awashlogs | november catch all

[ Turning over a new leaf and being nice is hard. But it isn't as hard when there's a reward to be had. It's part of the reason why she's been sticking so close to everyone in Gem Haus.. Even more than usual. Lottie is loitering around their house, trying to imagine something close to a trashy reality TV show as she stares at the wall.

But then her eyes train on something more entertaining than the ugly coloring of their home.. Ghost Quartz. Come to think of it - she hasn't gotten around to giving them a nickname. Huh. Her brows knit as she stares a little longer than necessary before addressing them. ]

...Is there anything you do for fun?

[ And it's not really Lottie's fault Ghost's bereft of one of her famous nicknames- they've been holed up in the library for the most part. But they've read all they can, to no avail, so it's about time they try the "normal way." That's how they think Phosphophyllite would put it, anyhow.

...But all that goes out the window when fun's brought up because genuinely, what the heck do they do for fun? They spent every waking minute back home either thinking about Lapis, thinking about Phosphophyllite, talking to their twin, or doing their job. There wasn't much room for anything fun after Lapis' abduction.

Then they realize they'd only been thinking about after Lapis. They set their elbows on the kitchen table and lean forward, hands clasped. Their eyes are downcast, crystalline eyelashes making it look as if their eyes are shut as they remember patrols in the sunlight and gold-speckled hair. ] I'd spend time with Lapis. They'd share their thoughts, and I would listen. It was nice.

[ They level their gaze. Their expression isn't hostile, but it isn't inviting either- a neutrality broken only by the faintest curiosity. ] Would you like me to listen to yours?

[ Wow. It's SO unfair that all these rocks get to look pretty without any work, while she has to struggle on the daily. Wait. Off topic. Off topic. Lottie leans back in her chair, a hand combing through her hair as she thinks. ]

I don't think I'd have anything interesting to talk about.. Nothing really happens here, you know? [ Outside of the usual wacky nonsense, she means. And most of her thoughts are generally just one crisis after the next, so.. maybe not the best fodder for conversation. That is a really nice offer though - another reminder that she needs to stay on the good side of the gems.

And also because she kind of likes hanging out with them. Not that she'll readily admit that. She's trying to get them a gift though, so Lottie decides to Creatively Steer the conversation towards a direction that might help her. ] Maybe, um.. What does Lapis remind you of? Like is there a color you associate with them?

[ They would interject a response to Lottie's first point if she clearly didn't have more to say, but she does, so they don't. Their expression does once again soften however. Lottie's questions are a welcome distraction from more unsavory, "sibling" related topics. ]

The color of their hair, which Phosphophyllite has now. [ Hands unclasp, palms dragging on the table as they lean back into an upright position. A very soft scrapping noise, barely heard over their voice: ] It's their most striking feature, so I'm sure the choice isn't very interesting to you...

[ Well, Lottie does like vibrant shades like that. She has a dress she made similar to it - sadly, it's stuck in her apartment. She thinks she can maybe work with that piece of information for something.. relatively nice, until she gets sidetracked by the hair bit. ]

Oh no, it's interesting! I really like colors close to that, but.. I thought your hair was rock?? How did Phos dye it?

[ Lottie??? Showing gratitude?????? Difficult. Near impossible. But seeing Phos walk around with a orange rim around their white romper strangely makes her feel.. Guilty? After a while of thinking, she comes to the conclusion that she's feeling a bit out of sorts about it because it is directly her fault. It was only in response to how creepy they were as a statue.. ]

Hey, um.. Phos!

[ She's wrapped in a blanket, slippers on her feet as she peeks from her room to catch their attention. Lottie quickly adjusts her glasses, brows furrowing as she struggles to sound super nonchalant. ]

What are you doing later?

[ Phos has, understandably, kept a bit of a wary distance from Lottie after The Pumpkin Incident, powered by sheer childish grudge alone even once the festivities had weathered away. And even if they'd still kind of want an apology, the power of their spite is weakening with each passing day of the new month- leaving their expression almost surprised when she calls out to them. ]

Today? [ a tilt of the head, assessing their roomie all bundled up... ] Nothing, really. Did you need me to find more blankets for you?

[ Uh. Actually. That is a very nice suggestion which, in turn, makes her feel shittier about the whole thing. Ugh... Curse Phos and their good personality. She ]

Uh.. No, not now. Thanks, though? [ She self-consciously pulls the blankets a bit tighter though. It is definitely because they are sizing her up. ] I just wanted to know if I could look at your romper?

Is that what this is called?

[ Idly tugging at the hem of their outfit; they had no idea clothes had different names, but like, they're still learning about fashion, okay.

The stain around the collar doesn't affect he overall functionality of the outfit, but they can imagine Lottie must have the same monstrous nitpicking gaze as Red Beryl when it comes to loose threads. ]

You can see it if you want, but I don't think I've torn it at all yet.

You guys never named your stuff?

[ Wild.. Lottie sounds more fascinated at that than appalled. She nods, regardless. She opens the door to her cave, silently inviting them in. Ignore the clothing rack with her things hung up and the blanket piles around the room. ]

Oh yeah.. I guess that makes sense. You guys don't feel drafts or anything. [ She didn't even consider a tear in the grand scheme of this gesture.. It's a good thing she brought her sewing kit. ] You wanna change into some of my clothes so I can check?

I don't think there was a reason to.

[ Their tone carries an audible, unbothered shrug. Probably Red Beryl would have insisted that there definitely was, but to Phos, clothes are clothes. They don't need special titles - especially when they're just a set from the moon. ]

If it weren't for you, I wouldn't even know it had gotten so cold. [ Stepping into her room, Phos flashes Lottie their most reassuring "please believe me" smile, even though they know when the seasons are changing. They just feel bad that she wasn't blessed with being an immortal rock that's immune to temperature. ]

—Oh, yeah. Thanks! Please pick something cute enough for me.

[ The second smile is more genuine and thankful as their hands go to work at undoing the little parts of their outfit enough to shrug out of the romper's first layer. Quietly, and more to themself than anything: ]

I don't think I've even taken this off since I got it..

Edited 2018-11-12 04:57 (UTC)

[ Huh..... Huh. Lottie stores that bit of information later to stew over when she thinks about the rocks as a whole. Especially the bit about temperature - despite already knowing it, it still blows her mind how absurdly lucky they are to not deal with things like allergies. Temperature.. Getting diseases and probably never dying.

It works out for her in the end, existential crisis be damned, she gets all their blankets and any clothes they think will be warm for her. She's the resident human and Rock Doctor, after all! ] So you don't know what it's made of?? [ She'd normally leave it at that, if not for the fact she kind of needs to know what to use if she needs to fix anything. Maybe she'll find out something cool about their world, too?? ]

Oh!! Yeah, sure. [ She pauses to think over if they need any underwear. In fact, Lottie struggles with that for a while until she remembers Cairngorm didn't even know what boobs were. Specifically, hers. ] ..Phos, you can't just wear the same outfit everyday. [ Social suicide, on top of fabric suicide. An off the shoulder crop and one of her high-waisted skirts is pulled from her delicate pile of clothes, draped on her arm for them to take when ready. ]

No, these clothes were given to me on— [ They pause. This isn't a can of worms to open with Lottie. ] just, not by our tailor back home. I got them from someone else. Is the fabric weird?

[ It feels like a bit much to casually drop being on the moon in a conversation about clothes, is all, and Phos is quick to shirk the topic along with the rest of their mystery spacegarb. They're blind to the concept of underwear, and only hesitate slightly in being ~*exposed*~ in front of Lottie. ]

Huh? [ They're hiking the skirt up as they toss her a Look that's riddled with confusion. ] It seems like a waste of material to make what you don't need. You're the only person I know with a suitcase full of different outfits.

[ If there's any judgement in that last statement, Phos doesn't filter or even catch it. It's just an innocent observation, made as they finish changing into Lottie's borrowed Lewk. It fits them as well as any set of clothes can, though they have just one concern: ]

Does it look good on me?

Not really. [ It feels like normal fabric, she guesses. If they don't know then they can't help it, she can figure it out later at some point. ] Just clothes stuff, no big deal.

[ But it IS a big deal to recycle the same Lewk everyday, if Lottie's face is anything to go by when Phos gives her their justification for wearing the same outfit all the time. She does take some pride in being someone that important, almost... Having a suitcase full of clothes where everyone else suffers.

Okay that just sounds mean. She's talking about just looking the best out of everyone! ] Yeah!! You look really fashionable right now! [ One thing she has yet to say out loud, but for sure is thinking right now, is that their tailor knows how to accentuate. When you have legs for days, you gotta show 'em off. ] I don't think you know what size shoe you are.... Do you??

Oh? That's good. [ Because they also wouldn't have the first clue on how to explain moon people synthesizing moon fabric with moon materials on the moon, either. ]

Super fashionable! Definitely the cutest person in town.

[ At the praise, Phos gives a haughty twirl before resting their hands on their hips, giving their best attempt at a patented Lottie Pose. Full drama, full fashion, and the only hangup being the way their expression goes from Couture to confused, peering down at their heels. ]

I don't think I've ever measured my feet, actually. Gems are all carved to be identical from birth, and Red Beryl's alterations were always by the millimeter.. But you can compare your shoes to mine if you want! It shouldn't be that hard to guess, right?

[ The cold is a ruthless mistress. Especially when one in four people living in this household are organic. Lottie curls in deeper into her bundle of blankets the gems have helped her hoard in the living room. And then, she eyes Connor in thought. Make that five. Five people who do not have to suffer the very thing she has become: a sniffling, generally gross, mess.

She's gone ahead and wrapped one of the blankets around her frame, sitting opposite to him on the couch. ] Does it feel any different to you? At all? Like, has it gotten colder these past couple days?

[ The only reason he's here is so he can fill her in on all gossip related to the town, but Lottie has derailed the conversation enough for her to start on how the gems get sleepy when it's cold. And how the last time she tried stealing any semblance of warmth she got stuck to their skin. Literally. ]

..Can you do that? Tell the temperature?

[He's still pondering over how she can actually literally get stuck to their skin (they even take on properties of crystals, how interesting!) when she starts on her new tangent about the weather. They're simple questions, at least.]

It's currently forty seven degrees outside.

[She wanted to know if he could tell the temperature, right? Or, no... she wanted to know if he could actually feel it.]

But no, I can't feel it in the way you can. I only sense when I'm becoming too hot or cold and am at risk for damage. Some models are built with that functionality, though.

[ Forty seven.... degrees!!!! What!!! Lottie instantly looks displeased at that, even more at the accuracy of it. By now she has no doubt he's right. She pushes her glasses against her face, grabbing at a tissue nearby to dab delicately at her nose. ]

Oh my god!! You're just like the gems, then? [ That's how she ended up getting stuck to them to begin with - they're not really aware of temperature, or social norms like preventing your really nice roommate from getting in that situation to begin with. ] Must be nice.

[ It's mumbled under her breath, pulling the blanket around her a little tighter. ]

That means you never have to layer up.. [ Or his skin doesn't get dry. She blatantly pauses at the thought - what the hell is his skin made out of??? ] .... Well, anyway! Do you have any control over how hot or cold you are? Or is that.. uh, not a function they gave your.. model?

I do need to protect myself from freezing temperatures, so my biocomponents don't become damaged. [So yes, he does have to layer up to some extent, though not as much as a human might.]

I can't control how hot or cold I am, but I run at a steady 98 degrees Fahrenheit, similar to a human.

[So on the plus side, he's not as cold as a gem? Lottie wouldn't stick to him, at least.]

[ Okay well.. That makes sense. The word biocomponents is definitely out of her pay grade but she can infer enough from what he's saying to get the gist. ]

..Right. Because that'd be bad for you! Being too hot or cold. [ Ugh, she feels like she should've caught onto that sooner.. But, either way, he's still technically warm? Her eyes narrow, awkwardly, her usually confident tone a little unsure. ]

Okay, so, what's a bad temperature for a human to be at? Like.. when does it start getting to where I should be really concerned?

Human's usually start to experience hypothermia when their body temperature reaches 95 degrees Fahrenheit, 35 degrees Celsius. [Said like he's reading off a Wikipedia page or out of a medical journal. He drops his more robotic tone after that, though.] I really doubt you're going to freeze to death in here, though.

[Sure, it's cold outside, but not that cold. And anyway, they're in a house that is at least somewhat insulated, and she has a whole pile of blankets! It's fine, right?]

[ Uh. Incorrect!! She doesn't immediately say that out loud, but the expression on her face gives way to her actual thoughts. Lottie didn't even consider Connor calling her out so quickly, either.. Too savage. ]

I might not freeze to death, but I'm cold as hell! [ She wiggles herself enough out of her cocoon to point a finger in his direction. ] You're warm, can't you do something to help??

[She underestimates the robot to her own detriment.

He takes a moment to think about her question, and try to find practical solutions. He's done about everything he can think of, according to Sebastian's instructions, to make the house warmer, so what does that leave?]

I guess we could share body heat.

[His skin is plastic, but it still gives off some residual warmth.]

[ It's agonizing in a weird way to watch his computer brain come up with a solution to the problem Lottie has given him. And when he says it, out loud, it takes her a few moments to actually take it in and process it. ]

B-Body heat....?? [ That finger she pointed at him???? Is definitely back under the blanket. She doubts he'll really judge her for her crusty skin (because the cold is merciless even to the pretty people) but she still pauses to think about it.

Well. It's not a bad idea, and all he really cares about is being useful and solving mysteries.. So it won't ever get weird. ] Okay.. So you mean like, hug? That kind of sharing body heat? You think that'll be alright?

[A hug...? Connor raises his eyebrows, a little surprised that's where she went, but not totally against it.

After all, he does only care about being useful and solving mysteries, so it won't be weird at all, ever.]

I think that could work, but it might be easier if I get under the blankets with you.

[Then their combined body heat will get trapped in the blankets like a toasty oven. Perfect.]

...Actually, that would mean we would complete a quest, as well.

quest 32, ghost quartz

guess whomst back, back again...

the gems are back...tell a friend

we always have room in this house for unnecessary digs at cairn

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quest 32, phos

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quest 34, connor

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