Soon.

[The Honeless Beard]

((From F's in the chat.))

Ivan had watched her break down, and it was fascinating.

He’d never paid much attention to her in school, really, aside from random whispers of her and Nebraska or whatever state that other girl had been named after. He’d been caught behind them in class once, Mr. Angle’s boring affair with Nebraska coming in late and being sat next to her. There was a weird angle there, one he’d tried to ignore but watched from his own group project surreptitiously, like a peeping tom. He’d felt like he was witnessing something intimate, but that he’d had no experience with, flicking channels when he was seven and stumbling across the 9000’s with pornographic ads.

Her face filled Ivan’s screen and she told them she wouldn’t help them. Begged them to trust her. Swore she’d do her very best.

It was bizarre, witnessing her trying to hold it together and struggling to maintain a composure in a situation that was so off-kilter and wild that everyone was already sliding towards the edge. He felt his own feet slip out under him, and watching her scrabble for purchase and grab onto logic and talk about survival lit something warm and light within him.

The feeling faded with the television screen, and he was left with ideas. Vague, floating ideas, about how someone like that might be the strongest person this season.

Ivan figured he’d need to solidify one.

He’d need to do it soon.

((To F's in the chat.))