Squirrelly Days - Rammu

009 - Lina

After finishing up the last morning procrastination task she could think of, Lina stared nervously at the door leading out of her room.

'''

Lina: *low whisper* Come on Lina... it's been almost a phase already. You can't stay afraid of everybody forever.

'''

Hearing a knock at her door, Lina jolted up in a mixture of shock and terror as she heard Vivica's voice asking to come in. After a few panicked breaths, Lina calmed herself down enough to reply.

Not sure what to expect, Lina froze in place and watched Vivica enter her room.

'''

Vivica: How ya doin'?

Lina: *nervous* Well~ *awkward chuckle* Sorry, for taking so long... I-I'm just slow in the morning.

Vivica: Not really, you get up pretty early, you're just afraid to come out. Which is what I wanted to talk to you about. I don't mean to eavesdrop, it just kind of happens. *nervous fidgeting* So, first off I wanted to say, I'm sorry for listening in on you talking to yourself all the time. *nervous chuckle* And since I only get to hear one side of your conversations, I wanted to see if you'd tell me the other. Maybe I can help you get less nervous around everyone.

Lina: *nervous gulp* Y-you've heard me talking to myself?

Vivica: Pretty much everything you've said to yourself every morning and night since you've got here.

Lina: *hard gulp*

Vivica: I-isn't it kind of relieving to know that you've already been talking one-on-one with someone for hours on end about personal things?

Lina: *nervous utterance* I suppose that's a nice way of looking at it...

Vivica: To be honest, at first I didn't really like you. I kind of thought you were a stuck up village girl doomed to drop out, but after listening to you, I've come to realize I was way off. You're really funny, i-in a good way, and you're not as self-centered as I thought you were. You're genuinely terrified of everyone for some reason. Anyway~ if I haven't completely freaked you out, I was thinking we could do our morning regimen separately from everyone else today. I already got Wa-su and Bora-su's approval.

Lina: *nervous* Al~right...

Vivica: Try not to be so nervous. Remember, you've already talked to me about all sorts of stuff. *playful smile* Anyway, let's get going.

'''

Lina followed Vivica into the trainee common where she awkwardly waved a good morning to everyone on her way to the pot room, then goodbye to them as she followed Vivica out the door.

Reaching the rope ladder, Lina cringed as she instinctively reached up to rub her aching shoulders.

'''

Vivica: *concerned stare* You know I could use some practice climbing while carrying someone on my back if you're interested in helping.

Lina: That sounds dangerous.

Vivica: We'll use a support rope just in case.

Lina: *hesitant* Alright.

'''

Lina blushed heavily as Vivica grabbed a rope and tied it around her waist.

'''

Vivica: No point in getting too excited, I have no idea how to tie someone up like Mirra-su does.

Lina: I-I wasn't.

Vivica: *knowing smile* You really should get over your lying habit. It's your least appealing trait.