Quadrant Talk (ER5)

[00:47] <Scott> [You glance away from your computer at your watch. You know you said she could stay out late at the halloween party, but you still worry. You've been counting down the days until you enter, and you can't help but shake that growing unease. You've been doing your best not to show it, and to try and have Mary enjoy this last little time before she enters as well.]
[00:49] <Scott> [You sip at your hot chocolate, and read through old logs. You haven't spoken to these people in years, and as much as you've want to, you can't until you enter again.]
[00:53] <@Mary> [There's the sound of chatter outside, before you walk inside, you say goodbye to a few of your friends you were walking with, you are giggling and chewing on some candy you got while walking home]
[00:55] <Scott> [The light at the entrance is on, but its otherwise dark, save for the light from your office.] [You relax a little as you hear here enter. You contemplate getting up and seeing her, but you're being lazy, and she'll probably come see you anyways.]
[00:57] <@Mary> [That you do, you have a small handful of candy in your hand when you walk into his office, your troll make up is mostly smeared by now, and you lost your eye patch to a duel with another person concerning the proper area to puke (Hint, they thought it was on a table)]
[00:59] <Scott> [You swivel towards her in your chair and open your arms. "Have fun I hope?" Your smile is warm, but just the tiniest bit wistful.]
[01:01] <@Mary> [You giggle again, going forward and giving him a big hug "It was lots of fun! Got to hang out with a lot of my friends and the food was great"]
[01:02] <@Mary> ["Did some quick trick or treating while walking home, got some candy, want some?"]
[01:04] <Scott> [You hug back, giving a pat on the back. "Thats good to hear, and I'm good. Eating the stuff I bought in case someone came by here. It's your loot, you get to eat it." You let go of the hug and give her another smile. "Costume go over well?"]
[01:07] <@Mary> ["It did! Was a bit tricky explaining it but most people were just surprised I didn't go as something fish related this year"]
[01:08] <@Mary> [You smile, and look for somewhere to sit down]
[01:09] <Scott> [Theres another chair in the corner, part of the set for the dining table that never got used. "Well, I have to admit I was a bit surprised you went with it." You unwrap a piece of candy from the bowl on the desk. "How'd you like Zeimah then?"]
[01:11] <@Mary> ["She was nice to talk to, still looked very cute, also of course I'd go with this costume, it's awesome as hell and would probably make her excited to see it too"]
[01:12] <Scott> [You grin. "Well, you'll have to show her the picture of the finished product." You're glad you took the picture before she went to the party. "And how about the rest of the IRC?"]
[01:13] <@Mary> ["They seem to be pretty nice, Tiamat and Tori are really cool"]
[01:16] <@Mary> [You seem to be lost in thought for a bit]
[01:16] <Scott> ["Thats good to hear." You chew on the chocolate bar. "Alright, time for bed. Way past your bedtime." You glance back at your screen then bck to her.]
[01:16] <@Mary> ["Can I ask a question first?"]
[01:18] <Scott> [You nod and smile. "Always. But you're going to have to ask for a second one."]
[01:18] <@Mary> ["Haha, should I tell the memo that you've gotten into Dad jokes while I'm at it?"]
[01:20] <Scott> ["If you want." You're still grinning. "Alright, what is it then? You know you can always ask me questions."]
[01:20] <@Mary> ["Why'd you pick me?" you're simple and blunt about it]
[01:22] <Scott> [That surprises you. You lean back in your chair and frown. "Theres a couple reasons. I can tell you some now, and I'll show you some later."]
[01:22] <@Mary> ["This wasn't a concern to me before, it never really mattered but, all this stuff about the game, the stuff I have heard, it makes me think that this was a picked choice instead of a destiny thing from what I can tell but, I really would want to know"]
[01:24] <Scott> ["Well, part of it is...well, I'm sure you've seen or guessed that theres time travel in the game." You pick out another candy bar.]
[01:24] <@Mary> ["Yeah, that has been a thing from what I've heard, time paradoxes and stuff"]
[01:25] <Scott> [You nod. "Well, sometimes you don't get a choice in what happens."]
[01:26] <@Mary> ["So like, young you was given a note that said to adopt me?"]
[01:29] <Scott> ["Sort of. You'll see, I promise." You run a hand through your hair. "Thats part of it. But don't for a second think that I did not want to. You are kind and intelligent and energetic and so full of life. And no matter what happens, whatever we go through. You are my daughter. And I will always be here for you."]
[01:33] <@Mary> [You nod, starting to look somber "It just, it really seems so weird and messed up that this is happening, like sure I was very out going and did lots of crazy things but I was never really the important person in the story, I don't even have anime hair, Jeremy has anime hair, you'd expect him to be in this position"]
[01:35] <@Mary> ["I mean his hair is naturally purple come on"]
[01:37] <Scott> ["If this is a ploy to get you a new haircut..." You shake your head. "No, Mary, theres never been anyone who wasn't important. You are important. And you'll have your story, and play your part, and meet all these people who'll become part of your life and its story. Just as you become part of theirs."]
[01:37] <@Mary> [You sigh and lean back "I don't want to leave them"]
[01:39] <Scott> ["Come here." You open your arms up for a hug.]
[01:40] <@Mary> [You move out from your chair to give him a tight hug]
[01:42] <Scott> [You hold her tight. "I know its hard. I know you don't want to leave them." You wish you could say things'll get better, but you can't even promise that. "But sometimes, things happen that just can't be avoided. I know it doesn't help, and it won't, but there are people who care about you, and you have family that you didn't even know you had that'll looking forward to meeting you."]
[01:44] <@Mary> [You look up "I have another family?"]
[01:47] <Scott> ["What do you think Zeimah is? Theres so many more that will consider you family. And they'll do what they can to help."]
[01:48] <@Mary> [You nod "Well, I kind of assumed her yeah but I didn't take you as the type to have a lot of brothers and sisters"]
[01:49] <Scott> ["Theres...well. Rigel and Rania, I consider my brother and sister. Rigel, atleast was..." You swallow and move on. Old memories she doesn't need to hear about. "And beyond that, has anyone on the memo commented on the quadrants?"]
[01:50] <@Mary> ["Not really no, I heard a couple weird things but don't know if those were quadrants"]
[01:51] <Scott> ["Well, the quadrants are a troll thing, though a lot of humans have adopted them as well. Giving names to things that they may of had before. They're different than the normal relationship you and I are familiar with, but they're just as valid."]
[01:52] <@Mary> ["Ah, so like, alien romance"]
[01:52] <Scott> ["Sort of, but the emotions aren't alien."]
[01:54] <@Mary> ["So like things humans could have already had but we just didn't have names for them?"]
[01:55] <Scott> [You nod and smile. Shes a sharp one, you think to yourself. "Yes. I can try and go over them, but its been a long time for me. If you want a proper explination, ask Zeimah. She'll be able to do it better than I can."]
[01:57] <@Mary> ["Hmm, can you give me the basics? It'd be a nice distraction and it'll give me some time to think of proper questions when I ask her"]
[01:59] <Scott> ["Sure I can do that." You lean back in your chair and think for a second before starting. "So, as the name would indicate, theres four quadrants. Matespritship, Moirallegiance, Auspisticism, and Kismesissitude. Hang on, I should make a chart." You pull a piece of paper out of the printer and grab a pen. Making two lines to seperate the page into four.]
[02:00] <@Mary> [You giggle]
[02:01] <@Mary> [The last time charts were brought up in a discussion you were bringing up the importance of getting pizza once a week]
[02:04] <Scott> [You put a heart in the top left hand corner. "Matespritship is the most like human romance. The two people are, well, they're in love with each other. Theres not really a whole lot more that can be said."]
[02:05] <@Mary> ["That simplifies things for that one"]
[02:07] <Scott> ["Yup. Thats the quadrant Zeimah and I are in. Or its human love. We're really not quite sure, and there isn't enough of a difference to worry about it." You draw a diamond in the top right hand corner. "Moirallegiance is a little different. Where mateprits are in a sexual relationship, moirals are not."]
[02:08] <@Mary> ["Oh?"]
[02:09] <Scott> [You think on how best to approach this. "Moirals...they act as emotional support. When someone has all four quadrants and they're having a bad day, they go talk to their moiral, not their matesprit. Normally anyways. They help balance each other, if that makes sense."]
[02:10] <@Mary> ["Like best friends level infinity?"]
[02:12] <Scott> ["More than that. It's...kind of hard to describe."]
[02:13] <@Mary> ["Well, guess that's why a different culture had to figure it out, yeah?"]
[02:13] <Scott> ["Little bit, yeah."]
[02:14] <@Mary> ["Mmm, and the other ones?"]
[02:16] <Scott> [You move to the bottom left and draw a spade. "Kismesissitude. This one is even more different. It's a sexual relationship, like mateprits, but the dominant emotion is hate. I personally don't get it at all."]
[02:16] <@Mary> ["So like, hate make outs?"]
[02:17] <Scott> ["Yeah." You shrug. "Doesn't make sense to me, so I'm really going to have to defer you to someone who knows it better."]
[02:18] <@Mary> ["To Zeimah it will be!"]
[02:20] <@Mary> ["And the last one?"]
[02:20] <Scott> ["The last is Auspisticism." You fill in the clover in the bottom right. "Its non-sexual, and its the only one to involve three people. One person, the 'clover head' mediates between the two 'clover leafs'. Whether its because the two can't get along without someone stepping in, or because one already has a kismesis, or any black relationship would be too destructive."]
[02:22] <@Mary> ["So like the teacher between two very horrible students?"]
[02:23] <Scott> [Another nod. "It's...not a bad analogy. Theres more to it though. It also has a sort of...rivalry to it as well. Same with kismesis. Always trying to one up, or show how wrong the other person is."]
[02:24] <@Mary> ["Like the cold war!"]
[02:24] <Scott> [A chuckle. "Sure. If you want, ask for Kilika or Abel on the memo. They're family too."]
[02:26] <@Mary> ["Oh, I saw Abel on the memo I think"]
[02:27] <@Mary> ["Was worried because apparently his daughter is in a two person session with a serial killer and that they may be in a relationship together"]
[02:28] <Scott> ["Ah, yes." You grimace. "Lily, if my memory serves me correctly. Your cousin, in a sense."]
[02:29] <@Mary> ["Oh"]
[02:29] <@Mary> [You get up, then stagger a bit "I think"]
[02:35] <Scott> ["Bed time. Long past. Just glad you don't have school tomorrow." You get up with her. "Go on, get cleaned up, no good smearing paint all over the sheets."]
[02:37] <@Mary> [You walk to the door, the trip and fall "Too tired, sleeping here"]
[02:38] <Scott> [You chuckle and pick her up. "Come on, clean your face atleast, then go collapse in bed."]
[02:40] <@Mary> [You giggle "Drop me in a bathtub, I can do the rest"]
[02:40] <Scott> ["Only if you promise not to sleep there." You start carrying her to the bathroom.]
[02:41] <@Mary> ["Deal"]
[02:41] <@Mary> [Scene?]