♕ |[ 88 ]| What did I know, what did I know, of love's austere and lonely offices?

[had_not_lived]

[ACCIDENTAL AUDIO]

--did a better job of it, you know. If only for a couple of days.

[Quietly, Neil's talking to... well, it's probably obvious. He doesn't sound angry; just a bit sad. Weary. It's been a long day, already. Now he pauses, listening to something inaudible.]

Not so badly after all, apparently. I almost wish you would come, just to visit-- to see what I've managed here. I think some of it-- some of it-- you'd have to be proud of. You would. At least a little bit.

[Another long pause.]

Well, of course not. [A sigh.] I'm trying to read, all right? You aren't real. Go away.

Comments

[had_not_lived]

[It's possibly the nicest thing Justin could have said, which means it takes Neil a moment to figure out how to reply.]

Thank you. Really. [A pause, a little embarrassed, but not in a bad way.] I think-- if he were really here, he might even. A little bit. [If he heard running a bookstore and owning property and arranging plays before he got to the bit about Todd.]

[othersdie]

You're welcome.

[Because, as heartfelt as that was, it's hard to come up with a decent follow-up.]

Only a little?

[had_not_lived]

I think it'd take him a while to get over my not being a doctor.

[othersdie]

All things considered, he should be able to forgive that.

[had_not_lived]

If he were here, really, then maybe.