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[he thinks for this for a moment, then nods.]

I get it. Happy ending where the girl gets to finally go home, right?

Or just finds meaning? A place to call home? [she pauses to take a sip.]

I mean, if home is what truly satisfies the heart in the end, then...yes. But I think, reading on, learning about the kind of person entangled in the tale...it's exciting to discover what drives them, what they seek and, ultimately...that may be different than what both you and that character craved at the start.

You don't get that working in a stupid hobby shop day-to-day, you know? It's...it's so special and unique and intimate to you and this imaginary person. Nothing compares.

[she exhales heavily, red-faced.]

I hate this. I sound like I have no life, when I definitely have one. It's just. Not...ideal.

Oh, don't worry. I was almost literally made to have no life, so my bar before I start judging you is a lot higher than you'd think.

[he looks over at her, vaguely concerned.]

Why don't you find a different job?

Because I'm scared to try and I hate looking stupid? [she grimaces.] That's--that's blunter than I'd normally put it, but. Yes, that. A-and anyway, it's not like the work really taxes me, and I've time to read up on other things here and figure that out, and...and I might just be idling for time in hopes something changes for me? Instead of doing it myself? [wince.] That's too blunt, too.

[riptide's eyebrows raise.]

Just keeps coming out, doesn't it?

It does and it's awful! Gods, if I thought you'd start making fun of me for all of this, I'd likely have just jumped out a window by now. In my own residence!

[she rubs at her forehead.]

There must be some kind of...hex? Something? Going around? This isn't the first instance of my mouth just...running like this today.

Maybe it's just stuff we really needed to get off our chests...

I mean, maybe, but...Like, I don't know. Your stuff was...is, is way more intense than mine? So it's hard to compare like...at all. [her hand drags down the side of her face as she frowns.] But I guess it's not like whatever this is cares of the depth? I don't know. This is weird. I hope it's not permanent, or I'm going to have to never leave my room.

I don't really like to think of it like that anymore. Maybe they're not on the same level, but they both make us feel pretty shitty, right? It's not a competition or anything to see who has the most trauma.

[enghrnghr.] Well. Well sure, but still. You gotta admit, the degrees of...of depth here? It's leagues apart. And I frankly don't want to stand here complaining about my social nonexistence like that's even a thing to be complaining about to you or--or anyone? Gods. Even Darin, I swear. Any time I get riled up about something, he'll level it out with some...some real true tragedy or, or facet of his life that makes mine just. Just cake by comparison.

[she unhappily slurps more tea.]

I just. Don't like being shown how spoiled I am. I already know. Spoiled and green and stupid. Like, why even bother talking to me beyond learning to write cursive? Honestly. I beg my mouth to stop now, please.

Ugh. [riptide's nose wrinkles with distaste.] Of course Darin tries to one up you by making it about him and how sad and woeful his life is.

[riptide doesn't like him. that might not be obvious.]

Look, solid gold bars are still bars, alright? If I didn't want to bother with asking you to teach me this stuff, I wouldn't have asked! What does it say that you're one of the first people in almost four million years that I feel pretty alright with asking about it?

[red-faced, looking down at her tea:] I-I mean...it's...rather significant, if you ask me. A little intimidating? Like, of all people...

I mean, I'm not doing this for any big reason to win an award, or anything. There's no timelimit if you don't count port outs. Just... something I wanted to.

Spending time with my friend with education involved!

[god what has he become]

[PRECIOUS is what he's become.]

I'm...really glad you feel that way, Riptide. [she offers a weak, but sincere smile.] I mean, I could easily pretend that were the case and feel bad about it later, but. It's actually nice? Nice to know you don't mind it. Hanging out with me, I mean.

...Well, the learning part, too. That I'm grateful you care about, too.

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