Text || May 2

[3rdbest]

Few announcements and a question.

First, I’m Matt and I have a business called Black Mesa. It's a House Call Technician business, and we fix computers, broadcasting and wireless systems, business equipment and security system. If anyone is interested or just wants a job, call me maybe.

Second, I’m doing missions, have a nice record, and kind of want to keep going. So I’m currently looking for a Meister who would be cool with going on missions. I’m a Weapon, a Portal gun; I shoot regular bullets and also create Portals.

Third, imagine you have raw steaks. How hard it is to cook them? And how do cook them exactly?


[ PRIVATE TO: DUO ]
Duo. I hope you didn’t forget our date tonight.


[ PRIVATE TO: NEAR ]
A word, please.

Comments

[consider8]

Consider yourself warned, oh man of mystery. :::;)

[3rdbest]

I will remember that, spider of light ;)

But I need to warn you, it might be really hard. I hope you enjoy a challenge.

[consider8]

I am in no rush.

One of the greatest powers at my discretion is an em8rassing amount of disposa8le time.

[3rdbest]

Though if you pay attention to everyone, you won't have enough time.

[consider8]

What makes you say that?

[3rdbest]

I mean there are plenty of people in this place to occupy your free time with.

[consider8]

This is true. I suppose that means I should 8e more discriminating in the individuals I choose to meddle.

[3rdbest]

Oh, should I feel special?

[consider8]

If you needed my attention to feel special, perhaps you should re-evaluate what you are doing and consider that perhaps you have more to contri8ute than you seem to 8elieve.

[3rdbest]

Do you really have that much faith in me?

I'm possibly-but-not-yet-proved cynical.

[consider8]

You are as you need to 8e to do what it is you are intended to do.

Or not do.

The a8sence of yourself can 8e just as profound, if not more so, than any action you seek to endeavor. True, this may not paint an appealing picture of the merit of one's individual effort, 8ut I like to see it as everyone having importance regardless how profound on the template of life we all uniquely have.

Now, if you were to ask me whether or not I 8elieve your contri8ution to 8e of presence or a8sence, I cannot say. Only you can make that determination. 8ut I do indeed have faith in you.

[3rdbest]

Fine. I will admit I did contribute, before. Not absence, but not exactly presence either. Let's say I stood in the shadows.

Now I contribute by eating kishin egg souls. I will admit to that too.


See? Progress.

[consider8]

Yes, very good. I think that is great progress for this conversation. Maybe next time we'll work towards making you feel comfortable to appear on the network.

[3rdbest]

Yeah, that's not gonna happen.

[consider8]

It was a joke, Matt. :::;)

[3rdbest]

Good, because that's never going to happen.

[consider8]

I know, and I won't expect you to.

Though there is a time and place to confront things that make you uncomforta8le, there are some things that are more important than others. That is not one of them.

Er... also, I know it is none of my 8usiness, 8ut I can't help 8ut wonder what you and Sollux are planning on doing.

[3rdbest]

[ he is already dealing with so much that makes him uncomfortable.

And you may be threading into something that makes him uncomfortable indeed. ]

What do you mean?

[consider8]

I'm a 8it curious with your plans for the next week. I'm a 8it worried a8out missions and the current state of the citizenry.

[3rdbest]

I go on missions often. Can't say much regarding the rest since I don't leave the apartment that often.

[consider8]

Um.

Are you evading?

[3rdbest]

I won't if you ask me the actual question. [ maybe ]

[consider8]

Alright, well. How a8out this, then.

Are you doing anything that I, as a close friend of 8oth of you and what may ostensi8ly 8e regarded as an individual of average psychological stature, 8e alarmed a8out?

[3rdbest]

I'm not sure about him, but I'm not doing anything like that besides smoking like a chimney, but that's something that I've always done.

[consider8]

I do worry a8out that, 8ut I think you already know that.

[In other words, she's not going to belabor the point.]