tfln #4 return of the terrible choices

[muskeg]

you know the drill. have at it, swampians.

Comments

[strewn]

I hadn't thought of it that way. Thanks.

How is that?

[foxtwo]

sometimes pain is good. sometimes it's important. alongside love, it's one of the most powerful things we can feel, and it reminds us we're alive. we can't be happy all the time. pain makes us grounded and full and it allows us to not forget that sometimes things are hard.

[strewn]

I don't understand pain as well as you do. Sometimes it makes things confusing. I worry it makes me less grateful. I don't know if that means I want to be in pain or not.

[foxtwo]

grateful for what?

[strewn]

Grateful to be here. No one has to let me be here, but they do.

[foxtwo]

this house is a shelter for lost souls. everyone has a right to be here.

[strewn]

I could be dangerous. I don't want anyone to have to shelter me and still worry about getting hurt.

[foxtwo]

all of us, in some degree, are dangerous. if not through our powers themselves, then by necessity. it does not mean you are undeserving of a home.

[strewn]

I'm glad I found this one. Or that we did, I mean.
I feel better being here, even if I'm still a little worried in certain ways. It's better. Thank you.

[foxtwo]

don't thank me, i did nothing. but you're safe here, and i'm glad you feel good.

[strewn]

You encouraged me. I want to say thanks, really. It helps me a lot.

[foxtwo]

oh. well, you're welcome. i hope whatever you do, you have an excellent time. and if you have more questions, don't hesitate. or talk to your pianist.

[strewn]

My pianist.

I'll do that, yes. Talk to him, I mean. Thanks for the offer, too. I might bother you again.

[foxtwo]

is that not right? to call him yours?

that's okay. you're welcome any time.

[strewn]

It might be right, yes. I'd never thought of it that way. [ Spoiler: it made his heart do funny things. ]

Any time? I do keep weird hours sometimes still.

[foxtwo]

i also keep weird hours, don't worry.

[strewn]

I'm starting to think weird hours might actually be normal hours in this house.

[foxtwo]

a lot of us have grown used to keep odd hours, i think, out of necessity.

[strewn]

Do you think it's so someone's awake all the time to keep watch or is it something else?

[foxtwo]

i think so, in part. myself, i just prefer not to visit my dreams, they are a bad place, so i avoid sleep. and that way i can, indeed, keep an eye on things.

[strewn]

Isn't it harder to keep an eye on things when you're tired? I don't think I really dream, so I don't know about it being hard to sleep for that reason, but can you do anything to stop them?

[foxtwo]

i'm not tired. i doze during the day. i take naps. i'm fine, really.

i have never managed to stop them. i don't think it's really possible.

[strewn]

Naps, right. Naps are good. I like taking naps.

Even with magic?

[foxtwo]

i don't want to use magic to get rid of my dreams. magic's the reason why i have them to start with

[strewn]

Your magic gives you those dreams? I'm not sure I understand, sorry.