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[The video opens to show an exceedingly nice terrarium sitting on a desk, which is located in the room Justin is borrowing from Neil and Todd. A copy of "The Importance of Being Earnest" is lined up neatly to the left. Aaand zoom in.]

From the Diapheromeridae family. [The view shifts to show this beauty.] And this one's from the Phylliidae family.

[Justin, clearly behind the camera, sounds even quieter and less enthusiastic about life than usual, which is an accomplishment.]

I plan on naming one Gregor and one Mendel, but I'm not sure which should be which. I'm open to suggestions.

[The video switches off.]

[Text]
I've never been interested in entomology, but this combination--plant and animal--is interesting. Worth buying on impulse, now that I'm financially secure for the moment. The bank had an account for me. I made decent money before I left.

The network is a good place to ask open-ended questions. I'd like to ask this: What do you do when you feel as though you're missing something? Not that you've misplaced something, but that there's something fundamentally important to you as a human missing. Drink? Are there any more creative answers?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

But you can. You can change the world. You can make things better. [She sounds a little choked up.] You can try.

I didn't know. [He's not tearing up, there's just something in his--no, tears it is.] I thought the only way to matter was to... to be more than human, especially when I was so terrible at being normal.

[She lets go of his hand, but only so she can change positions and hug him instead.] You matter.

[Whatever is happening cannot be argued with. It just takes him a moment to remember to hug back.]

[She's glad. She wouldn't know what to argue right now. She just keeps holding on for now.]

[He comes to his senses and lets go of Euphie. She said he mattered. No one had said that before.]

I... um. This isn't what you usually do when you visit friends, I imagine.

Only on special occasions. [She reaches up and smooths out his hair gently.]

Then thank you for considering this a special occasion.

[She smiles softly.]

I did think we'd eat a pretzel and maybe play a game. Things have a way of surprising you.

[That was surprising, sure enough. He gives her a quick, uncomfortable smile.]

Would it be too late for that? Eating and playing a game?

[She smiles warmly at him.] It's never too late for that.

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