Water is spicy

Cole strolls into the living room with a sigh and glances around

Lochlan looks half awake over in the corner

Cole looks over at Lochlan and snaps his fingers, "Lochlan? You awake?"

Lochlan quickly looks to Cole, "huh? Wha? What is it?"

Cole quickly responds, "I'm gonna go scout the terrain in the non-feral world, so don't be afraid if i disappear for a little while"

Lochlan does a thumbs up, "Ok, just be careful, I know theres some killer out in the woods." 

Cole rolls his eyes as he sighs, "Right, like you weren't the one doing that"

She raises an eyebrow, "I wasn't."

Cole squints his eyes as he nods slowly, "Right....anyways be sure to tell people that if they worry about where i am"

Lochlan nods. 

Cole nods and gives Lochlan a thumbs up as he remarks, "Goobye for now" then disappears

Hinata walks out of the hallway and sits on the couch. Noticing Lochlan, she asks her, "oh hey, have you seen Cole? I had a question for him."

Lochlan shrugs, "He said something about scouting out nonferal terrain? He might be gone for awhile."

"The heck does scouting nonferal terrain entail? Ech, whatever. Must be important. How are you handling things Lochlan?" Hinata's voice seems tired, as if she barely got any sleep.

"Just taking some needed time to think."

"Wanna talk about it?" Hinata seems friendly, even if it's clear that nonferal stuff is mostly foreign to her.

"Like I watch what Luna does on Datrs but I have no idea what's going on half the time."

"I spoke with Cole at one point when he was trying to get me back here. He pointed out that where I was staying wasn't... good? Like at all. So I've been trying to figure out what all is or isn't good."

Hinata takes a moment to process Lochlan's words, closing her eyes and going silent, "I mean Cole's usually pretty good with judging things like that. Kind of helps that we've experienced a lot of chaos and drama over the past year or so, people getting attacked, people dying, our well-beings being called into question. Stuff like that. I mean you do you, but most of the time, he's got our well-being in mind."

Lochlan nods, "I figured as much"

"So what's your case like? In mine, Vi-- I mean uhhh, some bitch took control of me and tried to get me to hurt Luna. I came to live with Cole and Luna after that for my protection." Hinata sighs, stopping herself from name dropping Violet. That said, she seems interested in Lochlan's story. Her tone is extremely casual and relaxed,. (edited)

"Just always lived with certain people that thought treqted me well. Having second guesses"

Hinata nods, "nah, I got you. I mean sometimes people can treat you well, but their motives can be less than positive. It's confusing as hell! Like I was created to be used, like a robot, but I'm also this dude's heir when he dies?? What do you mean? Yeah it's free money but I don't like it."

"Your situation like that I guess?" Hinata's leaning on the couch like she's a sassy bitch, but it's played up for fun.

"Uhm... i don't have anything like that? I just had a room I stayed in?"

Hinata leans her head side to side, "a room? Like were you stuck in this room? Or could you like move around? Like."

Lochlan shrugs, "I mean I could move most of me around."

Those words resonate with Hinata, but it leaves her with confusion, "m-most of you? What part could you not move? Like okay, lemme go back to an old memory of mine. So back maybe uhh 10...? or so years ago, I was stuck without being able to leave a room after some law stuff happened. I had enough to eat and to read, but my entire body was able to move around. Well until I was frozen, but that's another story."

Lochlan gestures to her arms. "My arms."

"Ah.. I.. Hm, no that makes sense. But wait, aren't your arms mechanical? Wait no, this had to be before you got those. Wait did these other people give you the new arms?"

Hinata is seeming more and more interested in this story while piecing small things together.

"I'm not sure why I couldn't. It was like they weren't there."

"That's... really strange. I'm sure there's a logical explanation for that, but I don't have it currently. So this group keeps you in a room, you probably can't leave. And this urges Cole to bring you to us?"

"Im not really sure why felt like he needed me to be here."

Hinata seems to be deep in thought about something, but realizing no one else has told Lochlan, she chooses not to bring it up. Maybe Luna can. "Me neither, but I'm glad you're here. It's cool meeting people from other worlds."

"Maybe for you. To be it's just been complete chaos."

Hinata giggles lightly, "Trust me, when you're around this group, chaos is pretty close behind. It's like an omnipresent feeling. Luna taught me a powerful lesson about this. Just try your best to go with the chaotic flow."

"Aaaaanyway, want some food? Been craving some chicken nuggets and pizza rolls." Hinata gets up.

"That sounds good. Maybe some water too."

Hinata nods, "sounds good to me, come meet me in the kitchen."

Lochlan gets up and follows

Hinata walks in and heads into the freezer for various fried snacks. The bag of pizza rolls, chicken nuggets, and tater tots get placed onto the counter.

She's humming to herself while putting the frozen snacks onto a baking tray, then after waiting for the oven to pre-heat, they go into the oven. Hinata pours herself a cup of pop and Lochlan a glass of water and places them both on the table, then sits at the table while waiting for the food.

Lochlan enters and sits at the table aswell

"So you always drink water Lochlan?" Hinata asks, genuinely interested in learning more. "Like have you ever had soda?"

Lochlan takes the glass and sips from it, "Yeah but water just has that kick, ya know?"

"Kick? No, usually water is tasteless to me." Hinata shrugs, "but to each their own, I guess."

"It doesn't have that slight sting to you? Like a mild burning?"

Hearing that from Lochlan's lips, Hinata grows concerned. "n-no? Usually water is smooth and I poured that from the tap, so it's not spiked or anything."

"Im saying all watrr does that. Even this one." Lochlan takes another sip, "Its just part of its flavor."

Hinata tilts her head in confusion, but she shrugs it off, realizing it's not directly hurting Lochlan to drink that. But still, she has to ask, "okay, are you in pain? Like don't drink the water if it hurts you."

"Cuz like look, I have robotic parts in me, but I can still swim and take baths and stuff. It doesn't directly affect me thankfully. But if it's not the same for you, I would prefer you didn't get hurt while Luna, Cole, and Violet are not home. And Spider's basically out of commission tonight."

it is literally just hinata and lochlan in the house help

"Its like hot sause to me. More of an enjoyable sensation"

That doesn't make her feel any better.

But the oven dings while deep in this conversation of spicy water. Hinata takes this moment to get up and take some deep breaths while pulling everything out. On each plate, chicken nuggets, tater tots, and pizza rolls are pilled. Then she serves a plate to Lochlan and puts the other one at her place. "There ya go Lochlan, enjoy." Hinata smiles.

Lochlan begins eating while still sipping from the water

Hinata chows down, "man I forgot how good these things are. Been ages since I've had pizza rolls."

Lochlan nods and seems to busy eating to gove much of a responce

Hinata is the same, eating rather quietly. It's lonely in the house without Luna and Cole.

Eventually she finishes her plate and puts it in the sink, almost tripping on the small step stool Luna uses.

Lochlan finishes her food and remains at the table while thinking

Hinata sits at the table while drinking some more pop. Her phone is out while reading some things online.

"Any questions for me Lochlan?"

"I don't think I have any. I mean I can't really think of any off the top of my head that is."

Hinata smiles, "alright, well if you need anything, I'mma head back to the living room. Just put your plate in the sink, I'll wash them later."

Hinata walks out

Lochlan gets another glass of water