tfln #4 return of the terrible choices

[muskeg]

you know the drill. have at it, swampians.

Comments

[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.

[foxtwo]

no, an event involving magic is why i've got these nightmares.

[strewn]

Oh, I'm sorry. Bad memories?

[foxtwo]

very.

[strewn]

I'm really sorry. I wish I knew what to say in a situation like this.

[foxtwo]

It's okay. It's not your responsibility to make me feel better. And it's been better, in this house. I have friends and my brother is happy, which helps me.

I put you in a bad situation, in which nothing you could say would make things better. It's not on you, I'm sorry.

[strewn]

You shouldn't apologize. I think some people would know better how to be comforting, even if there weren't anything really obvious to say to make it better.

I want to know better how to do that. I don't like the thought of people suffering. But I'm glad you have friends here. And your brother.

[foxtwo]

if i want comfort, i know who to go to.

you can't stop everyone's suffering, that's now how things work. you have to accept you can help some people, and not some others.

[strewn]

Someone important to you?

That's hard. I know it's true, but I don't like it, if that makes sense.

[foxtwo]

yes, there are a few

you'll get used to it. and honestly, i like you. and i think over time, i'll get to help you out more, and you'll also get to help me out, even if you don't even realize it.

[strewn]

Oh, that's good. I've started to realize it's good to have people like that in your life.

I'll be glad if we can help each other. And maybe know one another better? If that's all right.

[foxtwo]

are you flirting with me?

[strewn]

Flirting? No, that's not what I was trying to do. It seemed that way?