voice.

[theguideless]

[feed starts at the tail end of a harsh exhale.

a beat.]

Where're...Chloe and...Er-eri...[huff. another pause. his voice gets grumblier, agitated:] My friends. Here. Why am I even back.

Comments

[fintastic]

Yes they do.

[theguideless]

No they don't. The only one who really needs me is home. Where I should be. That's it. [hotly:] I don't know how many more times I have to mess up before it's clear to let me leave and let me stay there!

[fintastic]

Don't make me come over there and hug you, because I will! Home can wait, home will still be home when you go back!

[theguideless]

[about to huffily yell over her again, but hug you makes him falter.

and now he's more bewildered than angry. how long has he been arguing? he. doesn't really...do that kind of thing. ever. at all.

except just now?

lengthy, troubled silence.]

[fintastic]

That's what I thought. Are you going to stop being such a grumpy gus now?

[theguideless]

[grumpy whowhatsits, now? more delay in a response.

shakily:] I...I only. I...[shouldn't have said a lot of that stuff. he's sure. isn't he going to make more trouble?]

[fintastic]

You only what?

[theguideless]

I...I don't. [smaller, quicker:] Don't know. Never mind. S-sorry.

[fintastic]

Shhh. Hush, shoosh. It's okay.

[ If she could, she would reach through the device and hug him for real. ]

It's hard. We all have things we would like to do back home, or change about what we've done. But we have to be patient, and finish what we're doing here.

[theguideless]

[muffled; his face covered by his sleeve:] Mno, I. [hh. sleeve-free:] Forget it. Just. Just forget whatever I was...saying it's. Not important to anyone.

[fintastic]

It's important to me.

[theguideless]

[wuh-?

beat.]

N...No, it's...It can't, I'm. I don't really...You. Barely even know—

[fintastic]

Know you? So what? That doesn't have anything to do with it.

[theguideless]

[bewildered:] It...doesn't?

[fintastic]

No, why should it?

[theguideless]

[more pause, completely unsure.]

I. I just thought...I, I mean. Why would anyone bother with something they don't...have much...idea of or. Or...claim? To? I...

[fintastic]

Okay first off you don't "claim" other people, I don't even know what that means, but you don't do it! That's just weird. And second, I bother because I want to bother, because I can already tell you're a good person. You want to make things better, right?

[theguideless]

R— nh— [abuh. bwuh, but. but.] I'm...[a nasally exhale. nice people are just...nice. he's just got to deal with it. or. try to. working on it.]

You don't. Have to. I, I mean...I guess if you want, I can't. Really...do anything about it.

[fintastic]

I do want to! [ VICTORY. ] Hey! You want to go get some snacks with me? Getting out might help take your mind off things.

[theguideless]

Uh— [the sound of 80 rugs swept under his feet, this moment.] N...No, I. I don't think...

[fintastic]

Come on, meet me outside! You're in the housing building right now, right? I'll meet you downstairs!

[theguideless]

No, I— [flustered.] I'm not...Not there, I...

[fintastic]

Where? I'll come get you!

[theguideless]

N—I— [staggered breath.

ngh.

exhale.] I'll, hh. Just. Go there...Wait. I guess.

[fintastic]

Okay I'll see you then!

[ ker-click! ]