chiseler | Adam Parrish

[ He looks surprised but then there's concern there. Worried about him? Why? Did they think he was going to become unhinged? ... They might have been a little right but it reminds him too much of his friends thinking that about him. He doesn't want people being worried about him. ]

... The science team? [ Maybe if he thought about it he might be able to put some things together but there are other things on his mind, honestly. ] No, I should have... God, that's why we did all that. So that we could defend each other and I didn't do it right. [ He looks down at the ground. ]

But I... putting a show on with you wasn't so bad. I missed... yeah. Talking to you and feeling like I had someone there. It sucked when you and Lara were gone. There was just nothing anymore. You didn't deserve it.

[If Adam isn't asking, he's not explaining. He's not explaining any of that and instead he shakes his head.] I know exactly why we did what we did and I did my job. That's all that counts to me. I told you not everything on my profile was true. [Breaking promises, specifically.] ...Franziska was a bitch and she was gonna get us killed either way. You did everything you could, all right? You...I should have stayed quiet during the trial. That was my mistake.

....she's here. [Lara, he means.] We woke up probably about the same time and she came and found me. I think the others are around, too, but I haven't looked. I haven't really left my place much. Lara wasn't supposed to be selected either and that was my mistake, too.

[He runs a hand through his hair.] This place isn't so bad. We have our own houses and we can watch the Vault and everything. It's almost like being safe.

Why did you do it, then? [ Part of him really doesn't want to talk about this right now. He wants to go back to how it was before, him and Luke just talking. He wants something tying him back to reality. ] I couldn't let her keep sentencing people to death. I let her take you but I wasn't going to let it happen again. And can you believe it? She almost got someone this time too.

[ So he confessed. But he looks up when Luke mentions Lara. And then he's sad. She deserves so much better. He wants to apologize to her too. ]

Do you think... Franziska... [ Yikes. ] But it's all... fake. Do you really like it here?

Why did I do...what, exactly? I don't understand. [He doesn't know what he's asking. But he snorts and it's harsh and irritated and he grits his teeth.] How someone like her has any power over everyone is beyond me. Truthfully, if I had lived I would have killed her myself anyway. [He doesn't blame him at all.

...he nods though. Franziska's probably somewhere around here, but who cares. Adam says it's fake, and Luke's smile grows but in a more mocking manner than anything else.] I dunno, Parrish. We were fake and you still really liked parts of me, didn't ya?

You and the staff or the—the science team or whatever. Why? [ He defended Luke pretty blindly back there and maybe he shouldn't have but... he believes in him. He believes Luke wouldn't have killed him, that he had good reasons for what he did. There's a quirk of his lips when Luke says he would have killed her. He doesn't feel bad for what he did.

Then he flusters and shoves lightly at Luke's shoulder. ] Shut up. I... [ He's gotten so confused over the past couple of days. Things just started mixing together in his head. He had to keep calling Luke his boyfriend after he died but he wasn't really acting. He has no idea what this is anymore. ] Do you still want to... do you think... Instead of starting over, I kind of want to continue where we left off.

Where do you think that was?

Because we're supposed to help make the world better. The experiment's going to keep running until we get everything we need to help shape the future. [That's all he says though. He doesn't want to talk about this and he shakes his head, more interested in the other topic.

Which...is also a weird topic? So he grins but this time it's more real than the others.]

...picking up from where we left off? I mean I have a couple of ideas. Believe it or not, I had plans in mind for after that trial.

[ That doesn't make any sense. It shows in his face that he's confused but he can tell neither of them want to talk about this. He's never cared that Luke could be staff. This is what matters and he'll ask for answers later. ]

... Yeah. I had things I wanted to say to you too. I had a lot. [ He sighs. He wishes they weren't dead. But there was probably little hope they could have come out alive together. ] Tell me your ideas.

They're stupid now. Are you sure? [He rolls his eyes to the sky.] ...I wanted to make you dinner as a thank you for putting up with me since the last trial. What with the broken nose and the cold. It was obnoxious but you still stuck around and I...it was nice, I guess. So yeah. Something like that. Dinner and maybe something else until curfew was up and we'd have to separate.

...I kinda thought of maybe suggesting we stick together at night, too, since we both had people from our apartments killed. And now as you can see people can come in and attack at any time. But maybe that would have been too much.

[ Adam is surprised about that. His ideas had all been to discuss possible suspects. But... that's so weirdly nice. He doesn't understand it. And still, this was why he defended Luke so vehemently. Luke was good to him. ] I would have taken it. Dinner together sounds nice. Is there food here...?

[ Maybe they can still do it. He shrugs. ] I had the same thought. I... wanted to see how long it would the staff to kill again and when it was just two days apart, I thought it couldn't hurt. [ He swallows. ] We could have shared the lounger. Since the bed's small...

Technically speaking, yeah. This whole place I think is like a replica of real life. We're technically digital so everything is also digital. So digital food? Yeah, that's here. Doesn't mean that dinner's a totally lost cause.

[He quirks an eyebrow.] ...since I was staff, I would have maybe been better suited to watch out for you at night, too. [There's no sense in hiding that anymore.] Moving kinda fast don't you think? It's only been six days and you already wanna sleep together. [He can still gently tease.] I didn't know you had it in you.

So make me something here. [ He does deserve a thanks, come on. He glances to Luke's house. ] Are you going to invite me in?

[ He furrows his brow at that but... it makes sense. The staff do everything at night apparently. ] Would you have really watched out for me? [ He just wants to be sure. Then he huffs. ] I didn't say here. But people thought I wanted to die for you after four days, so I don't think time matters much.

I'll think about it. [He's back to mostly teasing him now.] Wouldn't you rather stay out here for a little bit? It's kinda nice out.

[But there's a hard question and he inhales deeply as he thinks about that.] ...I would have, yeah. There are obviously thinks I could do that you couldn't and I made you a deal. I would have made sure you lived as long as possible. [He wrinkles his nose in a joking manner.] Real charming, Romeo. But yeah, I heard. People were really...not thinking that you had your own motives at hand, were they?

[ He knocks Luke's shoulder with his own but settles down to sit next to him. He looks up at the sky, unimpressed. Fake weather. Fake boyfriends. Well, they deserve it.

There's a moment where he thinks about the wording. As long as possible... He wonders if, if it came down to it, Luke would have let him be killed. But that's not really something to think about, he guesses. ] No. [ And that clearly annoys him. ] They thought it was only for you. Not even Lara. Just because we'd been dating like... like other relationships don't matter. I'm just happy I don't have to be around them anymore.

I guess like this, we can have normal lives. [ A pause. ] I think this is better than anything I could have had while alive.

[They can talk about it later. This isn't about that. This is about...what, them? He doesn't know and he looks at the sky as well, keeping his shoulder pressed to Adam's anyway.]

Most of them aren't very smart and can't think beyond what other people tell them to think from what I noticed. The others will continue on without me. [He doesn't seem to care.] I can't believe they didn't learn their lesson from last week considering how many people admitted Lara's death was a mistake. They're on their own now. I can't say I mind.

But I think...maybe the same can be said for me? I don't know, I'm still trying to figure out everything I know now. But being here. [He pauses.] Lara'll wanna see you. But that can wait a little while, right? There's no curfew in this place.

[ He nods. He agrees they just go along with whatever they're told to. It seems to him that they're going to be killing themselves soon enough. ] I did what I could to help. [ And it was genuine in some way. He wanted to show them how wrong they could be when they listened to Franziska and a crazy girl who wants to torture people.

But he also doubts they'll understand that. They'll demonize him. ] You don't want to go inside, so I guess we're staying here. [ Because it's too soon to leave Luke again. ] ... Do you think she's mad at me? For killing Franziska?

You did well. [He means that genuinely, even as he thinks of what could have possibly happened and what the science team might have done. He can't confirm anything and he's not even sure he wants to. The fact is that everyone here is dead and there's nothing he can do about it.]

Why would Lara be mad at you for that? We, uh, were both kind of celebrating? Is that bad?

[ There's a pause and then he laughs. How strange it is to laugh now. He's pretty sure the last time he did that, he was with Luke. ]

No, I... I'm glad. I had my reasons, but it was mostly for what she did to you two. [ He's still smiling. ] I really... I missed this. Even before all of this, everything kind of sucked. So when we woke up at the complex, I didn't think it was so bad. At least I got a break and even... while the killings happened, I had you.

So when you and Lara were gone, it was just the same as before. I thought I was meant to have my life be like that.

[There's really nothing humorous about death, but Adam laughs and Luke looks over at him with a bright smile. It's still something better than the strange quiet of this place and it reminds him that he's here with someone not entirely unpleasant.]

What I said is still true. I don't know many people who understand me the way you do which is something I've never really been able to figure out. Without having to worry about killings here, I guess this whole place is a huge break until they figure things out out there. Since you can change your future from here on out...what is it that you think you want to do with your life now?

[ Adam turns his head to look at him, eyes soft and a little wary. It is weird to have someone who understands. That's why he didn't want to let him go. Would he ever find someone who could get him like that again?

He doesn't think there's another Luke. ] I... don't know. [ That's a distressing question. He looks off at the neighborhood. It's small. ] I've always been working to get somewhere and I guess I never really thought about where I wanted to get. Just... away. Now I'm away for good.

What exactly are we supposed to do here? Just live? No money or school or work... [ As horrible as his life had been because of all those things, he's not sure he wants them gone completely. ] I don't know what it's like to have free time.

[He lifts an eyebrow.]

Didn't you read my letter, Adam? Creation. That's the whole point...a new you and me was what I was talking about originally, I'll admit, but...in this place I think we can create a town to be whatever we want it to be. What do you know about computers? [He waves a hand.] I haven't quite figured it all out yet, but I think there's a chance we can build more the more people show up here. Almost like an exchange of energy but not as creepy.

...by the way I told you Judy wasn't a real physical person.

[ The wariness leaves his expression and he looks down at the grass again. A new him and Luke. He would have wanted that. Creating something new with him... He kind of took that a different way, not building a town obviously.

He shakes his head because he knows nothing about computers, certainly not enough to figure anything out. Then he elbows Luke and leaves his arm pressed against Luke's side. ] Yeah, well, too bad you didn't tell me you had experience with her and, what, were her boss? And I thought boyfriends were supposed to tell each other everything.

[ A huff. ] Can we build a library? I think I'll go stir-crazy if I don't have something to do.

[There's a thin smile.] What would you have even done if I told you I was staff? That wouldn't have been good for either of us. Also I kinda signed an agreement and I don't recall fake boyfriends having to tell each other real secrets. [But they're both separated from things now. It hardly matters.

A library is an idea though.] ...I guess we could. I bet Lara would like that, too. It's worth asking. Why a library though instead of something else?

I told you I wouldn't care. I mean, as long as you weren't lulling me into a false sense of security. [ It's not like he had anything in particular to hide. He wonders if things would have been different if he was like Franziska, had a job. ] It's less being fake boyfriends and more being the ones to protect each other. Or did you trust your staff friends more than me?

[ There might be a hint of jealousy there. He shrugs. ] There are plenty of things to do in a library. What would you want? I don't see anything interesting around here.

Why would I--god, can we not fight about this right now? [He makes a face.] I never said I trusted the staff more than you. Half of the staff I didn't even really like that much, but I still had to work with them, too.

[He thinks about it though. Sure, okay, there's plenty that can be done in a library.] ...a movie theatre or something. I haven't seen a movie in forever.

When's a good time to fight about it? [ He's just being stubborn for the sake of it. He doesn't really want to fight. ] ... Who were they? [ He doubts it matters anymore. ]

I could go for a few movies. And some popcorn with butter... [ Then he looks off like he's imagining something. ] A restaurant too? Like a diner. I got so tired of the cafeteria food.

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