[ Gabriel looks slightly concerned as he begins talking, hesitating as if not sure how to address everything. It's not the first time Gabriel's recommended that Flynn leave Peter to his grousing, and he's likely to do it again today. ]
Hey. Rough day, huh? Did you make it out of that fight okay?
[Flynn is not too big on video interaction these days, especially not when he has an inkling where this is going, but when someone takes the effort to talk face to face he's usually fair enough to return the feed. He looks tired and grouchy, a little on the sad side.]
Yeah, I'm good. Thank you for speaking up earlier.
[ Meanwhile, Gabriel has taken to using video nearly every chance he gets. It took him too long to realize just how frail Alfie was getting, because he hadn't had an eye on him. Now he wants to be able to see everyone. ]
Of course. I think most of us feel the same way.
[ He pauses, ultimately deciding to start with something different. ]
Did the two of you have bad dreams last night, too? I think the town's messing with us again. At least, I'm hoping that's what happened.
I did. I think Peter did, too, he seemed more... approachable this morning.
[Which may be part of the reason his subsequent network post had pressed all of Flynn's buttons at once. He's grateful for the change of subject, however, focusing on the second part.]
That might be it. Not really feeling myself today.
Yeah. Me, neither. Might be the start of something new. But I guess we can't know what until it hits us in earnest. It's always a mystery until we're in the middle of it.
Peter probably felt vulnerable and thought he had to compensate for it. [ Slight eye-rolling here. ] You know you're not his keeper, right?
[ Gabriel sighs, too. He doesn't want Flynn to shut down on him. ]
Yeah, and you got him good. But you're traveling with him, right? I just worry about you, you know? Being around that much negativity isn't good for anyone.
[ He waves a hand in front of his face, as if waving away the words. He knows they're not going to help, but he can't say nothing. Not today. ]
Look, I'm kinda messed up by the dreams, too. I know you care about him. Just- take a break every once in awhile? Maybe come hang out with us for a few days sometime. I haven't seen you in awhile, we could trade our physical books again.
Look, I appreciate the concern? But I know what I'm doing. [No amount of years or bitterness will ever fully drive out the ridiculousness when Flynn utters these words. Not that he realizes it.] I can handle it.
[It's true, though. He rarely ventures out these days and the reasons why he's on the road with John and Peter are fuzzy. Probably stumbled into the same building at some point but just as he rationalizes so many other things, Flynn doesn't question it.]
[A real book. The image of the Library flashes before his inner eye; rows and rows of old tomes, waiting for him to be taken out the shelf, flipped through, touched...]
Not sure where you're at right now, but we're planning on traveling across town anyway. Royce has pointed out that all of us could use some bread, so we're going to finally make a trek downtown. We could meet up with you on the way?
We're all the way in the last area, so pretty much everything's on our route. We'll pop out of the tunnels wherever you're closest. Should even have some convenience store stuff, if you're getting tired of the vending machine fare.
And you know? I've never made it there before- it always seemed like the opposite direction of where we were trying to get to. But it sort of feels like Admin's given up on us- [ He realizes his voice has lost it's cheerful edge and stops himself until he can put it back in there. He does better when he's focusing on the positive, he knows this. ] We've really gotta take breaks for ourselves every so often. I think I've earned mine now.
Sounds great. I feel like I've been living off that stuff for a decade. [He holds up an empty wrapper with a bemused expression.] Still surprised we haven't all died of scurvy yet.
[His last statement gives him pause.] Nothing wrong with a break now and then. ... You alright, Gabriel?
[ Whoops, he was too noticeable. He nods, then shrugs. At least he doesn't try to force the cheerfulness anymore. He sort of already ruined that. ]
Yeah, I'm fine. Just- I've been up in this area most of this whole time. It's always tough to admit when we haven't made any progress, y'know? I'd rather focus on other things.
-it was the wrong progress, I was really going the other way, obviously. But I've never had the chance to try and fix it, not really. And I don't think either of us are great with stagnation.
[ He stares at his feet for a second too long before looking back up again. ]
Still, there's not much else for us to do but keep moving, right?
[ Al has buoyed his spirits for so long- he'd have given up ages ago if not for him. Gabriel's eyes look back down at his hands for a moment, uncertainty flickering across his expression for just a moment. ]
I do think we have to plan a little differently, though. More long-term than most of us thought.
[He watches Gabriel for a moment, trying to come up with something comforting to say.] Well, the town hasn't defeated us yet. If anything, that speaks for us.
Yep. We're here for the long haul, whether the town likes it or not.
[ Now if it would just give them a break, that'd be great. ]
Anyway, you take it easy after all that, okay? I'll let you know when we'll be in the Industrial Area. We can have a slumber party when we're over there.
[ Because if Gabriel's taking a 'vacation', then everyone else he meets is going to have a tiny one too. And Flynn could use some company other than Peter for a bit. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
@godsend, video, Afternoon 294
Hey. Rough day, huh? Did you make it out of that fight okay?
@librarian, video
Yeah, I'm good. Thank you for speaking up earlier.
no subject
Of course. I think most of us feel the same way.
[ He pauses, ultimately deciding to start with something different. ]
Did the two of you have bad dreams last night, too? I think the town's messing with us again. At least, I'm hoping that's what happened.
no subject
[Which may be part of the reason his subsequent network post had pressed all of Flynn's buttons at once. He's grateful for the change of subject, however, focusing on the second part.]
That might be it. Not really feeling myself today.
no subject
Peter probably felt vulnerable and thought he had to compensate for it. [ Slight eye-rolling here. ] You know you're not his keeper, right?
no subject
[Annnd here they go. Flynn's expression sours considerably and he leans back with a huff.]
I was just speaking up, same as you.
no subject
Yeah, and you got him good. But you're traveling with him, right? I just worry about you, you know? Being around that much negativity isn't good for anyone.
[ He waves a hand in front of his face, as if waving away the words. He knows they're not going to help, but he can't say nothing. Not today. ]
Look, I'm kinda messed up by the dreams, too. I know you care about him. Just- take a break every once in awhile? Maybe come hang out with us for a few days sometime. I haven't seen you in awhile, we could trade our physical books again.
no subject
[It's true, though. He rarely ventures out these days and the reasons why he's on the road with John and Peter are fuzzy. Probably stumbled into the same building at some point but just as he rationalizes so many other things, Flynn doesn't question it.]
You got anything new?
no subject
[ But moving onto the topic of books does seem far more appealing than apologizing further, so he does move onto that. ]
I've got...a couple of car magazines, and a DIY craft book. But you can hang onto my copy of Activating Evolution for awhile if you'd like.
[ It's not something he's offered before, and wouldn't ever offer to anyone other than Al or Flynn. ]
no subject
Wh–... You mean that?
no subject
Yeah. I know you'll take good care of it. And it's way more fun to read real books anyway, right?
no subject
I... yeah.
[He clears his throat.] I'd like that.
no subject
Okay, then.
Not sure where you're at right now, but we're planning on traveling across town anyway. Royce has pointed out that all of us could use some bread, so we're going to finally make a trek downtown. We could meet up with you on the way?
no subject
[It's been so long it doesn't even feel like he's ever been.] Bread sounds amazing. We're in the industrial complex. That on your route?
no subject
And you know? I've never made it there before- it always seemed like the opposite direction of where we were trying to get to. But it sort of feels like Admin's given up on us- [ He realizes his voice has lost it's cheerful edge and stops himself until he can put it back in there. He does better when he's focusing on the positive, he knows this. ] We've really gotta take breaks for ourselves every so often. I think I've earned mine now.
no subject
[His last statement gives him pause.] Nothing wrong with a break now and then. ... You alright, Gabriel?
no subject
[ Whoops, he was too noticeable. He nods, then shrugs. At least he doesn't try to force the cheerfulness anymore. He sort of already ruined that. ]
Yeah, I'm fine. Just- I've been up in this area most of this whole time. It's always tough to admit when we haven't made any progress, y'know? I'd rather focus on other things.
no subject
[He exhales, flicking the wrapper away. It sticks to his fingers and it takes him two, three bemused attempts before he can fend it off. Ugh.]
I used to be all about making progress, back in my world.
no subject
-it was the wrong progress, I was really going the other way, obviously. But I've never had the chance to try and fix it, not really. And I don't think either of us are great with stagnation.
[ He stares at his feet for a second too long before looking back up again. ]
Still, there's not much else for us to do but keep moving, right?
no subject
[He laughs, humorlessly, but nods at his assessment. On the move, yes. Running, he used to be a runner a lifetime ago.]
You still believe we can make it out of here?
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Won't find out if we give up. Right?
[ Al has buoyed his spirits for so long- he'd have given up ages ago if not for him. Gabriel's eyes look back down at his hands for a moment, uncertainty flickering across his expression for just a moment. ]
I do think we have to plan a little differently, though. More long-term than most of us thought.
no subject
Right.
[He watches Gabriel for a moment, trying to come up with something comforting to say.] Well, the town hasn't defeated us yet. If anything, that speaks for us.
no subject
[ Now if it would just give them a break, that'd be great. ]
Anyway, you take it easy after all that, okay? I'll let you know when we'll be in the Industrial Area. We can have a slumber party when we're over there.
[ Because if Gabriel's taking a 'vacation', then everyone else he meets is going to have a tiny one too. And Flynn could use some company other than Peter for a bit. ]
no subject
A slumber party. Sounds great, wouldn't miss it for the world.
Thanks, I will. Take care of yourself, alright?
no subject
See you soon, Flynn.
[ He's smiling as he hangs up. ]