forum "You DO like me!" "I don't think 'like' is the right word." "You tolerate me." "Maybe." one on one

Started January 29, 2021 by @cryptic-glitch

tune

"Dads just suck," Orion said.

"Yeah. I guess most people's dads don't suck, though."

"Apparently not," she said ruefully.

Lin shrugged a bit. "I wouldn't really know. I haven't met anyone's dad other than my own. But considering the 'playing catch' thing, I assume that they're not all bad."

"I only saw that in movies. With a bunch of rich white people who had minivans, and soccer practice, and a playhouse in their backyard."

"Ah. Do real people have those things, though? Or just movie people?"

“I dunno. I’ve never seen real people doing those things, but that doesn’t mean they don’t do it.”

"Mm. I guess that makes sense." Lin looked back out the window, humming thoughtfully and fidgeting with his hands. "Maybe it's fun? Playing catch, I mean."

"I wish I knew. I feel like I would be better off if I played catch with my dad."

"Maybe so. I'm not sure what kind of psychological effect it has on people."

"A good one. Bonding is a good thing from what I've heard. Which might explain why I'm so emotionally damaged."

"Huh. I suppose that explains it for me, too. I never really had 'bonding'."

"Maybe." She fiddled with the charm on her necklace.

"Well… maybe we can try and live more normally now, yeah? Do stuff that makes us happy."

"Alright." Her lips tipped upward. "Sounds like a plan."

Lin nodded a bit. "Alright, uh… what makes you happy?"

“Doctor Pepper. And books.”

"Uh… who's Dr. Pepper?" Lin asked, bewildered. "Do I know him?"

Orion laughed. "No, no. It's a kind of pop. Or soda. Whatever you wanna call it. It's a variety of cola, like Coke, or Pepsi."

"Ohh… I guess that makes sense…" Lin still seemed a bit confused. "And it makes you happy?"

"Yeah. It's my favorite soda. You know how some things just make you happy, even though it isn't like a big thing, like a vacation or something? It's like that. Like getting a new sketchbook. Or a new hoodie. Or your friend brings you chips at school."

"Yeah, I guess so. I'm not sure what makes me happy…" Lin considered for a few seconds. "I like using magic, I guess. And ice cubes."

"I like ice cubes. Why do you like them?"

Lin shrugged. "I like eating them, I guess. Satisfying?"

"I like the crunchy-ness. Like, it's so weird that water can be crunchy. You know?"