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[spoileralert]

12:34

Friday, May 4

Verizon

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[spoileralert]

[ She sighs, a little limp with relief. ]

I don't know why that makes me feel better.

[ ... ]

No, that's not true. I do know. Everything went to shit when my dad tried to kill me. Now I know it really does get better.

[srsbat]

It does. Life fluctuates through good and bad. Things will always get better. I understand at times it doesn't seem as if it will, that the darkness seem endless and suffocating. But I promise it does.

Here, too. Escape may seem hopeless, but we'll find a way.

[spoileralert]

Yeah.

[ She may talk a big game, but she sounds pretty comforted. ]

Sorry, I got kind of sidetracked there. What were we talking about again?

[srsbat]

You should get some rest.

[spoileralert]

Rest? Hah! What is that?

[ When not sleeping stops being a choice... ]

[srsbat]

[He can't even talk. He's the worst one of the bunch about not resting. Not sleeping.]

How long have you been awake? Do you have any unusual symptoms? [To explain his questioning:] I read about the MN poisoning.

[spoileralert]

Depends how you define "awake". I know I must have drifted off once or twice because I remember waking up from nightmares.

[srsbat]

Any time that you have slept here, have you always had nightmares?

[spoileralert]

I could count the times I haven't on one hand. But it's not too different from back home. There's... plenty to have nightmares about.

[srsbat]

[Bruce is quiet for a long moment, thinking.] Not if nanomachines are involved. [He's just thinking of all of the consequences. Typical Bruce.] Do you feel as if any of them have been significant?

[spoileralert]

Only the ones where the previous residents of Norfinbury were talking to us. Otherwise it's all people dying and frozen wastelands.

[srsbat]

[So both, he thinks. A mixture of both, though this is only mild evidence enough to suggest there is a way to tamper with their unconsciousness.] All right.

Is there anything else I should know?

[spoileralert]

[ She hums thoughtfully. ]

Not off the top of my head--

Oh, Al - his armor can be hurt. It can bleed.

[ She doesn't want to say that he is the armor, but it's important information. ]

[srsbat]

[that sounds fake but ok]

I'll keep that in mind. [Which might not even be a problem considering... Bruce.] What are you going to do about... the object of your affections? [It was coming. He SAID he would talk about it later.]

[spoileralert]

My boyfriend?

[ Come on Bruce get over it ]

I told you I'm picking him up tomorrow.

[srsbat]

[Uggghh.] No, not tomorrow. What are you going to do about him in the end?

[spoileralert]

[ It's like a knife twisting in her chest, and her tone goes just the slightest bit cold, distancing her from the facts. ]

Marry him, buy good life insurance. Then once he's made a few million playing football arrange a little "accident". Untraceable, of course.

[srsbat]

[Admittedly, there's a pause as Bruce quickly tries to decide whether Stephanie is being honest or merely playing a tease. His own voice is painfully level.]

You know I would have to turn you over to the police.

[Surely even Stephanie is use to his dry humor.]

[spoileralert]

You'd have to catch me first.

[ Whatever Bruce she copes with humor. ]

[srsbat]

[He's aware. She isn't the first one to do it. But even with dry humor, he's a serious man with serious business. Usually.]

What are you going to do about it when it's time to go back home?

[spoileralert]

That depends, doesn't it? If we even can go home. If home still exists. If we aren't just copies of the people we think we are. If we don't just die out of hand. If we remember any of this. If there's anything we can do.

[ How many ways can she avoid the question? Aiming for the high score, here. ]

[srsbat]

[At least Bruce knows she'll have to face it eventually.] It's something to consider. [The way he says it implies heavily.] You understand that emotions can complicate everything?

[spoileralert]

Complicate--

[ She also copes with anger. ]

You don't know me. You haven't been here, you don't know what I've been through. Your opinion on which of my emotions might complicate things isn't worth shit.

[srsbat]

[He's not sure what's more hilarious, the fact that he thinks Jason and Stephanie would definitely get along quite well, or the fact that Zach and Stephanie have the same kinds of reactions.] Don't make excuses.

Attachment can lead to poor judgment. If you want a relationship, I'm not going to tell you no. I'm only warning you about the consequences.

It isn't just about you, Stephanie, about you getting in trouble. It's about others getting in trouble, too.

If you had to choose between saving him and someone else, who would you save?

[spoileralert]

I would save everyone that I could. Like I always have, and I always will.

You would know that if you knew me.