invisibilitea | IC CONTACT

Er - Yes. That's an odd question to hear, I must say. 2009. I...

[A look of guilt crosses his face.]

Right before...Herrick.

I -

[Oh. She gets his drift. His meaning. She dig. Oh, she dig.]

Oh, well.

Lots of things have happened.

[Right, I got the overview from Mitchell, he starts to say, but then he remembers he ought to be crafty. So, instead - ]

Lots of things. Like what?

Oh, well, I.

[She stops again, because George tends to freak out.]

You can't freak out.

Have you ever known me to freak out.

Is that a trick question?

[Ughhhh]

Right, fine. You have my word of honor that I will not freak out.

[Okay good enough. She takes a moment, a breath, and then says:]

Well, to begin with, you moved out. This would have never happened if you had just stayed home.

[Well, that's not true]

And if you hadn't fought with Nina.

Hold - Hold on a moment -

[He looks at Annie, because suddenly there is something way more relevant to his interests than Annie and Mitchell snogging.]

Why did I fight with Nina?

[Oh. Oh crap. She just throws her hands up in the air because oh crap but maybe she can save this]

For God's sake, George, you didn't tell me! But then you moved out and Mitchell got all secretive and strange and you two had this row with the television about them changing the time of The Real Hustle and the next thing I know I got exorcised into purgatory!

[Huff. Huff. Huff.]

[Right, well...that's distracted him, because that's something to seize onto.]

Purgatory.

Yes.

[Oh thank god]

This horrible priest exorcised me.

But you're not a...demon. That's what's done for demons, isn't it? Can't say I know much about the whole thing, religiously, but I did see The Exorcist -

[Orrr not the time.]

But - I mean - Are you all right?

[Quiet]

It was horrible, George.

It was really bad.

Oh.

[His face falls, and he reaches out and wraps his arm around her shoulders.]

I'm...I'm here. If you want to talk about it. If you can.

[She leans against him, quiet]

Mitchell came and got me.

Yeah. He - he said.

[And then George winces - ]

Sorry, I actually did know a...a bit about it already. He told me a little bit.

What did he tell you?

Only that much. That you were in...purgatory, and that he helped get you out. Didn't say anything about the kissing, though. Just like him, holding back the nicer parts, isn't it.

[But he says it gently, and gives Annie a little squeeze on the shoulder, and rocks her very slightly - a comforting gesture.]

And he said you were back, out of there. So that's what matters.

Yes, except we're in space, and I bet you haven't even said hello to anyone, and you probably hate it here already.

[She's just pointing out facts.]

Well, that's not true. I've said hullo to you, and I've said hullo to Mitchell, and I absolutely hate it here but I've got the two of you and no Herrick and all I need is Nina showing up and I'll be absolutely set. Give me a bit of vomit to mop up and it'll be just like back in Bristol. Just we'll be seeing the sun a bit more often.

[Another little squeeze, though also - ]

Right, and also there's a paralyzing infinity of nothingness ready to crush us, right outside this metal tube. But aside from that.

Have you met Am-er, I mean, have you met Josh?

[American George indeed.]

[A look of annoyance crosses his face. Muttered:]

Unfortunately, yes.

He says his friend Sally is like an American version of me.

[There's a slight sullen jealousy]

Only she turns into a zombie.

What - lurching about? Moaning for brains?

[He lifts up his free arm and sort of twitches from side to side in an imitation of a proper Dawn of the Dead sort of zombie.]

Well, let's thank our lucky stars that's not about to happen to you.

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[action] DON'T TELL HIM ANNIE IT WILL DESTROY HIM

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