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[thenormalsquint]

[Angela's sitting cross-legged on a sofa in an apartment that if anybody knew her well enough can tell that's not hers. One, the wall colors are in neutrals and there's no amount of controlled chaos around. What gives it away especially is a grey cat in her lap snoozing, and even though she is not a fan of them, Angela can't bear to move it. Her device is propped up so her hands are free to write things down on a nearby clipboard.]

The worst part of coming and going here isn't the coming back, it's coming back and realizing there are things you should already know, but you can't remember. I hate not remembering things. My life experiences are so important to me; I want to look back and go "Yeah, that was fantastic how we got arrested." but when I can't remember faces, much less names or events...

[It pisses her off. But she's not going to say that much out loud.]

So here's your mission, should you choose to accept it: tell me things about us I should remember. Doesn't matter if it's big or small. If we went to the beach together and almost got eaten by sharks, great! Or not so great, but still that's useful to me.

And if we didn't do anything together, lie to me. Make something up. It's not like I'll know the difference.

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[trenchknives]

[Their drinks arrive, and he takes a little sip before nodding.]

Yeah, that'd be nice to know, wouldn't it? Disappear for awhile, go back home 'n deal with shit, 'n then come back here for visits?

[thenormalsquint]

[She, on the other hand, is filled with unsaid thoughts, turning her glass around with her fingertips long before taking a sip. She doesn't know how to deal with the emotions of getting attached to people who can just be gone five minutes later.]

Or not come back at all.

[trenchknives]

You wouldn't ever wanna come back? I dunno, there're people here that I'd miss if I disappeared 'n never saw 'em again.

[Not that he'd remembered anyone from the City during his eight months he'd just spent at home, but still.]

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[affectioning]

I can't get her back.

[ If Scott could help her not feel envious, he would. ]

I will. Thanks. [ A beat. ] She's a really great mom.

[thenormalsquint]

[She sips her drink for a moment, slowly, like she's savoring the flavor, but instead she's thinking whether Jimmy really wants her to answer that.]

Do you want me to answer nicely or be honest?

[skintoskin]

[Well, it would be really easy to mess with this woman's head, but he decides to be nice. It works for a lot of people, it seems.]

I won't lie to you. I'm Neil and I don't think we've ever communicated before, but if you want to pretend we knew one another and you owe me fifty bucks for that time at the restaurant, I'll play along.

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[thenormalsquint]

[Every day that passes, she thinks that tomorrow, she'll finally be used to the thought that she may never see her friends or her dad again. Every day that passes, she knows that lying to herself never works but she keeps doing it just to survive.]

She seems like it. I can tell she loves you a lot.

[thenormalsquint]

[Well, it's not like she's going to double check everything somebody tells her. Angela's been working too long in the lab just to take things at face value anymore.]

I would pay you back, but see, I lost my purse and my wallet was in it...

[skintoskin]

[She'd be stupid if she didn't check. She doesn't look stupid.]

Shit. Where did you last see your purse?

[thenormalsquint]

If I knew, I would have found it, right?

[skintoskin]

Point.

So, how're you gonna get me my fifty bucks?

[thenormalsquint]

I never said I was going to get you your fifty bucks. Don't go putting words in my mouth and my money in your pocket.

[trenchknives]

Personally, I'm a fan of honesty.

[skintoskin]

Hey, I covered you for that meal.

[Which didn't happen, but they're playing some sort of game...]

You said you'd pay me back.

[thenormalsquint]

I cannot recall saying that. That's something I'd never say.

[Of course it didn't. He claimed that it didn't from the get go. Bully for you, Neil.]

[skintoskin]

Are you going to deny we had a romantic dinner, too?

[There. Play with that...]

[thenormalsquint]

Then no. I wouldn't want to come back.

[Because every time she does, somebody else she was close to is gone and the few people she has left leave her behind. She's tired of that. At home, she doesn't remember anything here. You can't miss what you don't know exists.]

[trenchknives]

[He nods.]

That makes sense. Means you have somethin' good at home to go back to. I'm glad.

[thenormalsquint]

Definitely. You look twelve.

[Bam. Right back at you, kid.]

[skintoskin]

[He laughs and takes it well enough.]

I'm not. I'm eighteen, but would that be robbing the cradle?

[thenormalsquint]

I have a family. My work. Things I made a place for in my life. I can't get that here. I never get to see anybody from home when I'm here.

[Her visitor's days are calm, empty of the excitement everybody else has when they see their parents or friends. But Angela is a pro at keeping a smile on her face and not letting her envy ruin anybody else's happiness.]

[thenormalsquint]

Totally. I have a clear limit of never dating anybody below their twenties.

[trenchknives]

Then I hope you get to go home for good someday. You don't deserve to be stuck here.

[skintoskin]

Why? Too much for ya?

[thenormalsquint]

[She laughs into her glass. It's a nice thought, but even the ever bright Angela knows that now, going home for good--and never coming back, not even a year later--isn't even going to happen.]

Thanks. I hope so too. Likewise for you.