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unquiets

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"You've reached David. Leave a message after the tone."

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From:

carmesi

( wanda knows that david knows what she means, about the cheating. so, she doesn't take it to heart, instead figuring that this is just him being light about it; they'll play, whenever he buys the card game proper, and wanda will clock him for reading her thoughts. it'll be fine—

as she cleans up the counter and stores the ready-to-use batter in the fridge, wanda's brow pinches and then relaxes, laughing despite herself.

she also didn't mean all that extra baggage that comes with the word 'different'. different is not unkind, in her book, because she considers herself the same. )

Do you want me to call you 'special'?
I can get you some gold star stickers, too.

From:

unquiets

( she should laugh more, he thinks, before (as)— )

What do I have to do to earn a star? Is there a prize at the end?

From:

carmesi

I already got you some prizes.

( in the cereal, but he can ponder on that for a while longer. also, this is silly, so wanda continues with that notion— )

I don't know what you can do, but I'll give you one when I feel you've earned it. Make a constellation with them and you can have a bigger prize.

( suppose it all goes back to stars between them. )

From:

unquiets

( immediately, with a curiosity that's both earnest and bewildered— )

You did?

( that segues into something that's a bit like exasperation — that sounds ridiculous — just edged with fondness. )

Not an asterism?

...You don't even know what any constellations look like.
I could cheat.

From:

carmesi

It sounds to me like I'm several steps ahead, David.

( if he thinks back on their conversation, he might figure it out. otherwise, he's in for a few surprises later on. which might as well be better. )

I thought you didn't cheat? It can be an asterism.
Are you going to cheat?

From:

unquiets

( just because she has a book, that doesn't mean she's memorised anything yet! )

Quid pro quo. You cheat, I cheat. Levels the playing field.

From:

carmesi

If (and only if) I cheat, it's not like I am earning a prize. You are willing to earn a big prize through cheating? That's not going to feel great. And I'm going to think all the shapes you make are made up. I will have to double check before you submit them.

How come you're the only one getting a prize?

From:

unquiets

Did we say there wasn't going to be a prize for whoever wins at our card games?
Besides, satisfaction's like its own prize.

Do you want a star chart?

From:

carmesi

Satisfaction is for people who aren't sure they will win.
Let's make the stakes high.

( remember: she is competitive. she also thinks a star chart is a proper reflection of the stars in space, not.... )

Star chart? Sure.

From:

unquiets

Isn't it the other side of curiosity?
How high?

( david may be less competitive, but he has more whimsy. )

Consider it done.

From:

carmesi

Yes. But we're not cats.
I think the highest stakes are things that we would owe each other, no questions asked. Or do you want an object as a prize?

From:

unquiets

Owe each other?

( ???? )

From:

carmesi

( ???? )

Like a favor?

From:

unquiets

Oh.

( punctuated by a pause because, like, you don't need to win at things to want to do a favour for someone else? be in a position to owe a favour or be owed? )

Yeah, no. That makes sense. We can earn points to be able to... do things for each other without recrimination.

From:

carmesi

There has to be a difference with these favors to normal ones, though. They get to be special. Do you need examples?

From:

unquiets

Yes.

( please enlighten him on special favours, wanda. )

Are we talking massages? Cooks dinner for a week?

From:

carmesi

Hm... Yes, something like that. Are you good at massages?

Or it could be like truth or dare. Share silly secrets or do something you might not do before because you want to. Like eat a very spicy pepper.