Interlude: King Thrushbeard

<Hey>

<My name is Steve>
<I’m sorry, you don’t really know me, I feel like some random creep or something, it’s just that you’re really interesting>

[Oh hi Steve! It’s great to connect with you! You’re one of the 4 people on the next door neighbor site!]

<it’s six now>
<I think having the potluck really helped getting people interested>

[I don’t think I saw you there?]

<You didn’t>
<I saw you though>

[Oookay, little creepy.]

<I’m sorry>

<I get told I’m like that a lot>
<Please tell me when I am.>
<It’s just . . . I find you really interesting. I want to know everything about you.>

[It’s not a big deal, I was just flirting/joking. What do you want to know?]

<Flirting?>
<Do you like me?>
<I want to know  everything>

[Lol, I don’t really know you. Um, my name is Mariah, I’m 51, turning 52 this August. I just bought this land off of Landes and I’m sharing it with my landmate Mark and several renters. I’m working on my PhD in consciousness studies in my spare time.]

<You don’t look  like you’re fifty>

[I don’t feel like I’m 51 either.]

<Are you planning to stay here?>

[I don’t think I could live anywhere else. I’ve fallen in love with this land. I like how mysterious it is out here with all the morning fog and the weird thunderclaps that sound across the valley all the time.]

<Did you notice the storm without clouds?>

[I was asleep, but I got woken up by a phone call. By then it was dissipating - but I did think that was kinda weird.]

<All sorts of weird things happen here if you watch enough>

[Are you an observer?]

<Yes, I like to see how people act when they don’t know I’m around, which is most of the time. I kinda blend into the woods a lot.>

[Tell me more about yourself.]

<I don’t really like to talk about myself>

[Come on! - age?]

<I’d rly rather not say.>

[Favorite pizza topping?]

<You’re going to hate me.>

[No I won’t]

<Pineapple>

[I actually don’t mind it.]
[See? That wasn’t so hard.]

<I can talk about myself>
<but I’m boring>
<I’d prefer to ask you questions>
<Like tell me about your consciousness studies?>

[Well . . . ]