scawwy ✦ pickles

[recession]

PICK-O'S

Comments

[rimet]

[ Pickles seems excited to see Daan work at the puzzle, but he still listens. ]

I am glad that you do. It helps me feel better about myself for the sake of my ego, but to see you content or satisfied is also something that I want. It is rather difficult to do as a dog, because I cannot speak my thoughts clearly.

[recession]

I don't think that's egotistical of you, or anything. It's very kind of you to say it.

[ He has to think about how to phrase it because he'd like to avoid sounding pitiful, but. ]

I've never... I don't hear it, very often.

[rimet]

In that case, I hope you hear that more often while you are here. Many people seem kind. At the very least, Marina seems attached to you.

[recession]

...

I think it's just by virtue of familiarity, there...

She doesn't know much about me. I don't know much about her. I barely know her any longer than I know the rest of you, actually.

It's impressive, how well everyone's gotten along while like that.

[rimet]

Yes. I believe you have once said that you knew her for three days before coming here. Even so, it seems most of us are some sort of social species. "United we stand", or something like that.

[ He gently pats Daan's shoulder. ]

Is it rare for people to not get along from your experience?

[recession]

[ Clicking away on this cube quietly while he thinks. ]

It's not really that. Most are friendly enough. Even in that hellish city... only two among us were outright hostile -- and one other... well, she had a bone to pick with me for some reason, but she was cooperative enough when it came to our mutual survival.

...

I don't know, I don't find it odd exactly. Just... something to think about. Do you not?

[rimet]

About whether people get along? ... I am admittedly quite sheltered and may not have seen as much as you have, but I always believe that relationships are always complex. They are not always what they seem, but... I suppose critical thinking always comes into play, no matter the subject.

[ He slightly tilts his head as he continues to watch the cube. ]

[recession]

No, you're right. Relationships are pretty complex. Business, family, relationships... love, especially.

...

Don't suppose you'd know much there? Or do you?

[rimet]

No... I do not. Even so, I normally like to keep to myself. Being with others has been essential for me as of late despite that.

[recession]

Most are inherently social creatures. It's ironic that they use the term "lone wolf" to describe someone when a wolf is traditionally a pack animal.

It's normal to seek out that sort of thing. But what people want and what they get don't often align.

[rimet]

[ He nods. Pickles stays quiet for a moment, wondering if the rubiks cube has been doing its work and distracting Daan from whatever he is hallucinating about. However, Pickles does seem curious at him. It looks like he wants to ask a question, but isn't sure if it's "kosher" to do so. ]

[recession]

[ The dog has learned modern slang.

Daan will continue to struggle with this cube a little bit. He has to stop and squint like are these different shades of beige? Is he doing this right? He only has one eye. Girl help. ]

[rimet]

[ Yeah. Six different shades of beige. Pickles is glad that Daan does seem distracted enough though and reaches out to turn a row and a column several times with the cube still in Daan's hand. There. Two faces of the cube are now the same shade. ]

[recession]

Oh, thank you. This is a bit harder than I thought...

[ Being very mentally distracted and it being six shades of beige and having half the normal amount of eyesight makes this Rubik's Cube a challenge. Though that being said, there's still that voice laughing softly in his ear, crooning over his friendship with a dog. How cute! So very precious. It's nice you're getting along with somebody -- wouldn't it have been nice if we had a dog, Daan?

He eventually slows down on it. ]

[rimet]

[ :catgun:

It is Pickles's first time too, and he notices Daan working at it a little slower. ]

... Daan, could I... ask about your parents? What they were like?

[recession]

...Ah... them?

[ The voices shift a little. You don't want to come with us, Daan/Daniël? Alright, stay here if you want. We'll be back. ]

I haven't seen them in fifteen years. They were... preoccupied, with their own interests.

[rimet]

They left you to be on your own?

[ :c

Pickles turns a row in the cube. ]

[recession]

...They were... devout worshippers of a particular cult. An old one. They often went to go engage in their rituals and rites.

It's easy to get lost in the mire of worship. It does things to people, the occult -- but mostly their minds. Attempting communication with those kinds of powers deteriorates your mental state over time.

Sometimes it's a slower process. I watched them get worse the older I got.

[rimet]

[ For Pickles, it's an eventual thing to be apart from his parents. He's aware that humans grow at a slower rate, so this must have been really bad for Daan. To slowly watch them get worse and then never coming back again... ]

How did you live from then on?

[recession]

I was thirteen at the time, so... well. I was sent off to an inn first, the kinds they put stray kids like that in. Didn't stay there much long, though. I could tell they didn't have the best intentions for the children. I would be better off in the alleyways than in that place.

Just scraped by on the streets after that, doing... whatever I could to not starve. Eventually got a job as the assistant to the help of a more wealthy estate in Rondon. Lived there since.

[rimet]

[ Daan had such a rough life. Pickles can't even fathom living like that (he will understand in the cyoa). ]

Did it make you happy?

[recession]

It was fine.

[ He was fine. He had a job, a roof over his head, and that was fine. He hears whispers at night and yellow eyes in the dark, but that was fine.

He just ignores it, he always does. ]

...Though eventually, it did. The young lady of the house... Elise von Dutch. She was like no other... and somehow, the woman I eventually married.

[rimet]

[ !!

Pickles looks so surprised. Daan was in love! And married someone he loved! Pickles would gasp, but like. "Was". mm................. ]

Is that where you got your surname from? What was she like?

[recession]

Oh... yes. I suppose it's considered unusual to take the woman's surname, but the Baron had all but adopted me into his house and I didn't have a surname anyway... it benefit the house too, I'm sure. Keep the name alive and all.

But she was wonderful. Inquisitive and a beautiful soul. Somehow deigned to accept me as a partner in life when she probably could have had any well-off suitor she wished.

[ Him... just a dirty stray they cleaned up, and yet. ]

[rimet]

But she chose you, and I think... that is beautiful in its own right.

[ Pickles, who normally doesn't care about romance or anything whether it be from the world of humans or dogs, appreciates the sentiment. Also because it's like being chosen from the kennel out of all the other dogs. And that's what makes it special. ]