck with the other. --

HH: You fear makes you CLUMSY.

HH: ((*your))

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  gulps as the rapier-blade of her umbrella is pressed against her throat. --

AA: <\ ... I...  />

AA: <\ ... do it to me, Solena. Not him! />

HH: Ah, but little sister...

HH: If I MARRED your pretty little face, Cucali would never forgive me.

HH: So that leaves me with only ONE target.

AA: <\ Please! I won't tell her! Just don't hurt him! />

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  shakes her head. --

HH: I am going to hurt him.

AA: <\ Solena! No, please! Please...! />

HH: I am going to MAIM him.

AA: <\ NO! />

HH: I am going to BLEED HIM OUT.

HH: ....But.

HH: I will not kill him.

HH: I will LEAVE HIM ALIVE.

HH: And you will SAVE HIM.

AA: <\ Please, there, there must be some way to avoid this! Please! I can't have -- I can't have brought this on him! />

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  pushes her away, but holds on to the umbrella. --

HH: Sorry, little sister, THEM'S THE BREAKS.

AA: <\ No! />

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  runs at Solena again, this time aiming a punch towards her solar plexus. Useless. --

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  easily sidesteps --

HH: Tch.

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  whirls to meet her, aiming an elbow towards her side. --

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  blocks her elbow with the umbrella --

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  ducks low to try and sweep Solena with a leg. For once, she's trying to use her hand-to-hand skills in a deadly serious situation, and she is trying. --

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  is swept off her feet, but barely touches the ground before springing back up and stepping back from paloma. --

HH: I was going to allow you to LOCATE A GOOD DOCTOR, but I see I'll have to take you OUT OF COMISSION.

AA: <\ I won't let you hurt him! />

AA: <\ I WON'T! />

HH: Too bad, I didn't want to have to FIGHT YOU.

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  runs at Solena again, eyes wide with fear and anger. --

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  dances around her, allowing her to run past. --

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  stops short, whirling around - --

HH: You've got POTENTIAL. Maybe I could TEACH YOU SOMETHING later.

HH: But, I'm sorry to say YOU WILL NOT BE BEATING ME TODAY.

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  is suddenly behind her. --

HH: Sweet dreams, little sister.

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  ignores her, aiming a punch towards her -- oh. Oh dear. Paloma looks behind her... --

AA: <\ No, don't - />

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  whacks her across the head with the umbrella. --

-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  falls to the ground, unconscious. --

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  catches her before she hits the ground too hard --

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  drags her over to the sofa and lays her on it, then leans the umbrella against the edge of the sofa. --

HH: ...

HH: Man, Cucali's gonna be PISSED.

HH: Maybe I should leave a note...?

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  thinks for a moment before producing a pen and some paper from her sylladex. --

HH: Okay...

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  uses her knee as a flat surface and writes: --

HH: Dear... Cucali.....

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  The note eventuall reads: Dear Cucali, Sorry I had to knock your MATESPRIT out. She was being HELLA STUBBORN about things. Your PALEST OF SISTERS, Solena. --

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  Eventually** --

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  sticks the note to Paloma's face, then steps back to admire her handiwork. --

HH: Yep, that outta do it.

HH: Now...

HH: Time to beat the shit outta my DEALER.

-- hinderingHijinks [HH]  leaves the hive. --

-- hinderingHijinks [HH] gave up trolling absoluteAltitude [AA] at 17:37 --