animus_network | [004 ★ text]

You know what, I am so sick of this. Completely sick of this!! And look at me, repeating myself and using multiple exclamation points (two!) like a rebel. Because I am a rebel!

I'm tired of all these embarrassing personal incidents. When they aren't embarrassing, they're deeply horrifying and disturbing. I just want regular old test taking anxiety again! I want worrying about whether Anya is going to ask Giles if he has a new orgasm friend yet in public! And all that demon stuff, even that was familiar.

But here it's like, oh, here's that troll kid I'm friends with and he got his arm torn off. Here's me turning myself into a troll and going creepy stalker over Aradia. (Which by the way, oh Goddess am I sorry for and eternally mortified about.) Or here's me picking up the bloody scraps of the clothes of the double of someone I'm friends with!

And don't tell me I'm using too many of's there, I told you I'm a rebel today! I just want my test taking anxiety back, darn it. I'd even take worrying over when I'm going back to college, and that was a lot of worrying.

... Okay, whining done. End whining. In other news, who's still having wacky collar-induced sickness and power-tampering shenanigans? Cause frankly I'm finding this really worrying and I want to get to the bottom of this.

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[Stein frowned for a second, trying to decide if she should tell Willow what exactly that smooth thing was, but decided against it. At least now she actually had consent, even if it wasn't particularly informed. It had been so long since she resonated with anybody, and even longer since she's had sex that she didn't particularly care at the moment. She'd take what she could get.] Alright, whatever you say.

[Her soul wavelength reaches back out to stroke Willow's, more confident in her actions this time. Bolder, more dominant. Still soothing, but Stein's more obviously in control now, and her actions seem less accidental. Willow's soul is such a small little thing it doesn't take much for Stein's soul to completely envelop hers, holding it close in a comforting embrace.

The noise from all the other souls in the tower died out, and even Willow's soul dropped down to a low hum, barely a blip on Stein's radar if not for the feeling.]

Thank you, that's much better. [Her soul wavelength doesn't budge an inch though, more than content to stay as close to Willow's as possible.]

[That's slightly creepy, Stein, and you're only justifying Willow's impression of you as slightly creepy.

In fact, she's starting to get uncomfortable with this now, and a blush rises on her face. Curse being redheaded, because her skin is pale enough that it's completely obvious. Not that Willow has ever been able to hide her expressions. It might be a bad idea to drop her hands and break off connection completely without warning, though, so she holds on.]

Um... good! Super good. And maybe we can let go now because I'm thinking that maybe you weren't kidding with that whole metaphor earlier, and this starting to feel a lot less like coffee and maybe more like first base, which, wow, was not planning on first base. Or any base.

[And that's how you know she's embarrassed, because Willow's old enough now that she doesn't babble awkwardly at the drop of a hat anymore. Yet here it is, awkward babble.]

[She chuckles under her breath. The babbling is kind of endearing, and it reminds her a bit of how Spirit acts, as if the hair didn't already serve as a reminder.

But she lets go of Willow's hands and her soul backs off as well.]

Sorry about that; your soul was coming onto mine, so I just assumed you wouldn't mind too much~

My soul was not coming onto you! [Oops, kind of indignant now. Her back straightens and she looks aghast.] My soul was-- was helping! There was nothing scandalous or indecent about it, and yes, I do mind.

I have my hermaphroditic alien and I am happy with him.

[She's just snickering. Oh Willow, why do you amuse the crazy people so?]

No, you're right, there is nothing indecent about it. Resonating with someone you're not in a physical relationship with isn't cheating, my dear witch. Plenty of people keep it separate in my world. [Stein just. Can't think of too many examples right now.]

But let's talk about this alien of yours... [Now that she'd love to get her hands on. If only Stein knew that he was a troll; then she'd just file him under 'not if he were the last test subject on earth']

Oh no, I know exactly where this is going, and you can keep it to yourself. [She's literally jabbing a finger in the air at her now, frowning comically.] Both of it, you can keep both of it to yourself.

No dissecting my boyfriend-- I refuse on his behalf-- and also nothing even vaguely approximating cheating. I did that once and it was enough of a trainwreck for my entire lifetime.

You really are just like her... [But that's all she's saying about that.]

I wasn't thinking of dissecting your little alien, don't fret; I'm just curious about him.

[You can't just tease her with one short sentence. Willow's curious now.]

Like who? You tell me about yours and I'll tell you about mine? [She shifts where she's sitting, unfolding her legs to push them off to the side in a more comfortable position.]

[She represses her urge to smirk widely. Jackpot~]

My weapon, Spirit. She had the same sort of soothing soul as you do, but with the tendency to panic- [As she speaks, Stein practically lunges until she's very much in Willow's personal bubble.] -at how unpredictable I was. She had a rather strong preoccupation with remaining faithful, though it never seemed to work out for her when she found someone more interesting than her current partner.

[She catches a lock of Willow's hair between her thumb and forefinger before quickly letting go.] Plus, she had the same pretty red hair as you do.

Though as far as I know, you can't transform into a scythe like her.

[Sure enough, Willow squeaks loudly and falls backwards in instinctual reaction, bracing herself on her elbows. She blushes even as she glowers.]

Maybe if you keep teasing me you'll find out what I can transform into, [she grumbles.] I think I sympathize with her.

[Stein holds a hand out to help her back up. Yup, still just like Spirit, squeak and all.]

She left me to be with her now-ex-husband after she found out I was vivisecting her in her sleep; sympathize away, you're in good company. [Namely everyone]

[Willow takes her hand willingly, accepting the help, but frowns.]

If you weren't so darn nice all the time I wouldn't have to feel badly about that. Cause, wow, so can't approve of vivisecting anyone. But it still sucks to be left.

[Stein hides a slight smile as she pulls Willow back to her feet. No one's ever really called her "nice" before. It's strange to get such a compliment but she doesn't mind really.]

I like being alone.

Plus, her husband wasn't as strong as I am and her eventually getting caught cheating on him made her son hate her. So in a way I ended up vindicated.

Yeah, that doesn't read as vindicated to me so much as depressing. [Just going to stand there awkwardly, taking her hand back once she's on her feet.]

Sometimes the things you think will make you feel better just make it all worse. Like a big amalgamation of sadness.

I'm a sadist; I delight in others' suffering. [She says it so matter-of-factly that it's more than clear how unruffled her jimmies are.]

Kinda opportunistic for a sadist, [she says doubtfully.] You always listen to me when I tell you to back off.

I've changed between then and now. Easier to not be hated and feared too much with my job.

[004 ★ text]

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