R43 - We were born to break the doors down

[with_my_teacup]

I have plenty to hide, most of you know that. I hide it in plain sight, some of you know that.

You can ask whatever; I'm game.

Comments

[deadly_ned]

Are you happy?

[with_my_teacup]

No, not on average. There are happy times but mostly it's stress. I'm satisfied, though; I've got my infrastructure set up, I have reasonable control over the situation.

When are you going home?

[deadly_ned]

...I don't know. I'm sort of. Stuck.


What would it take for you to be happy?

[with_my_teacup]

I'd need to be able to leave here for good. I'm probably not going to be actively happy as long as I'm somewhere this dangerous. I'm okay. Just not happy.

[deadly_ned]

I'm sorry.

Is there any way I can make it a little easier?

[with_my_teacup]

No. It doesn't need to be easier. Ned, 'happy' ain't my ground state. If anything, I'm shooting for 'content'-- and I know when that's coming. I've got an exit route, I have what I need.

[deadly_ned]

Can I still make you pie? Even though it's not strictly a 'need'?

[with_my_teacup]

Are we back on pie terms?

[deadly_ned]

We should never have been off pie terms.

[with_my_teacup]

I assumed the heart issue put a chill on baking relations. Certainly felt that way.

[deadly_ned]

It did. For a time.

But what's a dead body or two among friends, eh?

[with_my_teacup]

That's no dead body, that's my whatever the fuck we are.

[Really has to work on that punchline.]

[deadly_ned]

Well, your...whatever the mmph you are, it's. Special. It's worth protecting.

I made him a catapult.

[with_my_teacup]

I heard. ...I really appreciate that. It's gonna make him real happy.

[deadly_ned]

I hope so. I want him to be happy.

[with_my_teacup]

It's been happening more often.

[deadly_ned]

Should we be concerned?

Private

[with_my_teacup]

Nah. Being able to feel happiness is one of the side effects of the little cardiac implant he got.

Private

[deadly_ned]

Oh.

Ohhh.


Oh, I didn't know it could do that.

Private

[with_my_teacup]

I told you that shit was symbolic. He'd pulled out most of what made him human when he pulled out his heart. He got a lot of it back when he got the organ back. Magic; I don't pretend to understand it.

Private

[deadly_ned]

Please don't look to me for an explanation. His magic isn't my magic.

It is interesting, though.

Private

[with_my_teacup]

Yeah.

Don't get me wrong, he's always gonna be an asshole, I'd be upset if he wasn't, but now he's an asshole with some... morality and the ability to feel joy.

Private

[deadly_ned]

No, I mean. I noticed the difference. He's.

Playful.

Re: Private

[with_my_teacup]

Yeah.


Yeah.

Private

[deadly_ned]

One of these days we should take a vacation. You and Partner and me and Digby and Arthas.