> Cucali: Get worried about Paloma and come visit.

-- nitroMerc [NM] began trolling absoluteAltitude [AA] at 08:08 --
-- absoluteAltitude's [AA'S]  respiteblock door is open. It leads into a room with dove sculptures, romance posters, and sheet music lying around. --
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  herself is lying in her recupracoon. Dovemom is perched on top of the cocoon, all fluffed up. --
-- nitroMerc [NM]  had hurried to Paloma's hive as quickly as she could. When she's let into the house she storms upstairs and into Paloma's respiteblock. --
NM: Hey!! M☼ssbl☼☼d! Y☼u still alive there??
AA: <\ Cucali! />
AA: <\ Yes, of course I am! />
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  sounds excited to see Cucali! In a calmer sort of way, since sopor slime. --
-- nitroMerc [NM]  allows herself a quick smile of relief and pulls up a chair next to the cocoon. --
NM: Geeeeeez! At this rate y☼u're g☼nna kill y☼urself with y☼ur idi☼cy, y☼u kn☼w that??
AA: <\ I, I didn't mean to worry you... />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  grumbles. --
NM: Y☼u weren't w☼rryin' me!
AA: <\ Any, anyway, I had no choice but to attack.  />
AA: <\ He was disturbing my guests... />
AA: ((*It was))
NM: Uuugh, why am I n☼t surprised? That's a typical stupid m☼ssbl☼☼d m☼ve right there!!
NM: Y☼ur safety's the m☼st imp☼rtant, m☼r☼n!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  blushes. --
AA: <\ You, you really think so? />
NM: Um, duh? St☼p blushin', it isn't anythin' special!
NM: I'm just telling y☼u s☼methin' that's c☼mm☼n sense!!
AA: <\ It's just, I didn't expect you to think that way... />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  flushes. --
NM: What! What did y☼u expect me t☼ think then, huh??
AA: <\ Well, I, I mean... I'm just some lowblood, aren't I? So, I guess I didn't expect you to consider my safety important... />
NM: ... n☼!! I didn't think ☼f it that way!
AA: <\ You, you mean that I should consider it important to me, then? />
NM: ☼bvi☼usly, ☼kay! G☼d, what even gave y☼u such a stupid idea ab☼ut me carin' ab☼ut y☼u?
NM: I d☼n't give jack shit ab☼ut y☼u, all right??
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  smiles to herself. --
AA: <\ Okay... />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  makes faces at Dovemom, trying to avoid looking at Paloma's pretty little face-- I mean, ugly face. --
-- absoluteAltitude's [AA'S]  Dovemom glares at Cucali, fluffing up her feathers. --
-- nitroMerc [NM]  sneers at Dovemom, daring her to try something, anything. --
AA: <\ Cucali... />
AA: <\ Why on Alternia are you making those faces? />
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  sounds like she's trying not to laugh. --
NM: ... because y☼ur lusus's a dumb bird, that's why.
-- nitroMerc [NM]  sounds like a sulking child. --
AA: <\ She's very smart, actually! />
AA: <\ But if she's bothering you, I can send her out. />
NM: Yeah, why d☼n't y☼u d☼ that??
AA: <\ Okay, Armistice... could you go and check on Elizan and Yunato for me? />
AA: <\ Make sure they don't need anything? />
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  asks her lusus nicely! Dovemom fluffs up and takes off, swooping past Cucali's shoulder as she goes. It's like a lusus shouldercheck, but with less touching. --
-- nitroMerc [NM]  makes one final face at Dovemom as she flies off. When she's gone she turns her focus back to Paloma. --
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  sighs when she sees how Dovemom leaves, shaking her head. --
NM: What's her pr☼blem!!
AA: <\ Sorry about her... />
AA: <\ She just, doesn't trust other trolls in my hive very much. Especially not highbloods. She's just looking out for me, but... />
AA: <\ Sometimes it's really annoying! />
NM: Ha, tell me ab☼ut it! Eelm☼m w☼uldn't let aaaaany tr☼lls int☼ the hive.
NM: It was the m☼st fuckin' ann☼yin' thing in the w☼rld!
AA: <\ They might huuurt you! They might take advaaantage of you! />
AA: <\ I can just imagine her saying it. />
NM: Y☼ur lusus is preeeeeetty much my lusus!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  laughs, shaking her head again. --
NM: Y☼u can't g☼ ☼utside because there's predat☼rs ☼ut there! N☼, y☼u can't g☼ ☼n land either, y☼u'll stub a t☼e!!
AA: <\ That sounds terrible! />
NM: It preeetty much was!
AA: <\ At least my lusus can't really stop me from doing anything... she's too small to do anything other than disapprove and make a nuisance of herself. />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  rolls her eye. --
NM: Mine l☼cked me in the hive f☼r tw☼ wh☼le fuckin' sweeps.
AA: <\ What?! That's ridiculous! />
AA: <\ I'm glad you got away from her... />
NM: Yeah. I th☼ught ab☼ut killin' her s☼metimes, but I figured that'd be t☼☼ much tr☼uble!! Besides, I already g☼t what I wanted!
AA: <\ You're free now. That's what counts. />
NM: Yup! That's aaaaall I asked f☼r!
NM: N☼ way in hell am I ever g☼in' back int☼ the ☼cean! Let s☼me ☼ther dumb fish take my place.
AA: <\ So I guess freedom's really important to you... />
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  dawning realisation! Everything makes sense now! --
-- nitroMerc [NM]  doesn't notice and leeeans back in her chair. --
NM: Duuuuuh!
AA: <\ I'm glad you have it. And that you're able to defend it. />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  shrugs. --
NM: Hey, I w☼uld've br☼ken ☼ut s☼☼ner ☼r later! It's n☼t a huge deal!!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  smiles. --
AA: <\ Yeah... that's true. />
AA: <\ No way you'd stand for that forever. />
NM: Y☼u bet!! I'm n☼t g☼nna let anythin' ☼r any☼ne d☼ that shit t☼ me!!!
AA: <\ You're strong, Cucali. You can stand on your own. />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  scoffs. --
NM: Yeah, yeah. St☼p sayin' things I already kn☼w.
AA: <\ You don't like hearing it? />
NM: Naaah, it's just that I already kn☼w all this shit! I mean, I'm awes☼me, it's c☼☼l!!!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  falls silent after she says that, her face going pensive as she remembers something. --
NM: ... what's wr☼ng with y☼u n☼w?
AA: <\ I just... />
AA: <\ ... Cucali, do you really not want to even hear my name? />
NM: What are y☼u talkin' ab☼ut?
AA: <\ I, I was talking to Cirrin... he said that when he brought me up, you didn't want to even hear my name. I heard you ended up calling me something else... />
NM: H☼ld up ☼ne g☼ddamn sec☼nd here!!
NM: What were y☼u talkin' t☼ Cirrin ab☼ut?!
AA: <\ We... />
AA: <\ I, I don't know if I should say. />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  stands up and slams her hands down on the cocoon. --
NM: Tell me!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  flinches. --
AA: <\ I... />
NM: D☼n't clam up like s☼me wussy! Spit it ☼ut!!
AA: <\ Don't, don't get mad at him, okay? I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it... />
NM: Just tell me already!
AA: <\ He just... he was telling me about how you lost a duel with an orangeblood or something, and how I should encourage you on that, or, something like that... but I knew you wouldn't like that, so I told him that... and... he said that I should at least congratulate you afterwards, because even, even if you didn't want to hear my name, you'd at least like to be praised. />
NM: I d☼n't need t☼ be c☼ngratulated by the likes ☼f y☼u! I d☼n't need anythin' fr☼m y☼u!
NM: And wh☼ says that I d☼n't wanna hear y☼ur name?? That's stupid!
AA: <\ So, so you don't actually mind...? />
NM: I d☼n't give a shit either way!
AA: <\ I see... />
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  seems relieved. A little sad, but also relieved. --
NM: I d☼n't care wh☼ he thinks he is, lyin' ab☼ut h☼w I think!
NM: I'm g☼nna have a liiiittle chat with him!
AA: <\ Um... but... />
NM: But what?
-- nitroMerc [NM]  >;/ --
AA: <\ I, I'm sure he didn't mean anything bad by it... />
NM: This ain't y☼ur pr☼blem anym☼re, m☼ssybl☼☼d. It's mine!
NM: S☼ butt ☼ut!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  bites at her lip, looking concerned. --
AA: <\ Just don't hurt him, okay? I know he says hurtful things sometimes... but... />
NM: Why w☼uld y☼u care?
AA: <\ He, he's my friend! />
NM: After the shit he said t☼ y☼u?? Ha!
AA: <\ I... />
AA: <\ I want to be able to believe he isn't bad... />
NM: Y☼u just shut up and let me take care ☼f him, y☼u g☼t it?
AA: <\ ... okay... />
NM: G☼☼d! An' I d☼n't want t☼ hear an☼ther w☼rd ☼utta y☼u.
AA: <\ Um... okay... />
NM: I g☼t this shit d☼wn. S☼ d☼n't w☼rry either, y☼u g☼t it?!
AA: <\ Thanks, Cucali... />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  folds her arms across her chest. --
NM: Yeah, yeah. It's n☼thin'.
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  smiles to herself, waveringly. She's still worried for Cirrin, but... Cucali cares! Cucali is caring RIGHT THIS SECOND! --
AA: <\ How, how long will you stay? />
NM: ☼nly f☼r t☼night, because I g☼tta check ☼n my dumb m☼irail t☼☼. S☼ d☼n't get y☼ur h☼pes up!!
AA: <\ I'm glad you came... />
NM: Ugh! There y☼u g☼, bein' sappy again!
NM: It wasn't anythin'!
AA: <\ Yeah... />
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  smiles. --
-- nitroMerc [NM]  rolls her eye. --
NM: G☼sh, y☼u turn eeeevery damn little thing int☼ s☼methin' sappy!
AA: <\ It, it sort of is what I do, you know! />
NM: Tch! I d☼n't even kn☼w why I put up with it!
AA: <\ It, it's because I'm so entertaining. />
AA: <\ Screech caw hiss. />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  giggles at that. --
NM: Y☼u, entertainin'? Pleeeeease!
AA: <\ It's true! />
-- nitroMerc [NM] is now an idle chum! --
NM: Riiight, what gives y☼u the idea that y☼u are?
AA: <\ Oh, I don't know, maybe that little thing where I made you fall out of your chair laughing... />
NM: That was ☼nly ☼ne time!!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  grins. --
AA: <\ Give me time, I'll do it again. />
NM: I d☼ubt y☼u c☼☼☼☼☼uld, m☼ssybl☼☼d!
AA: <\ I bet I caaan! />
NM: Try it!!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  puffs up her cheeks. --
AA: <\ You can't force genius! />
NM: Like y☼ur brand ☼f hum☼r is c☼nsidered genius??
AA: <\ That's riiight! />
NM: D☼n't make me laugh!
AA: <\ You were just asking me to make you laugh! />
NM: It's just a sayin'!! G☼sh, h☼w desperate are y☼u?
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  sticks her tongue out. --
AA: <\ Well, nyeh! />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  sticks her tongue right back at her! --
NM: Nyeh t☼ y☼u t☼☼, m☼ssybl☼☼d!!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  holds position for a moment, then breaks down into giggling. --
-- nitroMerc [NM]  is soon laughing too. Paloma's laugh is infectious, darnit! --
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  shakes her head after a few moments, still giggling. --
AA: <\ Hee... />
NM: ☼kay, fiiine!! Maybe y☼u're a better entertainer than I th☼ught y☼u were!!!
NM: But that still d☼esn't change that y☼u're a dumb m☼ssbl☼☼d!
AA: <\ Well you're a dumb seadweller! />
NM: Are y☼u kiddin' me?? L☼☼k at me!
NM: I'm the epit☼me ☼f everythin' great!
AA: <\ Sure you are, but you're still a dumb seadweller! />
AA: <\ You're just a great dumb seadweller! />
NM: At least I'm n☼t y☼☼☼☼u!!
AA: <\ Yeah, I'm way too nice to be you! />
NM: Nice tr☼lls finish last, dumb☼!!
AA: <\ Not me! I'm the fastest thing in the air! />
NM: But still t☼☼ sl☼w f☼r me!!!
AA: <\ I'm more than fast enough for you! />
NM: Ha! That's a j☼ke!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  grins. --
AA: <\ If you'd get in the sky again, we could test that theory. />
NM: An' I'd win this time!!
AA: <\ Suuure you would! />
NM: That a bet??
-- nitroMerc [NM]  smirks. --
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  grins up at Cucali. --
AA: <\ It is definitely a bet. />
NM: Better remember it theeeen, because I definitely will!!
AA: <\ Good. />
NM: Y☼u better hurry up an' get y☼ur ass better then, y☼u g☼t it?!
AA: <\ I, I'll do my best! />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  grins. --
NM: Y☼u better!
AA: <\ I will. />
NM: All right. That's all I needed t☼ hear.
NM: Laaaaaaater, l☼ser!!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  smiles, seeming honestly happy. --
AA: <\ See you later, Cucali. />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  waves and goes out. --
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  sighs and settles back into her cocoon. Cucali really does care... --
-- nitroMerc [NM] gave up trolling absoluteAltitude [AA] at 10:15 --