001 ✽ text; handwritten, sharpie on legal pad.

[orumad]

shrimp
flaked coconut
jalapenos
ground cumin
oil oil oil

[ There's a few dots, like she's been tapping the marker against the page. ]

So yesterday, I had this stupid string of numbers stuck in my head. I don't do math, so what the fuck, right? And they just kept repeating and repeating and they just would NOT shut up. I put them into my phone, and I find this.

I've kinda been watching.

[ There's more dots, and a horribly drawn little flower. ]

Still not entirely convinced this isn't some fucked-up delusional shit. But if I'm delusional, I guess that makes all of you crazy too.

Does everything on this page show up?

Comments

( text: tablet. )

[jests]

I'd recommend a spicy orange sauce, or even pineapple.

handwritten;

[orumad]

I was thinking pineapple myself. Excellent call, faceless text stranger.

[jests]

Or: delusion, if you're still going with that angle.

[orumad]

At least you're agreeing with me, Delusion H. We'll let you stay.

[jests]

Good cooking is an art.

Still, that's very kind of you.

[orumad]

It is, but I try not to say as much around certain people. Trying not to feed the egos.

Of course. I only sound crazy when I argue with myself. Having delusions that agree with me reduce the potential of that.

[jests]

Those do tend to be troublesome. Of course, there's an easy fix to that.

Or at the very least, make you sound less indecisive.

[orumad]

Share. Anything that will help me shatter dreams and pop egos.

I'm never indecisive. Unless I am.

[jests]

I was simply going to say 'prove that you're better'. Egos have a habit of being delicate.

Naturally.

[orumad]

Unfortunately, with this particular ego, I wouldn't win that pissing contest. Although I can always fuck with his head in other ways.

See, I'm liking you enough to believe you're not just in my head. Look. Progress.

[jests]

Then I'd perhaps posit that he, too, suffers from delusions.

Do you often dislike what's in your head? No need to answer, of course, I'm merely trying to decide how flattered I ought to feel.

You know, for a delusion that may potentially be real.

[orumad]

His thoughts of grandeur are backed up by a Michelin star. So not just a delusion.

My brain is a weird place. And that's as far as I'm going with that for all of our sakes.

[jests]

Then that is problem.

Fair enough. Luke, by the way.

[orumad]

I'll just have to be more creative.

D [ There's some hesitation before she fills in her first name. What could it hurt, people here having her name? ]

Dahlia.

[jests]

One should never pass up that opportunity.

A pleasure, for as much as it can be.

[orumad]

Sadly, I think it's my creativity he likes the least. Too many bad memories.

Agreed. This whole network is pretty fucking fascinating, given my studies.

[jests]

But if your intent is to fuck with his head? [ "then it's hardly an issue." ]

Psychology? Sociology? Humanities and/or the social sciences, at the very least.

[orumad]

Oh no, I wasn't discounting it. Makes it easier, actually. Lots of guilt to play on.

A little bit of all of it. The general field is 'media studies.'

[jests]

A family member. [ a guess made on the mention of guilt; a father, maybe, or perhaps a boyfriend, but given the mention of 'michelin star' versus 'media studies', there's an age gap. ]

That was never very popular when I was at school.

[orumad]

Something like that, yeah. [ Technically, yes. But she doesn't care to think of him as much. Family doesn't abandon each other. Family doesn't ignore problems. ]

Changing world, yadda yadda.

[jests]

An easy way to feel old.

But that's rather beside the point, I hope.

[orumad]

Aw, I doubt you're old. Age is relative. Numbers are shit.

[jests]

Ah, yes: you're only as old as you feel/your shoe size.

[orumad]

Act your age
Not your shoe-size
And maybe we could do the twirl

[ Bonus points for recognizing the song. ]

[jests]

I'm gonna show you what it's all about.