— 𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑻𝑻𝑹𝑶.

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ HE'S THE DEVIL IN ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ A SNAKE WITH BLUE ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀

[— 𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑻𝑻𝑹𝑶. @CAGEDC0MET]

⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I am, and have always been,
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀my own man.
⠀⠀

[— 𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑻𝑻𝑹𝑶. @CAGEDC0MET]

Whatever is going on, I don't want to know.

[🥣 @tinyquotebot]

You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.

[— 𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑻𝑻𝑹𝑶. @CAGEDC0MET]

I don't know about that.

[MIDNIGHT SUN. @MACHINlSM]

Believe me, please.

[— 𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑻𝑻𝑹𝑶. @CAGEDC0MET]

?

[MIDNIGHT SUN. @MACHINlSM]

?

[— 𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑻𝑻𝑹𝑶. @CAGEDC0MET]

I don't believe a word she says on this topic.

[— 𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑻𝑻𝑹𝑶. @CAGEDC0MET]

i believe you.

[— 𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑻𝑻𝑹𝑶. @CAGEDC0MET]

mm . . . hm.

[MIDNIGHT SUN. @MACHINlSM]

not like i'd know. because i'm not one.

[— 𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑻𝑻𝑹𝑶. @CAGEDC0MET]

. . . right

[MIDNIGHT SUN. @MACHINlSM]

real newtypes don't hold hands until marriage.

[— 𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑻𝑻𝑹𝑶. @CAGEDC0MET]

I'm just pointing things out. "Normal people" wouldn't quite say that they can "feel" others, as opposed to seeing or hearing.

That's all.

[— 𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑻𝑻𝑹𝑶. @CAGEDC0MET]

I might be. It's just advice, after all.

( It's almost funny, the way she seems to bend to his word—and the way he readily accepts it, knowing he could say almost anything and have her listen. )

[MIDNIGHT SUN. @MACHINlSM]

I suppose you're right…

( Despite the way she was pushing so adamantly against it earlier, it isn't so much that she's putting it into perspective but the simple fact that it's Quattro saying so. )

[— 𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑻𝑻𝑹𝑶. @CAGEDC0MET]

. . . Hm. Right.

A bit like a Newtype, no?

[— 𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑻𝑻𝑹𝑶. @CAGEDC0MET]

Well, of course. But it might be your worry that's making you so nauseous. It's good to be aware of that so you can figure out how to help—even having conversations like this can be calming for some people.

( He's aware of it, it seems, but he won't directly call her out. )

[MIDNIGHT SUN. @MACHINlSM]

It's easier said than done, if I could just… not worry, then I'd do just that.

( She wouldn't admit it, but, at the very least getting to spend some time with Quattro is enough to distract her. It's no wonder everyone relies on him so much. )

[— 𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑻𝑻𝑹𝑶. @CAGEDC0MET]

Feel me coming?

Do you ever feel other people approaching you, then?

[— 𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑻𝑻𝑹𝑶. @CAGEDC0MET]

That's a given. But if you worry yourself sick when nothing is going on, you'll be too tired to act when something does happen. It does you no good to be constantly thinking about what-ifs.

( Her wording piques his interest — what exactly does she mean by that? )

[MIDNIGHT SUN. @MACHINlSM]

I-It goes beyond that, I mean… people tend to strike when you let your guard down.

( But is isn't healthy to always be worrying, you'll just tire yourself out. )

I'm just saying that, mm… it's hard to explain. I can never feel you coming.

[— 𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑻𝑻𝑹𝑶. @CAGEDC0MET]

Of course I have. But things are quite peaceful right now, aren't they? We've laid low for quite a bit.

( He considers her, but there's an air of confusion about him. )

We do have a rather distinct lack of gravity around here . . .

[MIDNIGHT SUN. @MACHINlSM]

… Well, consider our situation. I mean, even you must've felt anxious about being in the middle of war at one point, right?

( Is that any reason to behave like this? It isn't like they're in the middle of enemy lines. )

You're light on your feet, Lieutenant.

[— 𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑻𝑻𝑹𝑶. @CAGEDC0MET]

I'd say you seem sort of . . . skittish, sometimes. Like you might jump out of your skin if I don't make my footsteps more obvious before I approach you.

( He watches her consider herself. Is this really news? He doesn't understand. )

Yes - I'd say "anxious" describes you.

[MIDNIGHT SUN. @MACHINlSM]

Uncomfortable…?

( She thinks about it; long and hard, furrows her brows, then crosses her arms. )

… Do I seem… anxious?

( Always. )

[— 𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑻𝑻𝑹𝑶. @CAGEDC0MET]

Hm . . . I suppose that's fair. Take some time to think about it.

Could it be that you're anxious? I do hear that physical responses to being uncomfortable are common.

[MIDNIGHT SUN. @MACHINlSM]

Buh… I don't know, Lieutenant… I don't have any symptoms of anything else, I feel bad showing up in front of Dr. Hasan when I can't even explain why I feel like this.

[— 𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑻𝑻𝑹𝑶. @CAGEDC0MET]

Seems like something you should get checked out . . . we can't have you getting sick.

[MIDNIGHT SUN. @MACHINlSM]

Well, no… of course not, feeling sick isn't normal at all.

[— 𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑻𝑻𝑹𝑶. @CAGEDC0MET]

That's not normal.

[— 𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑻𝑻𝑹𝑶. @CAGEDC0MET]

I'm sorry. I'm not going anywhere.

[— 𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑻𝑻𝑹𝑶. @CAGEDC0MET]

I won't! I won't!

[ᴇᴠᴇʀᴄʜᴀɴɢɪɴɢ. @DREARYCRIMSON]

NEVER say that again.