well damn.

[chemtech]

Just - what - are you even doing? You know these late-night decisions never pan out well for you. Or anyone else involved, for that matter.

Look. I know you're excited - this could open up a whole new world of possibilities for you but - have you even stopped to think about how this would affect me?

...Of... course not...

Right.

I'll just - be over here. Bracing myself.

Comments

[stopfollowingme]

They don't usually think about anyone other than themselves.

[chemtech]

This is - yeah. This is a new development for me but - I can see what you're saying. It's as if repercussions mean nothing to her! She doesn't have the slightest clue.

[stopfollowingme]

Actually I think it means everything to them. I honestly think they enjoy seeing us suffering.

[chemtech]

Finding pleasure in others' misery. Of course. She seems like the type.

[stopfollowingme]

They all are that type. It's kind of a common thing with these people.

I know my mun had some of the people in his head killed the first day in their games. It's disgusting.

[chemtech]

Oh.

Sure hope I last longer than a day... Would be nice...

[stopfollowingme]

It's always a possibility. I guess it depends on how much she enjoys watching you get hurt.

[chemtech]

[Less-than-pleased-sounding whine.]

Great. Just great.

[coolerwithamerman]

...Great.

Lin... [This is not my fault] ...I'm glad to see you.

[chemtech]

This is all your fault. If you didn't get yourself dragged into this, I could still have a fighting chance to stay safe and sound in my lab.

[All the frowns. But - she's glad to see you too. There's a sad little smile.]

[coolerwithamerman]

Excuse me Miss "This is not the chem department's fault". One of us had to have screwed up. I'm the numbers guy! You're the one with a direct impact on what we were doing!

[deep breath. deep breath] ...Gary's going to have a fucking fit.

[chemtech]

...Do you think this is... some sort of punishment? For - last time?

[Oh my. Expression of total understanding. They dun goofed.]

Is he with you? Gary?

[coolerwithamerman]

No. [regret? longing?] Nobody else. Something else. Kevin's there. he says it's our arena. There are no cameras. No nothing. It's the world's biggest clusterfuck and you've got these people running around...

You like comics?

Bruce Banner's here.

Maybe you and he can be friends.

[chemtech]

Kevin? Who would even - who the hell let him out?

[Utter. Panic.]

This is - this is.... not good.

What you're meaning to tell me is that there's no rules, no regulation, no sense of order... and comic book characters actually exist? [Pause.] Seems about right. I guess.

[coolerwithamerman]

When gods rule apparently they like stuff that reads like bad fanfiction.

[he pauses] ... I like star trek okay.

[chemtech]

At least you don't write the stuff. That'd be even more embarrassing, I think.

[Nope. She doesn't have a FF.net account what are you talking about.]

[coolerwithamerman]

[They're all secret nerds]

Lin.

Talk your writer out of it.

If you're there the rules change. [Time for the spooky face. The face that he and Gary call their game faces] ...my writer's begging for it tell yours no.

[chemtech]

Talk her out of it? You know this girl. You know how stubborn she can be. Scratch that - how stubborn she already is. It's damn near impossible, okay?

[She shakes her head.]

I can try. Not saying it's gonna work.

[The slightest headtilt.] How could the rules change? It already sounds like none are even being implemented in the first place.

[Oh no not the spooky face. Consider her upset.]

[coolerwithamerman]

....I've been -

[no.] I outrank you.

[chemtech]

[Wow uh. Excuse you?]

Y-yeah. Yeah. I know that, Hadley. I already said I was gonna try, didn't I?

[plat]

You worked there?

[chemtech]

Excuse me?

[plat]

In the place you're being sent. [ a vague wave toward the mun, hi. ] She mentioned it.

[chemtech]

Ah - mm. Well. I'm not - one-hundred percent but. There's a big chance that's the case, yes.

[plat]

You know what to expect, then.

[ he will be picking your brain, lin. ]

[chemtech]

Well - no. No. Not essentially. It's my understanding that things... well... things are a bit different.

[plat]

How so? She's keeping me in the dark, but it certainly can't hurt to attempt to prepare.

[chemtech]

I'm afraid... I'm at no liberty to discuss such things. I'm - sorry. Real sorry.

[puppetdance]

Oh, glorious day. Now the gang's almost all here.

[chemtech]

The Fool. Uh - Mikalski was it?

...So you got grabbed too. Huh.