You are Michelle St. Claire, and it’s probably your fourth day on the job.

Why does Wendy keep making you cry?

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>>35137520
>Lay down and power off
Emotions are exhausting and we already cried. Karan is an asshole, let's be real. Might as well keep it on the down-low.
Just about to go to bed too, glad I caught one vote at least.

>>35137612
yeah, muh b on that one. I keep getting dragged into shit that takes me out of the house in the mornings, and then that then delays everything else I need to do too.

But one's better than none.

>>35137520
>Be depressed
>And apathetic
>Time to rest
>>35137573
>Why does Wendy keep making you cry?
Because she's a shitty friend, but the only one you got.
EU-time here but I'm a bit more nocturnal than the other guy apparently so maybe I'll catch another vote or two.

I'll start writing in like ten.

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>>35137520

Emotions are exhausting. It was a long day in the morning when you had your time cut short with Miss Nakamura, and Wendy is more volatile than an IED (you would know).

You finish with your clothes efficiently, if not quickly. You decide that underwear, bras, socks, and a handful of white tank tops will go on the top drawer, pants in the second, and your sleepwear and a few extra blankets in the bottom draw of the smooth, ebony black wood(look a like) dresser. Most of it remains on the first floor, in the washing machine or waiting in baskets or hampers.

Your shoes go next to it, and everything doesn’t or can’t be folded is hung on hangers. You change into a pair of worn pants that might’ve been black but faded to grey, or maybe they were white and were stained to grey. You don’t remember.

You roll the waistband up a few times and pull on an old, loose shirt with a faded ARMY on it.

A job well done, Michelle. You sit on an edge of the bed with your hands in your lap watching the water come in and out before standing up and sliding into bed, pulling your thick new comforter and smooth new sheets up to your chin. You curl up and try not to stain your ivory white pillow case with your tears as you power off.

It doesn't last. The sun is setting as you’re woken up, vigorously but not violently, but you’re not sure how long or short your rest was. Wendy is standing over you, hand on your shoulder, shaking you awake.

You turn your head and look at her.

>Do nothing
>Attack her
>Scream coherently
>Scream incoherently
>Spaghetti harder
>Other

>>35138413
>Do nothing
Try to look as questioning as it's possible to look.

>>35138413
>Do nothing
she's waking us for a reason so let her talk

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>>35138413
She’s holding a bag. Some bags? It’s hard to tell.

“Can I sit?”

>Allow
>Deny
>Spaghetti harder
>Other

>>35138777
>Allow
Fine, let's see where she's going with this.

>>35138777
>Allow
scoot over, continue silent treatment for now

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>>35138777
You make space by scooting over some, but remain silent. You try to look questioningly and disapproving.

Wendy takes the hint and sets what you now recognize are three bags of varying sizes. They’re not labeled.

She shifts her weight once or twice between her legs before sitting down and purses her lips. Is this what she looks like when she isn’t too busy saying the first thing she thinks of? She stares out towards the lake(ocean, as far as you’re concerned) for a while.

That’s fine, you can wait.

She wraps a part of her skirt around her finger and says, uncomfortably, “You forgot some things.”

>Silent treatment
>Say something
>Spaghetti harder
>Other

>>35139212
>Silent treatment
Let's see how she takes a Michelle that CAN'T spaghetti!

>>35139286
Yeah, sounds good. I don't want to torture her too long, but a little longer is needed.

>>35139347
Also I'm off to the wondrous land of sleep, see ya.

>>35139389
l8r g8r. Thanks for playing.

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>>35139212

No, you didn’t forget anything. You don’t say that, of course. This isn’t anywhere near as awful as what she did to you.

If she has other nervous tics or fidgets she’s still in control enough to not display them.

She reaches into a small bag, which you guess is only small compared to the other two because she pulls out something that’s not substantially smaller than your or Wendy’s torso, hip to neck. Speaking of necks, Wendy touches and runs a finger along her neck and collarbone before presenting the box to you with both hands.

“I went back into the chanel store and had a box made for you. Umm…”

“I did my best to find colors that I thought you’d like, but I mostly just ended up guessing…”

There’s the neck touch again. It looks like she’s grabbing for a scar or necklace that you can’t see.

It must be heavy. You see her arm tremble as only one tries to support its weight. You don’t think you felt that much weight added to the mattress when Wendy sat them down.

>Take it
>Don’t take it
>Say something
>Don’t say anything
>Other

>>35139635
>Take it

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>>35139635

You scuttle back and push yourself up with both hands, leaning against the headboard, before bending forward and taking it. You bring it to your knees and lap and look at it.

It’s a black box with a glossy looking white ribbon and bow securing the halves together.

It slides off without resistance. You set the top next to you and look at its contents and…

You’re not really sure what you’re looking at. Lots of tubes, jars, vials, and brushes. They’re labeled but these words mean nothing to you.

>Ask Wendy about them
>Keep her sweating
>Other

>>35139848
>Keep her sweating
Pick them up and look at them. If we find a perfume, test it and smell. Then let her off the hook at the end with a 'thank you' because no reason to go too far, and it wouldn't fit Michelle's character.

>>35139883
I agree on this, Wendy was being nasty but we might as well talk about it instead of being (justifiably) petty.

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>>35139848

You try to sort through them, pulling out bottles and jars essentially at random. You bring them to your nose but none of the ones you grabbed were perfume. Or smelled like what you think perfume smells like.

You tire quickly, and set them back in their places.

You look at Wendy and see the fear of judgement in her face and eyes.

“Thank you.”

She turns her face quickly away, back towards the water, but you see her hands touch the corners of her eyes.

“There’s, umm...more.”

Well...that’s...certainly something.

>Be cool
>Be uncool
>Spaghetti even harder
>Other

>>35140188
We can't be cool. We're fucking Michelle St. Claire. However, bad time to sperg out.
>Be nice
Can we do that? Let's try it.

>>35140188
>Be uncool
we dont need cool, just honesty

>>35140247
This sounds good. I mean, this is the closest Wendy has ever some to apologizing for something.

>>35140325

"Wendy processes this for a second as she takes another drink.

“...Fuck. Shit. I’m sorry, Michelle. Okay? Sorry. Jesus…"

From my document. This is probably the first approaching-sincere apology she's said, though.

>>35140388
She's learning!
Maybe some day they'll both get over their dysfunctions and become healthy frie-pfffhahaha.

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>>35140467

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>>35140188

You try to be nice instead but you don’t really know what that means.

You scratch your head, confused by both this situation and your inability to articulate “niceness,” and frown, but quickly wipe it away in case Wendy sees it and thinks it’s because or at her.
Not that she’d be entirely wrong, but you want to be nice.

Should you do what you see actresses do in the vids? You really don’t want to touch Wendy.

Maybe being nice just isn’t doing anything mean. You can do that.

You pull your knees into your chest and rest your chin on top of them at let Wendy continue, making the difficult decision to do nothing.

You let continue at her own pace. She reaches into the large, man sized bags and begins pulling out smaller, packaged boxes.

“Miratu. Lo siento, ella.”

Ey...ya? Is that even a word? You don’t get Spanish at all.

“Yo tu compré mas.”

Really she knows you don’t know anything she’s saying right now. Why is she doing this?

There’s...a lot of them, from both bags, and they range from the size of your hand all the way up to your head, maybe bigger.

Wendy hands you the last one and you’re now surrounded by enough packages to repel a small raiding party.

She seems to be waiting. Expecting something?

“Umm…”

>Just open them one by one?
>Nicely shoo her away
>Conversate
>Spaghetti harder
>Other

>>35140970
>Uhm...thanks? I dunno what to do with all this though...

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>>35140970

More umms. You understand stalling. “Umm...thanks?”

You look at her, puzzled. “I’m not...what do I do with them?”

You don’t feel as intimidated when you have a big, thick duvet over you.

She looks at you like it’s supposed to be obvious and pantomimes pulling a box open.

Oh…

OH.

That’s….wow.

>Start opening them
>Attempt to decline
>Spaghetti harder
>Other

>>35141493
>Start opening them
Fine, but we're NOT impressed by attempts to buy Michelle's friendship.

>>35141545
Oh Anon, you're too smart for that.

Michelle will probably eat it up though.

>>35141561
I'm writing, errbody, just need to do some photo research.

sorry for the delays.

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>>35141493

You start opening them, deeply sceptical. Wendy can’t just keep trying to buy you.

The first is a smaller, rectangular box in matte black with a shiny silver border. You open it and pull apart a few layers of thin, crinkly paper and you find a small square of cloth.

Wendy looks...excited(?).

You pull it out and it unfolds itself, pulled down by gravity.

It’s very light. You pinch the corners with your hands and gently pull it apart.

>Reactions here

>>35142327
Yo that looks rad as fuck

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>>35142327

You pull it open to its full width. Three feet? It’s a big part of your wingspan. It’s also a perfect square. How….how do you wear a square?

“This looks amazing, Wendy. Is...everything in here like this?”

You think your head is beginning to hurt.

>I can’t possibly accept any of this
>Wendy has bought you back, continue opening your presents
>Spaghetti harder
>Other

>>35142653
>Wendy has bought you back, continue opening your presents
As much as she is just trying to solve all of her problems with money again, at least this was pretty thoughtful of her.

>>35142653
I think a little bit of Wendy buying us back and

>I can't possibly accept any of this

Should do

>>35142721
Wendy's stunted emotional outreach is basically limited to giving people things and talking in Spanish.

It'd almost be sweet and special if it weren't so neurotic and awful, which is basically like one of the mottos for the quest

>>35142653
>>Wendy has bought you back, continue opening your presents

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>>35142653

“I can’t possibly accept any of this, Wendy…”

“I don’t care. You’re going to take it and you’re going to wear it and you’re going to love it. Now shut up and open the rest of them.”

Well...if she insists!

You become more enthusiastic about the rest. Wendy has…

Wendy has done something that you’re not sure how to describe.

Wendy sits with you, cross legged, as she watches you open her presents. In the end, you now have in addition to everything you’ve bought: a pair of boron carbide weave gloves, for when you’re on the job, in a desert tan, a pair of the softest leather you’ve ever felt in glove form, which Wendy helpfully explains as doeskin (what’s a doe?), the big box of makeup from Chanel, ANOTHER set of hairbrushes but Wendy explains that these are made from carved African rhino ivory and that the hair are bristles from ancient boars in southern Italy. You run it through your hair a few times and you don’t care what it’s made of, because it feels soooo good. You’ve already seen the scarf, but there was also a new wallet, several pairs of dark denim jeans, a cashmere (that word you know!) sweater, a fuzzy black coat that probably goes to your thighs, an olive drab field jacket which looks a lot like one of the very first OD #4 jackets that went into service with the Army Rangers in the 20th century, and lastly is another pair of shoes.

You like being given presents.

>Your reaction when Wendy buys you off

>>35143437
>Thank Wendy
>Try not to blush
>Blush furiously

>>35143538
I agree with this

>>35143437
seconding >>35143538

and maybe go in for a hug

>>35143572
Hey man. Be reasonable now.

>>35143572
2lewd

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>>35143437

“T-thank you, Wendy…”

You feel your face getting hotter and you try to tell yourself you’re just getting warm from the blankets but it gets even hotter and now it feels bright red and you bring the scarf to your face to hide the shame and because the silk is cool and soft on your skin.

Should you...hug her? The thought of touching her hand made you feel a little sick, but that was before she gave you all these wonderful things.

Wendy smiles at you and you can see that she’s blushing too around a corner of the fabric.

>It’s just one hug, she went through a lot of effort for this
>No contact
>Spaghetti harder
>Other

>>35143888
>It’s just one hug, she went through a lot of effort for this
get in and get out quick

>>35143938
Agreed!

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>>35143888

It’s just one hug, she went through a lot of effort for you. You’ll get in and out real quick.

You make it obvious, although not that you’re particularly subtle, what your intentions are. It’s a longer than comfortable stretch to her but you quickly wrap your arms around her shoulder blades and press yourself against her and then quickly retreat back to the security of your covers.

She smells like…

You’re not sure. She smells nice.

You’re both still blushing.

>Conversate
>Spaghetti harder
>Other

>>35144312
>Conversate
"So what time is it and what meal of the day is appropriate now?"

>>35144411 here

we might also want to add a idle question about how one wears a square

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>>35144312

“So…”

You cross your legs underneath you and hold up your new scarf. It’s a really pretty blue.

“How do I wear a square?”

Wendy extends an arm and says, “May I?”

>Go ahead
>Maybe later…
>Spaghetti harder
>Other

>>35144520
>>Go ahead

>>35144520
>Go ahead

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>>35144520

You hold it out for her and she gently takes it from your hands. She folds it in half into a triangle and places it over the bridge of her nose like a shemagh or bandana.

“You probably know this one. It’s a little offensive to use a Hermes scarf as a bandana.”

She pulls it off her face but keeps it folded as a triangle, and ties the ends together in a knot, “This one is easy, but can look simple or lazy sometimes.”

She pulls a ring off her finger and pulls part of the scarf through it and does it again. “I like this one, if you have a nice ring or loop or band or whatever.”

She reaches behind her neck and unties it, and pulls the ends around her neck once again so they rest over her shoulders, “Fluide.”

She pinches it so only a little bit of fabric is over her hand and ties it around her neck tightly and lets it drape with nearly its full length, “Carvate fluide.”

She unfolds it refolds it quickly from a large square into a long, narrow srip with angled edges after sliding the ring back on, “This is called a “pli de base.”

She puts it over her forehead so it pushes the front of her hair back and ties it underneath the hair that flows over her head and shoulder and lets the tails drape over a shoulder, “Bandeau.”

She undoes the knot and pulls it gently so it keeps its shape, and ties it in a neat bow around her neck, “Petit tour de cou.”

“That’s probably enough for now. I’d just leave it as a regular scarf type thing, but you’ll probably want to switch to a wool or cashmere scarf when we get to winter and it starts to drop below freezing. There are some other ways to wear them as a top but fra-, but I don’t think that’s really your look.”

“So...what time is it and what meal is appropriate now?”

“Around six, so, dinner. ...are you hungry again?”

>Yes.
>Just wondering…
>Spaghetti harder
>Other

>>35145017
>>Other

"Why do you think i'm so skinny? My metabolism is through the ROOF."

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>>35145017

“I’m not this skinny on purpose...I have a fast metabolism…”

Wendy eyes you but doesn’t say anything. “Did you want to eat now?”

>Yes
>No, later
>Spaghetti harder
>Other

>>35145017
>Yes.
"Can food be a thing? I really feel like food should be a thing."

>>35145305
sorry mate, just missed you.

>>35145291
>Yes

>>35145291
>dat pic
I was wondering, seeing as we've got a chunk of lakefront property, could we maybe get a pet shark or killer whale?

>>35145379
My fault for not paying attention to the timestamps. It works conveniently well as a response to >>35145291 as well, though.

>>35145421
I...suppose so. But you're on Lake Michigan, which is basically just a slightly smaller, freshwater Atlantic. ...what's keeping it from just fucking off?

Also, freshwater. Limited options.

>>35145462
SCIENCE

Its teh future, I'm sure we could get a loyalty chip or something put in its brain to make it nice and cuddly and loyal to us, but still a great big fucking shark

>>35145462
>Also, freshwater. Limited options.
SCIENCE!

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>>35145291

“Yes.”

“Ok...what?”

“...Umm.”

>Place, food, or dish here

>whoops kind of slipping muh b I'll get back on my shit.

>>35145637
Chinese. Good Chinese, like at an actual Chinese restaurant in a nice part of town. Michelle can afford that now.

>>35145637
I'll second >>35145660

But not some fancy ass restaurant or something, just a place to relax and get some good food where we won't be awkward or expect to be sociable or some high society shit

Since it's like, 3AM here I'm gonna crash sometime around right now. It's been a fun thread, catch you all next time.

>>35145689
thanks for playing! See you next time.

>>35145637
>>Place, food, or dish here
>>whoops kind of slipping muh b I'll get back on my shit.

>Slight spaghetti
>"Whatever you want. I, er. Its how family used to say thank you. Or, well. When they really meant it. You've done so much for me and I... I feel like I owe you, in my own way." Cautious smile.

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>>35145637

Wendy is very surprised when you have an immediate answer.

“Chinese. But, like...a nice place where I don’t stick to the tables.”

Wendy smiles, “How long until you’re ready? Did you want to wait for your some of your new clothes to go through a laundry cycle?”

>No, we can leave now.
>Well...maybe I can wait a bit to wear some of it.
>Spaghetti harder
>Other

>>35145747

Whups, sorry. forgot food.

" if you're not hungry... ice cream? Beer? Glass of wine? "
If she scoffs at that being too fancy, just gesture at the chanel box, and say something about their being 'a college pizza/liqour shop nearby that delivers, still stuck in karan's speeddial list'
(side note: i have one of these locally, its the inspiration. The college HATES a beer delivery service, but can't do much about it)

>>35145762
>>Other

"I was thinking delivery. The house is... nice, but... This is like, the first time someone's been over. Its a lame housewarming to go out already, right? "

>>35145762
>>Well...maybe I can wait a bit to wear some of it.

>>35145762
>Well...maybe I can wait a bit to wear some of it.
I'm a fashion fiend.

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>>35145762

“Well...maybe I can wait a bit. I put some in the washer before I fell asleep. I’ll go put it in the dryer.”

You push your new pile of things to the side of the bed and get out, pulling your (real) arm back. You only had to get one cut off, but the other has never really been the same.

You trot downstairs to move everything into your dryer. Karan sets it for you and the ETA displays 45 minutes.

>How do you entertain yourself?

>>35145959
sort and put away Wendy's presents and then see if theres anything good on tv

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>>35145959

By doing some more chores, obviously. You bounce back up the stairs to your room to begin sorting, organizing, and de-tagging your new presents.

You think you’re going to need another dresser. You put the shoes next to your other pair, and hang the scarf on a padded hanger, but everything else looks like it needs to get washed first.

Except the gloves. You’re not sure where to put those yet, so you just leave them in their boxes on top of your dresser.

You carry the load downstairs and deposit them into a basket. You check the time on the dryer. 20 to go.

You idly turn on the TV set and have Karan roll through channels, but for some reason she lets it linger on a news report. She eventually takes you to some random sports thing, which is enough to keep you entertained for twenty minutes.

You excitedly run over to the dryer and begin getting dressed.

And, oh my god, your legs have never felt this good in pants, ever. You pull out one of the handful of new t-shirts you bought and get the jacket you took on your first or second day, along with a new pair of sneakers.

You feel...almost pretty.

You call for Wendy and she offers to drive, which is fine with you. You guess she knows where she’s going because she just drives. You look out the window as darkness falls upon Echo City and Lake Michigan.

>Conversate
>Stay quiet
>Spaghetti harder
>Other

>>35146102
>Conversate
Ask her what she thinks about a pet killer whale or shark

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>>35146102

You quickly explain to her your idea.

“That’s fucking retarded.”

O-okay…

Maybe you should go with something else. “Where are we going?”

“A place by my house. It’s okay. They serve real meat and then the processed stuff so it’s basically up to you how much you feel like spending and what you feel like. I’m probably going to order off the real menu since what’s another fifty after ten or whatever.”

>Reply
>Don’t respond
>Spaghetti harder
>Other

>>35146374
>Reply
whats real meat like? we only ever got processed crap in the army

last post coming right now. hella late.

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>>35146374

“What’s real meat like? I only got...something... that was supposed to resemble meat in the Army.”

Wendy looks to her right and smiles and say, “Order some. Get a pork, chicken, and beef. Whatever you don’t eat you can take home for later.”

It takes about twenty five minutes in easy traffic for you to get to the restaurant, which is located in a mall with stores that you guess are lower to middle class. They’re certainly not anywhere near as nice as the mall you were just at today.

Wendy parks in a spot she says is close to the restaurant and the two of you walk in. It seems busy but not full, and a pretty asian (Chinese?) woman wearing a tight red dress and her hair in a bun with sticks in it shows you to a table.

You look at the menu. One of each…

You’re not sure what crispy noodles are, but they sound good. You like noodles. And...you’ll get that with the beef, meaning you’ll get orange chicken because that was your favorite ration flavor, and for pork...you’ll take a chance with the barbecue pork. Wendy seems to think it’s good. And maybe you should get rice. “Combination,” “fried,” rice. You’re not sure what either of those mean, really, but it says that it has shrimp, pork, and chicken in it with egg and some vegetables so that sounds good too.

You decide on no appetizer. You just want lots of everything you ordered.

The waitress smiles and brings you your drinks.

---

end session

next thread next week

thread being archived now

thanks to everyone who plays in the thread and/or reads in the archives, there’s no me without you

follow me on twitter @WetworkIdols to stay up to date on quest times and dates

catch you next time.

>>35146625
Thanks for the thread OP, cya next time.

>>35146625

thanks, opfor.

did we just... have a date with wendy?!