Looking For A Lost Friend

[museicalmarty]

Have a confused Marty wandering around the general question area, looking like he's searching for something -- or, rather, someone. "Where the hell -- okay, you know what? Place is for questions -- anybody seen Victor? He said he was going to 'clear his head' about an hour ago, and we thought he'd be back by now."

[For those curious, Victor does happen to be in the Nexus -- passed out on a rather large couch that Marty just hasn't come across yet, thanks to the weird way space and directions work in this place. Maybe it thought he needed the sleep]

Comments

[museicalmarty]

That kinda sucks. . .but I guess if you're not so much into sweet anymore, it's not that bad? [Marty makes a face] I dunno. As long as you've got something you can eat.

Yeah, I bet you do. And yeah, Victor's -- I think he thinks that he's gonna do something to get kicked out of the family someday. Which I totally blame his parents for, because they're assholes.

[palmerthing]

It's the predator bit, I think. Meat isn't very sweet-tasting, so I don't like sweet as much. I know I'm supposed to like it, though, so I tend to say I like it on automatic. Gotta fit in and all that.

His parents sound awful. Seems like he's replaced them with better people.

[museicalmarty]

Ahhh, okay, that makes sense. So I guess if you want a treat on a hot day, someone's gotta make you a meatsicle. Frozen hot dog on a stick?

Yeah, they're -- I'm not surprised Victor wanted to ditch 'em, after some of the shit I've heard. I think he's a hell of a lot happier as "Victor Brown" than he ever was as "Victor Van Dort."

[palmerthing]

*Palmer chuckles.* Possibly a live penguin . . . I'll figure something out.

I'm curious now. Probably best if I don't ask, though. My curiosity about people isn't one that should be indulged.

[save_us_alice]

If I may quote my Disney self, because it often leads to trouble?

[And yes, here is an Alice, looking rather tired herself. She stops a little distance away and folds her arms] I was informed of a surprisingly comfortable couch around here by my incredibly contrite husband.

[palmerthing]

*Palmer gestures to the rest of the couch, since he's still sitting on one arm.* This enough space for you, or should I find my own chair? I can see why you might want more room . . .

[save_us_alice]

[Alice goes to perch on the other arm] So long as you can't infect me through the fabric, I think we'll be all right. I would like a good sit -- Chester's been very hard to put down lately. Hence Victor passing out the moment he had some peace and quiet, I'm sure.

[palmerthing]

Not gonna touch you, I promise.

Little kids can be an awful hassle that way, yeah. Feel free to have a nap if you want one.

[save_us_alice]

Thanks -- and trust me, it is a large temptation. [she yawns loudly] I'd feel myself rude if I didn't say a few words to you first, though.

[Marty chuckles] Just a few?

[Alice smirks at him] I am very tired.

[palmerthing]

Go ahead and sleep, then. I don't wanna be the one to keep you awake when you're exhausted.

[save_us_alice]

Well, if you insist. . . [Alice slips off the arm of the couch to the actual couch cushion, leaning up against the arm and closing her eyes]

[Marty jerks his head toward the side] Should probably give her some quiet. . .

[palmerthing]

*Palmer nods and stands up, smiling slightly.* Yeah, probably. So, what do you wanna do while she sleeps?

[museicalmarty]

Dunno -- you wanna at least see what the glowing ice cream place looks like? It's pretty cool. And hell, I dunno, maybe they DO do meatsicles or something similar.

[palmerthing]

Yeah, sure. Sounds fun. *He chuckles.* Not sure how appetizing a meat popsicle would be, but what the hell.

[museicalmarty]

Cool -- it's usually this way. [starts walking] And hey, I mean, you get all sorts of appetites over here in the Nexus. I've seen a stall in the mall's food court that sells metal and grease and oil. I'm assuming for robots. . .

[palmerthing]

That's certainly interesting. *Maybe he'll get to meet a robot at some point. Someone he can't infect would be nice.*

[museicalmarty]

Yeah -- it's pretty wild, how stuff like that just sort of -- pops up. Really makes you wonder if the Nexus itself just kinda -- knows what people need.

[palmerthing]

Yeah, possibly. Not sure what it thinks I need, though. Not sure I wanna find out, either. *He has a sneaking suspicion that if the ice cream shop has anything for him it'll be some animal that can survive being frozen.*

[museicalmarty]

Well, considering you've been living here for a little while, maybe it just thinks you need somewhere to hang out where it's less likely you're gonna infect people?

[the sky begins to darken as they continue on, fading into a kind of late twilight -- not exactly night, but definitely shading that way]

[palmerthing]

That would be nice, seems like it would require I not be around people much though.

*Before long they reach the ice cream store, and Palmer looks around to find something he might like. Paranoia yammers at him to not eat anything normal humans wouldn't, but it's not like this place is normal and he'd really prefer something he can digest. Therefore he quietly asks for something live and is offered what's basically a frozen frog in a cup.*

[museicalmarty]

Yeah, point. . .then again, it's pretty quiet right now, so. . .maybe the trick is to keep you from being around people too much until somebody figures out the whole 'super-infectious' thing.

[Marty is -- okay, he's a LITTLE surprised that the ice cream place has treats for people like Palmer, but not as much as he could be. After all, he considers himself something of a Nexus veteran now. He gets a double-scoop of chocolate chip cookie dough in a waffle cone for himself, admiring the soft white glow of the vanilla ice cream] Cool, huh?

[palmerthing]

Yeah, maybe. Shame there's no safe way to test whether the Nexus will keep me from infecting people.

*He picks a seat way back in the corner where no one is looking at him so he can eat with less chance of being stared at.*

[museicalmarty]

Yeah, I know. And I doubt anybody's gonna volunteer.

[Marty hangs out nearby, licking up his ice cream] How's yours?

[palmerthing]

Seems pretty unlikely, true.

*Palmer grins and pops the unlucky frog in his mouth.* It's good. And I know how weird that is, trust me.

[museicalmarty]

I guess we'll just have to see what happens. I mean, Doc DID get all that info on you, there's gotta be SOMETHING useful in there.

[Marty chuckles] It's okay, I know how weird it is too.