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[helpdesk_hero]

This is David Alleyne, I'm not available at the moment.
Please leave your name, contact information, and what this is regarding after the beep.

Comments

[slowmotionbuscrash]

[ He lets it slide, and maybe it’s growth but it feels like surrendering. Tommy doesn’t relish that it acknowledges the hurt, because he thinks it makes him look needy and pathetic. ]

You got called David the other day. Maybe you’ll earn it back again, but right now, I’ve got to get it through my head that you really aren’t the right David anymore. You can’t unlive the extra time, and I can’t break shit every time I find out more about the in between time.

[helpdesk_hero]

[There is nothing needy and pathetic about having emotions. But that's hard to explain to someone.]

Yeah, that's reasonable. I'm not saying I'll be waiting on your call or something, but I'm here if you need me.

More than that, I figure most of your team is there for you.

[slowmotionbuscrash]

I haven’t really talked to them about it.

A little to Billy, but there’s no point in dragging it all out so people can accidentally dump that my dirty laundry all over Twitter. I don’t need advice. It’s fine. I’m fine.

[helpdesk_hero]

And if I buy that line you've got an in on a really great time share in florida.

It's be hard pressed to think Kate and Billy would do that to you. Loki? Absolutely. Baiting Lokis is really easy.

[slowmotionbuscrash]

It’s a great spot. Right by the Everglades. You could lose entire Sentinels in the swamp.

Funny story.

Not too long ago I would’ve said the same thing about you. See I had it right when I didn’t need anyone. People are great in controlled doses, but most of the time it’s just you and your friends are off doing whatever. Maybe they wouldn’t spill the tea, but what am I supposed to do? Have some big performative heart-to-heart so they can tell me you’ll find someone better champ? I’m getting hives thinking about it.

[helpdesk_hero]

OOooh, tell me more about the Sentinel loss properties. I'm big on that in a location.

[It's... hard to see in text just how much damage he's done to Tommy. Because this? This is the damage. These are the cracks in the trust he thought he'd helped Tommy develop. And in the moment he hates himself more than he did the night Tommy arrived. Which is, you know, wonderful.]

Opening up to people isn't performative, Tommy. It's something that, in the end, makes us stronger, even if it hurts in the moment. You need people. You DO have emotions, you DO need people.

Text

[unkindled_madness]

Is Cher the only person in this world with no legal surname?

Re: Text

[helpdesk_hero]

Nope. It's just uncommon for a complex spread of reasons.

[unkindled_madness]

How does she navigate the forms?

[helpdesk_hero]

I don't know. I've never known someone before here who only had one name.

[unkindled_madness]

I attempted "N/A" but a librarian addressed me as "Mr. Na" this morning.

[helpdesk_hero]

That is almost funny. I'm not sure how to fix that. I think there is a lawyer that helps out unregistered arrivals.

[unkindled_madness]

I see. I suppose I will have to look into that.

And hope the advice is not to invent one.

[helpdesk_hero]

I fear it might be.

[unkindled_madness]

How would one choose?

[helpdesk_hero]

Could go with your mother's maiden name I guess. Or just something you like the sound of. Or something unremarkable.

[unkindled_madness]

Family names are not an option.

Being addressed as "Mr" was strange enough but I don't think I care for "Na."

[helpdesk_hero]

Maybe do an internet search of famous people you might enjoy borrowing the name of?

[unkindled_madness]

I will consider that.

Thank you.

[helpdesk_hero]

You're quite welcome.

[unkindled_madness]

[There's a longer pause before the next text, because it's an afterthought, but he's trying.]

Are you well?

[helpdesk_hero]

[That's a kind gesture, and David knows better than to trauma dump.]

Well enough when one considers all things. So I thank you for asking.

[slowmotionbuscrash]

I'm sure you've got the basics. Swamp. Remote. Water damage on electronics.

But what you might not have expected is the lasers I've given all the alligators. You're welcome.

[ Just... not touching the rest. Not right now, maybe not ever. If he argues - because David's clearly wrong - then they just fall into an argument that no one can win because you can't prove any of that. ]

[helpdesk_hero]

Hmmm, that sounds totally tempting. I mean, I hate intense humidity, but that anti-Sentinel argument, it's attractive.

Ooooh laser alligators. Wait, are they unionized?

[slowmotionbuscrash]

Are the X-Men unionized?