Duplicity Inbox

[strongnarrativevoice]

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text | un: swissarmyknife

[superchameleon]

So, here's some interesting news: there's a communal research facility in Haven Hospital, in the Down. Think that would have what you need?

text | un: forscience

[strongnarrativevoice]

Really? I think that's the hospital I heard about, but I didn't know it was set up for research. You've checked it out?

[superchameleon]

I haven't checked it out myself yet. But a Dominant offered to sponsor me, so I got talking to the person I handed my application into, and they told me all about the facilities, including research equipment in the basement. I don't know if anybody can walk in there and use it, or if you have to have a job there, but I figure it's worth looking at.

[strongnarrativevoice]

That's brilliant. That's exactly what I'd need, if they'll let me use it. I don't know if they'd have a use for me otherwise, but it's all the more reason to check.

Thanks, Peter. I owe you one.

text ★ un: cocked tale

[pathologise]

you owe me a drink.
bar? or i've got this nice bottle that makes a private conversation much easier to have.

[pathologise]

( a minute later because she realises she's never text him before )

its adrienne.

[strongnarrativevoice]

[ He's already guessed this, because he doesn't know a lot of people who would be texting him and he owes drinks to even fewer of them, but the clarification makes him smile anyway. ]

I've hardly fulfilled my end of the bargain if I let you bring the drink I'm supposed to be buying you.

But bring it over anyway, because I owe you more than the drink. I'm in 14-B.

[pathologise]

( this is exciting )

i'm nearby. managed to move into the up.
i'll be there soon.

( soon being like ten minutes later with a little knock knock on his door, the bottle in her hand, little smile on her, dressed in jeans and a blouse )

text ★ un: cocked tale

[pathologise]

( she'd left him on read after he'd messaged her, too drunk and exhausted and so far from okay to be able to handle his words. which is why it's several days after they're 'back' before she responds.

except she doesn't know where to start. hi and i'm sorry don't feel right even though they're true. so she jumps in with honesty )

i lied
you weren't just a quota tick
but i needed to get away
so i was a bitch
sorry.

[strongnarrativevoice]

[ He hadn't actually taken that completely at face value, when she'd first said it. Certainly he'd worried, but he's seen and done and been the cause of enough hurt, angry lashing-out before that he could at least entertain the idea that she hadn't meant it.

Only after his apology had gone unanswered had he begun to convince himself that he was right to worry, that this was all just another humiliating exercise in reading in closeness where none had actually been. And then they were supposed to be going home anyway, so what did it really matter? (It had still mattered.)

Now, staring down at his phone, he has no more idea what to say than she had. It takes a little while before he replies. ]

It's all right. I think it's probably what we both needed at the time.

I certainly wouldn't have gotten any more eloquent if you'd let me keep talking.

[pathologise]

it wasn't a good topic to have drunk.
probably not sober either.
are you okay?

[strongnarrativevoice]

It wasn't. And we don't need to get into it again, but I want to explain myself.

I sounded like I was judging you, and I promise you that I wasn't. There's nothing wrong with making the best of the hand we've been dealt here. I only meant that I don't feel as if I deserve to.

[ This...probably functions as an answer to the "are you okay" question. He is touched that she's asked it, though. ]

Are you okay?

text ★ un: cocked tale

[pathologise]

i want to ask you something about your world
but if i don't reply it's not because what you said was terrible
i usually have a low limit on what nonhuman information i can handle
which isn't great here
but i want to know
it just might take me a while
and i needed you to know that

[strongnarrativevoice]

[ There's nothing about Adrienne's careful wording that should be making this cold lump of foreboding coalesce in his stomach. She's going out of her way not to imply judgment, and he ought to give her that chance. ]

I understand.

If it helps, we don't exactly have nonhumans in the sense I think you mean. Whatever we can do, we're all human.

[ Are they, though? Would he have been, if the transformation had been left to run its course? ]

What did you want to ask?

[pathologise]

i don't know if that's simpler or not than my world
you're strong
i started noticing when we had sex
you hold me far easier than anyone ever has
is that why you started researching it?
to understand your strength?

[strongnarrativevoice]

[ Well. He'd known he would have to explain at some point. There's nothing for it, because if anyone here deserves to know, she does. ]

No. It's the other way around. The strength is my own doing.

It's a very long and very complicated story, and I'm afraid you will think it's terrible once you've heard it. I haven't yet forgiven myself for everything that it entails.

text ★ un: cocked tale

[pathologise]

are you awake?
you should come over if you are

[pathologise]

( five minutes later )

if not,
food i absolutely avoid: avocados, bananas, chestnuts, kiwi, celery
food that is 50/50: apples, carrots, tomatoes, melons, potatoes, cherries, strawberries
although some of that i enjoy too much and will eat anyway
i'm not allergic to any of them
not in the same way
and i like food too much to make it more difficult

[strongnarrativevoice]

[ He's awake, but his lack of immediate response is because he's left his phone in another room while housing a midnight snack. It's the super-metabolism, okay.

When he does get back to his device, though, he's pleased to hear from her, both for the potential booty call and for the information. ]

It does wound my Tamil heart to avoid bananas, but as long as coconut is still on the table I can do just fine.

If you want to come over here instead, I can make sure you get a good breakfast. Without anything listed above, naturally.

[ It's a forward request, from him, but he's going for it anyway. ]

text ★ un: cocked tale

[pathologise]

want to save me from boredom and help me fill out a medical form?
not an exciting task, i know
but even sitting with you while i fill it out will be nicer than alone

[strongnarrativevoice]

You do know how to show a guy a good time.

[ He's only joking about it because they both know exactly how good a time she can show someone, when inclined. But he doesn't mind, either, helping out with mundane things. It's nice to have his company wanted. ]

I'll be up in a bit.

[ "A bit" is only about ten minutes, and he's brought some leftover sweet paniyaram to share. ]

[pathologise]

( she's slower to answer the door when he knocks, finding walking painful from overstretching her hip, wearing pyjamas shorts with her bra and sleeveless blouse, wanting to feel slightly dressed even if pyjama shorts were easiest for less movement.

but she does have a smile for him, and a hint of surprise when she sees what's in his hand )

I didnt expect you to bring anything with you.

text ★ un: cocked tale

[pathologise]

i'm going to miss how nearby you are
and how quickly you can get over

[pathologise]

( and because context is important-- )

daryl's looking at buying somewhere
i agreed

text ★ un: cocked tale

[pathologise]

if you rang your bell i might willingly answer