[The non sequitur is no longer something that takes him off guard. Tim multi-tasks; digging in his pocket for another cigarette while picking out the words for an answer.]
I had a dream about it. The cats were whistling with the grass and it sounded pretty.
[Which, naturally, means Tim could've had some kind of feline companion on campus. It might not have been a traditional cat, but there could be things like that going on at a school. What does she know??]
[Which is a shame; he thinks a couple cats might make this place feel a little less...off. But then, the absolute silence has always been unnerving to him in ways that are too apparent, given his history.]
[Oh, so he's on Umui. And here she thought he'd be nice and cozy in his islet shack this time of night. At least bring a cat or two if you're gonna explore that place, gosh.]
[He takes a moment to consider that. Scared? Not especially. Unnerved? Probably. When isn't he, though? When isn't on edge, chasing the edges of his own paranoia?]
I wouldn't wanna vacation here, but nothing's happened yet.
[Something could happen, Tim. That's the whole ding dang problem. It was fun to try looting the place for treasure for the .2 seconds she thought this place was simply flower isle, but fear overcame her pretty fast once she noted what these buildings were. How does that not spook him? He's made of tougher stuff than her, that's for sure.]
Okay, but you have to run away if something happens. If there's a scary noise, you have to come back.
[All told, it isn't surprising. He's also rather grateful for the fact that this is probably overwhelmingly unlikely as far as he's concerned; he hasn't seen a single living creature here besides those who have fanned out to venture across the island.]
[There's no hesitation in her voice. If there's a cat, the island's fine and she can roam to her heart's content-those are the rules. It'll be a beacon of feline hope in these dark, dark times.]
It's an expression. It means, uh...you probably shouldn't wait for something that might not happen.
[TRYING TO LET HER DOWN GENTLY, the fact that there probably are not any felines here, because he hasn't seen anything living other than a fucking shitload of flowers.]
I don't think there are any cats on this island, kiddo.
[Just to be frank here - he hasn't seen anything that's resembled so much as the remains of any kind of...prey or predator animal. It's not a dissonance he welcomes.]
I don't think there's any of that around here either. Sewers or dams, I mean.
[He's seen nothing to suggest irrigation, or means of watering these plants, or...well, that's a thought, actually. How have they flourished without any care?]
[The island could be huge enough to house one. She lowkey hopes no one explores far enough to find a gigantic dam, but if they do? They're in the kitty money or there could be a building with some cats around it. The possibilities are endless.]
You have to find the big round lid to get into the sewer. The flowers might cover that thing.
[Maybe sewers are different where she comes from. Him? He's good. He's traversed enough cramped spaces, tunneled pipes, and underground networks to last him a lifetime, thanks.]
You have to go down the ladder and then you can hear it.
[Stumbling on that place had been a stroke of good luck and kitty fortune. It's not like she knew there was water there, initially. The sewers are a weird, dangerous and shockingly safe place.]
[She won't push him on it, her assumption being that he's afraid to go down there. That's understandable. If she's unable to get confirmation that a kitty horde lives in these imaginary sewers, should they show up, she wouldn't take the plunge either.]
That's okay. You can stay there too. The cats will find you when they feel safe.
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What gave you that idea?
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[Which, naturally, means Tim could've had some kind of feline companion on campus. It might not have been a traditional cat, but there could be things like that going on at a school. What does she know??]
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[Which is a shame; he thinks a couple cats might make this place feel a little less...off. But then, the absolute silence has always been unnerving to him in ways that are too apparent, given his history.]
Just flowers, and a bunch of dead robots.
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Are you alone?
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Got a couple people here along with me. We're sticking together. What about you?
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[It's a mess of labs and bizarre letters and she kind of hates it. The flowers are pretty though, despite their potentially spooky origin.]
That place doesn't scare you?
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I wouldn't wanna vacation here, but nothing's happened yet.
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Okay, but you have to run away if something happens. If there's a scary noise, you have to come back.
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[And private panic attacks held in old hospital research centers, but no one needs to know that.]
I'll let you know if anything jumps out at us. Okay?
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I'll listen for your voice in this rock. It's okay if it's very late or very early-I'll still hear you.
[There's a pause and then-]
You don't have to run away if it's a cat, but you can call me for that too.
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[All told, it isn't surprising. He's also rather grateful for the fact that this is probably overwhelmingly unlikely as far as he's concerned; he hasn't seen a single living creature here besides those who have fanned out to venture across the island.]
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[There's no hesitation in her voice. If there's a cat, the island's fine and she can roam to her heart's content-those are the rules. It'll be a beacon of feline hope in these dark, dark times.]
I'll run there and we can play with it.
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[She knows what that saying means, right? He...sure hopes she does.]
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I need air, so I won't do that. Don't hold your breath either-you need that stuff too.
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[TRYING TO LET HER DOWN GENTLY, the fact that there probably are not any felines here, because he hasn't seen anything living other than a fucking shitload of flowers.]
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The cats will come out when it's safe. It's okay if they want to hide until it's not scary anymore.
[It might be scary 2k4ever though. There's another pause, and then-]
I won't hold my breath.
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[Just to be frank here - he hasn't seen anything that's resembled so much as the remains of any kind of...prey or predator animal. It's not a dissonance he welcomes.]
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There is, but they'll stay where it's safe. I think they're in a sewer or-
[That's a great place to hide and where your friendly neighborhood local cats'll be hanging out.]
By a dam. That's where they'll be. We have to find those things and they'll be there.
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[He's seen nothing to suggest irrigation, or means of watering these plants, or...well, that's a thought, actually. How have they flourished without any care?]
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You have to find the big round lid to get into the sewer. The flowers might cover that thing.
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[Maybe sewers are different where she comes from. Him? He's good. He's traversed enough cramped spaces, tunneled pipes, and underground networks to last him a lifetime, thanks.]
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[Stumbling on that place had been a stroke of good luck and kitty fortune. It's not like she knew there was water there, initially. The sewers are a weird, dangerous and shockingly safe place.]
The cats will be there to help.
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[Traveling underground isn't his story, so much. It has been before, maybe, but not for some time.]
[Makes him think of abandoned schools. Of burned-out shells of empty hospitals. Of rasping breath and handprints in red, and knives in the throat.]
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That's okay. You can stay there too. The cats will find you when they feel safe.
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[Stop shitting on the small child's dreams, Tim :/ ]
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