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@background https://f2.toyhou.se/file/f2-toyhou-se/images/108648706_Was1PbRiYfQ8Qre.png
start
sourceless
the sun is beginning to set
EXEC::wimnd.play()
the autumn air turning sharp in its cold
beside you, moth observes your surroundings, tugging up the zipper of her hoodie
moth
thinking of telling me where we're going?
self
not yet
moth
alright, keep your secrets
self
i will
sourceless
she chuckles
moth
we seriously need to work on your humor, buddy
self
maybe
sourceless
as you climb up a slight incline, one moth hardly seems to notice, you feel your breath taken from you
panting heavily, you lean a hand, the weight of your body, against a nearby tree
moth
jesus
you good, man?
self
yeah
give me a second
moth
alright
sourceless
the sudden silence is awkward
especially so given they do not immediately leave you
self
do you
want to talk about anything
moth
oh, sure
sourceless
they visibly perk up at that, even as their voice stays monotone
moth
got a topic in mind?
RESPONSES::self
maybe<+>CHANGE::respobjlol
@name respobjlol
start
RESPONSES::moth
gotta wonder...<+>CHANGE::plants
RESPONSES::self
it's cold<+>CHANGE::fuckingcold
your slang<+>CHANGE::nerdtalk
____SHOWIF::[["fbx__fuckingcold-start"]]
i'm ready now<+>CHANGE::power
____END
@name fuckingcold
start
self
feels almost like autumn again
moth
yeah
probably the seventieth time i've thought that
time's a flat circle, huh.
things get better, or look like they will, for a year...
and the next, it's back to 5°c springs, 50°c summers
self
yeah
it's autumn now though
moth
pff
yeah, you're right
it's autumn now, though.
sourceless
for a moment, there is silence
moth's eyes are turned to the sky
and yours are trained on them
moth
you think we can still fix things?
self
we will
we're going to.
with the cyst
and everything else
moth
whoa, buddy, slow down
still thinking about becoming president of the entire world?
self
not just thinking
i know i will
moth
sure, buddy. sure.
i get what you're saying, though
and, i mean, in my personal opinion,
you'd be a pretty good president of the earth
self
thanks
you would too
RESPONSES::moth
sure lol<+>CHANGE::respobjlol
@name plants
start
moth
there's a lot of plants here
wonder what they all are
self
me too
sourceless
you bend over, examining one beside the tree you lean against.
you're pretty sure it's a fern, but you have no idea.
it could be a native species, or violently invasive.
you don't know.
some part of you wishes isabel were here
she could tell you.
moth
man
it's times like this i wish i took those bio courses
like... any of them.
would've been pretty helpful here.
self
maybe
i have a book somewhere
it describes a lot of different species
we could take it out here sometime
moth
sounds like a plan to me
RESPONSES::self
cool<+>CHANGE::respobjlol
@name nerdtalk
start
self
why do you talk like that
moth
like what?
self
you know what i mean
you talk like you're from the 20's
moth
c'mon dude.
like today's lingo is any better.
it's just how i was raised, anyway.
crappy cgi movies,
shit that was already really old even before my parents got to it,
knowing what a disease is...
i might as well have been born in 2005.
self
don't tell me you actually wish you were born then
moth
obviously not lol
i guess it just
it sounds nice.
getting to see the world before it collapsed, and all
i go and watch those old movies, hear about all these cities
groningen, bangkok, venice...
they're all underwater, now.
sourceless
they try to keep their tone light,
but there isn't any way to make a joke out of this.
still, you make an attempt at joining in.
self
why don't they just drain the netherlands
they already had this elaborate above-ground drainage system
the dykes or whatever
sourceless
they laugh, mostly out of shock
but it's enough.
moth
dude, you can't say that word.
i can though.
the dikes weren't actually connected to anything, at least most of the time.
so when they started spilling over, there was nowhere else for all that water to actually go.
so all those farms built on what were once wetlands, all those sinking cities...
they just flooded.
sandbags can't really help against the ocean when you're below sea level, i guess.
self
i guess that makes sense
moth
yeah
but, hey
i heard some of the old farms are back to being wetlands now.
self
that's good i think
moth
definitely is.
i don't know as much about, like, bangkok or spain or wherever else.
but at least there's one place that actually got better from flooding.
anyway,
got any more questions?
RESPONSES::self
maybe<+>CHANGE::respobjlol
@name power
@background https://f2.toyhou.se/file/f2-toyhou-se/images/108648701_UI4HSra0dhUdEya.png
start
sourceless
the crawl up the hill is slow, but steady.
eventually, you make it to the flattened top.
looking out over the powerlines.
a clear view of the sun as it sets below.
moth
whoa
is this it?
self
yeah
we're here
sourceless
you find the path you've taken so many times.
moving to sit on a patch of dried grass, you pat the ground next to yourself.
moth quickly follows, making herself comfortable beside you.
moth
man
this place is great
but i thought we were trying to get away from technology?
self
powerlines aren't just technology
they're basically animals
moth
ok buddy
sure
sourceless
she sounds incredulous, even tilting her head as she attempts to figure out if you're joking or not.
though quickly giving up as she finds the task impossible.
unbothered, they move very slightly closer to you.
they're warm.
moth
it's getting colder, right?
better huddle up.
self
right
sourceless
you lean against her, as far as you can allow yourself to.
she's so warm.
self
do you want to smoke
moth
huh?
oh, sure
weed, right? not cigarettes or whatever
self
not cigarettes
trying to quit
moth
HELL YEAH!
good on you, man.
now hand that shit over
self
ok
sourceless
you search in your pockets for almost half a minute before finding the joints and your lighter.
offering one to moth, you secure your own between your lips, moving to light it,
but moth stops you with a hand on your shoulder.
moth
there's a way more efficient way of doing that.
sourceless
without another word, she takes the lighter from you
presses the tip of her joint against yours
and lights them both at once.
you pull back away from her, shocked,
and she grins.
moth
see?
self
mhh
yeah
it's more efficient
sourceless
with a satisfied smile, she leans back
letting herself savor the smoke as it wraps around the both of you.
the whisps frame their face.
they look beautiful.
moth
dude...
what strain is this?
self
i don't remember
i think my medicinal one
moth
you don't remember?
hehehehe
oh my god, dude
i'm soooo fucked
self
calm down
moth
yeaaaah
i'm just messing with you, dude
this <em>is</em> pretty good, though
really nice, so far
self
i don't smoke bad weed
moth
well, yeah, duh
obviously not
your tastes are... refined
self
i wouldnt go that far
moth
no need to be humble, dude
i already know you're the pretty princess of weed smoking
sourceless
it's your turn to be incredulous, your lip curling slightly as you stare into her.
moth
do you... cultivate it yourself?
self
no
i don't know anything about plants
moth
right
what if we started, though?
you take this stuff medicinally, <em>i</em> take this stuff medicinally
it'd save us a ton of money
i mean, probably
self
maybe
it could be fun
moth
that too lol
sourceless
in the awkwardness of a sudden lack of conversation topic, you fall into silence.
a few minutes into this silence, moth begins to lean against your shoulder.
self
huh
moth
let's just say it's the weed
alright?
self
oh
alright
sourceless
they ruffle your hair slightly, then rest their arm on your other shoulder.
moth
thanks
for bringing me here
and for letting me do this.
self
thanks
sourceless
they nod.
and, in silence, the two of you look out toward rusting powerlines.
together.