An Incident [May 1; Video]

[consider8]

[Private to the Troll Hive]

[A smiling Aranea flips the camera to herself. She's waiting in line for the cashier and seems to have taken this as a good opportunity to address the guide.]

Hi Di and Sign! I was in the neighborhood and remembered that we were out of some medical supplies. So I took it upon myself to procure some. Hehe. Since I'm here, do you know of anything else I might be--

Hey, what's that you got there? [And voice comes from behind the counter.]

Huh... [Aranea looks away to address him.] Oh, it's just some supplies for me and my--

You're one of those "guests," huh? Well, you better get out of here. We won't take your credit.

Oh, um... but I was here just a few days ago--

We're changing our store's policy. So just, get out of here, okay, horned freak?

Okay. Sure. There's no need to get excited. I'm leaving.

[The camera shakes visibly as Aranea sets her mirror inside a handbag. In the process of doing so...]

[Video to all -- from Aranea's bag]

Just where do you think you're going with that?

Oh, um. I was just going to put it away.

Liar! You were trying to steal it!

I did not lie, nor am I trying to steal! In fact if I were to attempt to leave right now I would be stealing!

Little bitch. You want to steal my stuff now that we're not serving guests!

No, really! I was just--let go of me!!

You're not so tough without your partner, huh...

[There's a second of struggling and not a second longer the sound of fist contacting face...]

Comments

[action]

[00110010_00110011]

[AA is one of few Psii doesn't mind touching him, but he still feels like hardware is bad fit for self, as if arms are too long or horns might get in way somehow, when he steps closer and, very carefully, puts arms around her shoulders.]

Like this?

[action]

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[The younger troll buries her face into Psii's chest. Only to yelp a little and turn her head to the side instead.

Her nose was still broken, in spite of the moment.]

[action]

[00110010_00110011]

[Psii has moment of alarm, when thinks has done hugging wrong, but realizes what happened.

This... feels good, even though is sure heart has sped up in irrational reaction. Remembers how SS sometimes rubs his back, and mimics that gesture.]

[action]

[consider8]

[Aranea looked up and smiled at Psiioniic.]

I... ugh ...feel better now, thanks.

[He was doing so much better than the first time she saw him. She was very proud.]

[action]

[00110010_00110011]

[Contact feels less weird longer it goes on. Psii thinks could stay as long as AA needs it.

But she needs something else, too.]

Should get someone to take a look at your sniffnode.

[action]

[consider8]

[Aranea nods and smiles. There really wasn't more to say about that. She needed help, and the only way she was going to get that was walking there.]

[action]

[00110010_00110011]

Will walk with you to clinic.

[Sounds almost defiant. Psii isn't going to let fear of her seeing him keep from helping AA.]

[action]

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Are you sure? You don't have to go.

[She was cautious for him, realizing much of the same worries he had.[

[action]

[00110010_00110011]

Know don't have to. Want to.

[Can prove isn't too afraid to be out of hivestem, at least.]

[action]

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Well...

[While it was still trembling, she extended the hand not clenching her nose.]

[action]

[00110010_00110011]

[Psii only hesitates moment before stepping back and taking her hand.]

Seem to be getting lot of practice at this lately, [he says, trying to make AA smile again.]

Re: [action]

[consider8]

[She does. A little.] I should... ugh ...be careful, or...ugh ...you might begin... ugh ...to suspect... ugh ...I was doing this... ugh ...on purpose...

[action]

[00110010_00110011]

Already think you might be. [About half teasing.] Partner probably is, too.

If is campaign to get reacclimated to contact, don't mind.

Isn't there anything can do for you in meantime? That sounds terrible.

[action]

[consider8]

No... ugh ...other than... ugh ...not talking...

[But he said something she didn't expect!]

You have... ugh ...a partner?

[action]

[00110010_00110011]

Then don't talk.

[Silly AA.]

Tried resonating with Hal two days ago. Worked very well. Think is because he was computer. So are partners now.

[action]

[consider8]

[But you just gave her a THING TO TALK ABOUT.]

That's... ugh ...great!

[She has no objections to this. In fact, that might help them balance each other out, she thinks.]

[action]

[00110010_00110011]

Yes. Am very glad.

Have agreed to compromise, because he is... Think human phrase is 'touchy feely.'

[action]

[consider8]

[She was about to say more, but instead started coughing and gasping for air. She leans over onto Psii as a bout of dizziness hits. It's short lived, but her eyes seemed a bit alarmed for a second or two.]

[action]

[00110010_00110011]

AA--!

[Concern overtakes everything else, and Psii pats her back, awkwardly.]

Are you all right?

[action]

[consider8]

[She coughs painfully for several more seconds before she clears a small mouthful of blood from her throat. She spits it out. Disgusting, but her breathing begins to level out due to it.]

Yeah... yeah. I'm... ugh ...I'm fine.

[action]

[00110010_00110011]

[Psii's still worried.]

Promise to tell you all about it later. After get you to clinic.

[action]

[consider8]

[She nods woefully, but forces a smile.]

O-Okay.

[action]

[00110010_00110011]

[Psii holds out hand again, for AA to take if she wants. True to his word, won't tempt her to talk by saying anything until won't hurt her to answer.]

[action]

[consider8]

[It's not long in their walk that she begins leaning in on Psii. She's very tired, Psii. She just hasn't shown it in a really long time.]

[action]

[00110010_00110011]

[After briefest moment of indecision, Psii puts arm around her, to support as much as can. Hardware insists on blushing at contact, but there's nothing he can do about that.]

Isn't much farther.