( 03 ) video ♧ a long year and everyone around me is disappearing

[became]

[ neal generally doesn't do afraid and disheveled. he does arrogant, smirky, charming, smug, oddly adorable, and occasionally on special occasions and bank holidays pissed off and/or heartbroken. however, those are all normally done with every hair still in place.

this neal is considerably more ruffled, literally and in spirit. black smoke'll do that to a guy. ]

Can anyone explain exactly what the hell is going on?

[ messy hair and mild profanity: this is a red letter day for mr. smooth. (this is why you take your network device when you get lost exploring, neal.) ]

And once you're done with that, I-- [ he breaks off, stares down at his hands, then inhales and lifts his head, a forced smile stuck in place. ] Just the explanation will do, actually.

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[mediumdrip]

I arrived with the last jump.

[at least he thinks that's the terminology.]

[became]

Settling in okay?

[mediumdrip]

I think so.

Some friends and my boyfriend were already here. I think that made it easier.

[became]

See? That's something. [ neal's the only one here, from his world. ] You're staying inside right now, right? There's... demons. [ he sighs at that, mouth twisting. that still sounds dumb, no matter how many times he says it. ]

[mediumdrip]

Is that what happened to you? Are you okay?

[became]

--no, no, I'm good. It's a little pathetic, but I got lost and just had amazing return timing.

[mediumdrip]

But you didn't run into any demons?

[became]

Not face to face-- I just saw the black smoke a few times on my way back and ducked into other corridors to avoid it. [ and thought he was hallucinating. ]

[mediumdrip]

I'm glad you're okay.

Even if you aren't my brother. I don't like it when people are hurt.

[became]

You too. Stay safe, maybe take an excuse to sequester yourself with that boyfriend of yours.

...And do me a favor? Until this is all over, drop 'Christo' into conversations with people, all right? Apparently that's supposed to let you know if you're really talking to another person, or that smoke riding their system.

[mediumdrip]

Christo?

Okay, I'll keep that in mind.

[became]

[ he rolls his eyes a little, shrugging. ] I know, but if the only downside is feeling stupid...

Good. [ he pauses, feeling like he should say something but not sure what. it's a rare moment for a guy who makes his living convincing people to believe everything he's telling them, regardless of veracity. ] I still feel like I should apologize, somehow.

[mediumdrip]

Don't worry about it. It's not your fault you're not him.

It's a little weird, but I don't blaine you.

[became]

Still. [ neal is a fan of impulse moves-- it's part of what made him great, and part of what got him in trouble. ] If it wouldn't be weird, after this maybe I'll make dinner, and we can talk. Bring your boyfriend to make sure you have backup just in case I'm secretly a jerk, if you want to.

[mediumdrip]

I'd like that. If it's not too weird.

[became]

I think in this case, you get to decide what's weird and I abide by it.

[mediumdrip]

I just have to remember that you're not him.

[became]

What's something he'd never, ever say? Not in a million years. Not even for money.

[mediumdrip]

'What a great job, Blaine.' [He says it as a joke, but there's a bit of truth there.]

[became]

[ ...huh. neal covers the eyebrow arch that 'joke' brings on, tilting his head to look at blaine thoughtfully. ]

What a great job, Blaine. [ he was planning to go over the top with it, but instead he's just... quiet. serious, almost somber in an entirely un-caffreylike way. ]

So-- what do you like to eat? We're not the best stocked kidnapping spaceship in the world, but I get by. [ swiftly changing the subject, and grinning at blaine like the moment before never happened. ] I can't promise truffle risotto, but it'll be good enough.

[mediumdrip]

[It is a little weird to hear someone who looks and sounds like Cooper say that and he blinks a little in surprise about how weird it is.]

I'm really not picky. Kurt tries to eat healthy though, so if he's coming we should avoid anything too unhealthy.

[became]

Got it, the boyfriend-- Kurt-- is health-conscious. Any allergies, extreme likes or dislikes...

[mediumdrip]

Nothing really.

You know, I really appreciate this and I'll look forward to it but you don't have to. You're not responsible for me just because you look like him.

[became]

Do me a favor? If a friend of mine from home shows up, tell him you implied I'm capable of responsibility when it comes other people. He'll get a good laugh out of it.

Maybe I just like you, Blaine. Ever think of that?

[mediumdrip]

You just met me.