(no subject)

[arachnologist]

... okay, this is -- not okay. At all. This is -- you can't take me away from my dad's funeral and tell me I'm not -- not real, what is....

This is insane. This is the--

No. I'm not okay with this and I don't want to stay here. Do you understand that I have-- places to be? My family --

... no, okay. Fine. I can deal with this. If I have to, I will. So. [ DEEP BREATH. ] My name is Gwen. Gwen Stacy. If we're all -- fictional, I can only assume it's possible that people I know have been brought here too and told the same thing. So, iiiiif my name is familiar to you? Now's the time to say so. Otherwise?

[ DEEPER BREATH. ]

I'm. Going to go sit down. Somewhere. If anyone needs me, I'll just be. Yeah. So. Thanks.

Comments

[detectivewonder]

Got it. Whipped cream on top?

[arachnologist]

Yeah. Sure. Thanks, Tim.

[-->action? or wrap-up?]

[detectivewonder]

No problem. I remember what it was like to first get here.

[we can totes action for a bit]

[arachnologist]

[ She gets there like 10 or 15 minutes later, sort of frazzled but -- fine. Mostly. ]

Tim?

[we can totes action for a bit]

[detectivewonder]

[How often do you see a twenty-year-old barista with a suit under his high-end bespoke coffeeshop apron?

Very seldom. He wasn't kidding when he said the coffeeshop was much classier than its surroundings made it appear. The place is all but empty at this hour, and at the 'bar' area near the register there's a large macchiato with a pile of foam and whipped cream atop it.]

That's me. Welcome to the New Brew.

[we can totes action for a bit]

[arachnologist]

Oh, my god. [ SO RELIEVED, hands outstretched as she walks over to take her drink. It is blissfully warm, and she still hasn't gotten the chill of the rain from home out of her bones. ] You are my savior. I--

I have to pay you, I'm so sorry! [ Gapes at him, out of sorts and awkward. ] I don't even -- I don't have any local currency on me, what do they even use here? I'm so sorry.

[we can totes action for a bit]

[detectivewonder]

It's okay. This one's on the house. Once things have settled, the government here will get you your stipend card, if they didn't already. Works like a debit card; or you can take it to an ATM and get cash. New Moore uses dollars; different faces on the bills but otherwise pretty indistinguishable from American collars.

[Explanations and lecturing are one of the forms of social interaction Tim is best at, so he stays relaxed.]

[we can totes action for a bit]

[arachnologist]

[ Gwen starts to say something, stops, and then just sighs out a very long sigh and finds a chair to sit in. ]

This is all so surreal. Is this actually happening? I'm not -- a hundred percent convinced this isn't some sort of grief-induced hallucination. Is that even a thing? God.

[action]

[detectivewonder]

It's not a hallucination. But I know the feeling. This place is surreal at the best of times. When things are rough... everywhere's surreal.

[action]

[arachnologist]

[ Gwen just ... shakes her head. ]

... I don't think it's even been two hours since I was at the funeral. I don't--

[ She stops, drawing in on herself, bowing over her mug. God, this would be the worst place and time to completely lose it, keep it together, Gwen, come on. ]

[action]

[detectivewonder]

I can't imagine.

[A brief pause.]

I had almost two years to deal with my dad's death before I came here. If it had been that fresh... it still ruins my October every year I'm here.

I'm sorry.

[He doesn't want to make it about him; but he does want to let her know he understands.]