oh, please no [dictated]

[beastisbeauty]

[Bruce is hiding in the labs...literally. He has no intention of leaving, unless it is necessary.]

I can not believe the sheer amount of mistletoe the castle has thrown at us. I'm going to be in my labs, if anyone needs me for anything. I don't mean to seem unaffectionate, but I'm not in that type of relationship with anyone. ... Other than just not leaving my lab, can anyone give me advice on avoiding this issue?

Comments

[forsometimenow]

From my experience last year, you just have to learn to live with it. Cheek and hand kisses seem to do the trick, for what it's worth.

[beastisbeauty]

Oh. Right. Thank you, I'll remember that those work. I, uh, think I'll stick to the labs, as much as possible, though.

[He's blushing,.]

[forsometimenow]

I really can't blame you there.

[beastisbeauty]

Thanks. I'm trying to not feel like a coward. I mean, I'm basically hiding from kisses, but...I'd just rather not deal with all these issues.

[forsometimenow]

I find it sensible rather than cowardly myself.

[beastisbeauty]

[He grins.] Thank you.

[forsometimenow]

Always happy to help.

[beastisbeauty]

[Bruce grins.] That's what we do, I guess.

[forsometimenow]

As much as we can.

voice;

[wishmadeinfire]

You really should not worry about it to much. I know many of our first timers are, but you come to take the kisses as that - kisses. The Castle requires nothing more, and certainly such things should not be taken as indication of want of a relationship.

Re: voice;

[beastisbeauty]

Well, no, I know the people kissing aren't looking for relationships--I didn't mean that. I just...um. I've only ever kissed someone I was already in a relationship with...or, well, fooling around with consensually. Kissing a stranger, because the castle is playing games...that's different.

Re: voice;

[wishmadeinfire]

Believe me, I understand.

Unfortunately, I wish I could tell you a good way to avoid it. But I do not think hiding in your lab will quite do the trick either. The Castle tends to be... insistent.

Re: voice;

[beastisbeauty]

Yes, I've noticed that. Well, all I can do is try. My name is Bruce Banner, by the way. Who are you?

Re: voice;

[wishmadeinfire]

My name is Ashura. Lovely to meet you, Bruce. Have you been a resident long? Under a year, am I right, to not have faced the mistletoe trick before?

Re: voice;

[beastisbeauty]

Thank you. It's good meet you, too. Yes, I've been here several months, but not a year.

Re: voice;

[wishmadeinfire]

Ah, then this would be your first. It truly is nothing to worry about, though the awkwardness is always a concern. You would be surprised how quickly people move past that.

Re: voice;

[beastisbeauty]

I'm sure that's usually true, but I'm a scientist and a nerd...we excel at awkward and not being good at social interaction. [He grins with self-deprecating humor. He's not even going to mention the rage monster issue.]

[well_assembled]

I'd say keep your head down Doc. But you already have the best control of anyone I know.

[beastisbeauty]

Thank you. I intend to do just that. Hulk or not...I really don't like the idea of the castle making us kiss people. It's rude and weird and...

[And he's not that great at social interaction, but he prefers to not mentiom that.]

[well_assembled]

Yeah been through it here before, watch out for valentines chocolates too. This place loves to put people in compromising situations.

[beastisbeauty]

[Bruce sighs.] Valentines, too? Is it trying to get us to produce more humans, so it has more of us...for whatever reason it wants/needs us?

[well_assembled]

Yeah, last year I think I kissed five people and asked another one out on a date before I figured it out. Locked myself in my room after that. Doesn't seem to want us to reproduce so much as cause us to react, someone said this place feeds on emotion. God knows that whole thing gave of tons of reactions.

[beastisbeauty]

Five? Wow. I'm sorry you went through that. I've heard the "feeding on our emotions" theory. I wish it didn't make so much sense. It does explain why it chooses humans so often. Emotions are very difficult to control.

[well_assembled]

Among some of us more than others, must be making a meal out of you, and me right now.

[The fact that she was able to talk to him this long was something of a personal triumph, she was near shaking with terror and a cold sweat ran down her spine.Her first loss on arrival had really fucked with her but it wasn't so bad before he actually arrived, fear of someone is bad, fear without reason is terror.]

[beastisbeauty]

[If Bruce hears anything in her voice, he pretends otherwise, keeping his own tone calm and gentle...but that's just force of habit, really. He always strives for that.]

Well, I've had a lot of practice at controlling myself emotionally, you know. The good news is we're all in the same position and can support each other.