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[darkinferno]

Dante Rantanen

"Hey, you've reached Dante. I'm not in right now--you know what to do."

VOICE | TEXT | VIDEO | ACTION

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[heiroglyphs]

I know.

[His voice is so comforting, right now. She's so happy that she's not alone, sneaking a little smile up at him.]

I've never had a friend like you before. You gave up your whole day just to keep me from being a sobbing mess at my apartment.

[darkinferno]

[What's there to say to that? Her expression is probably mirrored on his, a small smile as he looks back down at her.]

I wouldn't do that for just anybody. But people like us have to stick together, right? We're in the same boat.

[He pauses, and then, his voice a little more serious:]

If I were in your shoes, and it was Ari that had disappeared, I'd probably be blackout drunk in the woods right now. I know how it feels.

[heiroglyphs]

I don't know about the woods, but you'd definitely find me passed out in my studio.

[She reaches up and touches his cheek.]

But I'm glad you understand. We're like two sides of the same coin.

[darkinferno]

[In the woods, nobody can find him. There are too many people that know he lives here.

But he just nods in agreement.]

Yeah. Different circles, but the same hoops to jump through, the same expectations.

The same isolation.

[heiroglyphs]

[The touching hand gives Dante's cheek the lightest of taps. Now isn't the time to be talking about being alone, dredging up their awful childhoods can only make this day worse.]

But now I have you, and I don't feel so lonely anymore. Even if... Vic is gone. I know I'm not alone.

[darkinferno]

[Okay, okay, he won't talk about the negatives, no matter how they always prickle at the edges of his mind. Instead, he focuses on Vera's words, on what it is she's saying.

"I know I'm not alone."

He keeps his face composed, but internally, Dante wonders about that fact. Somehow, things have changed so much in the past five months, just from this simple app that's installed itself to his phone. Would those changes have come about if not for Retrospec? Does he somehow owe Retrospec for all of this? For having found people who, he might one day dare to hope, won't leave him behind at the slightest provocation?]

No. You'll never be alone, as long as I'm around.

[He only wishes that he could say it and believe it himself.]

[heiroglyphs]

[Hey now, who's supposed to be cheering up who here? She musters up the smallest of smiles, stroking his side idly with one hand. It's still amazing, to experience this level of intimacy was something she'd only dream of a few short months ago. Now, she's come this close not only with a lover, but with her best friend as well. Though the two sensations are very different, she can't help but feel spoiled that she can lose one, but still find warmth in the other. It's almost too easy. Does she really deserve this?]

Maybe I'll have your children after all.

[darkinferno]

[And just like that, the cloud that had been descending on him seems to lift and vanish. Dante laughs, shaking his head.]

Maybe? You'll have to hope that whoever I'm with at the time is all right with that, too. Even Ari might draw the line at me getting you pregnant.

[heiroglyphs]

There's a difference between artificial insemination and you actually knocking me up, you know.

[Pointing at him!!!]

God, I was joking, what am I even doing defending this.

[darkinferno]

Hang on, you're saying I'm going to wind up with a child and I don't even get the fun part of it all?

[His expression bounces from affront to what's almost distaste as he appears to think about it for a second.]

Though maybe that's for the better. That'd feel too much like incest for my liking.

[Why's she defending it? Because it's entertaining. Dante flashes her a grin to let her know that he was joking too.]

[heiroglyphs]

At least you don't have to worry about child support?

[She can't help but giggle at the ridiculousness of this conversation.]

Is that your way of saying you've adopted me?

[darkinferno]

[Oh god. Why'd you have to bring up child support, Vera? That's a horrifying thing to think about...!

He's not touching that one with a ten-foot pole. Instead, he'll give her a shrug and a squeeze.]

Must've signed the papers when I wasn't paying attention. Are you telling me you don't feel the same way?

[heiroglyphs]

I mean, of course I do. Sometimes I swear you know me better than I know myself.

[She squeezes herself close against his chest.]

You're like another part of me.

[darkinferno]

Then it sounds like the two've us are on the same page.

[Idly, Dante tucks one arm behind his head, letting his eyes drift closed for a moment.

Who'd have ever thought he'd find himself in a position like this? Not him, that's for sure.

You know if there's anything else I can do to help, all you have to do is name it.

[heiroglyphs]

Yeah... [Vera breathes the word, moving down slightly to rest her head against his chest. His heart beats faintly in her ear. It's surprisingly calming, and her eyes slowly start to close.]

You could rub my back...