While I'm hanging and enjoying everything about it, Old Man is working on the chain
\ below. I can't really communicate, but I also don't need to, I can just relax
\ and listen to him talking.

"Again, you feel anything even slightly bad -- you let me know. This is an order."

Sure, sure. Hacksaw makes noise, right now I find it very relaxing. Old Man
\ is talking, I don't really pay attention. Mute, focus. Mute,
\ this is not about... Not about... not... about...

...

"..."

"MUTE!"

what

"Mute, what we do here is testing the effects of you being lifted. If you
\ tune out, I can't determine whether you are just being very excited or
\ in danger, okay? I need you to be conscious, I need you to actively monitor
\ your own condition and I need you to tell me if anything is wrong."

I understand. I'm just... It's just... Fucking hell.

"Oh man, if you can't then you can't, don't go blaming yourself again. I just
\ wanted to do several things at the same time, but we can do it separately.
\ Just forget I said anything, I'll watch you, it's okay. Relax, enjoy. Mute,
\ it's alright. I just worry too much sometimes."

...

"In fact, I can make it even better for both of us."

He goes out. I shuffle around with mixed emotions. I do feel guilt, because
\ once again I'm being useless, require extra work from him, and... Yes, I do
\ enjoy myself. We've been there, no need to relitigate. Here's a novel idea:
\ can I use this guilt I feel now to augment my enjoyment? Don't think so,
\ but I can try anyway.

He's back with a gas mask, and he puts it on me, and then he fits the hose into
\ a plastic bottle with water in it and a hole in its side with a straw. What's
\ it called, a bong? I don't really smoke. It's exactly as I've imagined he did
\ last time, sans one tiny detail. It's cool, even with water it does feel great,
\ now every breath I make causes audible bubbling, and it doesn't make it
\ that much harder to inhale, just slightly. He puts a chair in front of me
\ and sits on it, just watching.

Yeah, I can't resist, the ice under my feet cracks and I go down...

@@height:20em;
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wh-- oh-- ah-- no-- mo-- MO-- PL-- MO-- SH-- SHIT

[[Did I just come?|next]]

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