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[mrsklover]

[The message starts off with nothing but darkness for a few long seconds. It's quiet and still until, finally, a groan comes through. Another one follows behind it and the video shifts to show it apparently just pressed into the dirt.]

Fuck...

[The video turns again, whipping around as the person holding the comm seems to drop it a few times before finally righting it, camera facing the wrong way.]

How does...fucking... Shit...

[It falls again but then is lifted back up, turned around, and at long last the owner is shown: Richie Tozier squints at the device almost like he's in pain. Which...yeah. Sort of.]

Uh... Hey everyone... [He scratches his head.] You ever get the feeling like you missed something? Or a few somethings?

Comments

[mrsklover]

I didn't... you know, not literally...

[Honestly, hating on Jon was more of a habit at this point than something he was serious about anymore. He knew Jon could probably vaporize his ass with one of his hundred eyeballs. ]

Whatever. It's fine.

And man. If they don't care about Sh'ka, I know where to put the strip clubs and opium dens.

[plate_builder]

[Reeve has to laugh at that. Really, Richie? Really?]

And where are you going to get people to strip? Other than Tony?

[mrsklover]

I am actually interested that your first worry wasn't about the opium and where I would get that, but the strippers.

[ Richie grins and nudges Reeve. ] Secret horndog. I knew we were friends for a reason.

[plate_builder]

You'd get it from the replicator, if you knew how to get it to provide it.

[See, he already knows what the answer is. Though he laughs at Richie's point there.]

I don't tend to do strip clubs, Richie.

[mrsklover]

I'm sure you didn't tend to do orgies either before whatever awesome shit I missed out on.

[ He nudges Reeve again and smirks. ]

Who do you think we can bribe to do it, huh? Gotta be some people.

[plate_builder]

I didn't do orgies then either.

[Reeve has to laugh and shake his head.]

Try that Gladio guy. He's often wandering around shirtless. His boyfriend may even thank you.

[mrsklover]

Uh huh. Sure. I totally believe you, Reeve.

[ He winks, just in case the sarcasm wasn't clear enough. ]

Gladio would be amazing. That body? Holy shi- [ Richie's head pops up, eyes wide. ] Wait. Boyfriend? Gladio's boyfriend?! Holy shit! Who is it? Tell me it's Noctis, holy fuck.

[plate_builder]

I've seen men built like him at bachelor parties. It would be quite good.

[Reeve looks interested in Richie's, well, investment. He raises an eyebrow.]

They're living together now, him and Noctis.

[mrsklover]

[ Richie punches the air. ]

OH MY GOD! YES! This is fucking amazing! Last time I talked to him, he was still too fucking scared and noble to say anything! I need to get them a housewarming gift.

[plate_builder]

[Really? Reeve watches the man with shock and amusement. How interesting.]

They moved a long time ago, but you're welcome to I imagine. Still, the man seems doting. Enough to leave men like us envious.

[mrsklover]

[Richie shrugs easily.]

Eh. I am a 40 year old comedian with a dad-bod around men like Gladio and superheroes. I got a small amount of time with Eddie awhile ago. I'm just sort of content with the fact that's all I am gonna get.

[ He's not really strong or handsome or mysterious. He's just him, unapologetically, after all the years of pretending otherwise. ]

I'm just glad other people are happy. It's nice, having love in shit like this. I'm really happy for them both.

[plate_builder]

Said as if I am much different from you. I'm not even funny. I just build things.

[But he remembers Poe, and his own expression is... distantly sad.]

We can miss the people who cared fo us together I suppose.

[mrsklover]

[Richie looks over at Reeve and snorts a little laugh, not unkindly.]

Reeve, you are not in any universe unattractive. And you're funny, man. Not in a typical sense, but you make me laugh. And you do things for us, here. Contribute. Don't sell yourself short.

[Still, he leans over and nudges his shoulder.]

But yeah. We can remember our lost loves together. [ He raises his glass up and toward Reeve. ] To Poe.

[plate_builder]

[Reeve shakes his head.]

You're attractive enough yourself, Richie. Though I argue I'm not funny.

[Mini comes over and puts the coffees on the table. Reeve pats his head and lets the construct go off.]

You sell yourself short too.

[mrsklover]

Thinning hair is all the rage in France this year, I heard.

[He smiles though, conceding more to just make sure this doesn't become some sort of compliment fight.]

Thanks, though. I appreciate it, Reeve. If a miracle happens and someone comes by that either of us fall for, we can be each other's wingmen.

[plate_builder]

[Reeve chuckles, because he doesn't imagine it will happen to him.]

Well, we should continue on. So I should speak of the blizzard.

[And he sips at the coffee.]

[mrsklover]

[ Yeah, Richie laughs for the same reason but whatever. Miracles happen. ]

A blizzard? What the fuck? How bad was it?

[plate_builder]

Oh, quite bad. It was one of the energy storms, but in the form of a blizzard. We were more or less stranded for a while. And the ghosts... They manifested and told secrets to other people.

[He learned more about York than was polite.]

[mrsklover]

[ Richie looks alarmed at that. His eyes narrow just a little, concerned. ]

Jon wasn't involved, was he?

[plate_builder]

Of course not. Why would he be?

[Richie, pack up your biases please.]

[mrsklover]

[ No. ]

Just asking. Secrets and all, you know.

[ Richie takes another long drink and sighs. ] I'm glad I missed out on secret hour. That sounds like shit.

[plate_builder]

True enough. It's nice to not have them spilled even more.

[He sighs at that, shaking his head. It had been so much.]

Other than that I think it's been relatively peaceful. Though you know me. I don't get out much because of my projects.

[mrsklover]

[ Richie gives him an affectionate shove. ]

Yeah, well. I am back now, Reeve-s Witherspoon. We're gonna get you out a little more, pal. It will be better for both of us to not just stay locked up even if yours are productive and mine are...not.

[plate_builder]

Exactleh wha Ah think he needs.

[Mini, who had of course spoken, nodded at Richie in approval.]

Don't give him more allies. I do my best, and I like being busy. It's better than... feeling useles.

[mrsklover]

Wow, you're just doing the therapist's work for them, aren't you?

[ Richie gives Mini a little thumbs up. ]

I'll tell you the plan, Mini. We'll get him out and and about. He can't fight us both.