tfln #4 return of the terrible choices

[muskeg]

you know the drill. have at it, swampians.

Comments

[foxtwo]

good. he's good, really. a bit self-loathing.

that only matters if you like it. i like the smell of chocolate but i'm not the one planning on sleeping with him.

my favorite is warm brown sugar, that particular smell when it's just about to turn into caramel properly.

[strewn]

He works hard. It's difficult, when you're fighting yourself.

I can smell him in places besides bed.

I don't really know that smell, but it sounds nice. Who smells like that?

[foxtwo]

that's not what i mean. i mean that it doesn't matter if i like the smell of chocolate or not, i'm not the one who is into him. i don't have to smell him very much. you, on the other hand - if you *can* even smell him like i do - you probably need to really like chocolate, otherwise it won't be that much fun for you to be around him so much.


Yujin smelled like that. No one here does.

[strewn]

Oh, I see. He definitely smells like chocolate to me. I don't think I could get tired of the way he smells.

I'm sorry. Is it bad to smell that now?

[foxtwo]

see, that's what matters.

it's not bad. it just hurts.

[strewn]

I understand now. What's pleasant to me might be different because I like him.

Hurting is bad though. Isn't it?

[foxtwo]

yes, exactly

pain is a lot of things, not just bad.

[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.