[text; ipad]

[amberhearted]

Hey guys and gals who knew Gogo just wanted to let you know he's a regular cat again. Idk why but he doesn't talk or understand human anymore. It's been two weeks. Was hoping he'd "come back" but so far no dice

[ true story: he cleaned out an empty can of cat food, taped a toothpick-and-paper-sail in the middle, and floated it in the bathtub while crouched down outside of it, holding gomez in front of him and having him wave good-bye with his paw.

THE ULTIMATE SADNESS. ]

Comments

[amberhearted]

[ would you?

alex blinks, waiting for the rest. would you-- what? ]

... What? [ his smile begins to fall, hands with it. since he's effectively viewing ravi upside down, he doesn't notice the distant look quite so acutely, but the silence is odd. ]

[healspec]

Ah--nothing. It was only... [vague wave, not quite wanting to mention pulses when they were just discussing some uncomfortable subjectmatter surrounding them]

I remembered something.

[amberhearted]

[ his hands come to rest on his stomach. when no further elaboration is given, he asks, ] Something normal or...

[healspec]

[reluctant face] A pulse.

It was nothing important.

[amberhearted]

Oh. Okay.

[ CURIOSITY, THOUGH.....

speaking of. ]

I didn't tell you, did I? That night we [ I ] got smashed, I had one, too.

[ he's nudging gomez with his toes. ]

Like we got into fights a lot.

[healspec]

Ah--really?

[that sounds a little bit distracted. he's turned toward the wall instead of looking at Alex.]

Like fistfights, you mean?

[amberhearted]

Yeah, at bars. I guess we did a lot of drinking.

[healspec]

That doesn't surprise me. [muttered, ruefully. he reaches up to push his hair back from his face] I used to be in a lot of fights when I was younger.

[amberhearted]

[ alex is quiet as he considers that new piece of information. eh, not earth-shattering. everyone did stupid shit as a kid and he was certainly not excluded.

he shifts again, pushing his feet against the wall, sending himself backwards, head just dangling off the edge of the bed. ]

Your turn.

[healspec]

[that's cheating, alex.]

[but nonetheless, he mumbles an answer] I called you an idiot a lot.

[but...it meant something. more than it'd meant when he'd done it just now.]

[amberhearted]

[ another bout of silence, though this one briefer. it's interrupted by a puff of laughter from alex. ]

What was this, some kind of questionably unhealthy relationship?

[healspec]

[there is a chuckle in reply, like the suggestion is supposed to sound ridiculous, but it is very half-hearted.]

[this feels very awkward suddenly. he's reminded of the fact that, before he and Alex actually started talking, Alex was 'the cute EMT' that Ravi had a crush on. he doesn't anymore, but that's why this feels so awkward.]

[god, what can he even say that won't make that worse?]

Well... Like I said. I got in fights a lot, especially at bars. So probably it was nothing personal.

[amberhearted]

Probably! That's very reassuring, Vin. [ drawing his hand up to his chest ] You've set my not-beating heart at ease.

[healspec]

[eyeroll, wry smile]

[but he's not in the right place mentally to actually carry a joking conversation with Alex right now. he moves to stand]

I'm going to go write that letter to myself.

You should do one too.

[amberhearted]

[ he closes his eyes and rolls his head the other way. ]

All right.

[ and when he actually does go to do it there will be at least fifteen straight minutes of staring at the paper wondering what the fuck would sound believable. ]