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[paradoxlol]

This is Arthur. [He pauses for a beat.] I'm looking for any familiar faces, so if you're out there, drop me a line.

[Especially you, Ariadne.]

[ooc: lolol this is the most low effort post; I'm sorry.]

Comments

[cauchemal]

[It's just an ordinary day for Mal in her new life, working on her laptop and—well, that sure is an interesting FaceTime glitch...]

Arthur?

[paradoxlol]

Mal. [She looks well, at least. He smiles.] Good to see you.

[cauchemal]

[She smiles back, though it's tempered with a bit of worry.] It's so good to see you, Arthur. How are you? Are you—are you here? [As in, in the world where she lives now.] Or are you still on ... on the Barge?

[paradoxlol]

No, I'm still... [He frowns slightly.] Still on the Barge. There's a glitch in the network.

[cauchemal]

I remember those glitches. It's ... odd, I suppose, to be on the other side of it.

Are you well? Taking care of yourself? [The same tone in which she used to tell him, in the old days, that he was too thin and needed to eat a proper meal every now and then.]

[paradoxlol]

I'm doing all right. [He's about to say he can't complain, but that would be a lie, and he's... trying to do that less these days. Arthur scratches the back of his neck.] Ready to leave this place, to be honest. How about you?

[cauchemal]

Less busy now that the spring semester is over, but there is always work to be done. I'm preparing a paper on Jungian theory to present in a few months. It's ... remarkably normal. [She laughs.] I can still be amazed by that. Isn't that something?

[yourunichase]

Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in.

[paradoxlol]

It's been a long time, Parker.

[yourunichase]

How long has it been on ye old hellboat?

[paradoxlol]

A year, or just about. Feels longer on the Barge.

[yourunichase]

Always did. Barge time is longer than anywhere else.

[paradoxlol]

Tell me about it. So, what have you been doing with your freedom?

[yourunichase]

Working on taking down the Centre. Putting my shit in order before I retire. You?

[paradoxlol]

Trying to get Perry out of here so I can go home. Although I don't know what I'll do then-- I've got a lot to think about.

[yourunichase]

Well, if you want, you can always come 'round for a visit beforehand.

[buildindreemz]

Hey, you. [Her smile is slightly surprised, but genuine.]

[paradoxlol]

[He smiles back, relieved that she managed to find his message.] Hey. [Pause.] Back at your classes?

[buildindreemz]

Yep. Boring, real-world stuff. [Her look turns a bit wry. After everything she experienced on the Barge, on top of dream sharing, well. It's kind of amazing she can even stand it.]

How have you been? Barge hasn't kicked you around too much, has it?

[paradoxlol]

Must be quite a change from the Barge.

[Arthur shrugs slightly.] No, it's been pretty quiet here for me. You've got your usual floods and deadly ports, but they haven't hit me hard.

[buildindreemz]

A lot safer, anyway.

[She tilts her head a little, a curious look in her eyes.] What about Perry?

[paradoxlol]

We've been working on things, but it's slow going. [Pause.] I think he's making progress. [He wants to say he'll be home soon, but he doesn't know if that's true.]

[buildindreemz]

Progress is good. I'm glad he's still there, at least. [So maybe she's been a little worried that Perry would vanish and Arthur would get reassigned and have to start over again from scratch or something. This? Sounds better than her worst-case scenario.]

But if you don't hurry up, I might have to find another point man to work with. [JOKING.]

[paradoxlol]

[He smirks.] Are you giving me a deadline?

[buildindreemz]

Would it get you back here faster? [Her own smile turns almost sheepish - like she's a little embarrassed to admit how much she misses him, even though it should probably be self-evident.]

[paradoxlol]

I do work better under pressure.

[buildindreemz]

In that case, consider yourself pressured.

You want to be here for my graduation, right? And I'll want to show you my thesis project. I think you'll like it.

[fatninja]

Mr Case Worker, I see your system's glitching again. I kinda thought I fell asleep at the computer and dreamed our last conversation. How's it hangin'?

[paradoxlol]

About the same as ever. [Which isn't really a great thing, come to think of it.] How about you? Still saving the world?

[fatninja]

We're trying hard and working our collective ass off, buddy. You know how it is.

[paradoxlol]

Yeah. You catch any new breaks?