Two losers bicker for a little too long

“It’s just something to consider.” She said, inspecting the chain before her as she waited for the inevitable silence that would follow. She pinches the sturdy thread experimentally before turning the hook over in her hand, humming with consideration.

A hush falls over the room, the first since the arrival of her company. She doesn’t have to check up on him, more than aware he’s heard. It’d be hard not to consider the nature of their ongoing conversation.

There’s a deliberate sigh, what she knows to be acknowledgement, accompanied by the slight rustle of fabric. She gives a sidelong glance, long enough to watch as the other fetches a stray ball of yarn, before returning to her work. She can hear the soft thumps that start up, her company likely using the item as no more than a toy to occupy his attention at the moment.

“We keep having this conversation.” Comes the expectedly clipped reply. She hums her acknowledgement, unbothered.

“And we’ll continue to do so until you take the time to truly consider it.” She says in turn, moving her attention from the unfinished chain before her to the other.

Cisros has the decency to look sorry, or as much as he can with his guarded attitude. Over time, she likes to think she’s gotten better at reading him. The plethora of items he wears on his face out of necessity haven’t made it much easier. 

“It just wouldn’t work.” He finally musters up, one clawed finger tugging at the spool in his hand. The fabric frays beneath the sharp pressure. “I mean, I know that. You have to as well.”

“I prefer thinking more optimistically.” 

“That’s not… conventional.”

“Elementary.”

The faux violetblood groans, whether from the topic itself or her reply she can’t be sure. If it weren’t for the manner of their talk, she’d crack a grin. 

“It wouldn’t even do anything. You, just— you try too hard. To prolong.. this.”

“I don’t think you’re trying hard enough.”

“Someone has to be sensible.” 

“Defeatist, more like.” 

Another groan. This time Pholai spares the time to tuck a hand beneath her chin elegantly, letting out a familiar bark of a laugh. She can see the way Cisros’ hand opens and closes as if attempting to puppet her own cackle, only serving to make her laugh louder. 

The other falls back with a humph, nestled rather comfortably with the rest of her spools. She considers how she’d ought to tidy up the mess about her hive, pushing the idea to the back of her mind as soon as it came. If everything went as intended, she’d have no need. 

“You were invited. Not me. They don’t even.. They don’t even know that I exist.” He replies, muffled. She can only assume he’s made his face at home underneath his bandana, a mannerism he’d taken up when they’d first had this conversation.

“Oh, don’t flatter yourself. You and I both know I’ve shared enough for them to have a vague enough idea.”

“Mhm.. a vague idea. That’s nothing like the real deal. They want you.”

 She paused to hold up two clawed fingers. “I’d like to think.. that we’re a package deal. You come for one thing, and just happen to get the other.”

His nose wrinkled. “Gog, what a scam.”

This time, the cackle is enough to make her chest hurt, with the dull throb that such vocalized happiness brings. Cisros turns on his side, lips curling upwards in a toothy grin she’s grown familiar with. 

They share a comfortable silence, or as comfortable as one can be between two trolls as doomed as they are.

“...It might not even work.” She concedes, returning to the chain she’d begun ignoring. Her hook fastens to the thread fast, familiar in all the best ways. “They’ve only given me their best estimate of how it will go. Given it works-”

A whistle follows. “Mhm. Not like I haven’t heard that one already.” 

If she were close enough, she figures she would’ve plucked at one of his ears for the interruption. Instead, she makes a shushing motion. “Given it works, this planet will cease to exist to begin with. Would you really like to test the waters?”

“You already know that I mix with water like oil.” His arms stretched high above his head, humming contemplatively. “..yeah, not my favorite thing. But you should shoot to try new things, so—”

This time, she really does wish she were close enough to grab ahold of him. “Yes, yes. You’re awfully funny, you don’t need to make me aware of it as often as you do.”

“What? And not capitalize on one of my best traits?”

“One of your most deplorable traits.” 

“..You’re just upset that I’m good at distracting you.”

“You are and I despise it!” She finally shrieks, pulling at her chain irritably as the other guffaws to himself. 

She doesn’t have it in her to remain angry, as if she truly was to begin with, as the two fall back into an almost pleasant quiet. 

“...I’ll think about it.”

She raises her eyebrow at him expectantly, long enough for him to put his hands in front of himself in defense. “I will! I’ll think about it. But that’s just it. I’m not promising anything. I still think this is a lost cause.”

Her tail lashes. “I thought you were meant to be the idealistic one between us. The fun one, at the very least.”

His expression twisted, disgruntled. “I’m, ahh.. Whatever I wanna be. It kind of just— depends, actually.”

“That would explain how exasperating you can be.” 

He wheezes as if she’d told a particularly funny joke. She considers fuming, before a short laugh of her own follows.

She doubts the conversation has gone much of anywhere. Having the same one a near-dozen times does that to you. But for now, this was fine. 

This was good.