voicetest & maybe possibly going to last voyages ages from now

[sureisclose]

I'm not really sure where to start with this idea, if you want me to be honest. I mean, sure, that's a great solution in theory - okay, maybe not great, but better, and, you know, it's not like I'm not used to weirdness, I could handle it - but I need to stay where I am right now. Not want, need. You know that.

I wanted things to be different, too. But right now, they're just not.

And no, you can't persuade me by saying 'Nathan's going to do something stupid'. He'll be okay. He's good at weird, too.

Comments

[crownless]

[hot blonde hot blonde hOT BLONDE HOT BLONDE]

I like a woman with conviction.

[sureisclose]

[Oh dear Jesus Travis no]

Huh.

[She pulls out a notebook and starts writing something down carefully.]

[crownless]

[he tries. oh my god does he try]

Hey, uh... whatcha writing?

[sureisclose]

[But he really, really shouldn't.]

Just trying to work something out.

[crownless]

Am I really that tough to figure out?

[sureisclose]

No, no. It's not about you.

<~~~ official unofficial enticing icon

[surfaceshine]

Attagirl. Stick to your guns on this one - you really want to stay with the kinda weird you got and not the kinda weird we got.

it's basically official by now

[sureisclose]

That's not really what it's about. But I'm sticking to my guns anyway.

[She tends to, okay.]

yes butt there's responsibility once it's officially official

[surfaceshine]

Good. That's good. Unless it's literal.

Which has happened to me before, only with beer bottles and not guns.

sorry now i'm just laughing at the word butt

[sureisclose]

Uh. Well . . . it hasn't happened yet, but you never know.

yes good

[surfaceshine]

There wasn't anything weird about that, though, except for the part where my kid brother is a freak.

[sureisclose]

So business as usual.

Superglue?

[surfaceshine]

Pretty much.

Yeah. He was mad about the itching powder. And the Nair.

[sureisclose]

[Okay, she really can't manage to hide her smile all the way, here. But oh god does she try.]

Can't imagine why.

[surfaceshine]

Dude, that's what I said? He's such a princess.

[sureisclose]

Didja get him a tiara?

[Because if not there is a chance somebody missed an opportunity.]

[surfaceshine]

Not that time. Once when he turned seventeen, though, I put one on his cake.

[sureisclose]

I bet he just loved that.

[surfaceshine]

Doesn't everyone? I mean, really, doesn't everyone?

[mirabilis]

Ah, but there's weird, and then there's weird.

[ Debate amongst yourself as to which category this falls into ]

And it does sound likely, doesn't it? That someone will do something stupid?

[ She's expecting it, whether she knows him or not ]

[sureisclose]

Sure, but I'm confident some people know how to do what they need to do.

[mirabilis]

But do they? It's easier to put faith into someone than to get what you expect.

[sureisclose]

It's easier to expect anything than actually get it. Doesn't change that I know him.

[mirabilis]

Do you? Men are always so quick to turn their opinions round, betray you.

[sureisclose]

You mean people 'men' or just men 'men'?

[mirabilis]

Men are more likely, but anyone can.

[sureisclose]

Sure. Anyone can. Most people don't think they do, though.

[mirabilis]

Most people are fools.

[sureisclose]

You think?

[mirabilis]

I've had a lot of experience with it.

[neuropathy]

Little late for that, Parker.

[ Look it's only like, ONE PERCENT bitterness, this is not her fault. ]

I got this though.

[sureisclose]

Hey.

[A touch of warning, here. It's not his fault. Mostly. And even if it was . . .]

All by yourself?

[neuropathy]

Hey.

[ Imagine that syllable surrounded by floaty hearts and intense warmth and BIG STUPID LONGING, if you will. ]

Not gonna ask anyone else to fix what I broke. But I guess when I get back Dwight'll be around.

[sureisclose]

I'm not talking about when you get back.

[Meaningful Look (TM).]

I'm talking about now.

[neuropathy]

[ That look is wildly unfair, for the record. But meanwhile, dryly: ]

There're some bonding activities planned.

[sureisclose]

[She knows. And is suspicious of this, meanwhile.]

Bonding.

[Like how, because Dean up there is talking about people getting stuck to each other and she's just not interested in that as a concept at all.]

[neuropathy]

It's like that trust building seminar, only with trauma.

[ Tiny hesitation. ]

Audrey, I--

[ Right. No. Audience of possible millions, he would rather shoot himself in the foot and feel it. ]

I'm gonna be okay. I just wish I knew if you were comin' back.

[sureisclose]

[Her mouth turns down in a bitter twist. She knows.]

You and me both.

[It'd be nice if he was okay now. But there's just no way. She can imagine his face when they disappeared.]

[neuropathy]

[ His mouth does ...something in response; Audrey will recognize this as the same coping mechanism that makes Nathan says things like 'what's the big deal, it's just a barn,' - a smile off kilter, but a valiant effort regardless. ]

Woulda thought you'd have a manual by now.

[ You know, one with any indication at all about how any of this works. ]