Case 34

Unfamiliar Feelings

2 months earlier

"Oh, it's about time."

"Sorry! Knife kept nagging me about some stuff about the team and how I screwed up last episode with the whole maze thing. Uh, what do you need me here for?"

Taco set down her cup of tea and scooted to the side and patted the small space on the log she was sitting on next to her. "Come, sit. I need to talk to you about something." Microphone gulps and her eyebrows raise. She takes slow steps towards the log and sits stiffly next to Taco who was looking down. Her feet swayed on the blades of grass slowly, and she sighs heavily. "You've watched season 1, haven't you?" Taco asks, her voice becoming low. Microphone just nods, assuming Taco could see her do so. "Okay. Then I suppose you know everything about me and what I did, yes?" Microphone hums this time, moving slightly closer towards Taco. The smaller girl just laughs and looks up at Microphone with a neutral face. "Does it make you not want to work with me?"

"U-uhmm well not exactly I-I just uhhh..." Microphone stammers and stutters, trying to find the right words to label exactly how she feels about the situation. She doesn't exactly dislike Taco, but is wary of her. And her shenanigans. Plus, she wants to win too anyway, if this is what it's gonna take, she'll take the chance. And perhaps it's also an excuse to want to have company every now and then. "Of course I still want to do this, I just don't want to do it violently? Or anything like that? L-Like earlier in the maze! No violence or being mean or anything, just advice and like having a helping hand...?" Microphone wishes that last part didn't strike a nerve, and hopes Taco won't throw the tea in her hand at her. "Advice? That wasn't just advice, Microphone! Or helping either!" "Then what would you call it?"

Taco seems to have been cornered this time and she just shakes her head. "Well, whatever. What I did there was obviously more than advice. In any case, we should plan things out from now on. How we should keep quiet so we don't get caught, always stay deep in the forest, you get the idea." Taco fixes her things and gently dusts her lap off. Microphone just smiles slightly. "Are you sure you weren't helping or anything back there? Or doing it because you wanted to?" Taco sighs and looks up at her once more. "No. I did that because I needed to if I want even a cent from you after all this. It's nothing personal, Microphone. Get over yourself." A giggle escapes Microphone's lips and she just sits much closer to the individual. The shorter girl grabs a piece of paper and starts writing. Microphone just sits there, waiting for some kind of remark or request from Taco, but she continues to ignore Mic's presence and focus on what she's writing. After a few minutes of complete silence, she couldn't help but be curious. "What are you writing?"

"A letter."

Microphone nods, laying her chin on Taco's head. "For who?" She asks. Taco hesitates for a bit but answers anyway. "For... For Pickle." Microphone went completely silent after the response and just continues to watch Taco's hand and pen work the paper. Her handwriting was beautiful and so neat, staining the paper with its ink. Microphone kept her hands to the side, still staring at Taco's paper. "Mic, get off. I can't focus." Taco nudges her arms and shoulders, but it doesn't shake the taller girl off. "Only if you tell me something." Taco rolled her eyes and continued writing. Microphone giggles and wraps her arms around Taco gently to not anger her. "Did you really only help me because you had to orrrrr-" "UGH, KNOCK IT OFF, MIC!" Taco elbows the taller one onto the ground and she ignores the pain and just bursts into a fit of giggles instead.