animus_network | 001 [action/text]

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001 [action/text]

Specifically for the occupants of 2-10
_{[When Dirk awakens and can't move at first, he finds himself panicking. This isn't something that normally happens, so it's a huge relief when he actually is able to move. Immediately, he's able to tell he's not where he should be. His memory is a little hazy due to the fact he's still waking up, but he knows that the last thing he was doing, which certainly wasn't sleeping. Who could sleep when their home was under attack?

The letters he finds answers a few of the initial questions he has, but it leaves a billion more unanswered. His world was destroyed? Given the state it was in, he isn't surprised, but he was supposed to get into the game first. He's pretty sure this isn't it. This is horribly disconcerting, because he can't help but wonder about his friends. Did they make it to safety? Are they here?

After another few moments, he's aware he's not the only person in the room either. Well then.]}

...Who are you people.

Network; open.
I'm not entirely sure what is going here, so perhaps someone can shed some light on this situation.
How is it that I've arrived here?
I'm finding the information provided by the welcoming committee highly doubtful for a multitude of reasons that I don't have time to get into at this time.
With that, I'll cut to the chase; in the off-chance that it's actually correct, that my world was destroyed, I must ask.
Does anyone know Roxy Lalonde, Jake English, Jane Crocker and their whereabouts?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Okay there are more important fish to fry than dealing with your gayness, Dirk.

If only he knew what a great pun that was.]

Okay, so in all seriousness, who's Rox? The hell's going on in the future?

Roxy Lalonde. She's my friend. We're the only humans left on Earth, but considering I don't know what's going on anymore, I don't know if she's alive or not.

Long story short? Everything went to shit four centuries ago and the Batterwitch succeeded in destroying everything. To give you a better mental image: I live in a high rise apartment in Houston that's completely surrounded by ocean.

[Bro's quiet for a few seconds, taking it all in. Well that definitely proves his thoughts right; they're not actually the same person. Not really. Somehow they are, but they aren't.

Sort of.]

Well you ain't from my timeline, that's for sure.

[He's sure by now he's pointing out the obvious. And it occurs to him that he should possibly say something vaguely sympathetic, but. What d'you say to that? So he just lays back on the bed, shaking his head lightly, propped up on one elbow.]

_{[The shrug he gives Bro is entirely too deflective.]}

No shit.

_{[He's quiet for a long time, staring at the wall before glancing back over.]}

What's the world without fish aliens bent on conquering the universe like?

[He's quiet, too. Because how do you answer that? Or rather, how the hell do you answer that tactfully when you're talking to the guy who is the last guy on earth? Who also happens to be you. He knows how shitty he'd feel if somebody went on about how amazing it is. Oh jesus christ this is stupid.]

Dead, apparently.

[It's evasive. It's pointing out the obvious, but it's more than that. Because it was dead even before the letters pointed that out. So it's the truth either way.]

_{[Dirk's not sure how to respond to that, either. It's clear to him they either way, they can't win. Life is just doomed to be shitty. Even still, it hasn't decreased his urge to try to find a way out.

Because there's still a chance, however slim.]}

Sburb?

Yep.

[He falls back onto his pillow and stares up at the ceiling. He doesn't know what more to say than that. All everything ever boils down to is sburb, and it pisses him off. What a fucking shitty game. God, it pisses. him. off.

But after at least a minute of silence, he breathes out a heavy sigh through his nose, a grumble rumbling deep in his throat. He's just. Irritated.]

Mind if I ask you a few questions about your future?

[The way he asks it clearly says that if Dirk doesn't wanna talk about it, he won't press.]

_{[He's used to the silence; that's really all there is unless he makes it on his own in one way or another. It's easy for him to retreat into his own thoughts from that point on. He's not so far lost in them that he doesn't hear Bro.]}

Go for it.

It's mainly that I was just wondering who the hell your parents are if they went and got themselves kill by this psychopathic broad known as the Batterbitch.

[Yeah, he could've phrased that in a less blunt manner, but.

He didn't.]

_{[Dirk stares at him for a solid minute before responding. Yeah, that really wasn't the best way to word that.]}

I don't have any. My bro left behind enough in the apartment that I was able to get by on my own.

But that was four centuries before my time.

[Oh.

Well in his defense? He hadn't. been expecting that at all. Okay. Fucking time shit. Fucking sburb fucking all the shit up. Perfectly normal people having extremely shitty upbringings just to win this stupidass game. But despite the anger he feels, there's... something else there. Affection? Maybe a little, in regards to the fact Dirk just told him he raised himself.

Remorse, too. Because even though they got off to a rocky start, he feels a certain... Attachment? To Dirk. Because they're sort of the same person. In a way. He thinks. He doesn't now. But either way, it's fucked up and Dirk didn't deserve that kind of life.]

You raised yourself, dude? I think you need a pat on the back for that one.

[...]

So go on, do it. Give yourself a pat, I'm waiting.

[Y'know because it's not like he's gonna do it or anything.]

_{[In a way, hearing validation for that is nice. He knows the likelihood of him and Roxy even making it to this age was slim to none. Despite their circumstances, they'd made it. Only to have everything go into more shit than it already was, but there was that at least.

In the end, he only shrugs in response.]}

It's not really much to brag about.

[He rolls his eyes. Of course he would be modest. How long until the overly cocky confident and full himself stage kicks in? Maybe it won't. Maybe they're more different than he realized. But he lets out a sigh, and heaves himself off the bed. He's going to go do something that he doesn't usually do.

But it's for himself and that's what matters.

He crosses the few feet between their beds and lays a hand on Dirk's shoulder.]

You did good, kid.

_{[The sentiment is nice, but the moment he's touched, Dirk stiffens slightly and his eyes go wide. He's quick to offer an explanation, lest his other self think he messed up or something. He can't help how quiet his voice is, though.]}

Sorry. It's just. No one's ever touched me before.

_{[This is awkward.]}

[Oh. Oh... jesus. He didn't know that- but then again, if Dirk was one of the last humans on earth, then. What did he really expect? Christ, though. That was awkward as fuck. But not even so much awkward as... Heartbreaking. Because he knew what he was like at sixteen. Secretly craving affection, not knowing how the fuck to even get it. Not even wanting to admit that he wanted it. And Dirk couldn't get it. It was hard. It was hard and nobody understood. But Bro did. And you know what? Dirk seriously needed something. His hand slides off of Dirk's shoulder, and he takes a few steps back. He raises a finger, beckoning for Dirk to get up and come closer.]

C'mere, man.

_{[Dirk is hesitant, although he's not sure why. He just met this guy, yes, but at the same time--it's him. Not exactly, as they'd determined that just moments before. But it was still him. Would he actually do anything to hurt himself? No, never. It'd be a lie to say he isn't curious about whatever Bro has in mind. Finally, he gets up and takes a couple steps forward. There's still a good foot between them, though.]}

Why?

[He can tell Dirk's hesitant, and he doesn't blame him. Bro would be too, if their situations were reversed. So that's why he takes it into his own hands when Dirk stops a foot or so away. He doesn't speak, he just crosses the distance between them. His movements are slow though, so he doesn't alarm Dirk. When he's just an inch or so away from him, he reaches out and wraps his arms around Dirk, slowly.]

Just thought you could use a hug.

_{[He knows what's happening. He knows how he's supposed to react. Hugs were common acts in the movies he'd seen over the years, so it's not like it's a mystery. And yet, despite this, it doesn't make it any easier to breathe. It doesn't keep him from tensing up. It doesn't stop him from panicking and not knowing how to react.

At the same time, this is something he's wanted all of his life from his bro. He never thought that his first non-Cal, non-Sawtooth hug would be from another version of himself, but in a way, it makes a whole lot of sense. Who better than someone who understands the way he feels and thinks, even if they're from entirely different circumstances?

He's frozen in place for several moments before he finally wills his arms into cooperating and loosely touching Bro's sides, near the top of his rib cage, to reciprocate.]}

[Bro can feel Dirk tense up, he knows how... overwhelming it must feel. He knows that Dirk probably feels really awkward right now, and has no idea what to do. But that doesn't make Bro pull away, that just makes him determined to make this the best goddamn first hug a kid could ask for. He can't help but smile slightly when he feels Dirk's arms finally move, and then he starts running a hand up and down Dirk's back in slow, comforting motions.

It's obvious he's not going to let go any time soon. Not until Dirk's relaxed, not until he's sure that it's...Well, enough.]

_{[It's a painfully slow process; it's hard to break nearly sixteen years without physical contact, after all. Eventually he relaxes in Bro's hug, slowly slipping his arms around the older man's back. This is still really weird, but he can dig this, and probably could again, if intentions are made clearly enough like they were previously. He's even starting to breathe regularly too.]}

Thanks.

[Bro's glad when Dirk finally relaxes. It makes him feel good, knowing he was able to give this to Dirk. In a way, he needed it too. After going through so much shit, sometimes you just need a hug. Admittedly, Dirk needed one more than he did. Either way, it was mutually beneficial and he was glad for it.]

Don't mention it.

[That's when he finally, slowly, pulls away. He gives Dirk a brief, real smile, before he turns and occupies himself with going back over to his own bed. Yeah, sometimes after a hug he feels kind of awkward. But it was totally worth it, and he doesn't have any regrets. Instead of going to his bed, though, he decides to go over to his trunk and starts rummaging around in it.]

...So, wanna come check out some of the sweet swag you could get when you're older?

_{[Dirk simply stands there. It's so much easier to come off as cool and aloof online. It's harder when you're face to face with someone and you get pulled out of your comfort zone. He really does his best to keep himself from being fazed by it, though.]}

Yeah, sure. Might as well double check and make sure I don't turn out lame.

_{[There's a hint of lightheartedness in his tone as he walks over.]}

[Bro scoffs, but it's not an angry one.]

Yeah right, as if you could.

[And then he starts taking out objects. The first being a katana that just barely fit in there, and then his rocket board. And then come the smuppets... Several of them.]

_{[He's leaning over, looking at everything he pulls out. He's about to say that he has all of these things to, at least at home, since he hasn't looked in his trunk at all yet. But then he sees the smuppets and he picks on up.

He's holding it close, examining the seams and the stitching on it.]}

You're better at this than me.

It takes a few years before you're a real expert, don't sweat it too bad.

[He pauses for a sec, before shrugging.] Have it, I can make more. I think. Assuming this dumb has sewing shit.

[He's still taking stuff out, looking around to see if there's nothing he missed the first time. Clothes, pants and shoes, followed by a huge bottle of lube and condoms are starting to be strewn across the floor, as and he carefully piles up his spare shades. Some magazines, including GameBro and Playboy also get taken out. Just... lots of things, really. He lets out an excited gasp when he finds his iPod.

Shoosh, he was just afraid it was gone forever.]

Oh hot damn, I didn't see this before.

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