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[wipedclean]

[The soldier is usually pretty stern, intimidating, all that jazz, but right now he's downright grumpy. And... snarly. Clearly he's not in a good mood.]

Why. The fuck. Are these fucking fireflies everywhere?

[Speaking of, here's one fluttering against his shoulder right now. His hand slams down on top of it, squashing it. He growls.]

They are getting in the way and they are making Steve forget he has to eat. Is there a way to stop them other than crushing them one by one?

Comments

[wipedclean]

[Oh, that's a good idea. The soldier considers that thoughtfully. He may have to try that.]

Steve's... he's... my friend.

And I don't want him to eat fireflies, I want him to eat regular food. But he doesn't care.

[notjustinthemirror]

There's something wrong with these things.

[He has one in a jar that he caught just to see if it looked any different than a normal firefly. It certainly doesn't seem to.]

Everyone running around like idiots trying to catch them seems like a great time for something to attack. That would be my plan anyway.

[wipedclean]

[He nods.]

I agree. It's suspicious. But so far... nothing.

[notjustinthemirror]

Other than your friend forgetting to eat.

[wipedclean]

[He scowls.]

Yes. There is that.

[notjustinthemirror]

All this excitement over some bugs.

Still, they haven't tried to kill us yet so I suppose this is one of the better things to happen here.

[wipedclean]

Perhaps. Maybe there's another catch we haven't seen yet.

[notjustinthemirror]

Maybe everyone's gonna starve.

[wipedclean]

I haven't forgotten to eat yet.

[notjustinthemirror]

That just means you'll be the last one left.

[wipedclean]

Lucky me.

[notjustinthemirror]

Don't worry. You'll still have me and the robot who doesn't eat.

We'll keep you company after all your friends die.

[wipedclean]

I'm not letting Steve die.

[He's the only one that matters.]

I just realized how fucked that last tag was. D: I'm sorry.

[notjustinthemirror]

Maybe you should take the fireflies away from him then.

no worries, he's been through a lot worse

[wipedclean]

I have been, to make sure he eats.

[notjustinthemirror]

But then you give them back?

[ He picks up the jar he has and shakes it, agitating the single bug inside. ]

Does it get worse the more you have?

[wipedclean]

I give them back because he gets mad at me if I don't, and other than his forgetting to eat, they're not actually hurting him as far as I can tell. So once he's eaten, he gets them back, yes.

[He considers the question. He hasn't exactly done any testing, but from what he can guess from what he's seen and heard...]

I think it does, yes. He has a lot.

[notjustinthemirror]

And you're just going to do that for the rest of his life?

[wipedclean]

[He tilts his head.]

The fireflies won't live that long.

[notjustinthemirror]

I wouldn't be so sure of anything here.

[wipedclean]

If they won't die, then I'll kill them.

[Very simple.]

[notjustinthemirror]

Oh he'll love that I'm sure.