Audience: Harrowhark Nonagesimus

[probe]

Comments

[probe]

A pastry, my dude, it's not going to bite you. It's got jam in it.

[strawberry jam!]

[bonetiddies]

Why are you bringing me a pastry?

[. . . She's take a nibble of it, though.]

[probe]

[it might be the best pastry she's ever eaten.]

Because I like you, and this is how I show affection. By bribing you with treats. What's up?

[bonetiddies]

You like me?

[What the fuck. Why. I mean, she can get to her point in a minute, but first, what.]

[probe]

[that icon i'm crying]

Y... yyyyes? Is that hard to believe?

[bonetiddies]

[Suspicious! Why! She'll eat her pastry very suspiciously.]

If you say so. I thought it couldn't hurt to get your perspective. If you "like me" then it shouldn't be too much of a chore for you.

[probe]

[they sound very amused when they answer.]

I can hear those quotations. Sure, hit me.

[bonetiddies]

What is the purpose of having us "indulge"? I understand that from our perspective, we indulge and then our goals will be within reach if we do it sufficiently. But why does it work that way?

[probe]

[they think about that for a moment, stretching idly.]

Think of it as a sort of power, I guess? A fuel. That's all I can really tell you.

[bonetiddies]

Uh-huh. But if I were to have stayed home and - cried a lot, or hit people because I felt like it, or otherwise abandoned all discretion in favor of following my base instincts, it wouldn't have any consequence other than the ordinary bad life choice consequences. It's different here. Why?

[probe]

It just... is. [they say this sort of helplessly.] I don't really have an answer for you. I'd like to give you something more than that but it's really just - uh, it's just the answer is "sorry, it's magic!"

[bonetiddies]

That's answer enough.

[She can accept 'it's just magic.']

Lust suggested. . . she had another life, before she came here. Did you also?

[probe]

[ah.

they glance away.]

Something like that, sure.

[bonetiddies]

You'd rather not discuss it? Or I'm off base?

[probe]

No, you're not wrong. [they sigh.] It's just been a long time.

[bonetiddies]

Did you come here by choice?

[That would be. . . bad.]

[probe]

I had something I wanted, more than anything.

[bonetiddies]

So you came here. But you're still here. So did you fail to earn it?

[probe]

No, I didn't. [they fold their arms.] That's all I'm going to say about that, boo.

[bonetiddies]

Understood. I won't continue to press you on a subject you'd rather not speak about. It would be fruitless, let alone rude.

[probe]

[a pause.]

... Thanks. [they sound sort of relieved? and grateful.] That's sweet of you.

[bonetiddies]

I'm sure you wouldn't answer me, anyway.

[She's not sweet!!]

I loathe those who don't respect boundaries.

[probe]

That's a new take, is all!

[they pat harrow's shoulder.] Most people here get mad when I dodge. Sometimes boundaries get you further than being nosy. Not that I'd know anything about that.

[bonetiddies]

[Flinching awkwardly when they pat her, like she's going to be attacked.]

Well. Truly, all I wish to know is whether you are here out of your own choosing, or whether you are trapped.

[probe]

-- Whoa, sorry. [they seem concerned about the flinching!]

It's - both, really, but hey. Do you not want me to touch you?