ONE [Video]

[rocksforbrains]

[When the video starts, it just seems like whoever recording it dropped their communicator. It's a still image of slate grey stone.]

Ugh, still feels like I'm gonna break this damn thing. Hey, this on?

[The same twists around to show that, no, that was the palm of someone's hand. Specifically, a tall, bulky rock man frowning down at the device, stone brows furrowed over faintly glowing white eyes.]

Alright, cool. So. Hey! Dropped off in another realty again. Super awesome. I love going to sleep and waking up in freaking Florida. On an army base. Surrounded by humans. With no gate in sight.

[He pauses, presumably for effect, before quickly adding.] That was sarcasm, by the way. This whole thing sucks. Like, it sucked the first time I was here, but now it's a brand new level of suck 'cause now I don't even know if this is a real alternate reality or another trip inside someone else's head. Sure, I remember this happening before, but memory doesn't count for jack when it can be changed, right?

[With the set-up delivered, his grimace suddenly switches into a big smirk.]

Luckily, I'm a genius and I've got a foolproof scientific method to figure out if this place is real or not with just two simple questions.

[He holds up a finger.] One - has anyone seen a Fake White Jesus-looking dude with one-glowing eye running around? If the answer is yes, then this is totally his fault, and I want to punch his stupid face in.

[A second finger goes up.] Two - and I wanna remind you guys, this is just a scientific question - are people allowed to bang in this reality? Don't laugh! It's super important. Just gimme a yes or no answer. Or send some photographic evidence I'm not gonna say no to that.

Okay, got all that? Good. Now while I wait to see if this is all bullshit or not, I'm gonna go run a test by going to the nearest sandwich place and seeing if they'll give me a free hoagie. Y'know. For science.

Comments

[goldtoxicity]

[ terrible. worst friend. 0/10. ]

I can't believe you're roasting me already. Some reunion!

[electricblu]

[ Oh, c'mon, Josh. ]

Okay, okay, I'll stop.

[goldtoxicity]

[ and he's already stuck his foot in his mouth. whoops. ]

Ah... no, it's okay. I'm sorry.

[electricblu]

Don't apologize, you haven't done anything wrong.

Let's try this again. Hey, Josh. How have you been?

[goldtoxicity]

Oh, y'know. Still kicking.

[ is there a delicate way to ask where she's at in the timeline ]

Its, um, been a while.

[ nailed it ]

[electricblu]

I see that. How long have you been here?

[ He could just go and creep on her conversation with Laurie. Or outright ask. ]

It's been a few months, at least. [ Maybe longer? It's hard to keep up with time when things happen so much. ]

[goldtoxicity]

Just over a year now.

[ look laurie feelings are too much and he has them all the time. a few months - doesn't really give him much of a timeline, but he can breathe a little sigh of relief that he didn't ghost her for years yet. ]

How've you been holding up?

[electricblu]

[ To be fair he'd been gone for a while and only forced to see her again because she was about to explode. And then he just disappeared again. ]

Oh, good, new world and sudden class reunion aside. [ She's overwhelmed and kind of just wants to sleep for a week. ]

[goldtoxicity]

[ it's fiiiiiiine lets never discuss how he just up and fuckin left when he should've been comatose. its fine. no problems here. ]

Oh yeah. Just another Saturday, amiright?

[electricblu]

[ Yeah, that's not weird at all. ]

The only thing it's missing is an explosion.

[goldtoxicity]

Won't be long before something explodes with the Hellions in the mix.

[electricblu]

Good point.

Also, do you need me to punch Keller for you? I can track him down and do that.

[goldtoxicity]

Nah. I mean if you've got Julian punching reasons then by all means, but... [ scrubbing the back of his neck. ] It's... not like he's wrong.

[electricblu]

For once I don't. [ But it being Julian he'll probably give her a reason before long.

She wants to argue that but he's right. ]

[goldtoxicity]

[ hell. he shuts his eyes and tips his head back, and blows out a breath. just tries to let the tension out and refocuses. ]

I guess... uh, we should probably talk.

[electricblu]

There's a lot of that that needs doing. Give me a couple of days.

[ She needs to talk to David too. That one she wants to put off as long as possible but it doesn't seem that's going to be possible. ]

[goldtoxicity]

No prob.

[ gives him time to pull himself together. ]