NETWORK | VIDEO

[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]

[ Richie looks at the yellow concerned for a second before it evens out. He figures York would say something if he needed to be worried but still peers at it on and off. ]

I could be the gopher on that, you know. Jon sucks, but Tony's cool for me. If you, ya know. Just wanted me as a go-between.

[ At the mention of the warehouse, Richie frowns more. ]

You're still living there?

[buildingitsir]

As it is now, I’m… okay with Tony. Reworking my deviated programming to not be terrified of what he could do to me.

_{[York notes the frown that Richie is gracing him with.]}

Uh, yeah? I don’t need human comforts so I’m still out there. No one goes there.

_{[Quiet, but dangerous in a city that could throw literally anything at you. One good earthquake and the warehouse could come down on him.]}

It’s not the prettiest but it keeps me dry.

[mrsklover]

[ Richie raises an eyebrow, clearly not convinced about this. ]

Dude, just camp out here.

[ His room isn't big but it's secure and relatively clean. ]

Eddie lived here before he vanished so I know it can accommodate two people. And it's not like I am gonna be hanging a sock on the doorknob anytime soon, so. Why not?

[buildingitsir]

_{[York stares him down, almost as if trying to judge if Richie's joking or not.]}

Seriously?

_{[Then the judgmental cat expression melts into confusion.]}

What do you mean 'hang a sock on the doorknob'? Explain.

_{[Nevermind the Eddie guy - who was probably the person behind the cleaning supplies.]}

[mrsklover]

[ Richie stares back. It's a real mental issue to reconcile the fact that York looks like a child with the fact that he wasn't one. On one level it feels like corrupting the youth to tell him anything about the sock or whatever. But still, he's an adult, kind of. Right? God, this was confusing sometimes. ]

Yeah, it's fine for you to stay here. And the...sock thing. It's when...you know. Someone needs privacy? You put the sock on the door to make sure you're not walked in on...

[buildingitsir]

_{[He's here to help melt your brain, Richie. And you want him as a roommate! He continues to give Richie the confused look.]}

Yeah, not following. Might need a better explanation.

_{[This is too good to pass up. And he's thankful for android programming to keep his face in check.]}

Privacy for what?

[mrsklover]

[ Richie squints, not sure if he's being teased or not here. It's impossible to tell, stupid android. ]

Jesus... Sex, York. Sex. With yourself or with that special someone in your life. Alright? Get it now?

[buildingitsir]

_{[Finally York allows the facade to crumble and grins with a devilish glint in the bright eyes.]}

You should see how absolutely red you are, Richie. Perks of being an android - you can't tell when I'm pranking you!

[mrsklover]

[ Richie groans and covers his face with his hands as he tries to fight off the blush. ]

You're a dick. I take it back. You can sleep outside in the rain,

[buildingitsir]

_{[The grin doesn't falter. Because of course it doesn't.]}

Fell right into my trap. Hey, you'd want me to short circuit in the rain? That's not very good roommate of you. And I know your weakness!

_{[He gets up and gives Richie's shoulder a playful shove with that shit-eating grin still on his face.]}

[mrsklover]

[ Richie shoves York right back and then ruffles his hair. ]

You're an asshole. God, you're gonna be insufferable as a roommate. And if there are any balloons in here, I am gonna get revenge. Don't think I won't. I have ideas, Yorkie.

[buildingitsir]

_{[The ruffled hair sticks up every which way and York gives another soft shove.]}

Yeah, but now I'm your insufferable roommate. You invited me! Thankfully I don't have a lot of stuff. Just my blueprints and the thirium pouches in case of an emergency. Got a spot where that shit won't get ruined? Not next to your cleaning supplies.

[mrsklover]

[ Richie looks over at the collection of cleaning supplies and his smile fades for a second. He tries to paste it back on but it's thin. ]

Eh. Don't worry about those. I should have gotten rid of those awhile ago. I'll...find somewhere else to stow them.

[buildingitsir]

Don't get rid of them. They'll probably be useful at some point given what the Agrii like to put us through. They can stay there really.

_{[He gives a shrug because they're not really that concerning. Instead York points at a corner on the desk that's empty.]}

How about that spot there? I gotta go get my shit, so I'll be out of your hair for an hour at least. What do roommates do anyways?

_{[He's never had a human roommate before. Just other androids and they didn't really require things like humans did.]}