goneawaycomms

[ Aahhhh, the girlfriend. That makes sense. He hasn't formally met her yet, but obviously he knows Stacia. ]

So when am I coming over for dinner?

Whenever you want. Maybe if you come over it'll help me feel better.

What's wrong? You're not actually this guy.

We're stuck in this and we don't know why, and I don't know how to fix it. Otherwise I would.

I figured it was some temporary Stuff... thing. Doesn't that happen?

I think so. You're right about that.

It still doesn't make me very happy. Just knowing this guy exists...bugs me.

Are you sure he exists? Did we take people's places or were we just written into this world?

I honestly have no idea.

You want me to give you the address where this house is? I'd...like to see you.

Yeah, send it to me. I'll figure out how to get there.

[ North does so. He spends the time while he's waiting for York's arrival in Denny's workshop, checking out all the tools and scraps of wood he has in there. ]

[ It doesn't take too long, in the grand scheme of things. York arrives and rings the doorbell, peering in the windows to see how nice a place is it. He's decidedly in a bachelor pad. ]

[ Having been in the garage, North pokes his head out. ]

'M over here.

Oh, hey.

[ York turns and heads in there, looking around. ]

Huh. A handy guy, I guess.

Seems like it.

[ There's an automatic garage door opener; North hits the button so the door will go down. He doesn't know if anyone 'official' is watching them, but he assumes this will give them a small measure of privacy. ]

You okay, then?

[ He goes to York and puts his hands on his shoulders. From what York had said earlier, he's doing fine. This is more an excuse to be able to touch him. ]

I'm fine. I hate my guy's job, but I'm holding up otherwise.

[ He reaches up and puts one of his hands over North's, keeping it in place. But talking about his job makes him think of something else. ]

...have you heard from your sister?

Oh, yeah. I'd be in a real state if I hadn't been able to get a hold of her. Can you imagine?

[ A burst of sitcom laughter at that reminds him anew about the nonsense they're putting up with. ]

She's not putting up with it any better than I am, let me tell you.

[ York sighs a little at the laughter, then shakes his head and moves on. ]

I'm sure she isn't. But I was going to ask if she still had D?

No, and I don't have Theta, either.

Wait, but-- Theta's implanted. You think something pulled him?

I don't know. It really, really bothers me, but I don't.

[ He moves the hand York's not covering to York's waist. ]

[ York's quiet for a moment, just looking up at North. His good eye is worried. ]

Do you feel him missing?

[ He nods. ]

I don't know what we'll do if it stays this way.

It won't.

[ He leans up and pulls North into a hug -- obviously he knows the feeling of losing your AI. It's awful. ]

[ That's what he's needed—ever since awakening here, he realizes. He returns the embrace fiercely. The audience, wherever it is, applauds. ]

I wish I felt as sure as you.

[ York grimaces at the applause, but it isn’t enough for him to break the hug. ]

Haven’t you been through plenty of world shifts before?

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bothbarrels - 2021-03-12 23:21 (UTC) - Expand

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infailtration - 2021-03-13 03:50 (UTC) - Expand