Eighteenth little lie ♰ This is the story of the road that goes to my house

[beingdifferent]

Has anyone been seeing unusual things? More unusual than is customary here, of course. [She turns the communicator to the mirror hanging on her wall – it’s shattered, and the reflection catches her in bizarre images. Some of the shards are much too broad, extending the shape of her face far outward. Others shrink her reflection, and a few of the larger pieces curve and warp the lines of her face, neck, and shoulders.] This does look strange to the rest of you, does it not? It’s never done that before.

[Private to Jean]
May I… [The ease with which she can talk to Ned is, while a tiny step forward, still heartening, and gives her the bravery to be honest in her request.] May I speak with you? In your professional role?

[Garden spam]
[Picking flowers from any of the beds or pots in the garden is a forbidden act. It is, Esther notes, quite a shame; the blooms are vivid and bright, quite healthy despite the odd environment they grow in, and she appreciates a nice bouquet of cut flowers. She has no intention of angering any wandering horticulturist, though, and keeps herself to the flowers growing out of the lawn.

Buttercups, daisies, dandelions – nothing exotic or beautiful, but she still harvests a great deal of them and holds them in a fold of her skirt when she settles on the grass. They won’t make a bouquet, but she can still use them to adorn her cabin, and she begins, fastidiously, weaving them into a chain.]

Comments

Private

[fireincarnate]

[Jean is more than a little stunned, but she doesn't let it show in her smile.]

Of course. Do you want to come to my office, or...?

Private

[beingdifferent]

[That's good; Esther doesn't want this to be for anyone but herself, be their reaction good or bad.]

If that's easiest.

Private

[fireincarnate]

What matters is what's easiest for you.

Private

[beingdifferent]

[Offices, as well as clinics, tend to be problematic. Esther can handle herself fine in them, but due to her time at the Saarne Institute, she's never comfortable. In the interest of making it as painless as possible, she suggests an alternative.]

Perhaps we could take a walk together instead?

[to_dust]

I can see it! It -- looks as if it's being warped, not just broken. I don't think it's a good sign.

[beingdifferent]

I thought so. [She hoped so, anyway. Esther knows she isn't what is considered sane but she had a nagging worry that she was slipping into psychosis.]

[to_dust]

Is that in your room-? Is it safe in there? If there's some sort of... dimensional flux or something. I think is the word.

[beingdifferent]

It is. [She looks at C'rizz thoughtfully, not perturbed.] I'm not sure. It could be a dimensional flux as you say, or perhaps it's simply the Barge. Have you noticed anything different recently?

[this_corrosion]

Nah, that's fucked up. Maybe they're putting something in the vents, I dunno.

[beingdifferent]

Do you think they would?

[this_corrosion]

I dunno, what's stopping them?

[beingdifferent]

These things are usually more creative than that.

[dinosize]

Funhouse mirror.

[beingdifferent]

Is that what it is? How silly.

[dinosize]

What it looks like. I've never found them much fun.

[beingdifferent]

That does explain the funny music.

[video]

[notsoneedy]

I can see that. [Needy's affect is a little flat; she's trying to hide a wary kind of relief.] I...have you been noticing any lights, in the dark? In the halls sometimes.

[video]

[beingdifferent]

At least I'm not the only one.

Not yet, but that only means I probably will later tonight.

[video]

[notsoneedy]

No. You're not. [She manages a brief smile; but then, they've sort of touched on this before. What it's like, feeling the one left out, when it comes to things dealing with your own mind.] I thought it might just have been me seeing things. It...that happens with me, sometimes.

[deadly_ned]

Not seeing.

But, uhm.

Smelling.

I have a very sensitive nose and something isn't smelling...right.

[beingdifferent]

It isn't smelling right?

What does it smell like?

[deadly_ned]

Overly sweet. Just. Food that's been left to sit out and it's packed with so many chemicals that it can stay preserved in the open air forever.

[Spam]

[a_favor_now]

[He doesn't often go into the garden. It's too bright and cheery for his tastes. But he'd caught Esther's scent, as he was currently a fox, and wandered inside to find out what she was doing in there.

Watching her weave flowers into a chain was not expected. Still he pads over to her anyway.]

What are you doing?

[Spam]

[beingdifferent]

[Esther rolls her eyes at the approach of the distinctly red fox and does not stop her task.]

What does it look like I'm doing?

[Spam]

[a_favor_now]

[Okay, whatever.]

Fine. Why are you doing it?