Conversation · Lilienne, the Net Picker

Uncomfortable shuffle of nylon.

Too morbid. Why am I not getting good ideas?

"So now that you know -- you keeping the name?"

There's a little pause. "So are you going to keep the name?"

Say nothing. It's stupid. A stupid idea.

Say nothing? Well, now there's silence. She's looking at the sea. You hear yourself breathing.

"That's the second time you've done that! Are you some kind of sea witch?"

"Me? No, no, no." She laughs. "Just grew up on the sea. Know which way the wind's blowing and all."

"Knew the weather'd clear up once we got here -- otherwise it would've been a less pleasant stroll, nay?"

"Wait... did you just do that?"

As she turns to face the sun reflected in the waves and the skyscrapers rising across the bay, you cannot help following her steady gaze.

"I'm just trying to be a responsible grown-up."

"So this is what this is -- responsible?" She shrugs. "Well... maybe it is. Maybe you'll have a revelation and crack whatever you're on."

"For the case I need to get in tune with the coast."

"And its people?" She bursts out laughing. "Glad to be of assistance then."

Her laughter is throaty and warm. It rhymes with the sunlit waves and the cries of the gulls.

"I've been sober for more than an entire day now."

"I've seen quite few of those first days, aye. Still, good for you..." She nods to you, a playful glint in her eyes.

Keep it to yourself. This is only the beginning.

She nods to you, a playful glint in her eyes.

"Yeah. This is a good influence on me."

She bursts out laughing. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves, now."

"Probably not but who cares. What's the next step?"

"Drying out? Becoming religious?" Her face is serious for a moment, but then she smiles warmly. "To hell with it. I'm not going to lecture you about your drinking, not here."

"It's a rock star thing. Tardiness."

"Aye, you're the starriest of them all," she says with mock seriousness, then bursts out laughing as she turns to face the sun reflected in the waves.

Her laughter is throaty and warm. It rhymes with the waves and the cries of the gulls.

"I'm actually quite good at scheduling."

"Aye, so an officer should be. All that running around must need a lot of structuring..." She lets out a little laugh, as she turns to face the sun reflected in the waves.

Her laughter is throaty and warm. It rhymes with the waves and the cries of the gulls.

"I'm sorry you had to wait."

"It's no bother. Don't get many excuses to spend time alone, what with my trio of monsters..."

She means her kids.

"I'm sorry I said I'm sorry..."

She shakes her head, laughing. "You're just... what's the word -- lamentable, aren't you?"

Her laughter is throaty and warm. It rhymes with the waves and the cries of the gulls.

"If you'd rather I left..."

"Now you're just being another kind of fool." She laughs, a playful glint in her eyes. "You should know -- I don't spend time with people out of any sense of obligation."

"I think I spend too much time alone..."

"Aye, by the looks of you, you do. Well, we're here now." She nods to you, a playful glint in her eyes.

"Maybe this was a mistake. Everything feels uncomfortable. I should leave." [Leave.]

"Aye." She nods. "I better head home to the kids."

"Aye, so here you are. It's late and it's snowing. The snow is..." She extends her hand and catches a snowflake in her palm. "...Well, it's not really snow, it's slush."

"Aye, so here you are. It's late and the sun is going down. It'll be dark soon. If we stay here long enough we will be joined by a cortège of drunks and teenagers."

"Aye, so here you are. Mid-noon and the rain is..." She puts her hand in the rain, "...ice-cold as always. And it appears the drunks and teenagers haven't arrived yet."

"Aye, so here you are. Mid-noon and the snow is..." She catches a flake in her hand. "...well, it's not really snow, it's slush. At least the drunks and teenagers haven't joined us yet."

"Aye, so here you are." She looks around. "I'm a bit surprised we're alone. It's mid-noon and the sun is out. I expected more drunks and teenagers. And drunk teenagers."

"Aye, so here you are. The sun is up and the rain is..." she puts her hand in the rain, "...cold. Ice cold. I don't mind. At least it keeps the drunks and teenagers at bay."

"Aye, so here you are. The sun is up and there's a ton of snow coming down." She catches a flake. "Well, it's not really snow, it's slush. At least it keeps the drunks and teenagers at bay."

"Aye, so here you are. Early in the morning and the sun is up." She breathes in the fresh air. "And not a drunk or teenager in sight. I'm surprised."