{ inbox } ethyraia

[nonscriptum]

@indy
This is Nate. Leave a message.

Comments

[wittingly]

This is a normal amount of protesting

[nonscriptum]

okay, okay, you're right
I have no influence on you whatsoever
you are a rock. an island.

[wittingly]

Exactly
Like the Maldives
Or Alcatraz

Somewhere in the middle of those

[nonscriptum]

I basically have so little effect I don't even know why we're seeing each other

wait, no, I know why
it's the shoulder holster

[wittingly]

Well, let's not get carried away
It's also the face and the brain and the other stuff I said

[nonscriptum]

you're so cute

[wittingly]

You made me work so hard to get that just now, I think I need some electrolytes and a nap

[nonscriptum]

Jesus, I didn't realize you were wasting away, I'm sorry
I'll work harder to meet your needs

Have I mentioned recently how insanely smart you are? Kind of envious of how easily you've made friends with the entire scientific population in a matter of days

[wittingly]

Thank you, I survive on 10% food 90% ego

Says the man who walked in knowing the guards by first name on day 2

[nonscriptum]

you're making it hard to compliment you when you turn it around on me, you know

because I mean that, you're really popular with everybody

[wittingly]

You're right, I'm sorry
Thank you, I'm incredibly popular
It turns out all you have to do is smoke weed. Not much has changed since sophomore year.

[nonscriptum]

oh my god you really can't just accept a compliment at face value can you

[wittingly]

Okay, okay, okay
I'm likable and charismatic and also good looking, which really helps things along. It's the face and also the hair, it sells the entire theme I'm going for.

[nonscriptum]

I give up

[wittingly]

WHAT
I took the compliment! That was me taking the compliment, and then complimenting myself even more.

You know what might be easier? If we do this in sign language, in the dark. I think I'll be a lot more receptive to that.

[nonscriptum]

No, I'm sorry, it's me, I'm not good at reading sincerity in text so I thought you were just...continuing to be kind of sarcastic about this

you're amazing and I wanted you to take that more seriously, I guess

[wittingly]

No, I'm genuinely pleased
Less about me being popular and more about you thinking I'm popular and being super into it, that's the part that matters

[nonscriptum]

[ No, that's not- Jesus, okay, really dodging this one, isn't he? ]

that's not really it, but
close enough
ish
I guess

[wittingly]

Just weeks in and we already need couples counseling
I believe in us, we can overcome our compliment communications issues

[nonscriptum]

yeah I'll get right on that

[wittingly]

scale of 1 to 10 how legitimately frustrated are you right now

[nonscriptum]

[ Oh boy. ]

I don't know
like a 4? maybe 5

[wittingly]

how can I bring that down to like a 3

[nonscriptum]

[ Fuck. Fuck. He keeps fucking up. ]

I don't know, Ian
I might just need to take a walk, staying at basecamp for too long makes me feel kind of shut in

Cabin fever, you know?

[wittingly]

( Shit.

Time to reread this conversation and identify the places it went wrong, try to analyze them. Figure out what he should have said.

Fuck.

Not even sure what he should say now. Is this an offer to go with thing or a give space thing?

Seems like a space thing. )

Okay, man.
Don't go alone please.
We still don't know what's out there.