tfln #4 return of the terrible choices

[muskeg]

you know the drill. have at it, swampians.

Comments

[foxtwo]

well, orgasms are pretty great.

it's still accurate.

[strewn]

I thought they must be, since so many people speak so highly of sex in the first place, and that is the goal, after all, right?

I guess it means your journey has been pretty dramatic.

[foxtwo]

well, yes and no. there's something to be said about what happens before the orgasms, too. some people like to delay them as much as possible.

i don't know if it's been more dramatic than anyone else's, but it's made us very wary and distrustful, at first, yes. we're getting better.

[strewn]

I see. So it's okay if it takes a long time. And it's okay if it doesn't happen at all?

It's big though. To go from being wary of everything to being comfortable. Do you think everyone else felt that way?

[foxtwo]

i wouldn't worry about them not happening at all or taking that long, but they can. but everything is okay, when it comes to sex. what matters is that you don't pressure yourself, and you communicate with your partner when you're ready to go there with them.

i wouldn't say we're entirely comfortable. well, joonie might be more comfortable than i am, but he has his reasons.

i think everyone is different. do you feel comfortable?

[strewn]

I think we're good at talking to each other. From my limited experiences communicating with people, we're good.

Joonie? What reasons are those?

I feel as comfortable as I know how. It's a new feeling for me.

[foxtwo]

that's good. it's very important - it's the most important.

joonie's my twin brother, and he's in love. so he's more comfortable than i am.

you like it? this new feeling.

[strewn]

Really? It's more important than anything else? I'll have to work at it more. Not used to talking a lot.

Oh, right- I do know him, but I didn't recognize the nickname. You're both happy here though, right?

I like almost every new feeling I've felt, even the ones that hurt.

[foxtwo]

i think so, yes. if you don't talk about things, then you just start assuming, and that is usually wrong. and then feelings get hurt, and people keep on not talking until it boils over and you might get into a fight that just damages your relationship a lot. it's not worth keeping your thoughts to yourself.

i am happy, sometimes. he is happier. i'm happy he's happy.

you've been hurt?

[strewn]

That sounds seriously unpleasant. I don't want to get in that position, especially with someone I care about. I'll have to keep trying to talk, even if I don't entirely know what to say. It can be hard, when you're not used to opening your mouth.

His happiness makes you happy?

I borrowed someone's power and used it to take away their pain. I've never felt anything like that. I asked first, of course. I promise.

[foxtwo]

it's better than not trying at all, i think. even if you fumble.

yes, of course. he's my brother. he's the most important person in my life.

you'd never felt pain before? why did you - why did you do it? take their pain?

[strewn]

I'm sure to do a lot of that. I don't even know how to talk about some things, much less my opinions. I have to learn.

I see. That sounds really nice to me.

I've felt it, but not like that. I don't know how to explain this, but where I go when I'm not here is like nothing. It's easy for me to get back to that feeling. Or lack of feeling, I guess. But it's empty and means nothing. So I guess I took it to feel something, but also because I want to believe my ability isn't all bad.

[foxtwo]

never be afraid to speak your mind. it's your most important and beautiful asset.

what's nice? that his happiness makes me happy? he's gone through a lot. he deserves it.

pain is feeling, even if it's not the best of them. it's good to have known pain. it's important, i think, to know it and recognize it.
what's your power, exactly?

[strewn]

Beautiful? That's a poetic way to put it.

Yes. That someone's happiness can make another person happy. It's nice to think it's something that can be passed along. Especially if someone was in pain and now that's lessened.

That's how I feel. How I felt, when I was experiencing it.

My touch takes people's abilities away for a short time, depending on how long we're in contact. It steals energy from humans. I'm really careful about it though, I promise.

[foxtwo]

don't you think your happiness could make Bam happy?

if your touch does that, how are you going to get intimate with someone?

[strewn]

Maybe. I'm not sure.

I never thought I could, but there's someone here who doesn't mind me borrowing his power.

[foxtwo]

ah

the pianist, isn't it

[strewn]

yes. him. it doesn't hurt him.

[foxtwo]

you smell like him. i guess you'll smell like him a lot more soon.

[strewn]

i hope so. as long as it's okay with him.

[foxtwo]

i doubt it would be a problem.

why did I format those last two tags incorrectly? we may never know....

[strewn]

What makes you say that?

i see nothing wrong

[foxtwo]

oh, he likes sex

i mean, i don't have a firsthand experience, but that's the impression i've gotten.

[ should you have said that, jin? ]

never happened!

[strewn]

Oh, right. Sex isn't the only thing that makes people smell like each other though, is it?

[ A good question, Jin. ]

[foxtwo]

no. considering you already smell like him quite a bit. you're like a sponge.