052 ][ VIDEO

[worksmart]

[These videos play on a loop from 10am until 5:23pm, at which point they shut off abruptly. No replies come before the shut off.]

Memory OneThe room is golden with hazy afternoon light as it filters through half closed blinds and across to the couch where the woman is laying. Head tipped back, her fair hair spreads along silk cushions, and she

Comments

video; approx. 2pm

[habitformed]

[ Mouse doesn't say anything when he clicks on the video, just sits there, a small huddle of legs-to-chest and large eyes peering over the tops of his knees. He has an expression on his face that says, I'm here and if you don't want to be here, I can go away again. A silence stretches.

Mouse's cheek dimples as he begins to chew on the inside of his mouth. A minute passes and then another, then he shuts off the feed. ]

text; approx. 9pm

[worksmart]

did you need anything?

text;

[habitformed]

YOU

WORRIED.

text;

[worksmart]

no need.

text;

[habitformed]

[ There's a lag in reply. ]

BULLSHIT.

text;

[worksmart]

[He's almost impressed by that. But annoyed, in equal measure.]

you want to worry about me? fine. they're your ulcers.

text;

[habitformed]

[ He sticks his tongue out at his communicator. ]

SUCK IT UP.

text;

[worksmart]

[fft.]

what's that supposed to mean?

text; 1/2

[habitformed]

ULCERS = BITE ME.

text;

[habitformed]

[ After a minute, he sends another text. ]

U CAN 2.
NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

text;

[worksmart]

you can go where you like, i'm not getting more interested in biting you.

text;

[habitformed]

[ Another lag in Mouse's reply, then finally: ]

WHY?

text;

[worksmart]

you're not my idea of a snack. i'm not talking in metaphors, mouse. what do you want to know?

voice; private

[habitformed]

[ Mouse clears his throat and then says with a little difficulty (the words don't want to string themselves together in quite the right way). ]

You're-- [ A hesitation, followed by a frustrated noise. ] --being. A douche.

[ Not to him, exactly, but it's not like Mouse can't see the way Chase is talking to Eden and Claire and it has him more confused than anything else. ]

voice; private

[worksmart]

[Chase sounds far more tired than earlier, and maybe alcohol is tracing the edges of his words, too. He takes the criticism plainly.]

I'm not in a good mood.

voice; private

[habitformed]

[ It hurts to know, hurts more -- in a physical, tangible sense -- to hear it. But, Mouse figures, that's the way caring about another person works. It hurts and it never really stops. ]

We're. [ He stops. Why was he even bothering to talk like this? ] Trying.

To help.