R43 - Y'all hating's useless

[with_my_teacup]

[Public]
[The feed opens on a simple poster with the hand-blocked words WE NEED HELP IN THE KITCHEN.]

Testing out a new option to save time. Specifically right now we need a warden supe for lunch shift, until Ben comes home. If you're not used to working on a line or feeding a lot of people, we won't drop you into combat with no training. Marsh and I will help you out.

Oh. Not related to the kitchen-- I smelled a still running last month. Whoever it is, I want to pick your brain about fermentation.


[Filtered to Iris]
Iris. You got some time this afternoon to talk weasel shit and entropy? I'm willing to barter for your know-how. [He lifts a bottle of oil into the feed; last christmas, he gave her a massage, because sometimes it seems like she metabolizes stress the same way Arthas eats death. And the feeding's been good on that score lately.]

Comments

[dinosize]

Good luck.

[ But he doesn't want to do it. He doesn't want to put himself in a role where he's taking care of them, the way he would take care of a friend. ]

[with_my_teacup]

Thanks.

[Mildly:]

How you been doing?

[dinosize]

Anything in particular you'd like to know about?

[with_my_teacup]

Consider it a friendly inquiry after a couple fucked up months.

[dinosize]

Fine.

[ And this is the truth, more or less: he feels a lot better than he did as a warden, and the mirror boat wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been. If he's unhappy, it's no more than he already was. ]

[with_my_teacup]

And you've lit up your anti-social beacon. It's working for you.

[dinosize]

Why don't you let me know what you'd like to hear, then?

[with_my_teacup]

I wasn't being facetious. If you're comfortable you don't need to feel obliged to be friendly.

Physically you're good, though?

[dinosize]

Yeah.

[with_my_teacup]

Were you actually concerned I'd hit you up for KP?

[dinosize]

Only thought of it after I'd said something. But - yeah.

[with_my_teacup]

I'll take you off the list. Nah, anyone who's gonna hate it I don't want in here.

[dinosize]

I'd like it. I'm just sick of liking things like that.

[with_my_teacup]

...sick of being the guy who likes them? Or sick of trying to be the guy who likes them? [He tilts his head slightly.]

[dinosize]

Just sick of liking them.

[ It doesn't make sense. Just this feeling in the pit of his stomach, nausea-rebellion at the thought of people treating him like the safe option and the hero, and a similar full-body angry rejection when they treat him like he's dangerous. He doesn't know what he wants. ]

[with_my_teacup]

Hmm.

[Riddick lives in the space between reality and people's perceptions. He's used fear like a weapon, and trust. He frowns a little at Stephen. Does he care enough to try to help? To risk that help is the wrong thing and he'll have wasted his time?]

I could ban you from the kitchens, but I don't see that making you feel better.

[dinosize]

I would like to still be able to stock mine.

[with_my_teacup]

Adversity's good for you.

But banning's not something I do much. You have to fuck with kitchen equipment first.

I'm out of feel-good strategies.

[dinosize]

I didn't ask you for strategies.

[with_my_teacup]

Thanks for the reminder.

[dinosize]

You're so welcome.

[with_my_teacup]

Let me know if you ever do need anything.

[dinosize]

Yeah.

[ Probably not. ]