> Cucali: YOU HUG THAT GIRL THIS INSTANT.

-- nitroMerc [NM] began trolling absoluteAltitude [AA] at 12:18 --
-- nitroMerc [NM]  is visiting again... not like she's worried or anything, okay! She heads upstairs, as usual. --
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  is all curled up in her recupracoon. The door is shut but unlocked. --
-- nitroMerc [NM]  stops in front of the door. Why is it locked?? >;/ She knocks. --
NM: Hey!! Y☼u sleepin' ☼r s☼methin'?
AA: <\ ... no... />
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  sounds flat-out miserable. --
-- nitroMerc [NM]  frowns. She opens the door... no busting in this time. --
NM: Y☼u s☼und like shit!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  turns her face towards Cucali. Her face is lined with hurt... but at least she's not trying. --
AA: <\ I'm sorry... />
NM: Didn't I tell y☼u t☼ st☼p sayin' that??
AA: <\ ... sorry... I, I mean. />
AA: <\ ... I know...? />
-- absoluteAltitude's [AA'S]  voice wavers. --
-- nitroMerc's [NM'S]  frown deepens. --
NM: The hell is wr☼ng with y☼u this time??
AA: <\ ... it... it's... it's nothing, okay? />
NM: Uuugh, st☼p this stupid game ☼f pretendin' that everything's ☼kay!
NM: Just tell me straight ☼ut what the fuck's wr☼ng with y☼u!
AA: <\ ... />
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  looks away. --
AA: <\ ... I'm pathetic. />
AA: <\ That... that's what's wrong with me. />
NM: ... what.
AA: <\ I'm just pathetic... />
AA: <\ ... I can't even tell when I'm being played. />
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  turns her face away, closing her eyes. --
NM: Hey.
NM: Hey!
NM: L☼☼k at me!!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  draws in a shuddering breath and looks back to Cucali. Her eyes are a little watery. --
AA: <\ ... why?... do you want to lick my tears, too...? />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  looks stunned and kinda grossed by that. --
NM: Where the hell did that c☼me fr☼m?!
NM: What are y☼u even talkin' ab☼ut? D☼ y☼u hear y☼urself?!
AA: <\ ... />
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  looks away again, swallowing heavily to try and contain herself. --
-- nitroMerc [NM]  doesn't know how to comfort crying trolls, damn it! For some reason, watching Paloma tearing up like this makes her heart squeeze. --
NM: Wh☼ the hell was in here while I was g☼ne?
-- absoluteAltitude's [AA'S]  bird statue is still on top of her recupracoon. --
AA: <\ ... />
AA: <\ ... I... />
AA: <\ ... I s, spoke with Cirrin. He, he made it abundantly clear that, that we... that we weren't friends. />
NM: ... is that all?
NM: What else did that fucker d☼?
AA: <\ ... he was playing me for a fool this whole time... />
AA: <\ He... he just licked my cheek. I, I was crying like some stupid pathetic wriggler, so... />
NM: An' y☼u just let him?!
AA: <\ ... />
-- absoluteAltitude's [AA'S]  voice is small. --
AA: <\ yes. />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  is livid at this point. She grabs Paloma by the collar and shakes her. --
NM: Y☼u are a fuckin' d☼☼rmat, d☼ y☼u kn☼w that?! A g☼ddamn d☼☼rmat wh☼ d☼esn't kn☼w h☼w t☼ stand up f☼r herself!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  remains limp as she's shaken, looking away. --
NM: Why the fuck are y☼u l☼☼kin' away? L☼☼k at me in the face when I'm talkin' t☼ y☼u! Are y☼u scaaaared, little birdie? D☼n't be a g☼ddamn ☼strich--l☼☼k at me!
NM: D☼ S☼METHIN', scumbl☼☼d!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  bites her lip, and raises her hand to her face as she coughs. There's a little bit of blood on the palm of her hand. --
AA: <\ I... />
AA: <\ ... I couldn't do anything anyway... />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  sees the blood and stops shaking her, loosening her hold. She lowers her voice. --
NM: He was a l☼wer caste than y☼u. What the hell are y☼u talkin' ab☼ut? Y☼u c☼uld've d☼ne anythin'. Y☼u c☼uld've t☼ld him t☼ st☼p.
AA: <\ ... />
AA: <\ I don't... I couldn't do that to him... />
NM: Why? Was it because he was y☼ur friiiiiiend?
AA: <\ ... yes... />
NM: ... y☼u're s☼ stupid.
-- nitroMerc [NM]  shakes her once again. --
AA: <\ ... I know... />
NM: S☼ STUPID!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  feels another tear slip down her cheek. She curses herself. --
AA: <\ I know, okay...? />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  sees the tear and stops. She lets go of Paloma. --
NM: I'm g☼in' t☼ kill him.
AA: <\ ... because he hurt me? />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  growls, but doesn't answer. --
NM: I'm g☼in' t☼ hunt him d☼wn like the fuckin' d☼g he is and carve him int☼ little pieces!
AA: <\ ... thank you for worrying about me. />
NM: It's ☼nly because y☼u can't take care ☼f y☼ur damn self.
AA: <\ You, you might have to compete with my moirail though... he wants to... to get back at him too. />
NM: I d☼n't give a shit ab☼ut y☼ur dumbass m☼irail!
NM: He's MINE t☼ deal with!!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  bites at her lip. --
AA: <\ Cucali... />
AA: <\ ... thank you. />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  scoffs and looks away. --
NM: ... it's n☼thin'.
AA: <\ ... />
AA: <\ ... it's something to me. />
AA: <\ You're... you're a good friend, Cucali. />
NM: ... I guess y☼u are t☼☼.
-- nitroMerc [NM]  awkwardly puts a hand on her shoulder, then decides to slowly move it to a very awkward hug. --
NM: Just... st☼p bein' s☼ stupid. D☼ y☼u kn☼w h☼w g☼ddamn frustratin' it is t☼ keep savin' y☼u??
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  blinks, and scoots over to meet Cucali's hug with a tentative embrace of her own. --
AA: <\ I don't mean to be stupid like this... />
NM: Then think ab☼ut it an' st☼p bein' stupid. It's g☼nna kill y☼u.
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  breathes out, resting her head lightly against Cucali's shoulder. --
AA: <\ I'll do my best... I just... always get fooled by this stuff. />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  tenses, but doesn't push her away. --
NM: Then learn t☼ realize it, m☼r☼n.
AA: <\ I, I do try... />
AA: <\ ... hey, Cucali... />
NM: What?
AA: <\ ... you're going to think I'm a moron for saying this, but do you think you could... not kill Cirrin? I mean, hurting him's fine, but... I just... />
AA: <\ ... I still care. />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  rolls her eye. --
NM: Fiiiiiiiiine, y☼u wussy.
NM: That's what'd S☼l'd tell me t☼ d☼ anyway, I guess.
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  relaxes in a way which Cucali can probably feel. --
AA: <\ Thank you... />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  tenatively rubs her back. --
NM: Tch. Whatever.
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  breathes out quietly, relaxing further under Cucali's touch. --
-- nitroMerc [NM]  doesn't break contact. Paloma's skin is actually quite warm and comfortable... --
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  won't be breaking contact, either. She keeps her embrace loose, though; she doesn't want to scare Cucali off. --
-- nitroMerc [NM]  keeps rubbing her, easing slowly out of her tension. This isn't that different from moirail hugs... and it's a bit warmer too. --
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  notices how cool Cucali is, and sighs quietly. She never expected to be in this position with her... --
-- nitroMerc [NM]  feels... relaxed, being here. She doesn't have an urge to push Paloma away or to worry or to shout or any of that. It's just comfortable to stay in this position and it feels like she can do it forever. If anything, she feels like she wants to hold on tighter. --
-- nitroMerc [NM]  suddenly realizes what she's doing, though, and blushes. Fuck, she's holding on for too long! She makes her hands let go and steps back. --
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  leans back, letting Cucali go. She's blushing a little, too. --
NM: ... tch. I'm g☼nna g☼.
AA: <\ Okay... />
AA: <\ Thanks, thanks for coming, Cucali. />
NM: Whatever!!
NM: Just get better quickly, m☼r☼n.
AA: <\ Okay, I, I will. />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  quickly leaves because fuck she's blushing she can't show her face!! --
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  doesn't quite know what to feel now... but at least she doesn't feel miserable any more. --
-- nitroMerc [NM] gave up trolling absoluteAltitude [AA] at 13:33 --