Evening a few days later, the parents are in the kitchen making tea while Theo is on the living room couch, trying to look busy, when Morgan texts him from upstairs.
clear the big chair
clear it of what?
nobody's sitting there
dad's newspapers
and that ugly scratchy pillow with the tassels
throw it on the floor
not gonna do that to a pillow mom loves
just move it
and get the weighted blanket
why do you need to be crushed during a movie??
we're watching a comedy
not a trauma documentary
just do it
it helps me feel grounded after all mom's talking about window treatments
then come down here and arrange your own nest
why am i suddenly your designated furniture mover??
not ready to come down yet
if dad sees me building a fortress
he's gonna ask me if i'm feeling emotional again
so let him
just drape it over the back
and make it look inviting
hurry up before dad claims it
FINE
there
i look insane, wrestling with a duvet in the middle of the living room
happy???
is the ac blasting?
standard temp
why?
it's freezing up here
i feel like i'm not wearing enough
THEN CHANGE???
we're watching a movie in our house's living room
not going to a movie premiere
my point is i'm freezing
need the blanket to be ready so i can dive in immediately
then do it already
bury yourself in it
and better yet, put on a parka before you do
putting on sweats and maybe an oversized hoodie
are the blankets thick enough?
you know they are
just don't walk past the railing looking like that pic
you looked though
to assess
the whole thing is a danger zone
it's like you're trying to give me an aneurysm before the movie starts
just trying to be comfortable
dad's walking in with the bowl
he asked why i'm panting
tell him you were lifting weights
the blanket is heavy
i hate you
just come down fully clothed
sweats are mostly on
mostly??
the waistband's rolled
relax
and the chair's ready?
yes, your majesty 🙄
good
coming down
don't stare
the movie's starting
you haven't answered dad
tell him you're read bc of the heat
IT IS THE HEAT
just get over here already god
🤭
Minutes into the movie...
dude
emergency
what?
isn't it movie night or whatever over there?
had to leave
why?
was the movie that bad?
the seating arrangement was a disaster
she moved
from the chair to the couch
right next to me
her leg touched mine
and i'm in shorts
w rizz
NO RIZZ
negative rizz
she's mogging u
tried to just move away
but she followed me
she knows what she's doing
she definitely knows
she "adjusted" the blanket and boom
knee to knee
had me spilling my soda a bit
💀
crashing out over a knee is so lame bro
it surprised me, okay??
the movie's volume was high
dad was crunching popcorn
and out of nowhere i feel something against my leg
so u ran
i couldn't just stay
told them i needed water
water breaks are for the weak
my face is BURNING, lukas
so ur blushing
i look like i ran a marathon in the sun
ur face is snitching on u
exactly
so if i go back in there, dad's gonna ask questions
just go back in and sit down
i can't
she sprawled out
took up all the space
manspreading??
wtf no
just relaxing
but kinda aggressively?? idk
sighed pretty loud too
she's farming reactions
anyway
just survive the hunt bro
or give in
give in to what???
insanity???
to the plot
put ur arm around her and see what happens
ARE YOU CRAZY
that's a death sentence
just say you want me dead
high risk, high reward
can't imagine the reward being so good that i'd risk my actual life
anyway, i'm cooling down
splashed water on my face
it's not really helping tho so i'm just
gonna wait for credits
how long til then?
crap
the movie just started
so like
90 mins
HAHAHAHAHAHA
make a sandwich while ur in the kitchen
make it ur new base
this isn't funny, dude
ah crap
footsteps
boss battle time???
if it's her, i'm climbing out the window
film it
do a flip
i'm serious
so am i
SHUT UP
RIP
After the movie...
you alive?
yes??
i'm safe in my room
u ran out pretty fast
had to pee
liar
you were running away
from what, the living room?
from me
why were you so jumpy?
the movie had some suspense
and the sound mixing was loud
it was a romcom, Theo
besides, i noticed you were reacting every time i moved
you moved a lot and it was distracting
i was getting comfy
but you were acting like i was radioactive
you flinched when i grabbed the popcorn
you reached across me without warning
your arm was in my face
i thought you were gonna elbow me
why would i elbow you?
and why would your breath hitch if that's what you thought?
we were at an emotional scene in the movie
the scene where they were buying groceries is emotional, huh
you don't understand cinema
subtext is everything
you were sitting so stiff tho
i'm just respectful of personal space
this is getting boring, Theo
how is respect boring??
i mean this "good boy" act you've got going
it's who i am
not an act
i'm a gentleman
you're a nervous wreck is what you are
you need to relax
i'm literally lying in bed rn
around me
i am though
who do you think you're fooling?
you treat me like a bomb
because you are
and despite that, i'm still relatively relaxed around you
i haven't exploded once
you're the one tweaking while i was just sitting there
you were existing aggressively in my radius
we're family tho
it's not that deep
normal brothers don't flinch when their sister stretches
and normal sisters don't stretch like that around their brothers
i have long legs
i needed the room
you had plenty of space to do so elsewhere
then you could've pushed back
claimed your ground
and touch you? no
just don't run away next time
i will if i want to
coward
i prefer tactician
whatever helps you sleep at night
you know you're the one making all this weird by being so fragile
i'm not being fragile
then don't flinch next time
i won't
i'll be a rock
we'll see
good night, "good boy"
don't call me that
i hate it
that's exactly why i'm doing it
Hours later...
why are you up at 2am?
i saw you liked that reel
insomnia
same here
everything okay?
like with everything you mentioned in the kitchen that time?
i said a lot of things
be specific
you said you felt trapped
like the walls were closing in and the whole "perfect daughter" thing was suffocating you
you had that look in your eyes
like a caged animal
just checking in in case you're spiraling
i'm not
just thinking
strategizing, actually
are you planning to run away?
please don't leave me here alone with them
no
i found smth else
like therapy?
meditation?
mom has that app with the rain sounds
none of that
smth more effecting
a way to escape without leaving the house
that sounds impossible
unless you mean like
dissociation or something
i guess you could call it that
but not quite
it's release
a way to break the rules secretly
you're being so cryptic
is it something dangerous??
like you're planning to play with fire
in a way
arson???
no lmao
metaphorical fire
still sounds dangerous
is it illegal?
no
just frowned upon
and highly inappropriate if they found out
mom and dad?
i'm really curious now
is it a portal or something
a hidden room?
it's an experience, Theo
a way to feel ungovernable
crazy word choice
sounds like you're starting a rebellion or something
maybe i'll show you one day
show me the rebellion?
i'll let you see my escape
watch me break the rules
wdym watch you?
wait
are you asking me to be a witness to a crime or something?
🤭
🤭
anyway, you might like it
if you have the stomach for it, that is
i'm sure i do
considering how you panicked while we were watching a movie
i have my doubts
that's just social anxiety
i can handle secrets
this isn't just any secret tho
it needs absolute discretion
the kind you need to take to the grave
you sure you can handle that?
definitely
i've never snitched on anyone in my life as a conscious grown adult
i can swear on my gaming pc if it needs to come to that
hmmm
you aren't quite ready yet
i am though
tell me
you have to prove it first
prove what??
your capacity for handling it
the tension
tension is my natural habitat at this point lol
maybe tomorrow
if the mood strikes
so you're leaving me hanging?
how am i supposed to sleep now??
you'll be fine
but if you really can't, let your mind wander
imagine what it could be
my brain's in the thread of crimes
then think softer
closer to home
more intimate
like feelings?
physical and right under their noses
oh my god
are you building something in the basement?
smth like that but better
i am scared and intrigued
mostly scared
but also strangely curious
that's the point
fear has a strange way of making you feel alive
it mainly just makes me feel nauseous
night, Theo
don't let the secrets bite
MORGAN WTF
YOU CAN'T JUST DROP THAT AND LEAVE
and you're gone
i'm never sleeping again
The next morning...
target is completely broken
Did the movie strategy convert? 📈
beyond convert
thigh contact was especially effective
Physical proximity is the highest value asset 💸
Did he retreat?
eventually, which was to be expected
ran to the kitchen
but he came back for more via text
Late night engagement is especially golden
What did he say?
asked if i'm okay
i dropped the bait about "escaping"
he swallowed that whole
he thinks i'm running a secret rebellion in the basement 😂
Interesting course of thought
Do you think he's ready for the persona drop?
he's primed for it
i can tell he's terrified
but he can't look okay either
Drop the persona when he's weakest
Timing is everything ⏳
i'll wait for dark then
Peak traffic hours 📈
The "clueless roommate"-type dynamic is always high yield
he's the ultimate prop
Then cash in
Turn his anxiety into revenue
already counting on it