Buttercup entered the thrift store that the voice in her head told her to enter. It was an ugly little hole in the wall, but it had clothes of some sort or another, and Buttercup was on a budget.
We'll need something unrecognizable. Entirely nondescript, and preferably protective from the elements as well. Some sort of jacket-jeans combo, I imagine. Casual. Do you follow me, Buttercup?
"Hell no," she said, utterly bewildered by the selection of shirts alone. She'd had a very limited choice of hospital gowns for the last twenty years, and choosing a full outfit had been out of her area of expertise since before the Incident anyways.
The inside shirt doesn't really matter. Pick one you like, short or long sleeved. Just be sure that it's cheap.
Buttercup picked the first one that happened to me the same size as the one she was wearing. It was a blank black undershirt, really. Nothing else to it.
Great. Now for a jacket. It'll probably get pretty cold pretty fast at night. You'll need a thick one.
There was this one bright green hoodie with a really soft fuzzy fur lining on the inside that seemed to please Him, so Buttercup picked that one up.
And jeans. Normally, finding the ideal pair is an elaborate ordeal, but since we're short on time and short on cash, we can't be too choosy. Find one your size. I doubt they have a changing room here, but they'll have a restroom.
Buttercup did as advised. Lighter, faded, 'relaxed fit' jeans, whatever the hell that meant. How relaxed is 'relaxed,' exactly?
And you'll need shoes and a pair of socks, but I'd advise you to clean your feet before putting them on.
Buttercup found some green stripy sneakers and a pair of white socks eventually. It was a horribly boring task overall, but after she had purchased and changed into all her new clothes, she felt it was worthwhile. She even had somewhere clean to put her feet after washing them off in the bathroom sink.
See, Buttercup? Don't you feel much better in your new clothes?
"Yeah," she admitted as she left the thrift store. "But I liked the sweat pants better."
At least you don't look like a jogger now, though.
"I guess."
There was a length of silent walking before she heard Him again. How about we get that bite of food now?
Buttercup smacked her lips. "Sounds great. Where do we go?"
Oh, that's not very important. You pick. Wherever you want.
Buttercup frowned. "I haven't been to a restaurant in twenty years, dumbass. I don't know what places there are to pick from."
Oh yeah. Well, I guess we'll just go to the closest one, then. There's a burger joint across the street…
"I guess." Buttercup took a few steps and stopped. "Do we really have to go there?"
Of course not. But why wouldn't you?
"I don't really want to have to talk to people. Where can we go where I don't have to talk to people?"
Buttercup, you're going to have to talk to people if you want to eat anything. Just ordering food inherently involves talking. Just do it.
Buttercup sighed. "I don't want to though. I don't know if I can. How do you even order food in the first place? You just go up to them and tell them what you want?"
Do you want me to order it for you?
"You can do that?"
I can do many things, Buttercup. You know that. But you have to let me.
It clicked in Buttercup's mind what he was trying to do. "You're going to take over my body, aren't you?"
He nodded. Buttercup had no clue how the hell a disembodied voice can nod, but he did.
"Just like you did before. Damn it!" Buttercup shook her head. "Get the fuck out of my head then, if that's all you're doing!"
I'm doing it because you wanted me to, Buttercup. Hold still.
Buttercup held still. He was kind of right.
I'm going to take over, order food, and let go. Okay? Just that simple. Nothing more. In and out. Does that sound like a plan?
Eventually the deal seemed too sweet. Besides, he sounded honest, like he'd really give the body back. Buttercup couldn't recall a time he hadn't screwed her over, but she figured there was a first time for everything. "Sure. It's a plan."
Buttercup suddenly started moving. She could feel herself walking, her muscles tightening and relaxing, but she wasn't doing it. She was breathing, but not of her own accord. It was like she had a front row seat behind her own eyeballs.
Time and space passed her by. Buttercup felt Him cross the road, and someone opened the door for Him at the burger joint. He paid for a double cheeseburger and medium fries and a soda, and they sat down at a table in the restaurant. The feeling returned to Buttercup.
See? Now that wasn't so bad, was it?
"No," Buttercup admitted before stuffing her face with the greasiest, saltiest, most fatty, most delicious food she'd had in decades. The soda stung her dry mouth, and the salt from the fries embedded itself in the cracks. All was washed down with a generous clump of cheese and beef. It was fucking euphoric.
You could see and hear and smell and taste everything I was doing. If you wanted to, you could have overridden my control. I don't see why you would, but you could have. It worked out perfectly.
"Hmm-mm." Buttercup couldn't talk. Damn, she should trust Him more often for the food alone!
Damn right, girl. You can trust me. I know what I'm doing. I've been here a while. I'm your friend, for all intents and purposes.
Buttercup almost ignored Him. She ate and finished eating and damn near ate the wrapper before a word he said got through the wall of saturated fats.
All done?
Buttercup burped an impressive burp. "Yeah, all done." Damn, that was good!
Okay then. Next order of business.
"Which is?" Buttercup asked as she threw away the paper and walked out of the nameless burger joint.
You'll see. Just follow me.
***Author's Note***
Leisurely trust building… oh my.
That's really all I have to say about this one. Buttercup's getting to trust Him. Tell me what you think, and as always, thanks for reading and reviewing!
