23:36 <banana> It's early on Thursday - but after the time Mari likes to be out of bed on a holiday, even on her Birthday, Sumi knows this. Her message reads: 23:37 <banana> <Hey love bugs. There's kind of a thing so I'm not gonna come with R, okay? He's a shit this week. Is it ok if I bring the M instead? I am totally down to just make it three if you prefer but t.M. is very pro.> 23:38 <banana> *birthday 23:38 <tom> Bob's in the kitchen when his phone chirps. He instinctively reaches up to tap the visor that isn't there. 23:39 <banana> Mari, unrancorous: "Ah, it's always something." She shows him the message. 23:39 <banana> "I am fine with this. Are you ok? Riaan isn't really.. we're not close friends, anyway." 23:39 <tom> He reads her phone while the (turkey) bacon sizzles in the pan. "t. M?" 23:40 <tom> "Is that a guy I met? I mean I'm cool with it." 23:40 <banana> "The Maraschine. He's this boy from the Summer Tor, hangs out with Sumi a lot. Seems very... elegant?" 23:40 <tom> "What, like the cherry?" 23:40 <tom> "Now I'm curious." 23:40 <banana> Mari muses. "We've not met often. I'm kind of interested to see whether she's switching... primary affiliations." 23:41 <tom> Bob sidles over to give her a side-hug, keeping one eye on the stovetop. 23:41 <tom> "Oh, is Sumi making Moves? Are we all microscopic cogs, in her catastrophic plan, designed and directed-" 23:41 <banana> Mari will actually evade this one - "I've got to have a shower. My hair's a mess. Thanks for watching the stove." Her eyes twinkle, but she's away. 23:42 <tom> They've been watching that show! It's good. 23:42 <tom> Hm. Okay. Bob triangulates. "Sounds great." 23:43 <tom> He makes eggs while she showers. 23:45 <banana> It's a lazy morning. Sumi and her cherry- and this guy won't be here for a while yet; does the couple have any plans for a couple more hours? 23:47 <tom> After breakfast, Bob will lay out some options- admittedly, the news out of South Africa isn't good, and everyone's locking down again so a lot of the Old Reliables are out- movies, a trip to the zoo (does this city even have one? It must, certainly?), some sort of Event- all that shit goes in the trash. 23:47 <tom> Maybe the best bet is to just chill on the couch and sip hot cocoa? 23:49 <tom> "...Maybe there's an art museum somewhere on the university campus-" Oh God I'm no good at this- 23:49 <banana> There is a zoo in Manchester, and Mari would actually like to visit... "...when it's not so cold. It's all outdoor attractions." She contemplates cocoa. 23:49 <tom> Certainly it would be a misstep to take her to the hat museum....? 23:50 <banana> "I think the most activity I'm up for before lunch is some aerobics in the courtyard. Want to avoid anything strenuous before your big day tomorrow? Or is it like, loosening up the muscles at training camp?" 23:52 <tom> Bob stifles a laugh: "If I weren't gonna do anything strenuous I wouldn't have... hah, last night- you know what yeah let's do aerobics that sounds great." 23:55 <tom> He rubs the back of his neck. 23:55 <banana> Mari will bring the radio outside. She doesn't like gyms, but believes deeply in the importance of exercise. Bob's heard a story several times of an autopsy on which the class got to sit - guy with a heart that had more or less exploded. 23:55 <tom> Feel felt. 23:56 <tom> How cold is it out here? 23:56 <tom> In basic he had to do PT in worse than this, certainly. 23:56 <banana> Not as bad as it will be tomorrow; there's a storm coming. Right now, you're in a brief trough, almost warmish. But when that pressure band heads out to the Irish Sea... it'll be bad. 23:58 <banana> Bob will have to go inside to check on the cake, but Mari smiles at him when he leaves and when he returns. 23:59 <tom> That's what makes this worth it. 00:00 <tom> Bob centers himself, there in the courtyard. It's nothing like his old routine, the audio tapes, the fear conditioning, the motivational tapes by guys who are in prison for fraud- but she's there, and that's way better. 00:01 <tom> Time for jumping jacks. 00:03 <banana> Later, when the rice is about ready, Sumiya and the Maraschine turn up arm in arm. It's kind of a funny sight, seeing them through the back window - Sumi's tall, and the Maraschine is decidedly not. He might be shorter Mari, and trimly proportioned. However, he is very well dressed. 00:03 <banana> Not formal or anything - this is a suburban birthday party - but the changeling's got a silk shirt and maroon tulle pants, overlaid in ruffles. There's also a scabbard at his side, although it's empty and peace-bonded. 00:04 <banana> *shorter than 00:05 <banana> Mari's the first to the door. "Sumi-Sumi. They let you out of work again?" 00:05 <banana> Sumi: "It's November. That's like the Friday of months. Maraschine, I think you've met Mariam?" 00:06 <banana> The Maraschine: "Yeah, good syllables. I'm honoured to be able to crash your party, Mari." 00:06 <tom> You know, Bob's been thinking about all the folks he's seen over the years who go around dressed like Neo and has just, charitably, decided that they all must've been like this. He just couldn't see before. Yeah let's go with that: "Afternoon Sumi. Nice to meet you, Mr. Maraschine..?" He's dressed up, in the sense that he's got a button up on, sleeves rolled up as he stretches his hand 00:06 <tom> out for a shake. 00:08 <tom> Let's see. A layer of rice, some eggplant with the rest of the veggies, more rice, chicken, more veggies- 00:08 <banana> "Hullo, Bob of Winter, we've got mutual friends." He does the thing where you're standing around in the living room of someone's house that you haven't visited before, not sure which chairs are Unsafe or Reserved.... but he does it with good posture. 00:09 <banana> "How'd you get around having to open the gate?" 00:09 <banana> Sumi: "I have been wondering that for several years." 00:09 <banana> Mari: "Nice to see you again. It doesn't close unless you oil it... so we don't." 00:11 <tom> Bob, instantly: "Make yourself at home, dude. Warm enough? Want some cocoa?" 00:11 <banana> The Maraschine: "Oh, shit yes." 00:11 <banana> Sumi: "Why don't I get cocoa." 00:13 <banana> Mari: "Cos you know where the mugs are." 00:13 <tom> "You both get cocoa," he goes to make it so. 00:14 <banana> In moments, everyone's cozy. 00:15 <tom> "If you wanna smoke, I have tobacco, and uh, I just got a dealer if you wanna be the guinea pig?" 00:15 <tom> He returns from the kitchen with a pair of steaming mugs. 00:15 <tom> There's little marshmallows in the chocolate! 00:17 <banana> You've got just enough chair space in the sitting room (no 'lounges' here, apparently) for four. Sumi and Mari are hard to stop once they get started, but the Maraschine doesn't seem to feel left out. 00:17 <banana> "A first puff?" He raises his eyebrows at Bob. "You must have some idea of the stuff's potency." 00:19 <banana> (Mari: "...and you don't even know how old you are." Sumi: "I know I'm the auntie here.") 00:19 <tom> Bob leans against the frame of the doorway. "Dunno, I've never bought weed from a elf before." 00:20 <tom> A realization: "....I think?" 00:21 <banana> The Maraschine: "I'm sure in some sense all weed is Hedge-weed, but yeah, that'll be interesting..." The small red man hesitates for a moment and glances at Sumiya. 00:22 <banana> She looks back at him and waves both hands. "Mari... and Bob... are very safe. They will never hurt you or give away your secrets." 00:22 <tom> Bob goes to procure himself a mug of hot chocolate. 00:22 <banana> "It's a safe place, unless Carl comes by." 00:22 <tom> "He said he wouldn't!" Bob adds helpfully from the kitchen. "Nice guy." 00:23 <banana> The Maraschine: "Let's do it, but who is Carl?" 00:23 <banana> Mari: "Man, myth, legend. A specter is haunting Eccles." 00:24 <banana> "He seriously better not come today. Where are you keeping the bastard sword?" 00:24 <tom> Returning, cradling the warm mug. Beatifically: "I don't think he'll be here today." 00:25 <banana> Sumi: "Bob believes that he is being targetted by an elder vampire, and that they will one day fight to the death again." 00:25 <tom> "I'm not the one being targeted by an elder." 00:25 <tom> Bob turns away and laughs nervously. 00:27 <tom> "We've got it in a safe place," he adds quickly, clearing his throat. "I'm thinkin' bout putting it up on a wall mount." 00:27 <tom> "It's that or turning the damn thing into a grill. Seriously it's huge you could cook pizzas on it-" 00:28 <banana> Mari: "Ohh." That would be cool, but not.. safe. "I suppose we can do without trophies." 00:28 <banana> Sumi: "Is it okay if I ask a doctor question?" 00:28 <tom> "All he's gotta do is ask," Bob beams. 00:29 <banana> Mari: "Well- huh? Sure, as long as it's not about Omicron." 00:29 <banana> Sumi: "What else would I want to know?" 00:29 <tom> Bob's been without his ODIN for half a day, so he doesn't immediately tab over to see what the dumbest people on earth are saying. His eyes look tired. 00:29 <banana> Mari: "I've got less than zero information." 00:30 <banana> The Maraschine: "I'm going to guess that's due to your studies. We see these factoids and vox pops..." 00:30 <tom> He goes out to get his pipe. No smoking in the flat, of course. 00:31 <banana> Mari: "Which have negative information content, yes. If you listen to TV guys pissing themselves you will unlearn things." 00:32 <banana> She observes Bob. "Are you guys going up on the roof? We could finish the maqluba, but it won't be long. Maybe twenty minutes." 00:33 <tom> He comes back with a baggie of, frankly, very bad looking, stemmy cannabis, which he thumbs gracefully into the pipe. "Just a quick toke, yeah? Don't touch anything, hun, it's your birthday-" 00:33 <banana> Sumi: "I'll make sure she doesn't. Unless that's what the dish requires." 00:34 <tom> "Love is the most important ingredient," Bob adds, ducking out the door to light up with the Maraschine. 00:34 <banana> Mari: "Nope, you watch a pot and then turn it upside down. Just a matter of keeping our noses unblocked." 00:35 <tom> There's a little stove and some chairs up on the roof. Nobody's complained, yet. 00:35 <banana> At this point, climbing the back wall to Empanading's roof has become second nature. There are are little markings for the best handholds, and the sills and aircons are clean enough that you don't have to wash your shoes afterward. 00:36 <banana> Bob's most of the way up the wall when he realises that a rather confused changeling is shading his eyes and peering up at him. "Er." 00:36 <tom> "Oh yeah it's not at all ADA compliant, sorry. Do you wanna smoke down there-" 00:36 <tom> "It's chill." 00:36 <banana> The Maraschine: "No, just- I'd appreciate a hand up." 00:37 <tom> Bob doesn't hesitate to reach out. 00:39 <banana> He can't weigh more than 150 pounds. Determination and agility do the trick - the Maraschine probably would have made it without Bob's help, though it's clearly an effort. 00:39 <banana> "Phew." "...This is a better view than you expect from a kebab shop." 00:40 <tom> "Yeah it's got nice sightlines. And your approaches are covered from all angles, plus cover-" 00:40 <banana> Cold November light glitters on silk, revealing nothing in particular. 00:41 <tom> "Oh yeah you mean it looks nice. Yeah it does. Most of these buildings are older than my country." Not true, but on another level, maybe it is? 00:41 <banana> The Maraschine: "Want to light up and tell me who you're watching for on the approach?" 00:41 <tom> "Anyway:" Bob takes his lighter and hits the pipe. 00:42 <tom> The Maraschine gets the smoldering glass pipe next. "Carl until about a week ago. I guess Lie-am's out there, somewhere." 00:43 <banana> "Penberthy? Or.. Penberthy's alter?" 00:44 <tom> "Liam's good people. Lie-am made me fight a bunch of ham people." 00:44 <tom> "You're in the Club, yeah? Summertime and the living's easy." 00:44 <tom> "He talk about what he did before- you know, the whole thing?" 00:45 <banana> The other Summer man laughs. "Liam's a dickhead. Of course he's also one of the good guys." 00:45 <banana> He holds the smoke a while. "Many don't, although it's not a hard taboo. No issues here, I was a nurse." 00:46 <tom> "Yeah. I was a little bummed out I was getting in with the sadness committee instead of the shit-kickers." 00:46 <banana> "But I don't know Liam well, so I'm not telling you to shut it or anything. Just haven't had a chance to hear." 00:46 <tom> "We've got basically the same job. You know, hunting..." 00:47 <banana> The Maraschine: "You were? Really?" 00:50 <tom> "Yeah it's kinda a whole, you know, deal,-" Bob takes back the pipe and goes in for a second blast. Exhaling streams of smoke through his nostrils: "Retired," he croaks. 00:51 <tom> "You guys like to scrap, yeah?" 00:51 <banana> "Yes. But we don't build fortresses of solitude." 00:52 <tom> "The best defense is a good defense," he adds helpfully. 00:53 <banana> "I don't know, man," The Maraschine gestures a little more freely than earlier. "The season clings to you like a jealous house-cat. The only stronger blaze of ice I've seen, ever, is on King Starling." 00:53 <tom> "Oh shit you can see that?" 00:53 <tom> "Fuckin'- yeah, of course you can. What am I saying." 00:54 <tom> "Tell me, dude, do I look... cool?" He laughs, groans. 00:54 <tom> Oh it hurts. 00:55 <banana> He grins with small dimples. "You are not my type." 00:55 <banana> "It's hellaf - hell of nice to see something like this working, though." Another vague gesture. 00:56 <tom> "I haven't had to drop someone in almost a year. That's a record." 00:57 <banana> There's a distinct scent from below - not just kebab anymore - but nobody's called up yet. They're probably setting the table. 00:57 <banana> Maraschine: "Miss it?" 00:58 <tom> Bob: "No." 00:59 <tom> "...What I do miss is having a budget. I'm scraping together thermite shells by hand, man." 01:00 <tom> He clarifies: "Anti-vehicle weaponry. I'm hoping we can get a mobility kill and take the crew alive. It's- it's a whole thing." 01:01 <banana> "Yeah, no, you're Winter." 01:01 <banana> The Maraschine elaborates: "Not joy in death, but making permanent its expectation. A grim preparedness and a focus on the traumas you'd held. No judgement, Mr. Goreman, we are who we are." 01:02 <tom> "...What took you to summer, then?" 01:02 <banana> "I don't really like to scrap, but I'll kill anyone who wants to stop me being who I am. Or my friends, being who they are. Which requires trained expertise." 01:02 <tom> "If that's not too much- I still don't know all the, ah, rude things-" 01:03 <tom> Bob nods at that: "We can hang." 01:03 <banana> The Maraschine: "It's good of you to ask... but I am not a sensitive soul." He gazes at the horizon in a way that gives the lie to this. Or it might be the MJ. 01:03 <banana> Sumi's got lungs. "BOB! COOL GUY!" 01:04 <tom> "Everyone keeps askin' me why I care so dang much, y'know? Cus I'm not... you know-" 01:04 <tom> "Oh shit I've been running my mouth too long- c'mon let's go." 01:04 <tom> He pockets the pipe and makes to climb: "You good on the way down?" 01:04 <tom> He leans over the side: "On it!" 01:05 <banana> The changeling stands... a little shakily. "Errr. This stuff hits different now. It's not exactly stronger, but give me a moment." 01:06 <banana> You eventually make it to the dining table, where the women have upturned rice bowls steaming on the plates. Mari looks relaxed, perhaps due to getting to take over the final stage of the cooking. 01:07 <banana> Sumi: "Christ, you look mellow." 01:07 <tom> "There's different strains," Bob wasn't going to abandon the poor dude to freeze to death on the roof. 01:08 <banana> The Maraschine: "I, or he?" 01:08 <banana> Sumi: "I mean you, M." She's got the same initialising habit as Mari. "Is this how weed makes you talk?" 01:09 <banana> The Maraschine: "Oh, no. Please let me know if I'm becoming an Asshole." 01:09 <banana> Mari laughs at that, but she's going to encourage everyone to dig in. They both worked hard on this! Mostly Bob, even! 01:11 <tom> Bob grins as he pulls up a seat. On the cuisine: "Well, hun, how'd I do? Just like the old country?" 01:14 <banana> Mari takes the question literally. "It tastes different to the one my mum makes, but it's not like it's worse, you know? When you mix all this stuff any kind of small variation is going to change the result." 01:15 <banana> It's obvious the Maraschine likes it given the rate he's eating. "I'm amazed you can make a sort of... dessert out of meat and veg." 01:17 <tom> "Next I'm gonna try kanafa. It's like a sweet.. cheese, sorta thing?" 01:17 <tom> He shrugs. "I'm learning all sorta fun things." 01:17 <banana> Sumi might not count this as dessert food given her sweet tooth, but she's not at all disapproving. 01:18 <banana> Mari: "I think it's konafi, B." 01:19 <tom> "Yeah, that. So much fun stuff to try-" Assuming you don't die tomorrow. 01:19 <tom> Put a pin in that thought for now. 01:20 <banana> Sumi wades into the silence. "S' all good. But I heard the thing yesterday was..." 01:20 <tom> Bob almost gets rice up his nose. He swallows, chuckles ruefully. "Oh yeah, yeaahhh..." 01:20 <banana> She pauses, tactfully, demonstrating this capability for the first time in Bob's experience. "The Regent bit off more than he could chew, huh?" 01:21 <tom> "Wow Saul was completely useless, haha," 01:21 <banana> "Now, I'm not going to say I told you so." 01:21 <banana> How much does Mari know about the reconciliation meeting? 01:21 <banana> From Bob, that is. 01:23 <banana> The Maraschine: "I'll just freshen up if this is Hill shop." He stands and makes his way to the bathroom. 01:23 <tom> "It was a shitshow," He summarizes. He'd tried to evade at first, but it was always a doomed effort. 01:24 <tom> At least Janissary seemed happy. 01:24 <banana> Sumi: "Is your friend okay? Apparently the big wizard just let it all hang out there, like I Am Allowed To Kill You By God?" 01:24 <tom> Does it count if you just think it? Are you in here, hello- No, that's just the weed. 01:24 <banana> Mari: "His is as fake as ours." 01:24 <tom> "Oh Badawi's great, she uh, got exactly what she wanted." 01:25 <tom> "She wanted to demonstrate that dude fuckin' sucks and, well, he obliged." 01:25 <tom> "I feel bad for Carnelia." 01:25 <banana> Mari: "Well that's just as much... no, but it's still an abuse of the process." 01:26 <banana> Sumi: "The process IS abusive." 01:26 <tom> Bob: "Yeah, no, I get it now." 01:26 <banana> Sumi: "Having it turned on that smug fuck does not give me any kind of frown. But yeah, sucks for you and the others." 01:26 <banana> "It sounds like... we're going to have to do something about this guy. He's putting us on notice." 01:27 <tom> "Are there options? I know a few of the nerds at Strangeways..." 01:28 <banana> Sumi looks alarmed. "Please do NOT tell the uh, the diamond wizards about the Tatterdam. Iron ones are bad enough!" 01:29 <tom> "What did they do?" Bob shares her concern. 01:29 <banana> Mari: "The freehold elders will solve it. But any contacts you've got, Bob, I'm sure we could use them." 01:30 <banana> Sumi: "Technically I am one of the elders in the current Reigning Court, which shouldn't give you much confidence." 01:30 <tom> "They don't know anything. Badawi hangs out with them sometimes. She trades them stuff we get from jobs for favors." 01:31 <tom> "That's where this whole... thing... with the J-man came down. Oh yeah you guys know not to say his name right? Yeah. Just checking." 01:32 <banana> Mari: "I, uh, really hate the idea of someone you can't talk about, it's really an inhibitor of collaboration. Do you know what the limits are to his... nominal monopoly?" 01:33 <banana> Sumi: "We aren't equipped to answer that. Some of them can reach halfway around the world, others are strictly limited by their own senses." 01:33 <banana> "Oh, what did you mean by 'what did they do'?" 01:34 <banana> The Maraschine returns after quite a long bathroom visit. He does in fact look freshened up, with the eye redness clearing up already. 01:34 <tom> Bob has some more chicken. "It sounds like they've earned your distrust. Unless you're getting all your info from the throneguys." 01:35 <tom> Bob waves him in for a seat. "There's beers in the fridge if you want one," a special treat! He's been trying to cut back on the drinking.. 01:35 <banana> Sumi: "Ummm... I think it's more like the other way around. They hate us, maybe, or they would? Premson says they can't abide a closed door..." 01:35 <banana> The Maraschine: "Also like housecats." 01:36 <banana> Sumi: "The King says it's historical. We interfered with their plans, where 'we' here means predecessors of ours." 01:36 <tom> "Ohhh," Bob rubs his chin. 01:37 <tom> "Yeah okay I'm on the same page. To be clear that door should stay shut." 01:37 <banana> Mari: "I don't think we'd have to let ourselves be defined by that forever, if this is a really big deal. What does J-no-name want? Is it just to make us feel like we're dealing with the devil?" 01:37 <banana> The Maraschine: "I'm lost. Are you by any chance talking about J-" 01:38 <tom> Bob sips his drink and looks smug. "First person to say it loses the game." 01:38 <banana> Mari: "No!" 01:38 <banana> Sumiya: "Shh!" 01:38 <banana> The Maraschine: "Okay." 01:39 <banana> Sumi: "A guy.. who might or might not be the guy you mean... can hear his name being spoken." 01:39 <tom> "I think it's like that. Who knows?" 01:39 <tom> Wizards. 01:39 <tom> "Anyway he already knows I hate his ass." 01:39 <banana> Maraschine: "Pfahaha. That is the most insecure shit I've heard. Does he even have balls?" 01:40 <banana> Sumi starts laughing as well at that. 01:40 <tom> Bob: "If he actually is his namesake, he might literally not." 01:41 <banana> Mari: "Let us dispense with the scrotal sac at the dinner table." 01:41 <banana> The other two laugh harder for a moment, but pull themselves together. 01:41 <tom> "Yes'm." Bob tugs his collar. "It felt like he was... it's like he was negging everyone in the room." 01:42 <tom> "Like, okay, yeah, here's my chance to make everyone kiss the fuckin' ring." 01:42 <banana> Mari: "Ugh." 01:42 <banana> Sumi: "Indeed ugh." 01:42 <tom> "That dude sucks so bad." 01:42 <tom> "There is no way Clo and her people are worse?" 01:43 <tom> "I dunno if you can just snip them outta the deal with the Tatterdam but, oh man, I would look into that." 01:44 <banana> Sumi: "Yes. We won't ignore the warning." 01:44 <banana> Maraschine: "Do we spend too much time hiding behind impenetrable barriers? I realise this is the wrong audience to ask." 01:45 <banana> Sumi: "Babe, you've got heat shimmer in your eyes. If you can stab our way out of things in May... well, go for it." 01:46 <tom> "My man," Bob adds with utmost respect. 01:46 <tom> "I've been waiting to see how you guys throw down since I got here." 01:47 <banana> The Maraschine: "Hmm. Rose may be able to sting this bastard yet. As you say, Miss Tyagabrahmam.. May." 01:48 <tom> Bob gets up. "Cake time." 01:49 <banana> After the cake nobody can move, so it's time for Codewords. 01:55 <banana> It's a hard fought battle; Sumi is alarmingly good at games. What saves Bob and Mari is the nature of the thing- they're simply more in sync than the other two. 01:55 <banana> The guests, defeated, are forced to depart. 01:55 <banana> Sumi leaves behind a present which she insists Mari not unwrap until she's gone. The Maraschine leaves behind "unseasonal greetings" and notes that frankly, he had a good time. 01:56 <tom> Bob throws himself into winning this for Mari. 01:57 <banana> You're left with scattered cards, half a cake and a warm basement. 01:58 <tom> Bob sees them off with a warm smile that doesn't even start to curdle into anxiety until it's time to open the gifts. 01:58 <tom> Is Mari wearing the necklace he made? 01:58 <banana> Mary stretches out on the sofa, then gets up, sits on the carpet and lies down on the ground, waving her arms. A carpet angel. 01:58 <tom> "Oh man, I hope we get snow soon. You would be the best at making snow angels." 01:59 <tom> He sits down on the floor next to her with a pair of boxes wrapped in green foil. 01:59 <banana> She's wearing the necklace, as well as a grey dress and (until just now, it's coming undone) a hairbun. "Cake floatation." 02:01 <banana> "Actually, it would make you sink." 02:02 <tom> "What would?" 02:04 <tom> Bob pushes forward the gifts. "David Attenborough says spiders that give gifts are less likely to be eaten." 02:04 <banana> Mari: "So when they say the body is 70% water, that's not exactly true.. 70% hydrogen and oxygen, sure. We aren't dense." 02:04 <tom> "Oh, for sure." 02:04 <banana> "And we have air in our lungs, and our stomachs, so we float. A perfectly caulked hull." 02:04 <banana> Mari: "But I have no air in my stomach." 02:06 <tom> He braces his back against the side of the sofa. "Talk to me hun, what's wrong?" 02:07 <banana> Mari: "Hmm?" She turns her head a little. 02:07 <tom> "Oh, I'm just projecting again." 02:07 <banana> "Nothing, unless you've got a bomb in there..." 02:07 <banana> "Oh! Okay, you talk to me then." 02:07 <banana> "Was today OK?" 02:08 <tom> "Well, Sumi did say not to open her gift until she left-" 02:08 <tom> "No, yeah, yeah! Today was great- but who cares what I think, it's your birthday." 02:08 <banana> Mari: "She's embarassed by having some money now. Nobody cares, she deserves it, but it's a habit, you know?" 02:09 <tom> "Oh man, you all need hugs so bad." 02:09 <tom> He opens his arms. 02:09 <tom> "...Wanna see what she got?" 02:10 <banana> Mari: "I on the other hand grew up in Altrincham. If you manage to make us a million pounds, I'll totally accept it like this is normal." 02:10 <banana> "Yes, let's do it." 02:10 <banana> With some struggle, she will snuggle. 02:11 <banana> "Actually, I want to see what you got." 02:11 <tom> :D 02:11 <tom> :D 02:12 <tom> Bob proudly presents the pair of boxes. "My coworkers helped! Badawi and uh," 02:12 <tom> "And Willie," Bob frowns. 02:12 <tom> It clears up pretty fast. Maybe too fast? 02:13 <banana> Mari watches Bob's face and holds off. What's in the box? 02:15 <tom> The foil comes off; she's got an exquisite sundress of ight green fabric between her fingers. 02:15 <tom> light* 02:17 <tom> He watches as she turns it over in her hands and lets it unfurl and pool on the floor like a shimmering liquid. 02:17 <banana> Mari: "Wowww. That's so pretty. I guess you got my sizes... actually, this should go well with my necklace." 02:17 <banana> "Hmm. You have an aesthetic preference, Bob." 02:17 <banana> "Maybe that's not the right term for it." 02:18 <tom> Bob: :? 02:18 <banana> Maybe the other box could be a distraction from this line of inquiry. 02:20 <tom> Badawi's boater hat feels incredibly light in her hands. 02:20 <tom> "...That one's super rare. An illegal hat." 02:21 <tom> "Try it on!" He beams. "Once I'm rich, we can get a boat." 02:21 <banana> Mari: "Goshh. This is really nice stuff, you know? I feel ready to attend a garden party." 02:21 <tom> "Yeah! Uh, sorry there won't be those until it warms up again..." 02:21 <banana> "Yeah, I will. Let's have a modelling show... in a bit. When I'm less round." 02:21 <tom> Or maybe ever, if this covid shit doesn't go away- 02:21 <banana> "I'll have to thank people. How is Willie doing?" 02:21 <tom> "She's... been having a bad time." 02:22 <tom> He winces. 02:22 <banana> Mari: "Yeah. You usually talk about her a lot more after work... is that.. did something happen?" 02:24 <tom> He had a plan for this. Downplay, deflect, change the subject- well, it all comes tumbling down the moment he looks into her eyes. "This is gonna sound stupid, but ya gotta let me explain..." 02:25 <banana> Mari turns and rests her forehead on Bob's shoulder. "I will." 02:25 <tom> "I won't ever hurt you. Not ever, even if it means... losing everything else." 02:25 <banana> "What's everything else." 02:25 <tom> Bob takes her up in his arm and squeezes. "There was this woman at the meeting with the Seer." 02:26 <tom> "You've met, maybe? Carnelia? With the cane?" 02:26 <banana> She's confused, but: "Yes, Autumn. She's a 'seer' too, our kind." 02:26 <tom> "The good kind, unlike the mean kind." 02:27 <banana> The regents had her do some sort of prophetic audit of Bob's company, of which Mari was aware. But why bring up Carnelia Charn? 02:27 <tom> Bob: "We've said maybe ten words, and I'd probably die for her if she was in danger." 02:27 <tom> "That's... true? Probably?" 02:28 <banana> Mari: ??? 02:28 <tom> Bob: "What I mean is," 02:29 <tom> "I love you more than life itself, hun. I just want you to be safe, and I'd do anything to kee- to make you happy." 02:30 <tom> "I want that for Willie, I want that for, fuck, everybody?" 02:30 <banana> Mari: "And this involves dying for other women? I'm trying to understand." 02:31 <tom> "Nonono, it's like-" 02:31 <banana> "I don't mind if you save someone else's life from monsters! But what is-" 02:31 <tom> "I don't know what love is, like, the real thing." 02:31 <tom> "I just try to copy, like, what you're supposed to do." 02:31 <tom> "These are the things you do when you love someone, you know?" 02:32 <banana> Mari: "What are you telling me?" 02:32 <tom> Bob taps his fingers on the carpet. "I can't be around Willie right now." 02:32 <tom> "Just can't." 02:32 <tom> "Or I might do something horrible, and I can't." 02:33 <banana> Mari: "Are you saying you've fallen in love with her? No, I've seen you together, that's not it.. are you saying you don't love me, or you think you don't? That you 'don't know what love is'?" 02:34 <tom> "I love you with everything I got," He mutters into her hair. 02:35 <tom> "I just can't bear to see a woman cry." 02:35 <banana> Mari's pulls back. She looks upset, obviously, but not exactly angry. Exasperated? Certainly confused. 02:35 <tom> "Can't stand it." 02:35 <tom> "She came onto me pretty hard." 02:35 <tom> "You could say." 02:35 <tom> He lets her go. 02:36 <tom> "I'd never do that to you." 02:38 <banana> Mari: "Ghhzvvwwrl." 02:39 <banana> "Bismillah, I am doing work." 02:39 <tom> "She is going through some... real shit, right now." 02:40 <banana> "Yes. I guess so. Coming onto other peoples' partners must be tough?" 02:40 <banana> "I read- nevermind." 02:41 <tom> Bob, softly: "She's really lonely." 02:41 <tom> "That's all this is." 02:42 <banana> Mari: "I don't know what you want me to say. That I appreciate you aren't cheating on me? Honestly, I do. I didn't think I was worth that. But also, I shouldn't have to. That should be an expectation." 02:42 <banana> "But do you want me to sympathise with Willie, how is that possible right now?" 02:42 <tom> He straightens up: "She was under, like, mind control." 02:42 <tom> "Or something? It was Vampire Shit." 02:43 <banana> Mari: "Yeah? Is this something she exposed herself to on purpose again?" 02:43 <banana> "Surely, surely we are not talking about her vampire boyfriend's mind control." 02:44 <tom> "Nah, this was in an auditorium with a bunch of people and one of my coworkers. Basically the most humiliating possible thing." 02:44 <tom> "I do feel bad for her. I can't... not?" 02:45 <tom> "That doesn't change anything about what I'm gonna do, which is stay the hell away." 02:45 <banana> Mari: "Because you're the one with the beautiful woman trying to-" She stares. 02:45 <banana> "I mean. Okay." 02:46 <banana> "That's not the wrong thing to do. If I think about this extremely rationally, like a robot person, your decision is correct, and I want to validate that." 02:48 <tom> Bob closes his eyes and tries to calm the scrambling. This is coming undone so fast.. 02:49 <banana> Mari: "I hate that I can see that this is killing you. But I can't just.. turn off.. the idea of.. what does it mean for me. That's my lizard brain talking." 02:49 <banana> "Is there any way I can put this that's.." 02:50 <tom> "It's your birthday," Bob tries to put the pieces back together. "This was the last thing I wanted..." 02:51 <banana> Mari plows on. "What I want to say is... I would fight for you. I won't let some girl take you away, even if she's really extremely sad and looks great in a green dress. I mean fight fight. I don't want to sound like a possessive psycho?!" 02:52 <tom> "It's the terror of knowing what this world is about, watching some good friends screaming, let me out..." he lilts. 02:53 <tom> "I love you too, and I'd never never stop if someone tried to take you from me." 02:53 <tom> "That's basically the whole promise.." 02:53 <banana> "Oh fucking come on." This is to the music, but she's interrupted. 02:54 <banana> "I believe you, Bob. But this idea that you don't know what love is, that's an excuse to emotionally entangle-" A ringtone shatters the lack of silence. 02:55 <banana> Mari looks at the coffee table, where her phone is vibrating slowly across it. Bob hasn't heard it ever produce this particular tone. 02:56 <banana> Her face is still scrunched up as she slowly flips it open. "Hello, Mum? It- oh. Thank you." 02:56 <banana> On the other end of the line, there are voices singing Happy Birthday. 02:57 <tom> Oh noo.