[007] [Audio, heard in your character's preferred language]

[skinbrand]

This is completely unacceptable.

Nel. Honey. I love you, but seriously?

No. That is quite enough from you.

Twenty-three years old. Girl, you are twenty-fucking-three years old and you never even so much as sucked face--

How can I silence this abomination?

Comments

Audio

[idkmybffsean]

...Nelly. That's one opinionated shadow you've got there.

Hey! Hey! This lad here can fix the problem!

[text]

[skinbrand]

Yours is every bit as mischievous, from the sound of it. Don't suppose you might have found a way to muffle the chatter?

[She acts as if she can't hear her shadow agreeing with his.]

[Audio] --> [text]

[idkmybffsean]

He's got a huge c--

[He switches to text as well before his shadow starts being too silly.]

Yeah, he's a bit of a bugger. No. No clue how to shut them up.

...Was yours kidding or have you really never kissed anyone?

[text]

[skinbrand]

[. . . .]

... Yes. As you say, a... 'bugger'.

I do not see how it could be important, but no, I haven't.

[text]

[idkmybffsean]

Hey, I'm just trying to spare you from shadow harassment.

If you share a bit of lip with someone then you can't be teased about it.

[text]

[skinbrand]

[If this were audio, he could hear the dryly amused note in her voice.]

Sharing my lip does not sound like an appetizing venture. Unless you don't mean literally?

[...

Was that a joke.

Did Nel just make a funny.

Gasp!]

[text]

[idkmybffsean]

[She did! And Joe even LAUGHED.]

You know what I mean. Kiss someone and the shadow can't tease you about having never done it.

[text]

[skinbrand]

Are you certain that you don't have an ulterior motive, here?

[Of course he damn well has an ulterior motive, Nel knows him.]

[text]

[idkmybffsean]

You don't trust me at all, do you? Okay fine. You can keep on being teased about it then.

[text]

[skinbrand]

How about this; if you can tolerate the shadows' chatter, you may come. I won't even electrocute you.

[... Double entendre? Her? Not on purpose!]

[text]

[idkmybffsean]

I can't promise mine will be quiet.

[He's on his way though.]

You're in the kitchen then?

[text] --> [commentlog]

[skinbrand]

[Hmm. Joe appears to be less embarrassed by his shadow than she'd assumed. Not as planned!

But neither is she going to hide like a coward after she already said. Yes, she's in the kitchen, finishing the last of lunch's plates and soaking them in the sink. Damp or soapy from the elbows down. Idly hoping she won't regret the decision, Nel taps out a last transmission.]

Yes, my load is almost done.

[commentlog]

[idkmybffsean]

[A few minutes later Joe appears, his arrival proudly announced by his shadow.]

Milady! Your prince has arrived!

[Joe chuckles. He's alright with his shadow talking so long as it doesn't spill too much.]

[commentlog]

[skinbrand]

[He catches Nel toweling off, and for a split second she looks bemused as she pictures Joe, the Aquarian prince. It says much about how separate she'd like to keep her friendships and politics that the hair on her nape rises.

She shrugs it off internally and gives a slight smile.]

Greetings, your highness.

[Nel bows formally as she would to a sovereign leader, to add extra irony.]

[commentlog]

[idkmybffsean]

[Joe laughs. It's always nice when Nel joins in with jokes.]

Rise, my loyal subject.

[He runs his fingers through her hair as he passes.]

Stop messin' around and kiss the lass. Kiss 'er! Go on!

Behave, ya little shit.

[commentlog]

[skinbrand]

[She straightens out, caught thoroughly off-guard, and opens her mouth to shut down his loudmouthed tagalong. Nel's beats her to the punch.]

Christ on a pogo stick, man, I tell ya. She's gonna stall until your meatbag shows some god damn initiative! I'm attached to a frigging block of ice!

[Disgruntled now, she wrings the towel over the sink and snaps.] Oh, I do apologize for you being so put-upon. It's a terrible life I'm sure.