041 - Macintosh Apple

[deadly_ned]

I don't...expect there to be anyone. From my world, that is.

There wasn't anyone last time, but.

Hope's a hard thing to squash.

Comments

[mattersverymuch]

Should I go away, then?

[You can't make him.]

[deadly_ned]

...No.

No, please stay.

It's...

It's very good to see you again. More than anything.

[mattersverymuch]

No need to get sentimental. I was only checking in to make sure you aren't permanently dead.

You seem not to be.

But I'll stay anyway, I suppose.

[deadly_ned]

I'm not dead.

I. Don't know what I am.

What are you?

I mean...how. How are you?

[mattersverymuch]

I am the marquis de Carabas. And I am doing magnificently. I don't know why you'd expect any less.

Progress is made. Slowly but almost surely.

[deadly_ned]

I'm.

Very happy to hear that, actually.

Is Door with you?

[mattersverymuch]

Of course she is. Otherwise she'd be off doing something obscenely heroic. You know I wouldn't allow that.

[deadly_ned]

I know you wouldn't.

I'm glad you two are together. It. Makes me think that some good things come out of all this.

[mattersverymuch]

Some good things. Some bad things.

[A pause.]

You were doubting?

[deadly_ned]

I was worried. I don't always trust in the Admiral's word. You could've been lost and I would have never known.

[mattersverymuch]

I am never lost.

Well. Rarely.

[deadly_ned]

Maybe not in your own city. But in the general universal sense of the universe. Possibly.

[mattersverymuch]

Existentially?

[surfaceshine]

Do you even know how to do that?

[mattersverymuch]

When it suits me.

[There you are. No open evidence of unease, but he is uneasy.]

[surfaceshine]

[Dean, caught up in the excitement of having the Barge on his fucking cell phone and abruptly having access to so many people again, doesn't notice right away.

He is, however, openly delighted to see the Marquis.]

Typical. Always keeping open the option to be fickle.

[mattersverymuch]

Why wouldn't I? Fickle is one of the most delightful things a man can be.

[See? He is a man. Not that he'd admit it to many but Dean.]

I note that you're still annoying.

[surfaceshine]

Annoying, amazing. All in the spelling.

Not my fault your taste could use some work.

[mattersverymuch]

My taste is perfection itself. How dare you.

[Flat. Then he yawns.]

[surfaceshine]

[If he were there in the flesh, Dean would throw the nearest object straight into that yawn.

As it stands, he raises an eyebrow.]

I'm surprised you have to ask.

[mattersverymuch]

Because you have something to prove, probably.

[surfaceshine]

Because it's what I do, more likely.

[Dean dares. He grins, too.]

[mattersverymuch]

I'm shocked nothing's killed you yet.

[surfaceshine]

Oh c'mon now, Sunshine, I'm too charming to disembowel.

[mattersverymuch]

There are many other ways to kill a man, as I'm very sure you know.