IC Inbox for SPHERE

[doubled_speed]

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[brightboy]

[Marcos frowned at that.]

So, your powers are all that you are? You never use that? [He taps his temple to indicate his brain.]

[doubled_speed]

[Everyone always said he was just practical. HE didn't really put together being able to think super fast with smart.]

I run fast, I punch things, I blow shit up. I follow instructions.

[brightboy]

What, and your 'instructions' are to sit here and not do anything about getting out of this place?

[doubled_speed]

[Okay, dude, all that's happening is that Tommy's getting mad. Don't piss off family, idiot.]

I'm saying I'm not the fucking planner, Marcos. And we already nearly fucking drowned here once, so I'm doing a hard pass on that

[brightboy]

They got us in here, there has to be a way out.

[He takes a deep breath. Fine. Marcos wasn't the hard-core planner, either, but he could. In a pinch. As long as Lorna was fine.]

[doubled_speed]

Then talk to them.

[Don't talk to Tommy. He doesn't have an answer.]

I'm stuck here, I'm making the best of it.

[brightboy]

You're stuck here and you're making the most of it.

[He takes a steadying breath. He's only just met this kid and it's not his fault.]

That's fair. It's just...sorry. it's a lot to tame in.

[doubled_speed]

What else am I supposed to do?

[Tommy sighs and strokes Speedy's soft fur. The animal is a super comfort right now.]

I got... I got to spend a few hours at home. I got kidnapped months ago back there, I spent a few hours with my friends, and then I got kidnapped here. I'm apparently becoming a professional damsel.

[brightboy]

[He ran a hand back over his hair, nodding.] No, you're right, I just...

[Have never been able to just sit idly by.]

Heh, well, it doesn't look too bad on you. And...you got a pet out of it.

[doubled_speed]

[Being a damsel is not his style and he doesn't like it 'looking good' on him. But he does like Speedy.]

Did I get a pet, or did Speedy?

[brightboy]

You got a pet. [He chuckles.] Speedy got a tree.

[doubled_speed]

You suggesting I'm a tree?

[Because he doesn't mind that.]

[brightboy]

[He motions toward the clinging sloth.]

Yeah, apparently.

[doubled_speed]

[Tommy laughs and strokes Speedy's back.]

I don't know. The book I got about him says they do the same to their moms. I think I'm just mom.

[brightboy]

[Marcos couldn't help but smile at that, a little sadly.]

Well, I hope you're good at it.

[doubled_speed]

Better than mine.

[Whispered a little sadly, but then he just smiles again because he doesn't want to talk about it.]

I'm a really good mom.

[brightboy]

If your track record's anything like mine, it's not hard to be a better parent.

[And yet, it's his worst fear.]

[doubled_speed]

My track record is pretty... terrible.

[And he isn't talking much more about it.]

I'll leave the book out for you. So you know how to help Speedy if he needs it. Seeing as you live here now.

[brightboy]

Yeah, you and me both.

[He could only hope it goes better for him.]

Thanks. I know a little about sloths. We're from the same place.

[doubled_speed]

[From the same place? Tommy frowns as he considers. He read something in his instructions for sloth parenting book about how to, you know, help them. Did it mention where they were from?]

What do you know?

[brightboy]

That they eat about once a week, longer when they're older. They'll claw your eyes out.

[He smiles.] Colombia knows how to make cute and deadly, don't we?

[doubled_speed]

Speedy would never do that.

[And he frowns at the suggestion.]

Speedy eats more often than that. I mean, he takes bathroom breaks about that often. My book on him said that it can take up to a month to digest a meal though, and that almost two-thirds of his body weight can be food he's still digesting. Also...

[He looks Marco up and down and shrugs]

You're less cute, more rugged.

[brightboy]

Hey, I'm adorable. [He grins as though to accentuate that point.]

And sure he does, he's growing.

[doubled_speed]

You're really not adorable. Sorry. Aunt Lorna? Adorable but deadly. But you? You look like you need to shave and maybe get yourself some hair gel.

[Well of course he's growing. Tommy moves to lift Speedy back onto his climbing rig.]

The book says they can live more than forty years in captivity. I'm hoping when I leave here, the Sphere sends him with me. So I can take care of him.

[brightboy]

Thanks. Maybe the Underground can raid a Rite Aid. [He scoffs.] We had more important things to worry about than showers. I hate it, but it's the truth.

[He frowns.]

Right. I'll make sure we set the pets to transfer.

[Because that's his biggest concern right now.]