> Paloma: YOU KISS THAT GIRL THIS INSTANT!

-- absoluteAltitude [AA] began trolling nitroMerc [NM] at 10:24 --
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  sits on the couch, reading her rooooomances. --
-- nitroMerc [NM]  sits right next to her, shouting: --
NM: HEY, M☼SSY!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  flinches, looking up with a grimace. --
AA: <\ You don't have to shout! />
NM: Why n☼☼☼☼☼t?
NM: IT'S FUN!
AA: <\ It's unnecessary! />
NM: B☼☼☼☼☼-H☼☼☼☼☼☼.
-- nitroMerc [NM]  ;D --
AA: <\ Aaagh! />
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  clasps her hands over her ears. --
-- nitroMerc [NM]  leeeeeans over her lap. --
NM: I'M JUST G☼NNA KEEP SH☼UTIN' BECAUSE IT'S FUN AN' "UNNECESSARY".
AA: <\ Quit iiit! />
NM: MAKE ME.
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  blushes. Bad thoughts bad thoughts! --
AA: <\ But you don't like it when I shut you up! />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  griiiiiins. --
NM: TRY ME.
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  blushes brighter and shakes her head. --
NM: T☼☼ BAD THEN. Y☼U'RE G☼NNA HAVE T☼ DEAL WITH ME SH☼UTIN'.
NM: AAAAAAAAAAAALL THE TIME N☼W!
AA: <\ Cucali this is incredibly silly! />
NM: LALALALA.
NM: I'M BEIN' L☼UD AND SH☼UTY AND SHIT.
NM: HEY, I THINK I'LL JUST LAY ☼N Y☼UR LAP F☼R THE ENTIIIIIIIIIRE DAY.
NM: AN' SH☼UT AT THE T☼P ☼F MY LUNGS!!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  clasps her hands harder over her ears. --
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  ends up yelling as well: --
AA: <\ WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE WITH THIS? />
NM: T☼ GET Y☼UR ATTENTI☼N, DUH!!!!
AA: <\ Well you've got it! So please calm down! />
NM: HMM.
NM: Fiiiiiiiiiiiine.
-- nitroMerc [NM]  chinhands. --
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  breathes a quiet sigh of relief, captchaloguing her book and focusing her attention on Cucali. --
NM: S☼☼☼. Y☼u wanna kn☼w s☼methin' hilaaaaaaari☼us I did t☼day??
-- nitroMerc [NM]  c; --
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  is still blushing lightly from Cucali-on-her-lap, but she nods. --
AA: <\ Okay! />
NM: I caught Cirrin Lamefar sulkin' ar☼und the casin☼'s l☼ckers t☼day!!
NM: S☼ I stuffed him in ☼ne ☼f them, ha!!!!
NM: Y☼u sh☼uld've seen him! I th☼ught he was g☼nna piss his pants!
AA: <\ Oh, oh dear... />
NM: He was tryin' t☼ make s☼me n☼ise but he c☼uldn't! All he c☼uld d☼ was grunt an' sh☼ut an' it was the funniest thing I've heard in a while!!!!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  isn't really sure about that, and the conflict shows on her face. But on the other hand, part of her thinks he deserves it, and that's pretty obvious too. --
-- nitroMerc [NM] is now an idle chum! --
NM: C☼me ☼☼☼☼☼n?
NM: D☼n't y☼u think it's funny??
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  smiles. --
AA: <\ I guess he kinda deserved it... />
NM: What're y☼u talkin' ab☼ut??
NM: He t☼☼☼☼☼☼tally deserved it!
AA: <\ Yeah... />
NM: And it was hilari☼us! Y☼u sh☼uld've been there!!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  chuckles, shaking her head. --
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  finally grins. --
NM: See!!!
NM: Y☼u agree with me!
AA: <\ I guess I kinda do, heh... />
NM: See, next time we sh☼uld just p☼ke fun ☼f him!!!
AA: <\ Is it really okay...? He, he's already paid for what he did... />
NM: C'm☼☼☼☼n! It's n☼t like we're beatin' him up!!!
AA: <\ I guess not... />
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  laughs, shaking her head. --
NM: S☼☼☼☼☼☼?
NM: Y☼u sh☼uld c☼me al☼ng with me ☼r s☼methin'!!
AA: <\ But you said I should stay here... />
NM: Weeeeell, I'll just esc☼rt y☼u then!!!
AA: <\ Seiska would, would probably prefer that... I don't think she likes me not being there... />
NM: Bluuuuh, wh☼ cares ab☼ut what Seiska thinks!!
NM: But fiiiine, I'll see if I can drag y☼u al☼ng t☼ w☼rk with me!!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  grins. --
AA: <\ Okay! />
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  seems to ponder something else, though. --
NM: What's with that dumb l☼☼k, m☼ssybl☼☼d??
AA: <\ Oh, I, I was just thinking about Cirrin. />
NM: Ha!! He's n☼t a hunky dreamb☼at, dumbutt!!
AA: <\ No, not like that... />
AA: <\ I was just remembering a conversation we had before, you know, that happened. />
NM: Teeeeeell me then!!
AA: <\ Just, um, you know how he acts like such a troll, but he was so terrified by the locker? />
NM: Well, duuuh! He's a l☼wbl☼☼d!!
AA: <\ It, it reminded me of how he's never really killed anyone, either... />
NM: Whaaaaaat?
NM: Ha!!! That's n☼t hard t☼ believe!!
NM: He's such a huge chicken!!!!!!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  laughs, though it's a little uneasy. --
NM: D☼n't y☼☼☼u think s☼??
AA: <\ I, I'm just not very good at... um... this... />
NM: Geeeeeez, it's just j☼kin' ar☼und!! Lighten up!
AA: <\ But, isn't it unfair to make fun of someone when there's no one around to defend them? />
NM: Um, yes??
NM: Which is why we d☼ it behind their backs???
AA: <\ But... />
NM: But whaaaaaat?
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  bites at her lip. --
AA: <\ I'm just not very good at joking about others like this, I suppose. />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  rolls her eye. --
NM: Geeeeeez. L☼☼sen up, will y☼u?? It's n☼t like any☼ne can hear us! What kinda tr☼ll aaaare y☼u?
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  laughs uneasily. --
AA: <\ Ehehehe... />
NM: C'm☼n! Just laaaaaugh!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  tries laughing. She still sounds a little uneasy, but she's trying! --
AA: <\ Hahaha... />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  linefaces ;| --
AA: <\ Ahahaha... />
NM: W☼☼☼☼☼w.
NM: Just w☼w.
AA: <\ W, what? />
NM: H☼nestly, have y☼u neeeeever made fun ☼f a tr☼ll in y☼ur life??
AA: <\ Not, not in a meanspirited way! I mean, aside from the obvious... />
NM: W☼☼☼☼w!
NM: Where have Y☼U been livin'?
AA: <\ In, in the city...? />
NM: Um, better questi☼n w☼uld be t☼ ask if y☼u've been livin' ☼n Alternia at all!!
AA: <\ Well... yes! />
NM: It's rhet☼rical, dummy!!!!
AA: <\ Oh... />
NM: Are y☼u even a tr☼ll??
NM: Maybe y☼u're just an aaaaaaaalien in disguise!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  looks a little offended at that. --
AA: <\ I am a troll! />
AA: <\ Just... okay, maybe I'm not the best troll... />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  tries to poke her face. --
NM: Are y☼u suuuuuuuuure?
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  lets Cucali do it, giving her a frowny lineface. --
AA: <\ /Yes/, I'm sure! />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  pooooookes harder. --
NM: Hmmm! Y☼u d☼n't s☼und like a tr☼ll t☼ me!!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  frooowns. --
AA: <\ I am one! And if you keep poking me, I, I'll bite your finger off! />
NM: Ha!! D☼ it then!
AA: <\ But- />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  keeps on jabbing at her face!! --
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  lets her do it for a moment... but when she doesn't stop, she snaps her sharp fangs at Cucali's poking finger. --
-- nitroMerc [NM]  jerks her finger back, smirking. --
NM: ☼h! Y☼u d☼☼☼☼☼ have a bite, then!
AA: <\ I told you! I'm a troll! />
NM: Y☼u barely c☼unt as ☼ne, in my ☼pini☼n!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  colours with embarrassment, looking away. --
AA: <\ Not everyone can be a good troll like you, okay? />
NM: Y☼u d☼n't even have t☼ be a g☼☼d ☼ne!! Y☼u just have t☼ be ☼ne!
NM: Which I d☼ubt y☼u aaaare.
AA: <\ I am, okay?! />
NM: I d☼n't beliiiiieve y☼u!
AA: <\ How can I make you believe me?! />
NM: Tr☼ll up?? Duh????
NM: Sheesh! Y☼u're just a d☼☼rmat!
AA: <\ I, I am not a doormat! />
NM: Y☼u are!!
NM: See? I'll tell y☼u that an' y☼u'll just shut right up an' take it!
AA: <\ No, no I will not! />
NM: Y☼u will!!!!
AA: <\ No! I won't! />
NM: Pr☼☼☼☼☼☼ve it.
NM: D☼ it, cluuuuckbeast!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  shoves Cucali off of her lap, angrily. --
-- nitroMerc [NM]  is pushed off and quite surprised! --
NM: ☼w!!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  gets alarmed when Cucali calls out. --
AA: <\ I, I'm sorry, are you okay? />
NM: C☼uldn't y☼u give me a warnin', dumbass???
AA: <\ But I-- but you -- />
NM: Fiiiine! I kn☼w when I'm n☼t wanted!!
-- nitroMerc [NM]  gets up to leave... --
AA: <\ Wait! That wasn't-- />
AA: <\ I don't want you to go! I just wanted to prove I wasn't hopeless! />
NM: N☼pe! Leavin' right n☼w. Laaaaaater!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  reaches out to take Cucali's hand. --
AA: <\ I'm asking you to stay! />
NM: Well, what if I d☼n't waaaant t☼??
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  falters. --
AA: <\ Well, I, I can't make you... />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  gives her a disgusted look and yanks her hand away. --
NM: Damn right y☼u can't!! Because y☼u're just a wiiiiiimp.
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  winces, looking away. --
AA: <\ Do you want me to make you stay? />
NM: What, d☼ I have t☼ tell y☼u t☼ think, scumbl☼☼d?? Y☼u're s☼☼☼☼☼ much tr☼uble!
AA: <\ You don't, I, I honestly want to know if that's what you want... />
NM: Figure it ☼ut y☼urself, l☼ser.
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  looks back to Cucali, an unreadable expression on her face. --
AA: <\ Why are you so darn confusing?! />
NM: C☼nfusin'?? What are y☼u talkin' ab☼ut? I'M c☼nfusin'? Ha!
AA: <\ You act like you want me to give you space and slack, and then you want me to be forceful! />
NM: Y☼u're the c☼nfusing ☼ne!!
AA: <\ Which is it, Cucali?! />
NM: I just want y☼u t☼ st☼p actin' like I g☼tta ☼rder y☼u t☼ breathe, jegus!!
NM: Y☼u're s☼ g☼ddamn passive!
AA: <\ You never had to do that in the first place! Give, give me a little credit already! />
NM: Y☼u d☼n't deseeeeeeerve any credit!!
AA: <\ Maybe you don't deserve my consideration either! />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  narrows her eye. --
NM: What'd y☼u mean by that??
AA: <\ I, I'm trying to do right by you and give you the authority you seem to want! That's why I seem so passive, okay?! />
NM: I d☼n't want s☼me dumb asskisser!!! I just--
NM: Uuuugh!
NM: ☼kay! F☼rget it!! This is stupid!!!!!
AA: <\ I'm not trying to be like that! You're wrong if you think that's what I'm doing! />
NM: Then what d☼ y☼u call y☼ur attitude, huuh?? Y☼u're just bendin' ☼ver t☼ d☼ whatever I say because y☼u want my attenti☼n, riiiight?
AA: <\ I'm trying to give you what you want because I--! />
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  goes quieter, half-folding her arms and half-hugging herself. --
AA: <\ ... because I care about whether you're happy. />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  studies her. --
NM: ... really.
AA: <\ Yeah. />
NM: Then st☼p bein'... whatever y☼u're bein' and just sh☼w me what the hell y☼u want t☼ d☼!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  swallows down her fear and stands up, taking a step towards Cucali. --
AA: <\ Is that, is that really what you want? />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  freezes in place, watching her approach, as if suddenly aware of the situation she's landed herself in. --
NM: What if it is, huh??
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  takes another step closer to Cucali, reaching out for her hand. --
-- nitroMerc [NM]  pulls back instinctively. --
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  just smiles to her, ruefully, staying where she is but not going after her hand. --
AA: <\ That's what you're telling me, but I can see you're worried. />
NM: Tch! What d☼ I have t☼ be w☼rried ab☼ut, huh?? Y☼u're just s☼me scumbl☼☼d.
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  shakes her head. --
AA: <\ Then why am I still here? />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  doesn't answer. She just stares at Paloma blankly. --
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  holds out her hand to Cucali in an open gesture. --
AA: <\ Cucali... />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  looks at the offered hand as though it's a dangerous snake. --
NM: What d☼ y☼u want me t☼ d☼ with that??
-- absoluteAltitude's [AA'S]  voice is soft, reassuring, and so is her smile. --
AA: <\ Take it. />
NM: The fuck f☼r?
AA: <\ ... do you really want me to show you what I want to do? />
NM: ... maybe.
AA: <\ Then meet me halfway. You can, Cucali. />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  hesitantly reaches out her hand... --
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  tries to take Cucali's hand in her own when she reaches out. --
-- nitroMerc [NM]  flinches and tries to pull back at the last second. --
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  gently, gently takes Cucali's hand despite the flinch, smoothing her thumb over her fingers in a soothing gesture. --
AA: <\ It's okay... />
-- nitroMerc's [NM'S]  vascular pump is beating like mad. She shakes the hand quickly, tries to let go. --
NM: ☼kay, ☼kay, we're d☼ne here!
AA: <\ Cucali! Look at me! />
NM: I'm l☼☼kin' at y☼u already!! What!!!!!!
AA: <\ You don't have to leave! You don't have to go anywhere! />
AA: <\ I'm telling you that it's okay. />
NM: Wh☼ are y☼u t☼ tell me that, huh?? Y☼u're just a m☼ssbl☼☼d wh☼ w☼n't stand up f☼r herself!!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  puts her hand on Cucali's shoulder, now it's been shaken from her hand's grasp. --
AA: <\ Do you want me to stand up?! Do you?! />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  squeezes her wrist tightly, aiming to hurt. --
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  winces, but she doesn't drop her hand away. --
NM: If y☼u're g☼nna d☼ s☼methin' stupid, just D☼ IT SCUMBL☼☼D!! D☼ it an' st☼p askin' me all these stupid questi☼ns!
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  leans forward, at that, to press her lips against Cucali's. --
-- nitroMerc [NM]  stiffens but she lets Paloma kiss her, dropping her grip on her wrist. It's rigid and unwelcoming and not a very good first kiss. It feels like she's trying her best to contain herself. --
-- absoluteAltitude's [AA'S]  lips are soft, her kiss is soft, everything about her is so damn /soft/. Paloma pulls away after a long moment, glancing away from Cucali, her hand still on her shoulder. --
AA: <\ ... that, that wasn't something stupid, by the way. />
NM: ... y☼u're right.
NM: It's extremely stupid.
AA: <\ No, it, it wasn't stupid at all. />
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  looks back to Cucali, blushing. --
AA: <\ And I stand by it. />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  looks as though she might lean in to get another kiss. But she blushes brightly and winds up doing nothing at all. --
NM: G☼d, will y☼u just shut up????
AA: <\ No, I won't! />
NM: D☼ y☼u always have t☼ be like this?! Talkin' ☼n and ☼n and ☼n and ☼n!!!!
NM: Believin' in me and all this ☼ther stupid shit!!
NM: Kissin' me when I didn't asked t☼ be kissed!!
AA: <\ You wanted to know. />
AA: <\ ... now you know. />
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  lets her hand drop away from Cucali's shoulder, looking away again. --
NM: Well, y☼u kn☼w what I g☼t t☼ say t☼ that?
AA: <\ S, something tough which will protect you. />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  yanks her forward, practically smashing her lips into Paloma's. It's a hard kiss. --
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  gasps, the sound cut off by Cucali's kiss. She kisses back, just as hard - but there's still a softness there, pliability. --
-- nitroMerc [NM]  abruptly breaks it off, leaning away, breathing hard. --
NM: Y☼u d☼n't kiss me.
NM: I d☼ that shit.
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  blushes, gulping in breath. Somewhere in the span of that kiss, her hand had gone up to Cucali's shoulder again. --
AA: <\ That's, that's okay with me. />
AA: <\ ... do it again? />
NM: ...........
-- nitroMerc [NM]  pulls away from her grasp, quickly turning around. --
NM: I... g☼tta g☼.
AA: <\ Cucali, I... />
-- nitroMerc [NM]  hastily leaves, her face burning and her head spinning. --
-- absoluteAltitude [AA]  sits back down on the couch, stunned. She lifts a hand to her lips, her fingers tracing them. --
AA: <\ I... />
-- nitroMerc [NM] gave up trolling absoluteAltitude [AA] at 13:54 --