[ Yeah, some secret club. Oh well, he's not here to rain on her parade. ]
Yeah... But I don't know, how can anyone think this is normal?
[ He purses his mouth together because his customers get annoyed having to wait for him to come massage them but they also take ages to get up onto the table. And every morning he basically squeezes himself a drop of massage oil and keeps referring to it (with gloved hands each time of course) until it's all gone. No one's even noticed! ]
...Yeah. I mean, I think that myself, but... I cut limes all the time at work, to add to drinks. And until last week, it never even occurred to me how creepy it is that they smile and dance around before I do it. So... I don't know how I thought any of that was normal either. But I did.
[Which isn't to say it doesn't worry her-- it does, a lot. This selective awareness is terrifying because it's so impossible to comprehend. What can they even do about it? Besides talk to the people who do understand, and try to figure out why.]
[She nods knowingly, running her hand through the hair at the back of her head, both an idle gesture and a way to brush some of the water out.] That's why I think it's important that we keep talking to other people who notice the same things we do! Someone's bound to come up with an explanation eventually, and until then, we just... have to make do, I guess.
[For a second, when Emil stops, she thinks something incredibly important is happening. And then...] Prosit! [it's automatic to use Swedish, since Emil was just using it himself.] That was loud! I'm sorry, I don't have a tissue...
[She says it so sadly, like she's already consoling him.]
--But a lot of classes are in this building, so there's people coming in and out all the time! I'm sure they've thought of a way to let us in! And if not, someone will probably come by eventually, and we can just slip in with them!
[ Okay, Emil doesn't look too impressed with this plan but he'll put on a brave face and look around for anyone who's maybe coming in or out. ]
We should find something to stopper the door.
That way, this won't happen to anyone else...
[ Like if they need to come back for another body-dry session.
At least his arms are going to be extremely built from all the climbing he's doing lately--
--As soon as he thinks that, a bunch of people come over to try and push the door open from the inside of the building. "Must be stuck," he hears one of them say. "I should work out more!" says another. ]
Ooh, good idea. Maybe there's a rock or something we could carry over... after we get up there and open it, I mean.
[Except how are they even going to reach the handle of the door? This is quickly looking like more and more of a disaster, and Tuuri starts to wonder if they'd have better luck ignoring the school entirely and heading somewhere else when she hears the students on the other side.]
Ooh! [she brushes past Emil to cup her hands around her mouth and call through the door.] Hello! Can you hear me? Can you all push on the door at the same time? We'll pull on our end once we can!
[She gestures excitedly to Emil, totally ready to dig her fingers into the side of the door and pull as soon as the edge emerges. Surely Emil won't have any problem grabbing the dirty edge of this door, right?]
[ Oh my god, he's not worried about the edge of the door being dirty, but how if they fail that this is one of those doors that closes pretty quickly and they'll get their fingers jammed where they do NOT want to get their fingers jammed.
He purses his lips but steels himself once they get the door open enough for Tuuri and Emil to start pulling.
He really thinks he's pulling something interior instead of the door; there's not really a good grip. He wishes he had gloves... ]
Put your weight against it!
[ How did any of these people get in the building!? ]
[Okay shh don't worry about their fingers; that's only a problem if they mess up!
This is definitely the least efficient way to open a door, with a bunch of tiny people alternatively throwing their entire weight against it or trying to dig their fingers into the side and pull it out, but finally, finally, a crack opens up that's big enough for someone of their size to slip through. Tuuri immediately slides in and starts pushing (because pulling sucks) and they manage to get the door about 6 inches open!! Tuuri immediately sits against the back of the door to prop it open (and take a breather, oof.)
Satisfied, the group of students on the other side cheerfully pass through to exit, as if there's nothing unusual about a multi-person team coordinating to open a door a crack. "Good work guys!" they say as they step over Tuuri's legs.
Tuuri tilts her head back in exhaustion to look up at Emil upside-down.] I don't... understand... anything today.
[ Meanwhile before the students all up and leave, Emil runs over to go find some more stuff to just jam in the opening so they can pass through more easily without needing multiple people every single time.
Thankfully, they don't seem to mind stepping over rocks and trash, and finally he makes his way inside to relieve Tuuri of her duties. ]
I know! I can't believe they just left like that.
[ He offers her a hand to help her get up in case she's as exhausted as he is from all the pulling. ]
I can't believe they're acting like any of this is normal! [thanks for the hand, bud, she definitely needs it.] I know we were just talking about this, but it doesn't strike them as odd at all that we needed 5 people to open the door?
Honestly, I think I might just stay on campus for a few days. It'll be easier than going back and forth...
Probably, but... what are you going to do about food?
Or sleeping with the lights on?
Or... showering...
[ Oh my god, how is she going to shower?? Like the shower curtains at the gym don't even reach down to the ground all the way... And what's she going to do about clothes... and... What a nightmare! ]
Well, there's a vending machine in the student lounge... hey, I probably don't even have to put the money in. I bet we could climb right up into the machine!
[or, like, get stuck there.]
Or order takeaway or something like that. And I could find a little space to curl up in so I can't see the light!
I'm not sure about showering, though. Maybe I could take a bath in the sink...?
[ He offers, trying to get into the bathroom to dry off. He'll pick one of those unisex ones so they can go in together and don't have to worry about having to help each other climb up. ]
I'll drop by after work. Just text me what you need.
Wait, really? [THAT IS SO... SWEET... she's so overcome by how nice this is that she doesn't even lift a finger to help get into the bathroom.] That would be a huge help! You really don't mind?
[You know what else would be a huge help right now? Tuuri, helping them into the bathroom.
--Oh, right, sorry! [She moves to pull her own weight, only a little embarrassed.] I really appreciate it. I wouldn't even mind being this tiny if I didn't have to worry about finals... but then again, my boss is aware of how strange this is, so that makes work a little easier to handle.
[Anyway, together they manage to get the door open-- this one is easier, since it just swings without latching or having to turn a knob-- and get into the bathroom, which is in fairly good condition considering it's finals season.]
Ooh, look, someone left a footstool in here! That was nice.
[Tuuri appreciates this hand a lot, because she's not exactly the most athletic person in Recolle... she's going to get a lot better after all of this climbing around.]
I'm not sure, I'm really nervous about some of them. I don't know how I'm supposed to study for them when I'm this tiny... or even hold a pencil to take them!
[She is completely oblivious to Emil's feelings, which is particularly obvious when she says]
[ He looks hurt for a moment, but then brushes it off. ]
Haha, yeah, no finals for me. No pencils...
Can't you type it?
I think it'd be easier to just dance around a keyboard.
[ And her handwriting will be chickenscratch...
Anyway I'm going to assume the stool is to get to the sink, which they can then use to get to the dryer. But Emil's going to rinse off first-- he's already soaked through, so adding water isn't going to do much of anything. ]
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Yeah... But I don't know, how can anyone think this is normal?
[ He purses his mouth together because his customers get annoyed having to wait for him to come massage them but they also take ages to get up onto the table. And every morning he basically squeezes himself a drop of massage oil and keeps referring to it (with gloved hands each time of course) until it's all gone. No one's even noticed! ]
This can't go on forever, right?
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[Which isn't to say it doesn't worry her-- it does, a lot. This selective awareness is terrifying because it's so impossible to comprehend. What can they even do about it? Besides talk to the people who do understand, and try to figure out why.]
...I don't know. I hope not.
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[ And then he thinks about it like... yeah, that's weird right? How some fruit appears to be... alive? But they eat it anyway? ]
[ And then he pauses while they walk, standing still for a moment, soaking wet.
And then.
And then... ]
AAA-CHOO!!!
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[For a second, when Emil stops, she thinks something incredibly important is happening. And then...] Prosit! [it's automatic to use Swedish, since Emil was just using it himself.] That was loud! I'm sorry, I don't have a tissue...
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Tack så mycket.
[ He pauses, waiting for another one to come. It doesn't. ]
Let's just get inside and get dry, quickly.
[ Even though the equivalent of cutting across Washington Square Park seems like a herculean task right about now. ]
There aren't stairs to the bathroom, right?
[ Like it's not downstairs, right... ]
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[She speeds up a little, though it doesn't mean much when they're both so tiny...]
No, they're on the first floor-- oh. Shoot. How are we going to open the door? It's not automated, and we're too short to reach the handles...
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Wow.
It reminds him that he's just let everyone who got in before his shift open the door and then shoved a doorstop through.
So... ]
Is it a pull door?
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[She says it so sadly, like she's already consoling him.]
--But a lot of classes are in this building, so there's people coming in and out all the time! I'm sure they've thought of a way to let us in! And if not, someone will probably come by eventually, and we can just slip in with them!
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We should find something to stopper the door.
That way, this won't happen to anyone else...
[ Like if they need to come back for another body-dry session.
At least his arms are going to be extremely built from all the climbing he's doing lately--
--As soon as he thinks that, a bunch of people come over to try and push the door open from the inside of the building. "Must be stuck," he hears one of them say. "I should work out more!" says another. ]
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[Except how are they even going to reach the handle of the door? This is quickly looking like more and more of a disaster, and Tuuri starts to wonder if they'd have better luck ignoring the school entirely and heading somewhere else when she hears the students on the other side.]
Ooh! [she brushes past Emil to cup her hands around her mouth and call through the door.] Hello! Can you hear me? Can you all push on the door at the same time? We'll pull on our end once we can!
[She gestures excitedly to Emil, totally ready to dig her fingers into the side of the door and pull as soon as the edge emerges. Surely Emil won't have any problem grabbing the dirty edge of this door, right?]
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He purses his lips but steels himself once they get the door open enough for Tuuri and Emil to start pulling.
He really thinks he's pulling something interior instead of the door; there's not really a good grip. He wishes he had gloves... ]
Put your weight against it!
[ How did any of these people get in the building!? ]
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This is definitely the least efficient way to open a door, with a bunch of tiny people alternatively throwing their entire weight against it or trying to dig their fingers into the side and pull it out, but finally, finally, a crack opens up that's big enough for someone of their size to slip through. Tuuri immediately slides in and starts pushing (because pulling sucks) and they manage to get the door about 6 inches open!! Tuuri immediately sits against the back of the door to prop it open (and take a breather, oof.)
Satisfied, the group of students on the other side cheerfully pass through to exit, as if there's nothing unusual about a multi-person team coordinating to open a door a crack. "Good work guys!" they say as they step over Tuuri's legs.
Tuuri tilts her head back in exhaustion to look up at Emil upside-down.] I don't... understand... anything today.
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Thankfully, they don't seem to mind stepping over rocks and trash, and finally he makes his way inside to relieve Tuuri of her duties. ]
I know! I can't believe they just left like that.
[ He offers her a hand to help her get up in case she's as exhausted as he is from all the pulling. ]
Are you going to be here all day?
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Honestly, I think I might just stay on campus for a few days. It'll be easier than going back and forth...
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Or sleeping with the lights on?
Or... showering...
[ Oh my god, how is she going to shower?? Like the shower curtains at the gym don't even reach down to the ground all the way... And what's she going to do about clothes... and... What a nightmare! ]
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[or, like, get stuck there.]
Or order takeaway or something like that. And I could find a little space to curl up in so I can't see the light!
I'm not sure about showering, though. Maybe I could take a bath in the sink...?
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[ Tuuri, he's not sure this is going to be alright. Like, it's a nice idea. But.
Who knows how long this will last? Does she really want to turn into Bobst boy? ]
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Shoot, I didn't think about that. [She spends about a second on it right now, but all she can come up with is a weak] ...find a travel pack?
[Sigh.]
Or maybe I'll go home one more time, and pack up a bag with everything I need. At least until finals are done.
[They're slowly making their way to said bathroom now, to finally dry off...!]
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[ He offers, trying to get into the bathroom to dry off. He'll pick one of those unisex ones so they can go in together and don't have to worry about having to help each other climb up. ]
I'll drop by after work. Just text me what you need.
You can pay me back when we're big.
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[You know what else would be a huge help right now? Tuuri, helping them into the bathroom.
Anyway, she switches to Swedish juuust to say]
Thank you! Thank you so much!
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[ His smile is sheepish as he gestures towards the door. ]
But anyway, it's no problem, it's only a little out of my way and I pass by the store to work from here...
[ So, as long as he shows up to work dry, he won't have to hurry home and wrap himself in a blanket chugging that anti-cold onset med. ]
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[Anyway, together they manage to get the door open-- this one is easier, since it just swings without latching or having to turn a knob-- and get into the bathroom, which is in fairly good condition considering it's finals season.]
Ooh, look, someone left a footstool in here! That was nice.
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[ Emil will just go over and climb up first, offering Tuuri a hand at certain landings; thankfully the bracers on the stool are flat and not round. ]
How are your finals going?
[ He gets a little pang of jealousy, but it doesn't last longer than that. He'll make it someday!! ]
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I'm not sure, I'm really nervous about some of them. I don't know how I'm supposed to study for them when I'm this tiny... or even hold a pencil to take them!
[She is completely oblivious to Emil's feelings, which is particularly obvious when she says]
You're lucky you just have to worry about work.
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Haha, yeah, no finals for me. No pencils...
Can't you type it?
I think it'd be easier to just dance around a keyboard.
[ And her handwriting will be chickenscratch...
Anyway I'm going to assume the stool is to get to the sink, which they can then use to get to the dryer. But Emil's going to rinse off first-- he's already soaked through,
so adding water isn't going to do much of anything. ]
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