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[headlessfoal]

[ The psychology is simple. Small dark places, isolated and smothering. Cold, uncomfortable, impossible to sleep in, ambient noises coming every direction, indefinable in their threat and malice. No sense of time, no sense of agency. Vivi knows how simple it is. She's seen it, more than once. She's seen it done slick and longingly, whips and leather and purling laughter. She's seen it done with rust and stagnant water, lights flickering, screams echoing.

And she's seen it done in broad daylight, the psychology built out of nothing more than a looming frame, dominating the view of one cowering girl. Eye contact can be such an amazing tool. People are so fragile... They are just so, so fragile... ]

[ Out and about in the Garden this evening is a pink-haired little monster. She looks friendly, but... she's out for something. She's out for something and it's a good bet that you can feel her staring; stalking. ]

Comments

[cleaningstop]

Me? What was I...

[pondering. pondering!]

Oh! I was taking a nap, you see. It's very relaxing to have one outside!

[not that she would know anything about that.]

[headlessfoal]

Relaxing?

[She considers that with a grin.]

Who said you could relax?

[cleaningstop]

I... did?

Was I not supposed to?

[headlessfoal]

Abso-fucking-lutely not.

[You're in deep shit now, Meiling.]

[cleaningstop]

[Story of her life.]

... But why not?

[headlessfoal]

You're on my turf, and you didn't ask my permission. How can you relax being so rude?

[cleaningstop]

I-I'm sorry! I didn't know I was on your land!

... When did it become yours?

[headlessfoal]

Bitch, please.

[This... is said in such a way that suggests that... Vivi has heard other people utter this phrase without ever really grasping what exactly it's meant to signify for herself.]

[cleaningstop]

What?

[She's not sure what it means!

... Why did she call her a bitch?]

What was that for?!