Caritas, Friday Evening

[newroutines]

The zombie band wasn't playing today. This was because the bar's sound system was stuck playing nothing but early 20th century ragtime, and Mike couldn't find a way to turn it off. In fact, as far as he could tell, the sound system was off, and the music was still playing, as if from a bunch of unseen gramophones or something.

After a while, he gave up trying. He would've bet a few bucks on this being another Fandom thing, anyway, like the girl some weeks ago, and the awkward thing at the Perk a while back. And so, if he was right, the music would stop on its own eventually.

Until then, he'd clean some glasses and maybe whistle along with some of the songs.

[ocd free.]

Comments

[throughaphase]

Kitty had just been in to get something from her office, but she stopped where she was when she heard the music. "Theme night?" she guessed.

[newroutines]

"Fandom," Mike replied, shrugging and gesturing in the general direction of the speakers. "Can't turn it off. I'm not sure it's actually even coming from the speakers."

[throughaphase]

"I am so over Fandom's issues right now," Kitty said with an eyeroll. "It's just one weird thing after another."

[newroutines]

"Yeah," he sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "I mean, I'm like –– I'm cool with the music, y'know? But I don't know. It's starting to feel like there's another total shitstorm brewing."

[throughaphase]

"I just hope it hurries up and gets here," she said, because it was easier to deal with the problem than to wait for it to show up. "I'm just not sure if all the weird stuff is connected or if Fandom's just really showing off."

[newroutines]

"Yeah, it's kinda hard to tell." And he wasn't sure which option he was actually hoping for. "It all seems pretty random. Had one chick at the bar disappear after a couple of words, heard an old conversation at the Perk, and now the music..."

[throughaphase]

"Yeah, same kind of thing with me. Plus my furniture keeps moving and there's a girl in my class who's been replaced by a boy from another universe," Kitty said.

[newroutines]

"You sure that's not someone trying to cut class in a really creative way?"

He was yet to lose his sense of humor even when some stuff was weighing him down. So, that was mostly a joke.

[throughaphase]

"More impressive if someone's trying to cut into my class that creatively," she said thoughtfully. "There's just been so much stuff lately I'm not sure what to worry about and what not to. And if the weird stuff lasts this long, why couldn't we at least get to keep the kids for a week?"

[newroutines]

"I didn't have one of those."

He'd just handwavily dealt with those of others around his house.

"You liked yours that much?"

[throughaphase]

"I might've just kept Lexi if I didn't know that other me would come back here and kick my own ass." So, yes.

[newroutines]

"Aww." Yeah, he chuckled. He thought it was cute. "Probably for the best that you didn't, yeah. Sorry I didn't get to meet your Lexi."

[throughaphase]

"Next time," she said, and paused. "Also if there's not a next time I'd be inconsolable all weekend, so."

Shh someone was attached.

[newroutines]

"Then, I'm sure there'll be a next time." He was sure of no such thing, but saying that would have made him a worse friend than he was inclined to be. "And then we'll see if I can dodge the bullet again."

So far, he'd only managed to ever meet one kid of his. And that one had been with Derek. He was fine keeping it at that.

[throughaphase]

"What, you don't like meeting possible kids?" Kitty asked.

[newroutines]

"It's just ––"

How to put it?

"It's just too weird for me."

[throughaphase]

"I can see it," Kitty said. "For a variety of reasons."

[newroutines]

"Family thing's not really my scene." Because of reasons. That he would not go into. "Also my last kid was with Derek."

[throughaphase]

"I have one with him, too," she said. "So does Clint."

So, feel slightly better, Mike!