ｖｏｉｃｅ.

[clario]

[ so baby's gone. the one person she had any kind of rapport with. sweet pea doesn't know whether to laugh or to cry. she had done a bit of both and wondered when the hell she turned into such a sensitive flower.

baby's departure doesn't mean shit in the long run. sweet pea's still here and she still needs to get back, though it seems more and more like she should only wait until she is sent back—because she has to be. she cannot entertain another thought.

but it's only now hitting her how very alone she is. no family, no friends. no rocket, no baby, not even amber or blondie. she keeps to her room, cleaning her weapons. when she feels in control, she turns on the tablet. ]

Babydoll's gone. [ sweet pea manages to keep a brisk tone of voice. it's even convincing. ] She said she'd had some things going with some of you. Whatever it was, let me know and I'll do my best to hold up her end of the bargain.

[ a little pause. her otherwise professional veneer cracks. ]

If you didn't meet her, you missed your fucking chance.


locked to ROBB
Think we can we move our practice up to today? I could use the exercise.

Comments

[clario]

Can't wait. [ she looks around as they walk in. ] How'd you find this?

[bumbles]

I g-go um, walking a lot. With uh, with M-Maurice? He's uh, he's Max's dog.

( Quietly, probably needlessly. ) I l-like uh, just-- it's g-good to look at flowers.

( Even when there aren't many, even when they aren't always in the best condition. He shrugs, a bit hopelessly, and nods towards a pathway, leading the way. )

[clario]

You picked up a stray?

[ he seems to like to, she thinks wryly. he did pick her up too. ]

[bumbles]

From home? I think uh, he used t-to-- to b-be used in d-dog fights.

( Quietly, before he does admit: ) M-my cat was a stray.

( So brightly. He loves that cat, man. )

[clario]

Do you make it a habit of collecting lost souls?

[bumbles]

Um. I think--

( A frown, watching her for a moment. ) I d-dunno. I like c-cats?

( Gently confused, as he wanders down a particular pathway, finally setting the food down on a fallen statue. ) Why?

[clario]

Stray cats, stray dog, stray girls. You seem to adopt a lot of strays.

[bumbles]

Stray g-girls?

( Surprised, huffed out with a quiet laugh. ) That's um, k-kinda-- kinda harsh.

( On the girls, he means. Climbing up the statue, to claim a seat - not too high, but he makes it easily, offering her a hand and tilting his head a little, in case she wants to join him. )

[clario]

[ she grabs his hand with a smirk. ]

I know what I am.

[ with a little less finesse, she manages to sit next to him. ]

Thanks.

[bumbles]

W-we'll um, just-- just get you m-microchipped.

( The ultimate solution! ) You're w-welcome.

( And, he's just going to pass her some fries. Delicious fries. )

[clario]

Microchipped?

[ she removes two from the bunch to start eating. the little things you miss. ]

[bumbles]

Yeah, you c-can um, you can g-get-- your p-pets chipped? ( Indicating the nape of his neck, although that isn't quite accurate. ) With um, your n-number and stuff. So if they g-get lost, the v-vet or whoever c-can uh, can scan them and you g-get them back.

( Explaining the joke, weeping. ) Just, uh. So then they aren't strays. They g-get found.

( Quieter. Time to drown himself out with milkshake, okok. )

[clario]

Do you mean, like, on a collar?

[ she's from the fifties, what is this, what do you do to poor dogs in the future. ]

[bumbles]

Yeah! Except uh, c-collars can b-break and stuff, so. It d-doesn't hurt.

( A frown, chewing his lip a little. ) It's, um. Yeah. ( Help. You know what, he's going to fix this by offering her an onion ring. )

[clario]

I don't think I ever asked... What year is it? Where you're from.

[bumbles]

T-- t-two thousand and uh, thirteen.

( Offering a bit of a smile, before he shovels some more onion rings down. ) W-what about you?

[clario]

[ she laughs, long and in disbelief. ]

If I'm still alive by then, I'll be over seventy.

[bumbles]

Oh.

( Wow. A long pause, Donny using his milkshake as an excuse to be quiet. )

Uh. I'm-- sure you'll um, age w-well?

[clario]

Will you still like me when my hair's white?

[bumbles]

All sorts of um, g-good things are white. Like uh, snow? Or-- ice c-cream, or um, p-pearls. Z--Zebra stripes. And uh, m-marshmallows and there's um, albino animals are really c-cool. Like that white k-kiwi? Or uh-- ( Hang on, he's trying to think of stuff that isn't food. ) Primed canvases b-before you p-put-- put any paint on. ( Uhhh. ) Snowdrop flowers. And, um-- iPhones?

( A shrug, somewhere between playful and earnest. More quietly than the first time, ) P-plenty of g-good stuff is white.

[clario]

[ that is painfully adorable. donny, please. ]

Primed canvases. Do you paint?

[bumbles]

N-not um, not m-much. I d-draw. And--

( An awkward gesture, like his hands were rolling a sphere between them. ) Sculpt? K-kinda.

[clario]

Could you draw me?

[bumbles]

( Do not make a Titanic joke, do not make a Titanic joke, do not make a Titanic joke, do not make a Titanic joke...

Donny makes a quiet sound in his throat, and nods. )

Yeah. Of c-course.

( Good work, Donny. )

[clario]

[ you're not as smooth as you think you are, bro. ]

Something funny?