backwordscompatible | IC CONTACT (HAVEN)

[Oh, Kon]

Then this is a preemptive avoidance thing?

... possibly. I mean, definitely I am avoiding leaving this bed.

You also happen to be avoiding telling me the actual reason why.

What if I don't know the actual reason?

What if I'm not sure whether or not to believe you?

Then I guess we have what is known in the biz as an 'impasse.'

I guess so.

Although I should point out the fact that you deliberately called me. Which usually means you either want me to play messenger...or you're lonely and want company.

There's a third option. Maybe I want you to validate my poor life choices.

Again? How much validation do you need in you life, Kon?

All of it.

[S-I-G-H]

I'm coming back to the room now.

It's cool. You can justify my actions from over there.

[Whoops. Too late; she's already hung up and heading back to the apartment.]

[The nice thing about the fact that they shared a room was that she didn't need permission to be in there. A knock at the door to make sure he knew she was there and did a quick pants check (pants on? Check), and she stepped inside.]

Alright, what exactly am I validating, and how many jokes do you think I could get out of that line?

Laughs now or laughs in general? 'Cause I got to warn you now, my sense of humour didn't wake up with me this morning.

In general.

[She came over to her own bed. Sitting atop the blanket with her legs crossed and body facing him.]

Seriously, though, what's up with you suddenly?

I don't know. I got all the way to having my knees over the side of the bed, and then it kind of hit me that all I had to look forward to was the exact same things I did yesterday and the things I did the day before that. And then it was an hour later and I was still in bed.

And you couldn't think of something new to mix things up a bit?

What's the point? It'd distract me for a bit, but I'd still have to come back here a--

[Oh. So that's it.]

Here-here? You mean, the room?

Yeah. This room here where Conner is not.

[Her mouth opened in surprise, instinctively glancing over to Conner's bed.]

What happened? Is he...?

[Dead? ~~Again?~~]

I think so. I mean -- I don't even know when the last time I saw him was. I kind of vaguely remember him when I was sick but ... I don't remember a lot of what happened then to be honest.

So he could have gone home.

Except that's a good thing, Kon, remember? If he's home, he won't have to suffer anymore. He's safe from Yao. We want that.

He's still on the phone. I don't think he's gone gone. I just -- don't think he's here.

Then where is he?

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