text; username: SHIKI

[satsujinki]

No one really tells you how scary it is to fish in the dark. Everyone else seems used to it, but the thought of falling in is crippling.

I guess it must sound more profound in my head when I'm worrying about dying alone near a dock, doing something new. Sorry.

[The little worries that pop into your head when you stare into an abyss.]

I guess tea would be able to improve the state of things just a little.

Comments

[satsujinki]

Apology accepted.

[He was perfectly happy to keep the burn ward full of fresh patients.]

I haven't stood up since I started, so my legs may have fallen asleep. Testing that out would probably result in me falling off of the dock, though.

[digophelia]

Who said I was apologizing?

How long have you been by the dock? All day?

[satsujinki]

[She was quick, but she didn't seem to get his brand of sarcasm--

He'd consider that one a failure.]

Roughly an hour.

[digophelia]

An hour doesn't seem like that long of a time.

[ Still, despite some level of annoyance, Alice doesn't see the need to be too much of a pill. ]

I hope it's not too cold out there?

[satsujinki]

It's pleasantly chilly--not the kind you could catch a cold from.

I'm already wearing a jacket, so it's fine.

[He forgot to pack his mittens and his thermos, so he'll be dead within the hour.]

[digophelia]

[ She warns you all the time to stay bundled up when you go outside.

Okay, no. ]

That's better than I would imagine it to be, I thought it would be colder. The weather here is odd -- very odd for not having sunlight.

[ London is always cold, it seems like. ]

[satsujinki]

I can't really say much to that, sorry. This place is freakish and insane without having to pay mind to innocent things like the weather.

Though, I guess I shouldn't do foolish things like 'tempting fate'.

[digophelia]

I suppose you're right about that. I don't usually believe in jinxes, but sometimes this place likes to contrary to what I think.

[satsujinki]

Conventional logic was never part of the package, it seems. As long as I accept the fact that there are monsters creeping around everywhere, I may be able to cope with everything.

Which is an insane thought, now that I put it to writing.

[digophelia]

It is insane, isn't it? Though, as much as you prepare yourself and accept the possibility of monsters, I'm afraid it won't save you from coping. It may lessen the surprise and bewilderment, but it doesn't always work.

[satsujinki]

Strangely enough, I think I can cope with that much.

[As for monsters in the skin of people--that was a bit of a different matter.]

When monsters are obvious, they aren't as scary.

[digophelia]

I almost disagree with you; there is nothing worse than a monster that has been obvious and underneath your nose the whole entire time.

[satsujinki]

Anyone can betray you. Monsters aren't anything special in that sense.

[digophelia]

You're right, though when you said monsters, I couldn't help think of a few who supposedly meant well and cared for others. They were supposed to be pillars and leaders to their patients. In the end, they weren't. Maybe monsters aren't very scary when they're obvious. Still, it's unsettling to see those types walk amongst you and you'll never notice until it's to late. It's not necessarily betrayal, it's how they groom and mold.

[ Alice pauses and then adds moments later. ]

My apologies, I have the tendency to lose myself in my thoughts. It sounds like you're on your guard, however, that's good.

[satsujinki]

[Woah, that went to a much darker place, somehow.

Woah.]

Are you alright?

[It was literally the only response he had in him.]

[digophelia]

[ She knows. She'll likely be bitter about what happened to her and the orphans. Talking about monsters seemed to amplified that. ]

I'm fine, please don't worry.

[ Which seems like a meager request, considering her tangent. ]

[satsujinki]

If you say so.

I don't know you, so I won't pry.

[Which was, at best, an earnest attempt to show neutrality...]

[digophelia]

[ Which is what any rational person would do, but hearing it every so often is a nice thing. ]

No, take care of yourself, instead.

[satsujinki]

To be honest, I'm a little worried about you, but like I said: I won't pry.

Just try to look for help if you need it, alright?

[Sure, he could be mindful and leave a person to their problems, but at his core Shiki wasn't a complete knuckle-knob.]

[digophelia]

[ That's... certainly a switch and she doesn't know how to process that other than the usual. ]

I've managed fine so far, thank you. But, please, don't.

[satsujinki]

I'm sorry this conversation took such a turn.

I can't imagine a stranger is the kind of person you'd want to talk to about these things.

[digophelia]

You have nothing to apologize for, it's my fault.

[satsujinki]

No, I think the problem is that I can't stop talking on impulse, here.

[digophelia]

You're fine, I insist.

[satsujinki]

You shouldn't be so forgiving--it doesn't help situations like these deteriorate...