[139] Somebody lacks coping skills. // Video

[stopthat_destro]

[There's a shot of the "sky" as the transmission starts, then the camera arcs down and is clumsily turned to angle down on Rex as he addresses the camera from his lofty position... of lying down on the deck. Despite the flood and a horrible, triggering incident that occurred, he looks totally happy. And high. He smiles serenely

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SPAM

[gotgreenmagic]

[This is probably a bad idea, but fuck it, her career was built on them and she's here anyway. Towering overhead. She has a bottle of cold water in one hand, but looking at him, she wishes she'd brought something stronger - coffee or maybe naloxone or something.]

Happy birthday, doc. Are you...okay?

SPAM

[stopthat_destro]

[Rex looks up as he hears footsteps, then makes an awkward transition from lying down to sitting up, leaning his back against the railing. He's not quiiiite ready to stand up yet.]

I'm great. Best birthday ever. [Smiling, he slaps a hand down on the ground next to him.] Sit. Enjoy the view. The stars are totally alive tonight. [Or he's experiencing mild hallucinations.]

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[gotgreenmagic]

[She gives him a disquieted look for a few seconds, then sits down cross-legged next to him. At least if she's here she can stop himchoking on his ow vomit or whatever else the comedown from whatever he's taking might be.]

So, uh. Soliciting the entire Barge for cuddles isn't exactly your regular MO. Are you drunk or something?

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[stopthat_destro]

[Rex snickers.] Or something. But who cares; the Barge it-- it needs a little more cuddling. [He looks at Shego.] I've been doing everything wrong. You know?

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[gotgreenmagic]

[Shego doubts he's going to be responsive to any attempts to salt that wound, so she doesn't even try.]

Define 'everything'?

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[stopthat_destro]

[Waving a hand.] My whole outlook, the way I responded to things. Constant negativity. [Then he stops right before he's about to continue on that thought. He stares at Shego positively awestruck.] Wow... I can see your power. It's like... [Jazz hands mimicking an explosion or something.] Just below the surface. Bursting at the seams. [V's a hell of a drug.]

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[gotgreenmagic]

Yeah, it does that. I guess. [She unscrews the water bottle and offers it to him, although it's clear he's going to need actual medical intervention to clear his head properly.] D'you mind me asking what you're on exactly?

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[stopthat_destro]

[He takes the bottle and stares at it.] V. [Then, a smile pulls at his mouth as he looks at her again.] You're so beautiful when you shine like this.

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[gotgreenmagic]

[V? She has no idea what that means. 'V' could be anythi - wait, what. She's just going to dismiss this as stoned rambling and assume he'd be saying exactly the same thing to anybody else for some other dubiously constructed reason.]

I'm beautiful all the time, slick. What's V?

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[stopthat_destro]

[Rex seems to zone out for a moment, then blinks and shakes his head.] Hm? It's... [He holds out his arm and traces down his vein.] Life.

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[gotgreenmagic]

[It takes a moment to untangle that.]

You mean blood?

[Well, okay. There's all sorts of vampires and wizards and superheroes God knows what else around, so it's not outside the realms of probability that somebody bleeds pure morphine.]

...that's kind of gross, Lewis.

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[stopthat_destro]

Yeah... [He laughs a little, because it's better than thinking back to the origins of the addiction.] But you kind of stop thinking about it once it opens up the entire universe to you...

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[gotgreenmagic]

[She stares balefully up at the darkness.]

Really.

[This is the voice of a woman who has never had the entire universe opened up to her.]

By the way, somebody's probably gonna punch you for trying to talk up the nanomites thing. I'm actually kinda surprised it isn't me.

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[stopthat_destro]

I didn't mean it like... As an excuse. [He furrows his brow and takes a drink of water, trying to find the right, coherent thoughts to explain his meaning.] Whether people like it or not, it is easier to obey. And that... It's... It doesn't hurt as much. I'm tired of hurting.

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[gotgreenmagic]

[That actually gives her pause.]

It's easier for the screw-ups in your life to really be somebody else's screw-ups that you just happened to be around for.

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[stopthat_destro]

I think that's why so many people believe in gods. [He pulls his knees up to his chest and drops his face down with a groan.] I'm so fucked up.