OFFICE HOURS

[didntgetdadslooks]

Got something you want to say to your good friend The Professor's Assistant? Come on in, don't be shy! Her official hours are daylight hours - girl has to sleep? after all, probably - but if you knock on the door at night she'll generally answer. Please just make sure to leave the in-game date and time in the header of your toplevel!

All comments are screened for confidentiality during the course of the experiment.

Comments

[didntgetdadslooks]

Yeah. I've just... been disagreeing with The Professor a lot. And now, apparently, I'm getting headaches.

[ She reaches into a desk drawer and pulls out a water bottle. ]

How are you?

[bolderfell]

[Harder to dodge the question a second time. He looks away. It takes a while for him to compose an answer.]

...Can I stay here for a while? Don't have to talk to me or anything. I just... [He swallows.] I don't want to be with the others right now. And this is the one place they can't find me.

[Angel can only see one of them at a time, after all.]

[didntgetdadslooks]

Uh... sure. No problem. But if someone else shows up, I'm going to have to let you out for a second to see them. Is that okay?

[bolderfell]

Sure. I guess. Think you could warn me with enough time to get somewhere else? I'm fine if you can't. It's no secret I see you sometimes.

[didntgetdadslooks]

Of course. I just want to be as available as I can be, after... all that.

[bolderfell]

Of course. I won't be the only one who...

[He stops himself, then shakes his head and pulls his scarf up.]

...Anyway, I'm sure some of them will have questions for you. And some will want to check on you, too. They're like that.

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ she nods ]

Yeah. When things get to be like this, there's a few of you who like to come by.

[bolderfell]

I'm sure.

[He makes himself as small a ball as he can in his seat, knees to chest, cheek to knees.]

...Really, though. You can go back to work if you want. I won't even try to spy on you. Thief's honor.

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ Angel pauses, thinking for a second. ]

Do you want a snack? It's been a long day, I could go for something.

[bolderfell]

...Guess I haven't eaten.

[RIP, apple.]

I didn't bring anything to trade you.

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ Angel shakes her head. ]

We can share. Or... you can steal some of mine, if you'd rather think of it that way. Are chips good?

[bolderfell]

Heh. [He resettles his head just enough to see her.] I don't know. What are chips?

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ She pulls a bag of plain potato chips out of... is that just a food and drink drawer? Living in style in this office. Then pops it open and offers him one. ]

Here, it's a fried slice of potato. Hard to go wrong with that.

[bolderfell]

[Oh, Zelos startled him with a bag like that the first day. You know what? He'll take it.]

...Thanks.

[He tries a crunchy li'l nibble and covers his mouth in surprise.]

Oh. Salty.

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ Angel smiles and eats one too, placing the bag on the desk. ]

Yup! I know they're not sweet, but they're not exactly health food either.

[bolderfell]

"Health food." All food is health food. Food keeps you alive, that's healthy.

[didntgetdadslooks]

Exactly.

[ And she will munch another chip for emphasis before opening up a security hologram screen. ]

[bolderfell]

[He lifts his head automatically, then looks down and shields his eyes.]

No looking. I promised.

[He caught a glimpse, surely, but he's gotta do his best to keep his word!]

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ She laughs a little. ]

I trust you. And if you want to talk about anything, just go ahead - I'm good either way.

[ Help! This!! Boy!!! ]

[bolderfell]

[He freezes.]

...Why?

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ Ah. ]

Because you promised. And at the end of the day... because I want to. I can't even trust my own memories anymore, Therion.

[bolderfell]

But... I'm...

[Della mentioned that, during the trial. Therion hadn't had much to say at that point, and he usually doesn't, once they've cornered their killer, but he remembers, and he remembers assuming she was talking about Angel. 'She remembers more every week,' and all that.]

You know I'm not... You must have heard them during the trial. They know I'm not trustworthy. I could--isn't that all the more reason to protect yourself, if your memories aren't...?

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ Angel shrugs a little. ]

All I know is I don't think you're being dishonest right now. Which is a weird thing to be saying to a thief, maybe, but... sometimes with people I think you have to take chances. You took a chance trusting me first, remember.

[bolderfell]

[That makes him flinch.]

I--

[He curls more tightly, looks at the door, and then stares floorward, brows still knit with denial.]

...You can't lie to us. It's in your rules. Right?

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ Angel nods. ]

I cannot directly lie to you, no.