Audience: Sheila Hammond

[probe]

Comments

[toesies]

[They are living their best(?) life and Sheila accepts that. She waves back, walking further into the room to join them.]

Oh, yeah. I'm definitely enjoying myself now. [Grinning, punctuating that statement with a smack of her lips. A well-fed mombie is a happy mombie.] And you? It looks like you have a nice little set up over here!

[probe]

Hah! Bet you are. [they pat the beanbag next to them.]

Yeah, I'm living it up. It's so much livelier with you guys here. The rest of the Avatars just sulk in their rooms all day long. Well - except for Lust.

[a languid stretch.] Hey, so question - can you still drink booze? Or.

[toesies]

[She waggles her eyebrows a little, snickering, right before she plops down on the beanbag that was offered to her.]

That's a shame. I wonder if there's anything that would get them to come out more often...

[Live! A little! But at that question, she pauses.]

Why? Are you inviting me to drink with you? [Lifting an eyebrow.] Because I can. But I should warn you that I don't get drunk anymore, so I will totally drink you under the table.

[SCD zombie biology makes no sense but that's fine.]

[probe]

[they snort.]

You won't! I also don't get drunk anymore. Cheers. [they offer the alcohol to her.] So - okay, can I like, ask questions about your whole thing? I'm intensely curious.

[toesies]

[She makes an appreciative sound, accepting the booze. Nice.]

Sure. Go right ahead.

[probe]

So you... like, eat people? Why?

[they don't sound grossed out or anything, at least.]

[toesies]

[A gentle shrug, taking a sip.]

Same reason why anybody eats. I'm hungry.

[probe]

Well, I guess I should've been expecting that answer.

[they spray whipped cream into their mouth.]

Have you told anybody about it?

[toesies]

Here? [A slow shake of her head.] ... They'll just think I'm a monster.

[probe]

Ahhh.

[they... shift, sitting up in the bean bag to turn and look at her.]

I don't think you are. If that helps.

[toesies]

[She presses a hand to her chest, genuinely touched.]

It does, thank you. That's so sweet of you to say.

[probe]

[they nod.]

I've been called a monster before, and it - I mean, it sucks. It really does. [they look down at their hands, which are cracking and embering. they sigh.] You're, uh, you're the sweet one, though!

We've been paying attention to how nice you are to Envy. I don't know about the others, but I know I appreciate it.

[toesies]

[She frowns sympathetically and scoots over a little to gently pat their upper arm, like. There, there. Freak solidarity? Freak solidarity.]

Oh? [That catches her by surprise, though.] Envy's a sweetheart. Of course I'm going to be nice to them.

[probe]

[they smile at the pat - she can tell because there's a glint of teeth.]

Yeah, well! Not everybody is! Envy is a big old dork and I love them, but they let people walk all over them and I hate to see it. So. They deserve the world.

[toesies]

... Yeahhh, I got that feeling, too. I suggested they tell people to go fuck themselves the next time anything happens, but that's apparently not their thing?

[probe]

Oh, girl, me too. [they hold out a fist to bump?]

I tell them that all the time, but they like the uh, the passive aggressive route. Which is so not my thing. I am aggressive aggressive.

[toesies]

[Fist bump! And nodding along.]

Completely understandable. [Wrath will be wrath.] I happen to think both types of aggressive are super satisfying.

[probe]

[they laugh a little.]

Fair enough. Like I'm gonna say no to any type of aggression. [they make grabby hands for the alcohol.] So you're really just here to talk, then? No burning questions about why you're here and what it's all for?

[that last bit is dripping with sarcasm.]

[toesies]

[The booze is all theirs! She raises an eyebrow, giving them a curious look.]

I thought we all agreed to come here?

[Said in the tone of, are people really grilling them over why they're here...]

[probe]

You did, for sure, but some people think there's some nefarious bull going on under the surface and - well, I guess, you're not paranoid.

Like, they agreed to be here, they just think it can't be this easy! But it is.

[toesies]

Sounds like some people need to get a stick out of their ass.

[She shrugs!! Who needs paranoia when you can just live in the moment?]

I am curious, though. Like, how did this whole shebang start? It obviously wasn't something you threw together last minute.

[probe]

[they laugh at that.]

God, I like you. [they just freely admit this. they drink from the booze, also.] I don't actually know how it started. But it's been around for a while.

[toesies]

Aw, thanks. I like you, too.

[Touches her chest, flattered.]

So, this place has a long history. Nothing wrong with that. Does it mean other people have gotten their wishes granted before us?

[probe]

[hum.]

No idea. Maybe? It seems like that should be the case, right? But I don't know.

[toesies]

Man, where are the Hardy Boys when you need them? That sounds like exactly the type of mystery an amateur detective would want to solve.