rule #1

[scaler]

[Molly has found the journal.

'Calm' is not a good word for it. Neither is 'relaxed,' or 'adjusted,' or 'accepting,' but she is very good at putting on all four. Keeping her head is what keeps her alive.

She's gotten acquainted with the important bits: the magic, the wishes, the losses, the indefinite stay, the familiar faces. Also the really important bit: walkers. That is, lack thereof. Allegedly.

None of it seems real -- but then, options are limited.

She presses a crease into the corner of the journal's page with her thumbnail. The first thing it picks up is a mutter half to herself.]

Feet first, I guess.

[Then, louder:]

So, hey. Ain't I supposed to get a gift basket? That's what luxury places like this do, right? What kind of welcome wagon is this?

Comments

[rightchoices]

Good to know. I'll see you around.

[ .. ]

.. and, hey. Try to relax. Not like we get a lot of chances to, and it's anyone's guess how long this is gonna last.

[scaler]

[a pause]

Working on it. Not really as easy as 'kick up your feet and breathe,' you know?

[It's a catch-22 -- clinging to survival instincts makes her too tense, but trying to let them go just tenses her up more.]

[rightchoices]

You learn to, eventually. Figure you got to, or you'll burn yourself out fast.

[ That's what he ultimately realized about himself, at least. ]

[scaler]

Don't suppose you've got a crash course on that, too.

[It's a joke, but even still. It'd be nice if it were that easy.]

[rightchoices]

I'll let you play with Clementine's puppy.

[scaler]

[That startles a laugh out of her.]

She already got you to cave on a puppy? Damn, she's good.

[rightchoices]

Hey, it could've been my idea.

[ It wasn't. ]

[scaler]

Yeah, okay. I'll believe the fancy magic castle before I believe that.

[Puppies though...]

It cute?

[rightchoices]

You'll have to ask Clem that one.

[scaler]

She's a kid, she'll tell me it's cute even if it's face is 90% wrinkles.