OOC, baby
Only Straw (6:03:27 p.m.): Hello?
sixtyonereasons (6:03:36 p.m.): I always forget I have this turned on. Hi?
Only Straw (6:03:48 p.m.): It's on.
sixtyonereasons (6:04:24 p.m.): I noticed, funnily enough.
Only Straw (6:07:43 p.m.): Oh.
Only Straw (6:07:50 p.m.): Thank you for inviting me to your party.
sixtyonereasons (6:08:16 p.m.): You got the invitation? You're very welcome.
Only Straw (6:08:35 p.m.): I did.
Only Straw (6:08:45 p.m.): How many people are going to be there?
sixtyonereasons (6:09:03 p.m.): Hang on, I've got the guestlist here somewhere...and I need to grab my glasses.
sixtyonereasons (6:10:26 p.m.): Upwards of twenty, if everyone comes.
Only Straw (6:10:46 p.m.): Is that counting your family?
sixtyonereasons (6:10:55 p.m.): Yes.
sixtyonereasons (6:11:03 p.m.): ...Closer to thirty, if I count all the children.
Only Straw (6:11:08 p.m.): Oh.
Only Straw (6:11:21 p.m.): You're all coming to this reception, too, aren't you?
sixtyonereasons (6:11:27 p.m.): Not all of us, no.
sixtyonereasons (6:11:33 p.m.): I think it's just Jonathan and I going to the reception.
Only Straw (6:11:37 p.m.): Good.
sixtyonereasons (6:12:17 p.m.): Getting the children organised is a bit of a nightmare even when we're not going out, so.
Only Straw (6:12:47 p.m.): Do you think I could visit some time when there's not so many people around, instead?
sixtyonereasons (6:12:59 p.m.): That'd be fine. We'd like that.
Only Straw (6:13:20 p.m.): I have to do this thing for Hermes and Norman this weekend, and I don't want to do another one next weekend.
sixtyonereasons (6:14:09 p.m.): If only because of how you and John dislike each other, I didn't think you'd want to come to the party. But I'd feel awful if I didn't invite you, so there you go.
Only Straw (6:14:56 p.m.): It's a nice invitation.
sixtyonereasons (6:15:58 p.m.): My granddaughter made it. I think she made about seven before she settled on that one.
Only Straw (6:16:10 p.m.): Tell her that I like it.
sixtyonereasons (6:16:29 p.m.): I'll pass that on, she'll be very pleased. She was proud of it.
Only Straw (6:16:42 p.m.): Good.
sixtyonereasons (6:17:16 p.m.): My version would've been a lot less pretty.
Only Straw (6:18:26 p.m.): You prefer it when other people do things for you, anyway.
sixtyonereasons (6:18:48 p.m.): Ha! Well, this is true.
Only Straw (6:19:08 p.m.): So long as you admit it.
sixtyonereasons (6:20:05 p.m.): I do like to think I'm at least mostly honest. With myself or other people. So.
Though I have some things to get done in the next few months that I cannot, unfortunately, delegate.
Only Straw (6:20:41 p.m.): It's good to be honest. I try to be honest, when I can be.
sixtyonereasons (6:21:10 p.m.): When I'm not, it bites me in the ass. Learned the hard way.
Only Straw (6:22:09 p.m.): Well, yes. There's no point in lying when you're not going to get away with it.
sixtyonereasons (6:22:54 p.m.): Too true.
Only Straw (6:23:33 p.m.): Maybe it's true. I could be lying.
sixtyonereasons (6:24:56 p.m.): Ha. You could be, at that. But it sounds true to me, so I don't think I mind much either way.
Only Straw (6:25:11 p.m.): So lies that sound true are as good as truth, eh?
sixtyonereasons (6:25:24 p.m.): Not always.
sixtyonereasons (6:25:27 p.m.): But sometimes.
Only Straw (6:25:35 p.m.): When?
sixtyonereasons (6:25:57 p.m.): There are times when it's just better to lie than tell the truth.
Only Straw (6:26:49 p.m.): Not to lie. When is it just as good to hear lies that sound like the truth?
sixtyonereasons (6:27:07 p.m.): I could be specific, but I don't think you're that interested in my family drama.
Only Straw (6:27:15 p.m.): You can be specific.
Only Straw (6:29:28 p.m.): You could even make something up.
sixtyonereasons (6:29:30 p.m.): I'm having trouble pinning it down now.
Only Straw (6:29:36 p.m.): Ah.
Only Straw (6:29:44 p.m.): Well, talk to me about something.
sixtyonereasons (6:30:16 p.m.): Something, huh? I don't have much interesting to talk about, to be honest. It's all house-cleaning and redecorating and how the hell do you start a school, anyway...
Only Straw (6:30:36 p.m.): You need students and a lesson plan. The rest falls into place.
sixtyonereasons (6:30:56 p.m.): I've got the students. In a while, I'll have a school house. The lesson plan is...a work in progress.
Only Straw (6:31:07 p.m.): That's the important thing.
Only Straw (6:31:48 p.m.): A school house, as in an old fashioned one?
sixtyonereasons (6:32:49 p.m.): I'm not actually sure. I need somewhere to actually do this teaching thing, so John's marines are building me a school house on the mainland. Probably near where our other house is going up, I think.
sixtyonereasons (6:33:12 p.m.): I complained about being bored, and suddenly I'm starting a school for the Athosian children. I will never complain again.
Only Straw (6:33:24 p.m.): I think it's the best way to educate children, but it's not feasable anymore.
sixtyonereasons (6:34:06 p.m.): Hmm. Maybe so.
Only Straw (6:34:56 p.m.): Of course, I never worked with children.
sixtyonereasons (6:35:12 p.m.): When I was living in Chicago, I was a kindergarten teacher.
Only Straw (6:40:17 p.m.): I couldn't ever do that.
Only Straw (6:40:35 p.m.): I never considered teaching children, not even high school.
sixtyonereasons (6:42:49 p.m.): I like kids, and I'm good with them. When I decided to get a job that didn't involve taking my clothes off, it made sense.
Only Straw (6:43:13 p.m.): Right.
Only Straw (6:43:35 p.m.): That didn't prevent you from getting a job as a kindergarten teacher?
sixtyonereasons (6:44:01 p.m.): I was a bit concerned about it, but no, it didn't.
Only Straw (6:44:10 p.m.): That's good.
Only Straw (6:45:16 p.m.): I want to ask how people are able to do that, but I don't want the question to sound the wrong way.
sixtyonereasons (6:45:27 p.m.): Do what? Strip?
Only Straw (6:45:37 p.m.): Yes.
sixtyonereasons (6:45:58 p.m.): Hmm. Hard question, actually, and the answers vary -- a lot.
Only Straw (6:46:50 p.m.): Oh.
sixtyonereasons (6:47:10 p.m.): Me, personally? I wasn't qualified to do much of anything, and I enjoyed it.
Only Straw (6:48:02 p.m.): I don't understand how it wouldn't be demeaning.
sixtyonereasons (6:51:29 p.m.): Stripping isn't that bad. It's just a job, really, and there's always going to be demand for it. People like to see other people naked, it's a thing. I liked to dance, I liked the people I was working with, it was decent pay and I felt safe.
Only Straw (6:52:20 p.m.): Ah.
Only Straw (6:52:57 p.m.): I'm not trying to offend you.
sixtyonereasons (6:53:03 p.m.): It's fine, I'm not offended.
sixtyonereasons (6:53:52 p.m.): Admittedly, it's not something I discuss a lot, but I've got no problem talking about it.
Only Straw (6:55:38 p.m.): Some things just don't come up in conversation.
sixtyonereasons (6:55:49 p.m.): You'd be surprised.
Only Straw (6:56:37 p.m.): Maybe.
Only Straw (6:57:07 p.m.): I don't want to talk to Isobel about it. I think I -would- say something to offend her.
sixtyonereasons (6:57:50 p.m.): It's pretty hard to offend Izzy. I did some very stupid things, and she's still speaking to me. Which is more than I deserve.
Only Straw (6:58:05 p.m.): I get that impression, but I don't want to say anything stupid.
sixtyonereasons (6:58:46 p.m.): That's fair enough, I suppose.
Only Straw (6:59:23 p.m.): When I try to do an impression of sanity, I sound stupid. It's a trade-off, sometimes.
Only Straw (6:59:45 p.m.): That's all right, though.
sixtyonereasons (7:00:03 p.m.): I don't think Izzy would think you're stupid, pretty much no matter what you say. So.
Only Straw (7:01:05 p.m.): I'm not stupid.
sixtyonereasons (7:01:11 p.m.): I'm aware of that. Hence.
Only Straw (7:01:15 p.m.): That does not equate not saying stupid things.
sixtyonereasons (7:01:45 p.m.): Aware of that, too. It is an irritating fact, at times.
Only Straw (7:02:50 p.m.): It's much easier to talk to people through text. That's just how it is. It has nothing to do with intelligence.
sixtyonereasons (7:03:47 p.m.): Yes.
sixtyonereasons (7:04:31 p.m.): I think I tend to say stupid things whether I'm talking in person or in text. Donnatella = dizzy blonde. Sigh.
Only Straw (7:04:45 p.m.): I don't think that's usually true.
sixtyonereasons (7:05:27 p.m.): I'm a blonde cheerleader from Texas. I've got like, three braincells.
I kid, I kid.
Only Straw (7:06:02 p.m.): I'm not going to keep telling you it's not true. You know it's not.
sixtyonereasons (7:06:59 p.m.): Ha! I know you wouldn't.
Only Straw (7:09:46 p.m.): You seem intelligent enough.
sixtyonereasons (7:10:19 p.m.): Clever enough to get by. It suits me fine.
sixtyonereasons (7:12:05 p.m.): I'm constantly surrounded by people who are smarter than I am. Claiming to be ditzier than I actually am is just the easiest way of handling that, really. So it doesn't actually matter. Anyway.
Only Straw (7:12:34 p.m.): The best way to deal with that is to be secure enough to ignore it.
Only Straw (7:12:56 p.m.): I am well aware that this is easier said than done. I can't ignore much.
sixtyonereasons (7:13:42 p.m.): It is much, much easier said than done. But I'm okay with being a little intimidated by other people's intelligence; I'm very, very used to it.
Only Straw (7:14:12 p.m.): Are you?
sixtyonereasons (7:14:55 p.m.): Surrounded by men who are smarter than me since I was a little girl.
Only Straw (7:16:48 p.m.): This isn't an issue of your relative intelligence. This is an issue of you having learned to defer.
sixtyonereasons (7:17:08 p.m.): True.
sixtyonereasons (7:17:51 p.m.): I've never really thought about it that much.
Only Straw (7:18:00 p.m.): Surrounded by men since you were a little girl. Who?
sixtyonereasons (7:18:55 p.m.): Daddy. Michael. John. Paul. Daddy's friends.
Only Straw (7:22:24 p.m.): Now, just a moment.
Only Straw (7:22:39 p.m.): John and... Paul? They're both your age, aren't they?
sixtyonereasons (7:23:04 p.m.): They are, yes. Paul and I are twins, and John's only a few months older than me.
Only Straw (7:23:16 p.m.): Yes. Boys, when you were a girl.
sixtyonereasons (7:23:24 p.m.): Yes.
Only Straw (7:23:31 p.m.): But, your father, and Isobel's father, and their friends.
Only Straw (7:24:39 p.m.): Having met your father, and from what I've heard of Isobel's father, and what I know of Isobel, I assume he's more than capable of holding his own around your father. Both of them have strong personalities. They're overprotective.
sixtyonereasons (7:25:20 p.m.): Daddy tends to defer to Michael, actually, yes.
This is true.
Only Straw (7:26:46 p.m.): And because this is safe to you - they've kept you safe, and they love you - it's natural for you to defer to those you spend time with and appreciate. You want to be less "intelligent" because that means you're in your right place in relation to them.
sixtyonereasons (7:29:52 p.m.): That makes a lot of sense.
Daddy hasn't always meant safety, but that's not relevant.
Only Straw (7:30:18 p.m.): Oh? Yes, it is, actually. What happened?
Only Straw (7:30:43 p.m.): He said on D_M that he wasn't always present? I didn't quite follow.
sixtyonereasons (7:30:46 p.m.): He...
Only Straw (7:31:16 p.m.): Did he hit you?
sixtyonereasons (7:31:33 p.m.): He wasn't in his right mind at the time.
Only Straw (7:31:37 p.m.): Did he?
sixtyonereasons (7:31:43 p.m.): He did.
Only Straw (7:32:09 p.m.): All the more reason to need to stay in your place.
sixtyonereasons (7:32:39 p.m.): ...I suppose so, yeah.
Only Straw (7:32:43 p.m.): Yes.
sixtyonereasons (7:33:51 p.m.): That's generally not something I discuss. John doesn't know.
Only Straw (7:34:06 p.m.): John would probably attack your father or something equally stupid.
sixtyonereasons (7:34:13 p.m.): That would be why he doesn't know, yes.
Only Straw (7:34:17 p.m.): I know.
sixtyonereasons (7:34:35 p.m.): Jonathan does. Though I didn't tell him.
Only Straw (7:34:42 p.m.): How did he find out?
sixtyonereasons (7:35:04 p.m.): I did vaguely reference it once (sort of kind of), and I think he just...put it together for himself.
Only Straw (7:35:23 p.m.): It's not that hard to piece together.
Only Straw (7:35:42 p.m.): I was waiting for you to say something along those lines.
sixtyonereasons (7:36:04 p.m.): It's hardly an uncommon complaint, really.
Only Straw (7:36:10 p.m.): It's not.
sixtyonereasons (7:37:33 p.m.): Could've been worse. Could've been a lot worse. So I don't really think about it.
Only Straw (7:38:23 p.m.): Just because it could have been worse doesn't mean it can't be better. Not dealing with your problems is much easier than dealing with them, but not having them is much easier than ignoring them.
sixtyonereasons (7:40:13 p.m.): I'm good at ignoring problems. Or running away from them. That's something I'm brilliant at. I'm not so good at facing them and dealing with them. I tend to run away until they're far enough in the past that I don't have to acknowledge them any more.
Only Straw (7:43:03 p.m.): Most people are good at running away. If animals aren't good at running away, they don't live to breed. Avoidance is natural. It's comfortable, in its own way. You can be just as good at facing this or anything. All it takes is the simple, conscious decision to not run.
sixtyonereasons (7:43:20 p.m.): Running stopped being an option a while ago.
Only Straw (7:44:06 p.m.): You're still deferrential.
Only Straw (7:44:13 p.m.): Deal with that.
sixtyonereasons (7:44:36 p.m.): Easier said than done, I think. Though I should.
Only Straw (7:44:40 p.m.): No.
Only Straw (7:44:41 p.m.): Say it.
Only Straw (7:44:47 p.m.): Say you're going to deal with it.
sixtyonereasons (7:44:55 p.m.): ...I'm going to deal with being deferrential.
Only Straw (7:45:05 p.m.): Now, you're going to do it.
sixtyonereasons (7:45:10 p.m.): I have absolutely no idea how.
Only Straw (7:45:15 p.m.): That's all right.
sixtyonereasons (7:45:22 p.m.): Oh, good.
Only Straw (7:45:25 p.m.): This is how you do it.
Only Straw (7:45:37 p.m.): Can you recognize when you're doing it?
sixtyonereasons (7:45:43 p.m.): I...think so, yes.
Only Straw (7:45:47 p.m.): Yes, or no?
sixtyonereasons (7:45:50 p.m.): Not all the time.
Only Straw (7:45:53 p.m.): All right.
Only Straw (7:45:59 p.m.): The times that you are, how do you know?
sixtyonereasons (7:46:31 p.m.): Because I tend to be biting back my own opinion in favour of just nodding and smiling like a good girl.
Only Straw (7:47:05 p.m.): I think it would be a good idea for you to start there.
Only Straw (7:47:39 p.m.): Whenever you recognize yourself doing this, take a little moment to acknowledge that, and to consciously make a choice concerning that.
Only Straw (7:48:20 p.m.): Your choice might be to keep your opinion to yourself. Sometimes it's the best thing to do. Your choice might also be that you're just keeping quiet in order to be "good", and that you're not going to, because being quiet is not the same thing as being good, and you know that.
Only Straw (7:48:59 p.m.): The important thing is that it boils down to your choice, and not to the insecurity itself. Do you understand?
sixtyonereasons (7:49:12 p.m.): Yes, I do. Thank you.
Only Straw (7:50:04 p.m.): Good.
Only Straw (7:50:37 p.m.): Also, examine the ways your husbands remind you of Michael and Richard, and the ways how you act around them might also remind you of how you act around Michael and Richard, and be aware of this.
sixtyonereasons (7:51:00 p.m.): I can do that.
Only Straw (7:51:40 p.m.): You could let me know how it goes, if you want.
sixtyonereasons (7:51:49 p.m.): Yes? I think I will, if you don't mind.
Only Straw (7:52:00 p.m.): I'd be happy to listen.
sixtyonereasons (7:52:12 p.m.): I appreciate that, very much.
Only Straw (7:52:20 p.m.): Thank you.
sixtyonereasons (7:52:25 p.m.): For?
Only Straw (7:52:32 p.m.): Letting me help.
sixtyonereasons (7:52:53 p.m.): You're welcome. I could use it, I know.
Only Straw (7:53:21 p.m.): You could also try to recognize it when you put yourself down.
sixtyonereasons (7:53:51 p.m.): Now that, I do recognise. It's a bad habit. I have many of them -- and that's not putting myself down, that's just a fact.
Only Straw (7:54:01 p.m.): Yes, that's a fact.
Only Straw (7:54:32 p.m.): Well, whether a habit is bad or not is an opinion, but everyone has many habbits.
Only Straw (7:54:39 p.m.): ((habit!))
sixtyonereasons (7:55:10 p.m.): Ha. Yes, true. I've got a few habits I could do without, but I'm lazy, so I will probably just keep them.
Only Straw (7:55:18 p.m.): That's your choice.
sixtyonereasons (7:55:23 p.m.): It is indeed.
Only Straw (7:55:56 p.m.): You could pick apart why you make those choices, but I think we've gone over enough now.
sixtyonereasons (7:56:38 p.m.): I'm still trying to figure out how we got from "stripping is demeaning" to "stop deferring".
Only Straw (7:57:48 p.m.): I didn't mean that it was demeaning. I meant that I couldn't imagine how someone could do that and not feel that it was. There's a difference.
sixtyonereasons (7:58:06 p.m.): Yes, right, I was just...summing it up badly, I suppose.
Only Straw (7:58:06 p.m.): Obviously, people don't, and I recognize that.
sixtyonereasons (8:00:02 p.m.): Yes. Well.
Only Straw (8:00:39 p.m.): We got from that topic to the other because we began to talk about saying stupid things.
sixtyonereasons (8:01:02 p.m.): You didn't want to say something stupid to Izzy. Yes?
Only Straw (8:01:07 p.m.): Yes.
sixtyonereasons (8:01:10 p.m.): Don't. Didn't. Whatever.
Only Straw (8:01:51 p.m.): And that is another issue of recognizing the desire to run. I will not. She terrifies me.
sixtyonereasons (8:02:08 p.m.): She terrifies you? Can I ask why?
Only Straw (8:02:18 p.m.): You just did.
sixtyonereasons (8:02:46 p.m.): Point. Are you going to answer it?
sixtyonereasons (8:05:32 p.m.): Sorry, that's prying.
Only Straw (8:06:00 p.m.): I don't want her to decide to ignore me, or to turn against me. I want to keep her attention. I don't know how to do that.
Only Straw (8:06:37 p.m.): I don't know how to deal with her attention, either.
sixtyonereasons (8:07:27 p.m.): Well, she likes you. So I don't think she's going to ignore you any time soon -- and she's really not the sort of person to turn against someone. Izzy's loyal. To a fault.
I have a question, but I'm not sure it's entirely polite to ask it.
Only Straw (8:07:42 p.m.): What?
sixtyonereasons (8:08:07 p.m.): Are you romantically interested in Izzy?
Aha. This borders on jealous ex-girlfriend territory, feel free to tell me to mind my own fucking business.
Only Straw (8:10:11 p.m.): I know I shouldn't be.
sixtyonereasons (8:10:18 p.m.): But are you?
Only Straw (8:12:26 p.m.): I'm sorry.
sixtyonereasons (8:12:36 p.m.): ...I don't follow.
Only Straw (8:13:17 p.m.): You don't want me to be.
sixtyonereasons (8:13:57 p.m.): That's because I'm irrationally jealous. Which I'll get over.
Only Straw (8:14:54 p.m.): Oh.
sixtyonereasons (8:16:09 p.m.): It's stupid of me to be jealous.
Only Straw (8:16:27 p.m.): I don't think jealousy is stupid.
sixtyonereasons (8:16:51 p.m.): She's hardly mine to be jealous over any more.
Only Straw (8:17:36 p.m.): That doesn't mean the emotion is stupid. That just means that you have to deal with it.
sixtyonereasons (8:18:21 p.m.): Which I will.
She was, you know. Flirting with you. When I so rudely interrupted your first conversation.
Only Straw (8:18:40 p.m.): I know.
Only Straw (8:18:46 p.m.): Didn't you see that meme?
sixtyonereasons (8:18:59 p.m.): I saw.
Only Straw (8:19:28 p.m.): We haven't talked about it since then.
sixtyonereasons (8:19:33 p.m.): You should.
Only Straw (8:20:00 p.m.): I'll admit to stalling.
sixtyonereasons (8:20:09 p.m.): Well, I don't blame you.
Only Straw (8:20:54 p.m.): Right.
sixtyonereasons (8:21:02 p.m.): But you should talk to her about it.
Only Straw (8:21:21 p.m.): I should.
sixtyonereasons (8:21:47 p.m.): Will you?
Only Straw (8:21:58 p.m.): Yes.
Only Straw (8:22:01 p.m.): I don't know when.
sixtyonereasons (8:22:16 p.m.): She's going with you to the reception, isn't she?
Only Straw (8:22:19 p.m.): Yes.
sixtyonereasons (8:22:23 p.m.): She mentioned it, I think.
Only Straw (8:22:35 p.m.): Did she?
sixtyonereasons (8:22:50 p.m.): In passing.
sixtyonereasons (8:23:11 p.m.): Well, and she wanted to know if John would mind her borrowing a marine.
sixtyonereasons (8:23:14 p.m.): For your suit.
sixtyonereasons (8:23:16 p.m.): Something.
Only Straw (8:23:18 p.m.): We did that.
sixtyonereasons (8:23:44 p.m.): Oh? Good.
Only Straw (8:23:56 p.m.): Yesterday.
sixtyonereasons (8:24:43 p.m.): Yes.
Only Straw (8:24:47 p.m.): Then she stayed for a while and we read.
sixtyonereasons (8:25:03 p.m.): That would've been nice.
Only Straw (8:25:12 p.m.): It was.
sixtyonereasons (8:25:29 p.m.): Good.
Only Straw (8:26:49 p.m.): Right.
sixtyonereasons (8:28:06 p.m.): Hm. I have no idea what to say.
Only Straw (8:28:21 p.m.): That's all right.
sixtyonereasons (8:29:10 p.m.): Kind of unusual for me! But hey.
Only Straw (8:29:26 p.m.): It's all right.
Only Straw (8:29:52 p.m.): I don't know what to do, so we're even.
sixtyonereasons (8:31:06 p.m.): Oh, well, that's fair enough, then.
Only Straw (8:31:28 p.m.): Heh.
sixtyonereasons (8:31:50 p.m.): Not knowing what to do in regards to Izzy, at least, is also not an uncommon complaint.
Only Straw (8:31:59 p.m.): Oh?
sixtyonereasons (8:32:57 p.m.): She always used to put me off-balance.
Only Straw (8:33:04 p.m.): What do you mean?
sixtyonereasons (8:33:30 p.m.): She made it hard to think straight.
Only Straw (8:34:43 p.m.): That doesn't help.
sixtyonereasons (8:34:49 p.m.): No, it doesn't.
Only Straw (8:35:26 p.m.): It's the sort of thing that leaves one wide open for trickery.
sixtyonereasons (8:36:04 p.m.): Well, yeah, it does.
Izzy's not inclined towards trickery, though.
Only Straw (8:36:26 p.m.): You say that and she says that. That doesn't mean it's true.
sixtyonereasons (8:36:47 p.m.): You not believing it doesn't make it a lie, either.
Only Straw (8:37:02 p.m.): That's true.
sixtyonereasons (8:37:11 p.m.): I thought it was a good point.
Only Straw (8:37:36 p.m.): However, I can't shake the suspicion. It's been my experience in the past.
sixtyonereasons (8:38:07 p.m.): That's reasonable enough.
Just means her not turning on you will be a pleasant surprise.
Only Straw (8:39:12 p.m.): I can't rely on that as a realistic hope. I'm going to be humiliated.
sixtyonereasons (8:39:24 p.m.): I don't think so.
sixtyonereasons (8:39:38 p.m.): I'm at a loss for how you can be convinced. Hm.
Only Straw (8:40:37 p.m.): So, I've been stalling. That can only go on for so long, but I like spending time with her.
sixtyonereasons (8:41:08 p.m.): Actually talking to her about this might be helpful.
Only Straw (8:41:30 p.m.): We don't need to talk about talking. We just need to talk.
sixtyonereasons (8:41:57 p.m.): Yes.
Only Straw (8:43:09 p.m.): Which I will do.
sixtyonereasons (8:43:14 p.m.): Soon?
Only Straw (8:43:19 p.m.): Soon.
sixtyonereasons (8:43:26 p.m.): Glad to hear it.
sixtyonereasons (8:43:30 p.m.): ...Read it. Whatever.
Only Straw (8:45:02 p.m.): Right now, I need to sleep.
sixtyonereasons (8:45:11 p.m.): Goodnight, then. It was nice to talk to you.
Only Straw (8:45:36 p.m.): Yes. Thank you. Good night.
sixtyonereasons (6:03:36 p.m.): I always forget I have this turned on. Hi?
Only Straw (6:03:48 p.m.): It's on.
sixtyonereasons (6:04:24 p.m.): I noticed, funnily enough.
Only Straw (6:07:43 p.m.): Oh.
Only Straw (6:07:50 p.m.): Thank you for inviting me to your party.
sixtyonereasons (6:08:16 p.m.): You got the invitation? You're very welcome.
Only Straw (6:08:35 p.m.): I did.
Only Straw (6:08:45 p.m.): How many people are going to be there?
sixtyonereasons (6:09:03 p.m.): Hang on, I've got the guestlist here somewhere...and I need to grab my glasses.
sixtyonereasons (6:10:26 p.m.): Upwards of twenty, if everyone comes.
Only Straw (6:10:46 p.m.): Is that counting your family?
sixtyonereasons (6:10:55 p.m.): Yes.
sixtyonereasons (6:11:03 p.m.): ...Closer to thirty, if I count all the children.
Only Straw (6:11:08 p.m.): Oh.
Only Straw (6:11:21 p.m.): You're all coming to this reception, too, aren't you?
sixtyonereasons (6:11:27 p.m.): Not all of us, no.
sixtyonereasons (6:11:33 p.m.): I think it's just Jonathan and I going to the reception.
Only Straw (6:11:37 p.m.): Good.
sixtyonereasons (6:12:17 p.m.): Getting the children organised is a bit of a nightmare even when we're not going out, so.
Only Straw (6:12:47 p.m.): Do you think I could visit some time when there's not so many people around, instead?
sixtyonereasons (6:12:59 p.m.): That'd be fine. We'd like that.
Only Straw (6:13:20 p.m.): I have to do this thing for Hermes and Norman this weekend, and I don't want to do another one next weekend.
sixtyonereasons (6:14:09 p.m.): If only because of how you and John dislike each other, I didn't think you'd want to come to the party. But I'd feel awful if I didn't invite you, so there you go.
Only Straw (6:14:56 p.m.): It's a nice invitation.
sixtyonereasons (6:15:58 p.m.): My granddaughter made it. I think she made about seven before she settled on that one.
Only Straw (6:16:10 p.m.): Tell her that I like it.
sixtyonereasons (6:16:29 p.m.): I'll pass that on, she'll be very pleased. She was proud of it.
Only Straw (6:16:42 p.m.): Good.
sixtyonereasons (6:17:16 p.m.): My version would've been a lot less pretty.
Only Straw (6:18:26 p.m.): You prefer it when other people do things for you, anyway.
sixtyonereasons (6:18:48 p.m.): Ha! Well, this is true.
Only Straw (6:19:08 p.m.): So long as you admit it.
sixtyonereasons (6:20:05 p.m.): I do like to think I'm at least mostly honest. With myself or other people. So.
Though I have some things to get done in the next few months that I cannot, unfortunately, delegate.
Only Straw (6:20:41 p.m.): It's good to be honest. I try to be honest, when I can be.
sixtyonereasons (6:21:10 p.m.): When I'm not, it bites me in the ass. Learned the hard way.
Only Straw (6:22:09 p.m.): Well, yes. There's no point in lying when you're not going to get away with it.
sixtyonereasons (6:22:54 p.m.): Too true.
Only Straw (6:23:33 p.m.): Maybe it's true. I could be lying.
sixtyonereasons (6:24:56 p.m.): Ha. You could be, at that. But it sounds true to me, so I don't think I mind much either way.
Only Straw (6:25:11 p.m.): So lies that sound true are as good as truth, eh?
sixtyonereasons (6:25:24 p.m.): Not always.
sixtyonereasons (6:25:27 p.m.): But sometimes.
Only Straw (6:25:35 p.m.): When?
sixtyonereasons (6:25:57 p.m.): There are times when it's just better to lie than tell the truth.
Only Straw (6:26:49 p.m.): Not to lie. When is it just as good to hear lies that sound like the truth?
sixtyonereasons (6:27:07 p.m.): I could be specific, but I don't think you're that interested in my family drama.
Only Straw (6:27:15 p.m.): You can be specific.
Only Straw (6:29:28 p.m.): You could even make something up.
sixtyonereasons (6:29:30 p.m.): I'm having trouble pinning it down now.
Only Straw (6:29:36 p.m.): Ah.
Only Straw (6:29:44 p.m.): Well, talk to me about something.
sixtyonereasons (6:30:16 p.m.): Something, huh? I don't have much interesting to talk about, to be honest. It's all house-cleaning and redecorating and how the hell do you start a school, anyway...
Only Straw (6:30:36 p.m.): You need students and a lesson plan. The rest falls into place.
sixtyonereasons (6:30:56 p.m.): I've got the students. In a while, I'll have a school house. The lesson plan is...a work in progress.
Only Straw (6:31:07 p.m.): That's the important thing.
Only Straw (6:31:48 p.m.): A school house, as in an old fashioned one?
sixtyonereasons (6:32:49 p.m.): I'm not actually sure. I need somewhere to actually do this teaching thing, so John's marines are building me a school house on the mainland. Probably near where our other house is going up, I think.
sixtyonereasons (6:33:12 p.m.): I complained about being bored, and suddenly I'm starting a school for the Athosian children. I will never complain again.
Only Straw (6:33:24 p.m.): I think it's the best way to educate children, but it's not feasable anymore.
sixtyonereasons (6:34:06 p.m.): Hmm. Maybe so.
Only Straw (6:34:56 p.m.): Of course, I never worked with children.
sixtyonereasons (6:35:12 p.m.): When I was living in Chicago, I was a kindergarten teacher.
Only Straw (6:40:17 p.m.): I couldn't ever do that.
Only Straw (6:40:35 p.m.): I never considered teaching children, not even high school.
sixtyonereasons (6:42:49 p.m.): I like kids, and I'm good with them. When I decided to get a job that didn't involve taking my clothes off, it made sense.
Only Straw (6:43:13 p.m.): Right.
Only Straw (6:43:35 p.m.): That didn't prevent you from getting a job as a kindergarten teacher?
sixtyonereasons (6:44:01 p.m.): I was a bit concerned about it, but no, it didn't.
Only Straw (6:44:10 p.m.): That's good.
Only Straw (6:45:16 p.m.): I want to ask how people are able to do that, but I don't want the question to sound the wrong way.
sixtyonereasons (6:45:27 p.m.): Do what? Strip?
Only Straw (6:45:37 p.m.): Yes.
sixtyonereasons (6:45:58 p.m.): Hmm. Hard question, actually, and the answers vary -- a lot.
Only Straw (6:46:50 p.m.): Oh.
sixtyonereasons (6:47:10 p.m.): Me, personally? I wasn't qualified to do much of anything, and I enjoyed it.
Only Straw (6:48:02 p.m.): I don't understand how it wouldn't be demeaning.
sixtyonereasons (6:51:29 p.m.): Stripping isn't that bad. It's just a job, really, and there's always going to be demand for it. People like to see other people naked, it's a thing. I liked to dance, I liked the people I was working with, it was decent pay and I felt safe.
Only Straw (6:52:20 p.m.): Ah.
Only Straw (6:52:57 p.m.): I'm not trying to offend you.
sixtyonereasons (6:53:03 p.m.): It's fine, I'm not offended.
sixtyonereasons (6:53:52 p.m.): Admittedly, it's not something I discuss a lot, but I've got no problem talking about it.
Only Straw (6:55:38 p.m.): Some things just don't come up in conversation.
sixtyonereasons (6:55:49 p.m.): You'd be surprised.
Only Straw (6:56:37 p.m.): Maybe.
Only Straw (6:57:07 p.m.): I don't want to talk to Isobel about it. I think I -would- say something to offend her.
sixtyonereasons (6:57:50 p.m.): It's pretty hard to offend Izzy. I did some very stupid things, and she's still speaking to me. Which is more than I deserve.
Only Straw (6:58:05 p.m.): I get that impression, but I don't want to say anything stupid.
sixtyonereasons (6:58:46 p.m.): That's fair enough, I suppose.
Only Straw (6:59:23 p.m.): When I try to do an impression of sanity, I sound stupid. It's a trade-off, sometimes.
Only Straw (6:59:45 p.m.): That's all right, though.
sixtyonereasons (7:00:03 p.m.): I don't think Izzy would think you're stupid, pretty much no matter what you say. So.
Only Straw (7:01:05 p.m.): I'm not stupid.
sixtyonereasons (7:01:11 p.m.): I'm aware of that. Hence.
Only Straw (7:01:15 p.m.): That does not equate not saying stupid things.
sixtyonereasons (7:01:45 p.m.): Aware of that, too. It is an irritating fact, at times.
Only Straw (7:02:50 p.m.): It's much easier to talk to people through text. That's just how it is. It has nothing to do with intelligence.
sixtyonereasons (7:03:47 p.m.): Yes.
sixtyonereasons (7:04:31 p.m.): I think I tend to say stupid things whether I'm talking in person or in text. Donnatella = dizzy blonde. Sigh.
Only Straw (7:04:45 p.m.): I don't think that's usually true.
sixtyonereasons (7:05:27 p.m.): I'm a blonde cheerleader from Texas. I've got like, three braincells.
I kid, I kid.
Only Straw (7:06:02 p.m.): I'm not going to keep telling you it's not true. You know it's not.
sixtyonereasons (7:06:59 p.m.): Ha! I know you wouldn't.
Only Straw (7:09:46 p.m.): You seem intelligent enough.
sixtyonereasons (7:10:19 p.m.): Clever enough to get by. It suits me fine.
sixtyonereasons (7:12:05 p.m.): I'm constantly surrounded by people who are smarter than I am. Claiming to be ditzier than I actually am is just the easiest way of handling that, really. So it doesn't actually matter. Anyway.
Only Straw (7:12:34 p.m.): The best way to deal with that is to be secure enough to ignore it.
Only Straw (7:12:56 p.m.): I am well aware that this is easier said than done. I can't ignore much.
sixtyonereasons (7:13:42 p.m.): It is much, much easier said than done. But I'm okay with being a little intimidated by other people's intelligence; I'm very, very used to it.
Only Straw (7:14:12 p.m.): Are you?
sixtyonereasons (7:14:55 p.m.): Surrounded by men who are smarter than me since I was a little girl.
Only Straw (7:16:48 p.m.): This isn't an issue of your relative intelligence. This is an issue of you having learned to defer.
sixtyonereasons (7:17:08 p.m.): True.
sixtyonereasons (7:17:51 p.m.): I've never really thought about it that much.
Only Straw (7:18:00 p.m.): Surrounded by men since you were a little girl. Who?
sixtyonereasons (7:18:55 p.m.): Daddy. Michael. John. Paul. Daddy's friends.
Only Straw (7:22:24 p.m.): Now, just a moment.
Only Straw (7:22:39 p.m.): John and... Paul? They're both your age, aren't they?
sixtyonereasons (7:23:04 p.m.): They are, yes. Paul and I are twins, and John's only a few months older than me.
Only Straw (7:23:16 p.m.): Yes. Boys, when you were a girl.
sixtyonereasons (7:23:24 p.m.): Yes.
Only Straw (7:23:31 p.m.): But, your father, and Isobel's father, and their friends.
Only Straw (7:24:39 p.m.): Having met your father, and from what I've heard of Isobel's father, and what I know of Isobel, I assume he's more than capable of holding his own around your father. Both of them have strong personalities. They're overprotective.
sixtyonereasons (7:25:20 p.m.): Daddy tends to defer to Michael, actually, yes.
This is true.
Only Straw (7:26:46 p.m.): And because this is safe to you - they've kept you safe, and they love you - it's natural for you to defer to those you spend time with and appreciate. You want to be less "intelligent" because that means you're in your right place in relation to them.
sixtyonereasons (7:29:52 p.m.): That makes a lot of sense.
Daddy hasn't always meant safety, but that's not relevant.
Only Straw (7:30:18 p.m.): Oh? Yes, it is, actually. What happened?
Only Straw (7:30:43 p.m.): He said on D_M that he wasn't always present? I didn't quite follow.
sixtyonereasons (7:30:46 p.m.): He...
Only Straw (7:31:16 p.m.): Did he hit you?
sixtyonereasons (7:31:33 p.m.): He wasn't in his right mind at the time.
Only Straw (7:31:37 p.m.): Did he?
sixtyonereasons (7:31:43 p.m.): He did.
Only Straw (7:32:09 p.m.): All the more reason to need to stay in your place.
sixtyonereasons (7:32:39 p.m.): ...I suppose so, yeah.
Only Straw (7:32:43 p.m.): Yes.
sixtyonereasons (7:33:51 p.m.): That's generally not something I discuss. John doesn't know.
Only Straw (7:34:06 p.m.): John would probably attack your father or something equally stupid.
sixtyonereasons (7:34:13 p.m.): That would be why he doesn't know, yes.
Only Straw (7:34:17 p.m.): I know.
sixtyonereasons (7:34:35 p.m.): Jonathan does. Though I didn't tell him.
Only Straw (7:34:42 p.m.): How did he find out?
sixtyonereasons (7:35:04 p.m.): I did vaguely reference it once (sort of kind of), and I think he just...put it together for himself.
Only Straw (7:35:23 p.m.): It's not that hard to piece together.
Only Straw (7:35:42 p.m.): I was waiting for you to say something along those lines.
sixtyonereasons (7:36:04 p.m.): It's hardly an uncommon complaint, really.
Only Straw (7:36:10 p.m.): It's not.
sixtyonereasons (7:37:33 p.m.): Could've been worse. Could've been a lot worse. So I don't really think about it.
Only Straw (7:38:23 p.m.): Just because it could have been worse doesn't mean it can't be better. Not dealing with your problems is much easier than dealing with them, but not having them is much easier than ignoring them.
sixtyonereasons (7:40:13 p.m.): I'm good at ignoring problems. Or running away from them. That's something I'm brilliant at. I'm not so good at facing them and dealing with them. I tend to run away until they're far enough in the past that I don't have to acknowledge them any more.
Only Straw (7:43:03 p.m.): Most people are good at running away. If animals aren't good at running away, they don't live to breed. Avoidance is natural. It's comfortable, in its own way. You can be just as good at facing this or anything. All it takes is the simple, conscious decision to not run.
sixtyonereasons (7:43:20 p.m.): Running stopped being an option a while ago.
Only Straw (7:44:06 p.m.): You're still deferrential.
Only Straw (7:44:13 p.m.): Deal with that.
sixtyonereasons (7:44:36 p.m.): Easier said than done, I think. Though I should.
Only Straw (7:44:40 p.m.): No.
Only Straw (7:44:41 p.m.): Say it.
Only Straw (7:44:47 p.m.): Say you're going to deal with it.
sixtyonereasons (7:44:55 p.m.): ...I'm going to deal with being deferrential.
Only Straw (7:45:05 p.m.): Now, you're going to do it.
sixtyonereasons (7:45:10 p.m.): I have absolutely no idea how.
Only Straw (7:45:15 p.m.): That's all right.
sixtyonereasons (7:45:22 p.m.): Oh, good.
Only Straw (7:45:25 p.m.): This is how you do it.
Only Straw (7:45:37 p.m.): Can you recognize when you're doing it?
sixtyonereasons (7:45:43 p.m.): I...think so, yes.
Only Straw (7:45:47 p.m.): Yes, or no?
sixtyonereasons (7:45:50 p.m.): Not all the time.
Only Straw (7:45:53 p.m.): All right.
Only Straw (7:45:59 p.m.): The times that you are, how do you know?
sixtyonereasons (7:46:31 p.m.): Because I tend to be biting back my own opinion in favour of just nodding and smiling like a good girl.
Only Straw (7:47:05 p.m.): I think it would be a good idea for you to start there.
Only Straw (7:47:39 p.m.): Whenever you recognize yourself doing this, take a little moment to acknowledge that, and to consciously make a choice concerning that.
Only Straw (7:48:20 p.m.): Your choice might be to keep your opinion to yourself. Sometimes it's the best thing to do. Your choice might also be that you're just keeping quiet in order to be "good", and that you're not going to, because being quiet is not the same thing as being good, and you know that.
Only Straw (7:48:59 p.m.): The important thing is that it boils down to your choice, and not to the insecurity itself. Do you understand?
sixtyonereasons (7:49:12 p.m.): Yes, I do. Thank you.
Only Straw (7:50:04 p.m.): Good.
Only Straw (7:50:37 p.m.): Also, examine the ways your husbands remind you of Michael and Richard, and the ways how you act around them might also remind you of how you act around Michael and Richard, and be aware of this.
sixtyonereasons (7:51:00 p.m.): I can do that.
Only Straw (7:51:40 p.m.): You could let me know how it goes, if you want.
sixtyonereasons (7:51:49 p.m.): Yes? I think I will, if you don't mind.
Only Straw (7:52:00 p.m.): I'd be happy to listen.
sixtyonereasons (7:52:12 p.m.): I appreciate that, very much.
Only Straw (7:52:20 p.m.): Thank you.
sixtyonereasons (7:52:25 p.m.): For?
Only Straw (7:52:32 p.m.): Letting me help.
sixtyonereasons (7:52:53 p.m.): You're welcome. I could use it, I know.
Only Straw (7:53:21 p.m.): You could also try to recognize it when you put yourself down.
sixtyonereasons (7:53:51 p.m.): Now that, I do recognise. It's a bad habit. I have many of them -- and that's not putting myself down, that's just a fact.
Only Straw (7:54:01 p.m.): Yes, that's a fact.
Only Straw (7:54:32 p.m.): Well, whether a habit is bad or not is an opinion, but everyone has many habbits.
Only Straw (7:54:39 p.m.): ((habit!))
sixtyonereasons (7:55:10 p.m.): Ha. Yes, true. I've got a few habits I could do without, but I'm lazy, so I will probably just keep them.
Only Straw (7:55:18 p.m.): That's your choice.
sixtyonereasons (7:55:23 p.m.): It is indeed.
Only Straw (7:55:56 p.m.): You could pick apart why you make those choices, but I think we've gone over enough now.
sixtyonereasons (7:56:38 p.m.): I'm still trying to figure out how we got from "stripping is demeaning" to "stop deferring".
Only Straw (7:57:48 p.m.): I didn't mean that it was demeaning. I meant that I couldn't imagine how someone could do that and not feel that it was. There's a difference.
sixtyonereasons (7:58:06 p.m.): Yes, right, I was just...summing it up badly, I suppose.
Only Straw (7:58:06 p.m.): Obviously, people don't, and I recognize that.
sixtyonereasons (8:00:02 p.m.): Yes. Well.
Only Straw (8:00:39 p.m.): We got from that topic to the other because we began to talk about saying stupid things.
sixtyonereasons (8:01:02 p.m.): You didn't want to say something stupid to Izzy. Yes?
Only Straw (8:01:07 p.m.): Yes.
sixtyonereasons (8:01:10 p.m.): Don't. Didn't. Whatever.
Only Straw (8:01:51 p.m.): And that is another issue of recognizing the desire to run. I will not. She terrifies me.
sixtyonereasons (8:02:08 p.m.): She terrifies you? Can I ask why?
Only Straw (8:02:18 p.m.): You just did.
sixtyonereasons (8:02:46 p.m.): Point. Are you going to answer it?
sixtyonereasons (8:05:32 p.m.): Sorry, that's prying.
Only Straw (8:06:00 p.m.): I don't want her to decide to ignore me, or to turn against me. I want to keep her attention. I don't know how to do that.
Only Straw (8:06:37 p.m.): I don't know how to deal with her attention, either.
sixtyonereasons (8:07:27 p.m.): Well, she likes you. So I don't think she's going to ignore you any time soon -- and she's really not the sort of person to turn against someone. Izzy's loyal. To a fault.
I have a question, but I'm not sure it's entirely polite to ask it.
Only Straw (8:07:42 p.m.): What?
sixtyonereasons (8:08:07 p.m.): Are you romantically interested in Izzy?
Aha. This borders on jealous ex-girlfriend territory, feel free to tell me to mind my own fucking business.
Only Straw (8:10:11 p.m.): I know I shouldn't be.
sixtyonereasons (8:10:18 p.m.): But are you?
Only Straw (8:12:26 p.m.): I'm sorry.
sixtyonereasons (8:12:36 p.m.): ...I don't follow.
Only Straw (8:13:17 p.m.): You don't want me to be.
sixtyonereasons (8:13:57 p.m.): That's because I'm irrationally jealous. Which I'll get over.
Only Straw (8:14:54 p.m.): Oh.
sixtyonereasons (8:16:09 p.m.): It's stupid of me to be jealous.
Only Straw (8:16:27 p.m.): I don't think jealousy is stupid.
sixtyonereasons (8:16:51 p.m.): She's hardly mine to be jealous over any more.
Only Straw (8:17:36 p.m.): That doesn't mean the emotion is stupid. That just means that you have to deal with it.
sixtyonereasons (8:18:21 p.m.): Which I will.
She was, you know. Flirting with you. When I so rudely interrupted your first conversation.
Only Straw (8:18:40 p.m.): I know.
Only Straw (8:18:46 p.m.): Didn't you see that meme?
sixtyonereasons (8:18:59 p.m.): I saw.
Only Straw (8:19:28 p.m.): We haven't talked about it since then.
sixtyonereasons (8:19:33 p.m.): You should.
Only Straw (8:20:00 p.m.): I'll admit to stalling.
sixtyonereasons (8:20:09 p.m.): Well, I don't blame you.
Only Straw (8:20:54 p.m.): Right.
sixtyonereasons (8:21:02 p.m.): But you should talk to her about it.
Only Straw (8:21:21 p.m.): I should.
sixtyonereasons (8:21:47 p.m.): Will you?
Only Straw (8:21:58 p.m.): Yes.
Only Straw (8:22:01 p.m.): I don't know when.
sixtyonereasons (8:22:16 p.m.): She's going with you to the reception, isn't she?
Only Straw (8:22:19 p.m.): Yes.
sixtyonereasons (8:22:23 p.m.): She mentioned it, I think.
Only Straw (8:22:35 p.m.): Did she?
sixtyonereasons (8:22:50 p.m.): In passing.
sixtyonereasons (8:23:11 p.m.): Well, and she wanted to know if John would mind her borrowing a marine.
sixtyonereasons (8:23:14 p.m.): For your suit.
sixtyonereasons (8:23:16 p.m.): Something.
Only Straw (8:23:18 p.m.): We did that.
sixtyonereasons (8:23:44 p.m.): Oh? Good.
Only Straw (8:23:56 p.m.): Yesterday.
sixtyonereasons (8:24:43 p.m.): Yes.
Only Straw (8:24:47 p.m.): Then she stayed for a while and we read.
sixtyonereasons (8:25:03 p.m.): That would've been nice.
Only Straw (8:25:12 p.m.): It was.
sixtyonereasons (8:25:29 p.m.): Good.
Only Straw (8:26:49 p.m.): Right.
sixtyonereasons (8:28:06 p.m.): Hm. I have no idea what to say.
Only Straw (8:28:21 p.m.): That's all right.
sixtyonereasons (8:29:10 p.m.): Kind of unusual for me! But hey.
Only Straw (8:29:26 p.m.): It's all right.
Only Straw (8:29:52 p.m.): I don't know what to do, so we're even.
sixtyonereasons (8:31:06 p.m.): Oh, well, that's fair enough, then.
Only Straw (8:31:28 p.m.): Heh.
sixtyonereasons (8:31:50 p.m.): Not knowing what to do in regards to Izzy, at least, is also not an uncommon complaint.
Only Straw (8:31:59 p.m.): Oh?
sixtyonereasons (8:32:57 p.m.): She always used to put me off-balance.
Only Straw (8:33:04 p.m.): What do you mean?
sixtyonereasons (8:33:30 p.m.): She made it hard to think straight.
Only Straw (8:34:43 p.m.): That doesn't help.
sixtyonereasons (8:34:49 p.m.): No, it doesn't.
Only Straw (8:35:26 p.m.): It's the sort of thing that leaves one wide open for trickery.
sixtyonereasons (8:36:04 p.m.): Well, yeah, it does.
Izzy's not inclined towards trickery, though.
Only Straw (8:36:26 p.m.): You say that and she says that. That doesn't mean it's true.
sixtyonereasons (8:36:47 p.m.): You not believing it doesn't make it a lie, either.
Only Straw (8:37:02 p.m.): That's true.
sixtyonereasons (8:37:11 p.m.): I thought it was a good point.
Only Straw (8:37:36 p.m.): However, I can't shake the suspicion. It's been my experience in the past.
sixtyonereasons (8:38:07 p.m.): That's reasonable enough.
Just means her not turning on you will be a pleasant surprise.
Only Straw (8:39:12 p.m.): I can't rely on that as a realistic hope. I'm going to be humiliated.
sixtyonereasons (8:39:24 p.m.): I don't think so.
sixtyonereasons (8:39:38 p.m.): I'm at a loss for how you can be convinced. Hm.
Only Straw (8:40:37 p.m.): So, I've been stalling. That can only go on for so long, but I like spending time with her.
sixtyonereasons (8:41:08 p.m.): Actually talking to her about this might be helpful.
Only Straw (8:41:30 p.m.): We don't need to talk about talking. We just need to talk.
sixtyonereasons (8:41:57 p.m.): Yes.
Only Straw (8:43:09 p.m.): Which I will do.
sixtyonereasons (8:43:14 p.m.): Soon?
Only Straw (8:43:19 p.m.): Soon.
sixtyonereasons (8:43:26 p.m.): Glad to hear it.
sixtyonereasons (8:43:30 p.m.): ...Read it. Whatever.
Only Straw (8:45:02 p.m.): Right now, I need to sleep.
sixtyonereasons (8:45:11 p.m.): Goodnight, then. It was nice to talk to you.
Only Straw (8:45:36 p.m.): Yes. Thank you. Good night.