(no subject)

[lobster_bib]

Who: Jesus Rovia
Username: Not A Koan
Warnings: None!

Is anyone interested in helping me and my roommate break open a large boulder?

It says 'hollow inside'. Can confirm it sounds hollow. Out in Dogtown.

Comments

[abrightboy]

That’s a strange thing to bother carving in.

[lobster_bib]

That was my thought too. Which is why we want to blow it open.

[Private]

You seem like you're feeling better.

Private

[abrightboy]

Oh. Right. Um. We ran into each other at the coffee shop, right? My memories of… that time are… hazy. Like. Like my brain couldn’t bother holding onto it properly.

Re: Private

[lobster_bib]

You seemed pretty out of it.

It wasn't something to do with Dogtown was it?

Private

[abrightboy]

Not exactly. But it did have to do with an ADI investigation. My fiance found a shard of glass in my arm from an Entity artifact.

Re: Private

[lobster_bib]

Oh, Neal! We met. I'm glad he took care of you.

What happened after the shard was removed?

Private

[abrightboy]

It was like… waking up after a bad trip.

Re: Private

[lobster_bib]

I'm sorry. I've been there.

It sort of feels like we should introduce ourselves again. I'm Jesus. I guess I look like you? Or you look like me since you're younger.

[abrightboy]

Maybe the beard just makes you look older. [He’s teasing.] People have recognized that you look like me? I don’t really have that many friends left here. I mean, a few just came back but most of them had vanished. Or died.

[lobster_bib]

I'm thirty-seven. Ish. Around there.

Anyway you definitely have more friends than I do. Enough that every person has asked if I know you.

[abrightboy]

Okay. I’m thirty-three. Almost thirty-four now.

…People asked about me. That’s. Weird. I guess I’ve been here for a while.

[lobster_bib]

Maybe you're more likeable than you realize.

[abrightboy]

This really is a brave new world.

[lobster_bib]

[He laughs] Oh come on. You've got my face and my voice. Somehow you managed to land an attractive fiance. You can't be that off putting.

[abrightboy]

[Malcolm smiles at the ground.]

I grow on people. My mentor calls me an acquired taste. The first time I asked Neal out, he said no.

[lobster_bib]

I haven't been on a date in twelve years.

And most of my closest friends? Started out trying to shoot me.

[abrightboy]

I imagine after the apocalypse, trauma bonding is the way to make friends.


…It happens here a lot too.

[lobster_bib]

Yeah? Well it's probably the only kind of bonding I'm good at anymore.

Although Neal did invite me to your housewarming.

[abrightboy]

That’s great! I’m so excited. I can’t wait to see who comes.

[lobster_bib]

What sort of non-apocalyptic thing do you want?

[abrightboy]

…What do you mean?

[lobster_bib]

For your gift. Your housewarming gift?

[abrightboy]

Oh! I’ve never had a housewarming before. What do people usually get?

[lobster_bib]

[Hearing any enthusiasm from Malcolm is such a departure from the last time he saw him and he can't help grin a little]

Well, the one time I had one, my friends brought me a lot of pot and a microwave. I'm not sure I could get either here.

Maybe a decoration?

[abrightboy]

Yeah! Neal likes art!