003 ☠ dictated

[dgaf]

[ Here at last, the elusive Effy no longer hiding behind loopy writing or Morse code, if only because her arm hurts too much to do either. Today she dictates to the journal, raspy as if after much crying and sounding just as tired. She might as well be reading the dictionary: ]

Monster. From the Old French monstre. A bad portent.

A large, ugly, frightening imaginary creature. Or to criticize and reprimand harshly. To monster. [ She chuckles a little, dryly. ]

We have many monsters here. They're everywhere. Outside your window. Under your bed. In your bed. [ Another giggle. ] If we imagine something, does it become real? When we forget, does it disappear? But when it's quiet and you close your eyes and concentrate, you'll remember. And it comes back to you.

You can't imagine broken bones. Can you?

Comments

Dictated; sorry for the late

[indirectcause]

Pretty sure some monsters don't vanish if you stop believing in them.

...Hey, you ok?

Dictated; never late!

[dgaf]

Yeah, I got that lesson.

And no. But why do you care?

<33

[indirectcause]

I don't know, because I'm not a complete asshole? Do you need help or something?

[dgaf]

That's news.

[ The news is that Effy's the asshole. Or not. ]

I needed more ice but I'm super now.

[indirectcause]

Wow, who spit in your cheeseburger?

[There's a pause.] Okay, that's something?

[dgaf]

[ Spit in someone's cheeseburger. That's an idea. ]

Alright. Why don't you bring me some ice?

[indirectcause]

[Effy, no.]

...Yeah, sure. Are you in your room?

[dgaf]

[ What? Her spit probably has health benefits. ]

Are you asking your place or mine?

[indirectcause]

[NO.]

Yeah, how about no. I've got a girlfriend, thanks.

[dgaf]

[ YES. ]

Oh. What does it feel like?

[indirectcause]

[Still no.]

It's...pretty good? [God Effy why do you have to ask him that?]

[dgaf]

[ She's curious! ]

Yeah? What's it good for?

[indirectcause]

Shit, I don't know, Effy, having someone there for you.

Do you want some ice or not?

[dgaf]

Ice is good for something. [ The implication being... ]

My room.

[indirectcause]

[He isn't going to even dignify that with a response. But, eventually, there's a knock at her door. See,he was a good guy and brought ice.]

[dgaf]

[ When she thought he had decided against helping her. Which would be just as well. It's better, she thinks, if only those who fought to come in get to stay.

So it's with a surprised look on her face and an oversized kooky t-shirt and no pants that she greets him by the door. ]

What?

[indirectcause]

[Effy you make being a decent human being so hard. Why are there no pants why oh why. He sighs, raising the bag of ice.]

I brought you ice. [Kind of...stating the obvious there, Ben.]

[dgaf]

[ Being a decent human being is totally overrated. She doesn't even seem to notice her lack of pants, eyes trained hard on that bag of ice. Eventually she relents, stepping back from the door and leaving the door open for him to follow in.

The bruise caused by Tess has faded to a yellowish tinge covering the lower part of her face, but right arm is still bandaged. ]

You should've brought your girlfriend.

[indirectcause]

Pretty sure she's busy.

[He'll frown, following her in.] What the hell happened to you?

[dgaf]

[ Effy is such a cynic, but only because she's trying so hard not to believe it. Love is useless. She plants herself back on her messy bed, legs underneath her and arms still crossed, staring at him as if she doesn't understand a word he's saying. It takes her a beat to reply. ]

Stuck my nose where it didn't belong.

[indirectcause]

[H sighs and offers her the ice.]

Jesus. People can be fucking lunatics.

[dgaf]

Yeah.

[ She takes that bag and peeks down into it, as if it can be anything but ice. Taking one out, she doesn't put it on her bruise but licks it instead. ]

Did you see it?

[indirectcause]

[He blinks for a moment, because seriously what.]

Did I see...what? You getting that bruise, no.

[dgaf]

[ Effy gives him a look like it's his fault that he can't read her mind. ]

The monster. Either one of them.

[indirectcause]

[How very dare he not read minds.]

I saw the Bloater, yeah. [Nearly died by it, yay :|]