IC/Overflow Post Part III

[noreasonneeded]

Starters, thread continuations, texts, and PSL tags welcome here!

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[noreasonneeded]

It was a calculated risk worth taking.

He has friends. He can turn to them if he wants.

A little, yes.

[hawk_shot]

And what were the chances of things going wrong?

Sometimes it's harder to talk to friends.

Well...
As long as it's just weird but not uncomfortable.

[eyarazrushost]

Perhaps a little.

It matters not where we go as long as you're there.

[plagued]

[ The room felt tighter, the air heavy with the patter of rain against the closed window. A grin spread across her face, sharp at the corners but distant in her eyes. ] A balancing of books [ , she said, her voice low. ] That’s a clean way to see it. They deserved what they got, didn’t they? Those who think they’ve already won always forget they can still bleed.

[ Her focus lingered on him, studying the deliberate cadence of his words ]. You would’ve appreciated it [ , she said, tapping her fingers against the desk in a rhythm that didn’t match the rain. ] But you wouldn’t have laughed. You don’t laugh at things anymore. Not in the way that matters. That part of you burned out a long time ago. Whether at the start or the end doesn’t change what’s gone.

[ Her gaze held his, a stillness to her mismatched eyes that mirrored the unyielding depths of his. ] Why would you stop? That’s not who you are. You’re a wheel, always turning, grinding, moving forward. Stopping isn’t in you. Stopping means breaking. It means becoming nothing. [ She shifted, her movements slow, deliberate, and her voice softened. ] But some wheels don’t turn freely. They’re tied to something heavy, something that’s already sunk and dragging them deeper with every turn.

[ Her fingers traced patterns on the desk, her focus distant but her tone cutting. ] Moving forward feels like winning, doesn’t it? Like taking back what they took. But moving forward doesn’t always mean letting go. Sometimes it means carrying what’s been lost, no matter how heavy.

[noreasonneeded]

Lower than the chances of me succeeding.

If a stranger randomly started talking to me about their deepest problems I'd want to punch them in the face.

It wasn't uncomfortable. Just not used to that sort of life.

[hawk_shot]

Yeah, well, I hope you take this as a personal challenge: but you better come up with an alternative to that bullshit, because I don't wanna hear you're ever trying that again.

What did you think bars are for?

Well, better start getting used to it.

[noreasonneeded]

I will make every endeavor so you don’t hear of me trying that again.

The same thing all businesses are for, which is to make a profit off of people. Part of that is bartenders getting better tips and pouring more drinks because people think they want to hear about their problems.

I’m not sure I ever will. But I’m also not sure that’s a bad thing. There’s something to be said for not getting used to opulence. I’m not saying I won’t ride in a private plane, obviously. But getting used to it is another matter, I think. I won’t ever take for granted even having enough money for a roof.

[hawk_shot]

'Not hearing' better not the the codeword here, Kaz.

Well, it might still make profit, but there's a reason why people still come and spill their hearts out to a stranger.
Sometimes it's more comfortable to share your hopes and fears to someone that doesn't know who you are.

Just like Kruge doesn't seem to get used to the idea of not being a stray or that food is available every day.

[noreasonneeded]

Hm? What's that?

I cannot fathom ever finding that comfortable. I think anyone who spills to a stranger they haven't thoroughly vetted is questionable at best. I'll still take their money, but I question them.

She'll take all the tuna she can find, no matter what.

[hawk_shot]

You're a dork.

We listen, we take their money and we judge, huh?
It's not something you'd ever do, I get that. Specially with how private you are about your things.

She is a little fighter.
Like her dad.

[noreasonneeded]

I'm your dork.

I'm not the target audience for this sort of conversation, no. I don't understand in general why so many people want to talk about themselves in the first place.

She and Lucky seem to be getting along really well.

[hawk_shot]

[Kate can physically feel it in her chest. Her heart seems to swell as she reads those words again. Kaz, calling himself hers.]

Yeah, you are.
And I'm yours.

It meant a lot, you know? When you told me about your brother.

She's definitely not afraid of him anymore.
Yesterday I even saw her steal one of his treats. Pretty much out of his mouth.

[noreasonneeded]

Should I call you my dork, then? Might raise some questions when we introduce one another.

Yes. Well. You're not a stranger.

She's fortunate he's patient with her. He thinks he's made a friend.

[hawk_shot]

'Oh, yes, hi. He is my dork and I'm his dork.'
Still better than having it on a t-shirt.

No, I think we're well past that.
Still, it meant a lot.
What was his name again?

Further proof that he is the sweetest of boys.
He totally adores her.

[noreasonneeded]

That is saying something, given how many slogan t-shirts you have.

I didn't say. ... it was Jordie.

I'm fairly convinced he thinks we got him a kitten.

[hawk_shot]

But my t-shirts have GREAT quotes.

Jordie.
It's a nice name. Jordie Brekker has a great ring to it.
He was older, right?

You're probably right.
Do you remember how he wagged his tail the first time he saw her?
To think we were worried!

[noreasonneeded]

Great might be in the eye of the beholder here.

Yes. He was four years older than me. Though I’ve long since passed how old he got to be.

I wasn’t worried. Well, not about that. About them teaming up, perhaps. Another animal and they’ll outnumber us.

[hawk_shot]

C'mon the 'this is a witty t-shirt, wit it in me' is soooo good.

That's messed up.
I'm so sorry, Kaz.
Jordie deserved better.

We clearly have to train one of those crows now.

[noreasonneeded]

I will at least say you look good in it.

Yes. He did. Thankfully, I’m very good at revenge. One might even say I have a talent for it.

I wouldn’t put it past the cat and dog to swipe any trained crow to their side.

[hawk_shot]

That goes withouy saying.
What about the 'raise my hand if you believe in telekinesis' one?

... Jordie was murdered?

I can even see Kruge investing some scraps on bribing them.
She's too much like you.

[noreasonneeded]

I think it proudly displays that you’re a dork.

In a sense. I don’t want to talk about it further. It was handled.

She is a clever girl. Too advanced to learn tricks other animals do.

[hawk_shot]

How is that dorky?? It's super smart and stylish!

Okay.
...
Thanks for telling me, Kaz. I know it's not easy for you and you're not comfortable talking about it. But it means the world to me.

I can hear you drooling all the way from here.

[noreasonneeded]

If one was a dork they might say that.

Yeah. Well. I know you won’t tell anybody.

The only time I’ve ever drooled is when I’ve passed out sometimes.

[hawk_shot]

Are you saying that is something you would say, you dork?

I'd never do that to you, no.
Can I ask you one last thing about this?

And when you do you're probably dreaming about how proud you're of Kruge.
Or about my ass.

[noreasonneeded]

I'm saying you said it and extrapolating from there.

I may not answer, but you can ask.

Who's to say I can only have one dream at a time?