spoileralert | IC Inbox

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

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.

[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?

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

[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?

[ 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. ]

[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.]

My boyfriend?

[ Come on Bruce get over it ]

I told you I'm picking him up tomorrow.

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

[ 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.

[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.]

You'd have to catch me first.

[ Whatever Bruce she copes with humor. ]

[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?

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. ]

[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?

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.

[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?

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

You would know that if you knew me.

[There's some relief in hearing it, he thinks. It's not a rocky slope of this or that. It's not, him, or them. It's, both.] It's the answer I was looking for, though not the one I thought you might give.

I'm glad you did.

Still, it's risky. [He knows. He's been there. He has so many in his little Family that give him the same grief endlessly. The same worry. Are they hurt? Did they make it? Are they well? Are they doing something stupid? Does he intervene? Do they hate him? Should it matter if they do?] Don't let it get the best of you.

[ She huffs grumpily. This is what she's talking about, he's so judgey. ]

I'd rather be in over my head in love than in depression and self-loathing.

[ Because she definitely did let those last two get the best of her. ]

[The way he inhales quietly sounds as if he has something else to say, but he forgoes it, not sure if he has the stamina to argue with an emotional woman much less an emotional woman in love.

He tried. He tried to tell all of them: this is not a life containing normalcy, it's a life of solitude.] Those aren't always mutually exclusive.

[ She realizes what she said wrong the moment she hears that intake of breath, and though he can't see it she turns bright red. She's not in love with Zach, not yet anyway, but no way in hell is she making that distinction now, when she's won the argument. ]

I'm happy. I'm doing my best to stay that way. That's all.

[His silence is evidence enough of what exactly he thinks about this; foolish. It's less that she's doing a bad thing and more he's disappointed he can't change her mind through reason.

What's reason to someone in love? Certainly he knows.] I need to search this house. I'll keep in touch.

[ She huffs a sigh. Yeah, he's one she'll want to give updates on a regular basis. ]

Yeah, I'll keep you updated. Good luck.

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