Now you're just somebody that I used to know.

[chiron_survivor]

Adia is sitting at a computer terminal in the Plaza with a pint of cookie dough ice cream and a carton of boxed wine, watching cute animal videos online and occasionally wiping at her red-rimmed eyes with the back of her hand.

It's every bad break-up cliché, but Adia does not care. After recently experiencing the (second) worst day of life, she needs a break. And unfortunately, the only place she can get that is the Nexus.

She clicks on a thumbnail of a hamster eating a tiny burrito and takes a swig of wine while it loads. "How do you get over someone," she asks the Nexus unhappily, "When they've clearly gotten over you?"

Comments

[protolawyer]

"Yeah, well. Me and Neirin have been working together for a long time. We've gotten pretty biz-cas over the years. Partners in slime." Though the follow-up question surprises him! He looks confused for a split second and then nods, settling into his answer.

"Right, right. Uhhh. I dunno! Let you know that despite how rad I am on the surface, I've got baggage? Stuff that's a hassle to have to deal with and how there's way lower maint relationship options out there. Also, that we can totally still hang even though we're not gonna hook up. Oh, and also that work always comes first for me and you don't seem the type to want a career-driven guy that lets it suck up all his time."

[chiron_survivor]

She feels kind of dumb for asking, especially because of Shark's brief confusion, but then he answers, and it's so... nice. Despite literally just telling Shark how nice he was, she's still surprised. And oddly touched. Who knew that a rejection speech could make someone feel so (platonically) un-rejected.

She smiles a little. "Yeah, you are pretty rad," she tells him, sounding like somebody's mom. She picks up her wine carton again, but doesn't drink from it, just sloshes the remaining liquid around inside. "For what it's worth, I felt so bad that you'd been cursed. I was worried you wouldn't want to talk to me again, after, because...y'know, it was embarrassing, and if the situation were reversed I'd be so embarrassed I probably wouldn't have the nerve to show my face around you again."

[protolawyer]

"If I ever let shame stop me from doing something, I'd slate myself for recycling. That is NO WAY to live." He also preens a bit on being confirmed as rad, straightening his cufflinks and licking his thumb to smooth over one eyebrow. "Even if no one saw it, crying would have been weird either way. I don't really...do that. Ever. Ask Neirin, he'll back it up." He won't call him again for that one, at least. They've bothered the legal assistant and his Orange Man enough for one day. Well, one hour. Shark's a demanding boss.

[chiron_survivor]

Shark's preening reminds her a little of a green parakeet that she had as a pet, but she knows better than to say it. Shark deserves to have his radness confirmed on occasion. "I wouldn't make a very good clone then..."

If he's expecting some heartfelt speech on how crying is good sometimes, that it can be cathartic, he won't get it from Adia. "You're lucky, then. Crying's the worst." She sets the carton of wine aside. "How do you not cry? Or is it part of your personality template?"

[protolawyer]

"Might be? Just not something I do a lot." Shark leans an elbow on the sofa's armrest, resting his chin on the loose fist of that arm. "I get angry easier than I get upset and crying just doesn't happen in almost any situation ever. I mean, there's maybe ONE time in living memory, but that wasssss, uh. Well, it was some complicated shit and I was probably SUPER high at the time. You know how it is." Shark, no she doesn't.

"Hey, speaking of, you gonna be good getting home like this? Or you gonna crash somewhere here in the Nexus? Me and Neirin hole up in a motel around here if we're overnighting. Could probably point you that way if you need it."

[chiron_survivor]

No, she doesn't, but she sort of understands, deep into her carton of wine as she is. "I hope it wasn't too awful for you. Crying for real." His more recent episode of blubbering could at least be blamed on the cursed candy. Sometimes she wishes she had the same excuse.

"No... no, thanks, but I have to head back. It'd look suspicious if I went missing after being interrogated like that." She smiles at Shark tiredly. "I'll be okay. I've got my PINpoint, remember?" Not drunken stumbling to a portal for her!

[protolawyer]

"Oh, right. PINpoint." He actually has no idea how the thing works. He didn't listen to the explanation and like hell he's gonna read up on it. Shark had been picturing it working like a compass or something. "Good deal, though. Remember to drink a whole glass of water before you sleep, though. Hangovers are proof there being no kind or loving god."

The lawyer gives Adia an encouraging few pats on her knee before hopping up off the sofa. "You know how to get me if something's up or you can't navigate. I'll send Neirin out to fetch you, okay?"

[chiron_survivor]

Adia is a big fan of PINpoints, perhaps enough so that Shark will likely get a little lecture from her at some point in the future. He better be wearing his listening ears.

"A whole glass of water, right." The combination of the friendly knee pats plus his offer to help should she need it brings a sentimental smile to her face. It's a good thing Shark is already out of drunken hugging range, or maybe he'd have to worry about tears on his suit after all. "Okay. Thanks, Shark."