one year [25/??? artefacts collected]

[sadfreezingbrit]

[ Philip is sitting on the couch, flipping through his notebook when the camera turns on. His usual reaction is to reach forward and switch off the offender as quickly as possible. Only this time he hesitates and finally draws back his hand. ]

I've um, I've been...

[ He clears his throat.Am- am I supposed to... celebrate that? An anniversary here

Comments

[you bet your ass it's action]

[dashboardlite]

[Letting your friend spend his one-year anniversary in Pseudo-Wonder-Purgatory steeped in nothing but misery and despair is a reprehensible act that cannot be tolerated or forgiven under any circumstances.

Which is why Dean doesn't even bother to respond to the transmission, instead choosing to grab a case of beer and some kind of cake - he doesn't know what flavor it is, he just requested "fuckin' delicious" from the closet - to bring to his morose compadre.

Tucking the former under his cake-holding arm, he raps on Philip's door and allows his caring presence to be known.]

Candygram for Mongo!

[BOW CHICA BOWWIMEAN hello.]

[sadfreezingbrit]

[ Slowly turning page after page as he looks through reminders of his past year Philip wonders if he should put in a movie instead, because he sure could use a distra-- OH HEY, SPEAK OF THE DEVIL. Or. Brother of the meatsuit thereof.

The smile that appears on his face is kept a secret as Philip gets up to open the door, expression carefully morphing into that seen on a cat owner's face as he examines his kitty's latest kill on the carpet with equal parts awww and GDI WHAT DID YOU DRAG IN THIS TIME.

The door swings open. ]

You're not going to sing Happy Birthday, are you?

[You ordered the Strippergram, right?]

[dashboardlite]

Do I look like Marilyn Monroe, Mister President?

[The beers are presented, as well as whatever the sugary confection is, and he grins.]

Thought you might wanna celebrate in style.

[Why yes, as a matter of fact I did.]

[sadfreezingbrit]

Champagne is style, Dean. That is closing time for road workers.

[ But much as the eyebrow is putting up a good show, his tone of voice fully betrays that he is neither serious about the statement nor disapproving of the gift offerings.

Stepping aside he makes way for Dean to enter the room. My, that cake looks great. It's so delicious and moist... ]

video;

[hurricanebomber]

It's been a year for you?

video;

[sadfreezingbrit]

Yeah. One year today.

[ A faint smile. ]

I thought-- I guess I thought it... it would pass slower.

[ And yet the only confirmation of a solid 365 days having technically passed is his notebook. ]

video;

[hurricanebomber]

It's slow while it's passing.

[He sighs through his nose and grimaces.]

You've been here half the time I have, and I've never talked to you before. What the fuck is that about? [But he's recriminating himself, here, not Philip.]

[sadfreezingbrit]

[ Philip offers a smile and a shrug. ]

Not such a small world after all...

[ Truth to be told, he does actually remember Gokudera, if only very vaguely. But he connects their encounter to Philip pacing nervously in front of the psychiatric practice and hey, if that impression of him didn't stick then really, who's he to fight that development? ]

I- I guess I don't get out as much as I should and... to be honest, I'm happy for every day this thing doesn't switch on.

[ The excuse offered for their lack of encounters sounds good enough, though it doesn't take Philip long to realise that the take on it is rather gloomy. ]

--Sorry, um, I'm- I'm Philip by the way.

text

[wings_of_vanth]

A year, huh?

[That's...kind of discouraging.]

text

[sadfreezingbrit]

One year today.

[ He pauses, wondering what else to write. ]

How long for you?

text

[wings_of_vanth]

Almost six months. I haven't given up on trying to find a way out, though.

Re: text

[sadfreezingbrit]

[ Looking at that response Philip almost regrets that he gave up on finding an exit so soon himself. But with so many people he simply assumed that all possibilities had been exhausted. ]

Did you find anything at all yet?

[PHIL YOU GET VIDEO. FEEL SPECIAL.]

[40410]

Would you want to celebrate it?

[ He doesn't mean to be so negative all of the time. Pinky swear. ]

[BE STILL MY BEATING HEART~]

[sadfreezingbrit]

...Sometimes I think it's better than the alternative.

[ Good thing Philip is happy and cheerful for the both of them. ]

[Video means he likes you. Also the fact that he's not hitting you with concrete.]

[40410]

You could ignore it.

[ You know. Like Alex did. Except for the part where he internally freaked out and didn't leave his room for the entire day. ]

[I feel so loved and un-maimed right now.]

[sadfreezingbrit]

[ A deep sigh. ]

I guess I should, shouldn't I? Maybe...

[ He glances down at the notebook. ]

I just thought it'd be over by now.