I want to have the same last dream again (march catch-all)

[ghostfromthemachine]

WHO: Kaiko and... you, perhaps?
WHAT: assorted shenanigans
WHEN: throughout March
WHERE: Nightwake, Amberfall, probably wherever you least expect her—
WARNINGS: will update as necessary!

Prompts will be in toplevels! OTA unless otherwise stated.

Comments

[ghostfromthemachine]

[ "some"— no, come on Kaiko, you can put the bitterness down for like five seconds.

she's just going to hum and perch on a nearby table. ]

I guess, then... are ghosts much of a thing where you're from?

[abnormalizes]

They exist, but they're not super common, I think?

[They were mentioned offhandedly as a thing that exists with no context or elaboration so winging it!!]

[ghostfromthemachine]

[ thanks canon. ]

Sounds like about average, then... um. Anyway.

[ does a little jazz hands ]

Boo?

[abnormalizes]

Oh! Is it appropriate to say 'my condolences', or is that something you hear too much of?

[She can imagine it might get old.]

[ghostfromthemachine]

I think for most other people it'd be appropriate. The thought is certainly appreciated, though in my case it's... complicated?

[ huffing a laugh ]

Let's just say that while the process was 0-out-of-10-stars-do-not-recommend terrible, the results were one of the best things to happen to me.

[abnormalizes]

That's good at least! Everybody should get to be happy with themselves and their bodies, ghosts included.

[ghostfromthemachine]

Hard agree. I got... pretty lucky, in that regard.

[ ...does she want to mention the hideous body dysphoria...

maybe not for a first conversation! that's a little personal. ]

That's definitely the source of most of my woes, though. Like, can't a girl make grouchy noises about getting shot without it turning into a big deal?

[abnormalizes]

It's super frustrating! Like, people are nice, they're trying to be supportive, but also we don't have to go on at length about the mortality rate at my workplace and how I feel about it, I just want to whine a little and then move on.

[ghostfromthemachine]

[ POINTING AT HER ]

Exactly. Exactly?! Venting is healthy, let us vent, it doesn't have to be a whole therapy session every time.

[abnormalizes]

Right! You get it! Maybe I don't want to unpack my trauma today and just complain some!

[ghostfromthemachine]

[ sticks both hands in the air in excitement, like, YES ]

All right, all right, all right— what's the most annoying part of the high employee turnover.

[abnormalizes]

Learning people's names. We get five new people in a week and none of our uniforms have name tags because it's a waste of money, how the fuck am I expected to remember all these people's names?

[ghostfromthemachine]

—you don't even get the "hello, my name is:" stickers?

[abnormalizes]

You can if you pay for them yourself?

[ghostfromthemachine]

They're like five dollars a roll! Goodness, that would be a pain.

[abnormalizes]

Capitalist dystopia!

[She does jazz hands.]

[ghostfromthemachine]

Well, you're certainly giving me a greater appreciation for working in government-funded facilities.

[abnormalizes]

I have some bad news about my old workplace.

[ghostfromthemachine]

No. What?! I want to have a stern talk with whoever manages your budget.

[abnormalizes]

We are in fact a government agency. I think most of the financial decisions are made at headquarters, so not by anyone who I've ever seen...

[ghostfromthemachine]

[ pinching the bridge of her nose ]

Of course they are! Why would you have anyone actually familiar with operations in charge of that sort of thing. That'd just be silly, obviously.

[abnormalizes]

I feel like I have a list of complaints for headquarters that goes way beyond budgeting decisions, but you're not wrong.

[ghostfromthemachine]

I bet. I just figured I'd go for the lower-hanging fruit.

[abnormalizes]

Headquarters can go fuck themselves. My manager can also go fuck himself, he's the only one who gets to sit all safe and cozy while he sends other people to their deaths. Fuck that guy.

[ghostfromthemachine]

Gross. May they all get exactly what they deserve, and then maybe a little more.

[ ...obviously, she can't really cross the boundaries between universes even with a lot more oomph than that casual utterance. still, there's enough power in those particular words out of her mouth that the temperature drops a little. ]