IC CONTACT | Mask or Menace

[animated]

"Hey, you've reached Charlie Maxwell. Leave me a message. Or just text me. I might get back to you faster that way."

Comments

[animated]

Hey, I'm just saying. When you've got a friend whose business is secrets, you just need to be a little more specific about which secrets.

Oh. Uh. Speaking of birthdays, you feeling up to social interaction?

[nostalgiabomb]

Yeah, figured it was worth a try, seein' as how you're her bestie or whatever. Her friend was just lookin' to repay the favor of the party she threw him, I guess?

[ ... that's. weird. ]

Uh, what did you have in mind?

[animated]

We're throwing a party for me and Ken this weekend. I was wondering if you wanted to come.

[nostalgiabomb]

This weekend?

[ ... it's. Too soon, he thinks. And he shifts the device from one ear to the other to hide the way he swallows thickly. ]

Not sure if that's a great time for me, actually. [ He says it smoothly enough, no hint of his nervousness at the thought of being in close quarters with Charlie again slipping through. He did, after all, spend a decent amount of time playing a conman. ] You got a time?

[animated]

Pretty much all day. It's gonna be a barbecue kind of a thing. But don't feel obligated to come.

[ Charlie still doesn't know what kind of toll that took on their friendship, or if Peter will ever want to see him again. He doesn't want to push- in his right mind or no, Charlie did stab the guy- but he figured he'd at least offer. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

I appreciate the offer. I'll-- see if I can shift something around.

[ Charlie's not the only one to tell lies this conversation. Peter's just not going to show up. Make excuses after the fact. ]

How old are you gonna be, anyway? Five hundred?

[animated]

And here come the age jokes. I was wondering when they were gonna surface.

[nostalgiabomb]

Six hundred, then.

[animated]

Eighty-one, thanks.

[nostalgiabomb]

What about Ken? Six?

[animated]

Try twelve.

Numbers really aren't your thing, are they?

[nostalgiabomb]

Terran ages aren't my thing. I add two and two and get twenty six, just like everyone else, bro.

[animated]

No, I uh. I think you might be alone in that one.

[nostalgiabomb]

Really? Coulda sworn that was pretty universal.

[animated]

Maybe just on your end of the galaxy.

[nostalgiabomb]

I mean, math on Earth is kinda primitive.

[animated]

What, do you use hyper-advanced space math or something?

[nostalgiabomb]

I mean, yeah. As if there were any better types of math.

[animated]

Yeah, yeah. Keep your multimodal reflection sorting to yourself. I'll stick with normal people math.

[nostalgiabomb]

Unimaginative, but to each their own.

So when's your birthday actually?

[animated]

If I'm being honest, I don't actually know enough math terminology to make up anything of my own.

It's the 21st.

[nostalgiabomb]

Well, happy early birthday, then, in case I don't see you.

[ which he won't. Not for a long while yet. ]

Any hints on gifts? New denture cream, maybe?

[animated]

You don't have to get me anything, Peter. Really.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He snorts dismissively. ]

I mean, it's been a while since I've celebrated a birthday on Earth, but I'm pretty sure Gift Giving is, like, Birthday 101.

[animated]

Unless the person says "there's nothing I want so don't worry about it"?