#26. I'm tired of posting images with these, so it is what it is.
>at least the food here was still normal, you thought, as you poked at your burrito
>the two of you had taken a break at the food court, which gave you the perfect opportunity to deal with your possession problem...
>only... you had no idea how to even approach it
>Octavia munched on her food awkwardly to cope with the relative silence
>it was funny just how far out of your comfort zone you'd leapt for this moment, only to lock up when it mattered most
>as if any part of having your consciousness fused into a sparkledog was comfortable
>should you just ask outright?
>no... maybe start slow
>"So how're things with Stolas?"
>Octavia nearly choked, sputtering slightly at the sudden question, "Wot?"
>"I-I mean, you said he was smothering you...?"
>she let out a weary sigh, and you could almost smell the can of worms you'd just opened...
>"It's complicated," she responded, "he's, well.... he's trying."
>she let those words hang in the air, as if they were supposed to mean something to you...
>"but he's still just sometimes there, sometimes not... 'Goetia politics', I guess," Octavia continued, "and when he IS there, he's RIGHT THERE, everywhere I look, breathing down my neck because he's afraid I'll run off again..."
>you mentally tugged your collar listening to this... how the hell were you supposed to handle this, let alone segue into the info you needed?
>it was clear she was still torn up, but you didn't have the tools for this job
>"but... you wanted him to be with you more... right?" you probed as gently as you could, but judging from her expression you were still pretty clumsy
>in fact, she'd glared for a second before she softened again, and it was clear you were losing her a little
