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[expendableasset]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, TIMOTHY LAWRENCE. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 019.37.122.98 *** <jimothy> has joined 019.37.122.98 <jimothy> Hey, this is, uh <jimothy> Well, you should know who if you're messaging.

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[catsuya]

[Despite himself, Katusya bristles, rearing back and looking at Tim through narrowed eyes.]

I heard you the first time. I don't understand why you're asking.

[expendableasset]

Because you're kind of my friend and all?

[ come on, katsuya, you're smarter than this. tim gives him a look right on back. ]

[catsuya]

[Katsuya isn't actually so unaware not to realize what Timothy is really asking, but a particular brand of self-loathing has been bobbing at the surface of his personality ever since his death in the woods. It's...nice, honestly, that Tim still has such concern for him, but considering what he's done, it's not exactly a concern Katsuya deserves.

He'd rather feign ignorance than have to talk about it.]

I've...been eating, if that's what you mean.

[expendableasset]

[ tim's skeptic look softens a notch or two and he leans back against the pew, giving his head a small shake. ]

Part of it, yeah, though the bulk of it is me wanting to know how you're doing handling your brainmeat.

[ the borderlands way of doing things: approach important topics with stupid-as-fuck terms to bring the situation to a middling level of seriousness tinged with absurdity, because, you know, being too serious is uncomfortable. ]

[catsuya]

[The look he's giving Tim sharpens.]

I didn't come here to talk about my feelings, Mr. Lawrence.

[expendableasset]

Well, tough shit, because we are.

[ for a second, he almost wants to say something like "you owe it to me", but it sounds way too manipulative. he searches for a way to convey a similar sentiment. ]

Surprise, surprise, I do actually care about your stubborn ass. I want to know how you're doing, like, for real.

[catsuya]

[Katsuya makes a frustrated noise and leans back against the headboard of the pew, sighing heavily. He is nothing if not stubborn, and right now he wants to dig in his heels and say something noncommittal like "as well as can be expected," but he also knows a losing fight when he sees one and if Tim is really this determined to get a conversation out of him then there's really nothing he's going to get out of resisting it except a headache.]

Not well. [He scrubs his eyes, then adds, almost by way of reassurance:] Hanging in there.

[expendableasset]

I figured as much.

[ tim's not stupid; he wasn't expecting a bubbly, positive answer -- that is, unless katsuya decided to go the route of sarcasm. ]

You staying here right now?

[catsuya]

Yes, I have a friend with rooms here. He's been kind enough to let me stay for a while.

[He's far overstayed his welcome, truth be told, but he feels like he doesn't have anywhere else to go. The idea of going back to the apartment he has with Hans is...uncomfortable, for some reason.

He feels like he should say something else, but he's at a loss, and Timothy is the one who wanted to talk, so...a petty part of him decides to let him be the one to talk, if he wants to so much.]

[expendableasset]

That's good.

[ alright, he has a place to stay, he's been eating what he needs to, he's not doing great mentally but that's to be expected...going through the checklist. ]

You know Ema and I don't hate you for this, right? We both get it.

[catsuya]

[Instead of answering Katsuya shifts like he's trying to get comfortable but can't quite manage it, whether just because his new appendages don't quite fit within the pew or he's just not able to calm himself down or a little of both. He's not entirely able to process what Tim's telling him, it's hitting a nerve that's still too raw.

The silence stretches. When Katsuya finally does decide on something to say it comes out a little wobbly.]

I'm not sure how much that really matters.

[expendableasset]

[ tim thinks something along the lines of you probably hate yourself enough to make up for it, but figures it'd probably be shitty to actually say. ]

She wants to hear from you when you're ready.

[catsuya]

I'll get in touch with her.

[He's not sure what else he can say, but he feels like he needs to say something, and he definitely doesn't want to continue on this topic.

Back to the old standby.]

How...how have you been.

[expendableasset]

[ dear lord, katsuya, you're just as socially impaired as tim is. he shakes his head, half-laughs incredulously. ]

Great. Recovering from the fact that I almost choked out one of my first friends here.

[ he follows up to soften things. ]

I could be doing better, but I'm alright.

[catsuya]

[Katsuya looks at him sharply, all his own anxiety forgotten.]

I-I'm sorry, what?

[He has absolutely no clue why Tim would bring up something like this out of nowhere.]

You...you strangled someone?

[(there's a tingling at the back of his neck, like he already knows the answer to this and if he presses he'll just have to confront something he's not ready to, a strange sense of dread that he can't place)]

[expendableasset]

[ tim's mouth presses into a thin line. he stares for a moment before lowering his head into his hands. ]

You're a fucking idiot sometimes, Kats.