013 TEXT LIST TWO/SPAM

[deadliestviper]

Backdated to three days after the Overlook port.

[Locked to Friends (if she's ever told you anything personal, you're on here)]

That port was fucked up for everyone and it hit all of us hard. After going through that I know most of you aren't feeling up to par yet, but when I get anxious, I get antsy. I've laid low to lick my wounds long enough. For the next few hours I'll be playing pool and pretending everything's normal if you've got the energy or inclination to join me.

[Spam, Level 6]

[Rack the balls in the pyramid, set the cue-ball, chalk the cue evenly, line up the shot, break it; Beatrix repeats the pattern over and over again, sinking balls into the table's pockets before starting anew. It's not for practice or any particular love of the game, it's not even for fun. It's just that playing strikes that perfect balance of skilled focus and monotony that allows her to zone out, and the last thing she wanted to do right now was let her mind wander. It was already hard enough to push the images of Sarah and that thing in room 217's bathroom from the forefront of her mind – what she needed, wanted, was someone to talk to, distract her.

But no matter how deeply you repress it, you can't squelch a thought. So by all means, join her, but take care if you point out that she's humming "Love Me Tender."]

Comments

[an_abomination]

Are you a fan of waffles? I can make some fancy, gourmet waffles. Darn good coffee too, if I do say so myself.

[deadliestviper]

Waffles sound great. Are you sure you don't mind?

[an_abomination]

Not at all. I make coffee for Steph every morning and occasionally waffles.

[deadliestviper]

Then it sounds good to me.

Spam.

[an_abomination]

[Several minutes later and the scent of fresh coffee and waffles loaded with powdered sugar and cinnamon frosting fills the air.

Kon uses his back to push the door open and nods his head in greeting to Beatrix.]

Hey, the coffee and waffles have arrived. Me too. [Chuckles softly.]

Spam.

[deadliestviper]

The fun's here! Let me help you there. [Now if that isn't a welcome sight, sound, and scent. Abandoning her pool cue on the table, B moves in to help unload the food before giving him a quick hug around the shoulders.] Hi.

Spam.

[an_abomination]

[Kon beams at the display of affection and leans into her.]

It's times like this I miss having my t.k. If I was able to use it like before, I could have brought the entire kitchen with me. Although there's plenty here to get us started.

[Wearing a hooded sweater, and he stuffed a couple of bottles of water in the front pocket.]

Spam.

[deadliestviper]

[She likes him safely tucked under her wing, thank you very much. Especially after the last week's events.]

Even getting along like the rest of us you still got more than enough. This smells great, what kind of frosting is it?

Spam.

[an_abomination]

[Kon doesn't make any attempts to break away. Much like Beatrix, after this past week he's feeling protective towards people.]

Cinnamon frosting, it's my own recipe. Well, I found a recipe in a book I came across in the library and added my own touch to it.

Spam.

[deadliestviper]

[Although the gesture is uncomfortably vulnerable, she feels it's good to hug him. Still, they do have to separate, if only to avoid a tragic food-related accident.]

I say that counts. [One experimental poke to a dab of frosting and she licks the sticky sugar off her fingertip.] It's delicious. You made this from scratch?

[an_abomination]

I did. Frosting's not too difficult to make as long as you have lots of sugar handy.

[Smiles, pleased at the compliments. With his t.t.k. being locked up, he's learned to appreciate the little things, like people enjoying his cooking.]

I can also make a mean ham and cheese sandwich, thanks to working the lunch shift.

[deadliestviper]

[People are probably still going to like your cooking once you have your t.t.k. back, Kon. Haven't you ever heard the way to a heart is through the stomach?] Ever thought about being a personal chef?

I need to get in on a shift like that. Sarah and I talked a little about working in the gym, but that was before her coma.

[an_abomination]

Not really. Not because it's not something that's interested me--there are just a lot of careers I don't know about.

[Needs to look into a career manual or something.]

What could you see me doing for a living? Outside of superhero type stuff.

[deadliestviper]

Hm. I don't know, honestly, maybe civil service. [He'd make a hell of a firefighter.] What do you like doing? If you're looking for a career, that's a good place to start.

[an_abomination]

I don't know. I'd like to make enough money to buy a nice house. [That's as far as he's gotten. At least this time around he wants to earn money, instead of stealing it like he did back in his world.]

[deadliestviper]

There's a lucrative job in every field. What or who do you like being around? Nature? Animals? Kids?

[an_abomination]

I like using my hands for things. I enjoy making stuff in the art room. Maybe I can get into construction or creating sculptures. I can manipulate most materials in any way I want.

[deadliestviper]

You sculpt? Have you done any artwork here?

Carpentry might be a good option too. It's pretty steady work, from what I know, and you can be your own boss. No supervisors.

[an_abomination]

A little. I've sculpted some stuff out of ice cream if that counts. [Grins sheepishly.] I put it together in a big pile and then chowed it down.

I like the sound of that. Hey, Bea! Whenever you graduate, you'll have to come visit Steph and I at our home. [Purposefully saying "whenever you graduate" over "if you graduate".]

[deadliestviper]

It counts, but it's not going to get you remembered after your time.

Really, you want me dropping in on you guys?

[an_abomination]

Why wouldn't I? [Chuckles, looking at her like she just asked him an incredibly silly question.]

[deadliestviper]

You've never heard that story about the woman and the snake, have you?

[an_abomination]

[Shakes his head.] What story is that?

[deadliestviper]

The story goes that one day a woman was walking through the woods in the middle of the winter when she hears a rattle by her feet and looks down to see a rattlesnake. She jumps back, and the snake says "Please, I'm dying of the cold. Just pick me up and carry me in your coat to keep me warm."

Naturally she says "No, I can't do that. You'll bite me." But the rattlesnake begs and pleads and promises, until finally she relents and picks up the snake and tucks it in her jacket.

No sooner has it curled up than it lifts its head and bites her. The woman screams and throws the snake away, demanding to know why he did it. The snake just said "You knew what I was when you picked me up."

[an_abomination]

[Rolls his shoulders in a shrug.]

You're not a snake. You didn't even mean to hurt Steph, it was out of your control, and you felt terrible about it. If you were anything like the snake in that story, you wouldn't have felt any guilt.

[Smiles at her encouragingly.]

I trust you,Bea. Maybe it's a foolish thing of me to do, but I'd rather be a fool any day then doubt you.