KARTERIA: INBOX.

[deathpainting]

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user name: bloodbag

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[deathpainting]

If they send you back, after all this is done, like some think... Would you go? Would you be able to return?

[megatheorem]

I don't know. I'd want to be with Cam, but it's like I said: I was dead. I didn't have much time left doing what I was doing, anyway. And I've met a lot of people here that I'd hate to leave behind, including you.

So, I don't know, I'd have to think about it. What about you?

[deathpainting]

I don't think I can go back. I'm likely dead.
I don't think there would be a body left to send me back to.

Don't let that affect the way you think about it, when you think about it. I want you to be happy.

[megatheorem]

Not for me, either. I've been borrowing Cam's.

[And a dead guy's, but that's embarrassing and it was only for like, an hour, so. Never mind.]

You know, you're a part of what makes me happy. Of course I'm going to keep you in mind.

[deathpainting]

Now I have a lot more to thank her for...

It's different. I don't want to hold you back, unless it's from hurting yourself.

[megatheorem]

So do I. I don't think I'll ever be finished.

Why do you think you'd be holding me back?

[deathpainting]

I just don't want to get in the way, if you decide you want to go back. I don't want to be a regret, if you decide to stay.

Does that make any sense?

[megatheorem]

Logically, sure, I understand. Empirically, I don't like it; it's pessimistic.

Do you trust me? Trust that I won't lie to you. You aren't a roadblock to a decision.

[deathpainting]

I'm sorry. It wasn't meant to be pessimistic. But I understand.

Yes, I trust you.

[megatheorem]

Don't apologize, you didn't do anything wrong. I want to know your thoughts on this kind of thing, even if we don't agree.

[deathpainting]

Did that make me less charming?

[megatheorem]

Good God, can you imagine if I were that fickle? Of course not. I

[Hmm.]

Well, I don't like to argue with you, but I want to know your honest opinions. I like knowing those.

[deathpainting]

Mmm. It's not something we have to think too much about, now. We have time.

I'm always honest with you. Sometimes to an embarrassing fault.

[megatheorem]

That's true. Who knows how much time, before they're willing to do anything with us besides experiment on us and ask for favors.

And if you ask me, there's no shame in truth. Truth itself precludes shame.

[deathpainting]

You're right. I'm learning.

[megatheorem]

How is that going? Learning.

[deathpainting]

Slowly. Cooking, planting, sword fighting. Romantic letter writing. Useful things.

I read that some used to soak their stationery in perfume to have their object of affection reminded of them. I thought that was very romantic.

[megatheorem]

Oh, that's definitely romantic. From 1 to 10 I'd say it's about a 25, maybe 26. Do you have perfume?

Tangentially related, I tried to cook a pancake the other day. It was dreadful.

[deathpainting]

I don't. I'm not sure what to smell like.

What happened to your pancake? What did it look like? For science.

[megatheorem]

Scents aren't really my purview, either. But if you get some, I'll be sure to swoon.

My poor pancake was somehow both burnt and still wet.

[deathpainting]

Heat is too high, and not enough flour.

Good thing you have a...flower to help you.

[megatheorem]

Oh, I'll write that down.

And that's a charming point. Come help me make pancakes sometime.

[deathpainting]

Is that what you like in the morning? Pancakes?

[megatheorem]

Well, I thought they'd be easy to make a pile of, now that I have all of these housemates. That's still a theoretical, though.

As for me, sure. We had a nonzero amount of pikelets at home. Smaller pancakes.

[deathpainting]

How many housemates? It sounds busy.

( buying time while he tries to figure out what pikelets are, or if there is then a large version called a pike...)