the animorphs

[instar]

Renée is gone in the morning, a pot of maple oatmeal for the girls and Trouble cooling on the stove and a note on the fridge, she's going to be gone all day on a day trip to Tucson with her friends.

Andi wakes up first. Bella's not far behind.

Comments

[pandion]

"Bella's all introverted and doesn't understand how group projects work," Andi says, "also generally despairs of other people being useful at important things."

[instar]

"That's an exaggeration."

[palmofyourhand]

"From what I've seen, not much of one."

[instar]

"Despair is too strong a word," insists Bella.

[palmofyourhand]

"Is it?"

[instar]

"Yes, for it to have been despair I'd have to currently be experiencing revelatory astonishment, not pleasant surprise." She shrugs. "The fact remains that I am a very self-centered person, and I expect things of myself that I wouldn't dream of demanding from anyone else, so I hope you'll all forgive the occasional slip of phrasing when I start talking about plans."

[palmofyourhand]

"Sure," says Ethan. "What matters to me isn't the language, it's the facts. I want to start hearing more about all these no doubt fascinating plans and ideas you keep scribbling down."

[hold_infinity]

"That too," says Robin.

[instar]

"A lot of what I'm writing isn't even plans. There are plans in there, but I'm doing a lot of - psychological groundwork. I'm going to have to be on, I can't live with myself if I slack off more than I have to for long-term maintenance purposes. Not with these stakes and these tools. I'm trying to figure out how not to burn out."

[hold_infinity]

"...Good question," says Robin.

[palmofyourhand]

Ethan just shrugs.

[instar]

"I don't think I can apply anything I'm coming up with to other people," Bella says apologetically.

[hold_infinity]

"Oh well. I'll manage."

[instar]

"If you need help then of course you should ask."

[hold_infinity]

She looks up at Ethan again. "Oh, I will."

[pandion]

"You're gonna try not to burn me out, too, right, Bella?"

[instar]

"Yes. And I know I need a wider margin of safety on you than I do on me."

[hold_infinity]

"Let's try not to burn anyone out," says Robin.

[palmofyourhand]

"I'm not sure burning out Trouble is even possible," muses Ethan, "but I'm also sure I don't want to find out at close range."

[instar]

"Agreed on both counts."

[palmofyourhand]

He pets the still-apparently-sleeping Trouble.

[instar]

"Is he still asleep? Do I even want to know what you did to him after I left?"

[palmofyourhand]

"He looks it, doesn't he? And you're welcome to ask."

[instar]

"I think I will refrain."

[palmofyourhand]

He laughs.