dollpocalypse | The Edge of the Island

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The Edge of the Island | Sunday Evening

The world hadn't ended. The world was okay and there were people hugging and crying, but the lights were still off in the room across the hall from his, which meant that Topher had only one place to check.

He didn't run, though it was a near thing, and that was mainly because his legs still felt a little shaky after having flown around a freaking mountaintop on a wingless dragon. So he walked, his heart pounding erratically with worry and hope. A nervous habit kicked in, and as he stepped into view of the very tip of the island, Topher brought one knuckle up into his mouth to chew on uncertainly.

Please let him be there, please let him be there...

[[For guess who.]]

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Biting his lip for a moment, Tony nodded in acknowledgement. Because now he was both curious and concerned what it was about.

"So, um, remember how we first met? Like, with Ender's files?" HE PROBABLY DID, TOPHER, YES. SOME OF THOSE VIRUSES HAD BEEN BUILT TO LAST.

You know. Not, say, Technovore-quality, but.

"Um, I sort of... accidentally mentioned it to her. By accident." That was what 'accidentally' meant, yes. "And she freaked and went all, 'Oh, I'm magic, I can read all your thoughts and fears, and BTW there's poison in my finger that can kill you if you ever do it again.'"

That was... kind of a scary-good impression of her voice. Fear it.

Looking away, Tony clenched his jaw to keep from speaking before he had time to sort out what he was thinking. "Did she now?"

"Don't tell Peter?" Topher ~~pleaded~~ asked hopefully. "I just -- like, Karla was blaming him, and I didn't want her to say anything because I really shouldn't have brought it up in the first place and he'd probably be mad, so I told her he didn't have anything to do with it, and I just don't want him to be in trouble, okay?"

BREATHE, TOPHER.

"I won't get Peter in trouble," Tony promised. "You just--don't go poking there, okay? It's Ender's life and he's really private."

Said the guy who watched all the same things Peter and Topher had.

"No, no, I know," Topher agreed quickly. "This was, like, in August, remember? And I didn't even know Ender then, so it wasn't even Karla's business 'cause it's about that whole different Ender who's Peter's from home..."

LOOK MORE TERRIFIED, TOPHER. TRY.

"If it happens again, find me, okay?" So he can be all white knight like all the people who put on silly costumes to fight crime. It was a thing.

Topher nodded. "Yeah," he said. Then after a moment of hesitating, he added, "I didn't mean to -- um, you know, like, ramble at you. You're probably all tired and stuff."

"I sleep way less than most people," Tony said, waving his hand dismissively. "I'm kinda used to it."

IT CLEARLY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS ISSUES CONCERNING HIS DEAD DAD. AT ALL.

"If you ever need help, I'm always around."

Just not in your pants.

BUT WHY NOT IN HIS PANTS, THOUGH?

"Thanks," Topher said, meaning it. And because he totally knew Tony's preferred body language by now, he bumped him in the shoulder. Because it was better than a glomp-hug. "But you should really sleep. What was it like, being... not-existy, anyway?"

PANTS STAY ON.

"I don't know," Tony admitted with a laugh. "I didn't really feel anything. Like blinking, I guess."

"Oh." Huh. "So you probably aren't tired. Right?"

THEY COULD ALWAYS GO TINKER WITH TECH. THERE WAS A MOOD-LIFTER IF THERE EVER WAS ONE.

"Not too much at least." Which meant he was good to go with a pot of coffee. "Is the Perk still around?"

"Probably?" Yeah, Topher had just come straight here. "Wanna grab coffee?"

No, Topher, he'd asked because he wanted to go bowling.

"God yes." He needed it to live.

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The Edge of the Island | Sunday Evening

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