A Marshmallow's Guide to Loving a Complete Idiot (Inanimate Insanity)(Marshple)

20. Have High Standards

"Thinking about it, I wouldn't date a fan." Bow looked at her with interest. Marsh continued, "I mean, they'd know a lot more about you than you'd know about them. It makes sense to start on the same page."

"Hmm, that's not a bad point. Would it really be a deal-breaker, though?"

Memories of the show she quit poured into her mind: the dumb challenges, the crazy leadership drama on the Bright Lights, the indignity of being launched places without consent, how much physical and emotional injury the show had caused.

Only someone absolutely sick in the head would be entertained by it.

"You know, I think it would be, actually! The show was really bad for everyone. Only the worst of you comes out when you're on reality TV, and there's no point to any of it but sick entertainment and profit."

"Gee, you're painting people with a wide brush here."

"I live in a mansion in the middle of nowhere; I don't generally like dealing with fans."

"Point taken. Well, what about a contestant? Got any strong feelings either way about that?" Bow was leaning in, as if it'd make great gossip.

Marsh couldn't help but chuckle. "Have you seen the contestants? I mean... who would I? Nickel? Balloon? Knife?"

Bow chortled. "I dunno, your tall friend was pretty cute."

"Are you serious?! You guys haven't even talked."

"Maybe not, but that hair is so soft. You should totally feel it the next time you have the chance, maybe give me his number... or is it her number...?"

'Why the heck would you know Paintbrush's hair is soft? You haven't even interacted...' She rolled her eyes and grinned wryly. "I'll consider it..."

"What about Orange Juice, hmm? He's the responsible type, and rich too..."

Her blush flared up again. "Bow! This is fascinating and all, but I'm just not interested in being teased! He's a friend."

Bow snickered. "Sorry about that; got carried away, buuuut, if you want to get going to read that romance novel some more, I don't blame you.."

"Yeah, thanks." That was sarcasm, but she did mean her next words: "Good luck with the search."

Marsh walked out, and headed across the hall to her room. She considered stopping in Apple's room, which was on the way, but it was far too early for her to be up.

The lighting was poor; the sun rose on the other side of the house, after all. She stared hard at the flashlight set up beside her bed just for that purpose... but figured that no, it wasn't worth exhausting the batteries.

Instead she stuck a bookmark into the book and crawled out her window, and laid on the slanted roof.

The sky seemed to segue from a soft yellow color to a blue one, and there was even a lone bird's song in the distance, among the only ones she'd ever heard out there. She shut her eyes and listened intently.

Even though there wasn't much by way of fauna... There sure were a lot of nice memories there involving plants and such. Hanging around that big fir tree around Christmas, burning asparagus but enjoying it anyway... heck, even drawing and reading lessons wouldn't be a thing without trees of all shapes and sizes, to make the paper.

Most importantly, Apple was a plant, too.

'I don't need to doubt that those memories are real, because they just are. Dating someone else would be filled with new chances for half-truths, or even lies. And even though we don't do much here other than relax... It's a blessed life. It shouldn't change.'