Eep (to Mouse): Oh hey. Sorry. Just woke up. Um, sorry I sent you that message so late.
Mouse (to Eep): No, it was a nice surprise when I woke up. :-)
Eep (to Mouse): Heh. Oh, yeah. Well, I'm glad I didn't wake you up at least.
Mouse (to Eep): So, what brought on the late night declaration of awesome?
Eep (to Mouse): Oh, um, I was digging through all that shit Maddie sent me last night looking to see if there were any photos. I never realized how kinda fucked up our relationship was. Just made me realize that I'm, um, really lucky. To have you, I mean.
Poppy (to Mouse & Eep): I have spent all night trying to rearrange everything to make it less painful for you two nutty kids & I can't do it. I'm sorry, but there's just no way around it, unless you want me to lose my job... which I may, if this goes ass up.
Eep (to Poppy): Well shit. Uh, thanks for trying. I promise I won't get in a fight with her.
Mouse (to Poppy): It's okay, we'll manage. I've been doing this a long time, I'm a professional. I'm not afraid of a decade old relationship. But, I do appreciate the fact that you tried. (to Eep) Oh, that's incredibly sweet. Thank you. I feel pretty damn lucky to have you, too. Do I even want to know what you found in there?
Poppy (to Mouse): Oh, honey, everything I say about you behind your back is true. You are just the bee's knees. And, if you tell anyone I said so, honey, I'll deny everything. (to Eep) That's all I ask, honey.
Eep (to Mouse): I dunno. The usual shit you send to your sweetheart in school. Old junky jewelry, pressed flowers, a couple of mixed tapes... Some REALLY terrible artwork, and, uh, some letters. God, the fucking letters.
Mouse (to Eep): Declarations of your undying love, no doubt... You were a teenager, I think that goes with the territory.
Eep (to Mouse): Heh. Well, yeah. Mostly. Some of it, though... Christ! I forgot how weirdly competitive we were with each other. I think we fought as much as we didn't. Plus, I was... Christ. I was unstable. I really can't blame her for dumping me. I'm just... I dunno. Sometimes I feel like I'm still the same utter mess I've always been forever. I was just kinda surprised to find out I'm not.
Mouse (to Eep): Well, I think we both have a tendency to dwell on the past... which probably blinds us to the fact that we're not the same people. I mean, would the teenage version of you have taken a risk & run off with me when I asked? I know, younger me wouldn't have asked you. Say what you will about Vincent, but his weird philosophy of living in the present seems to work most of the time.
Eep (to Mouse): Heh. I'm NEVER going to get used to Vincent talking sense.
Mouse (to Eep): It's probably for the best that you don't... He'll think you *like* him. :-P
Eep (to Mouse): Yeah, we can't have that. We'll all be buried alive under his ego. So, uh, wanna see a picture of me in high school?
Mouse (to Eep): Yes, yes I do.
Eep (to Mouse): Here's one of them. There are a few others I'm still debating whether or not I want to scan in. Remember when everyone had an undercut? Why were those so fucking popular?
Mouse (to Eep): God, yeah... I think I had one at one point, my Nana hated it. I can see why Maddie liked you... you were cute.
Eep (to Mouse): Heh. We could have been haircut buddies. Shared clippers and tips on how to deal with razor burn. :p Pffft. Cute she says. You're biased. Besides, that's after I hit one hell of a growth spurt. I was like 5'5 the year before.
Mouse (to Eep): Well, yes I am biased, you twat. But, that doesn't make it less true. :-P I could show you a picture of me in high school, but uh, I'm not sure I wanna.
Eep (to Mouse): I DID see pictures of you in high school. And one as a bumblebee in a dance recital if memory serves. You were way cuter than I was. Still are, as a matter of fact. Heh. I think that's one of the things that has Maddie jealous. Oh. Uh, shit. Shit! I wasn't gonna tell you that. God, I'm sorry.
Mouse (to Eep): Oh god, I totally forgot you saw those... Wait, what? Maddie's jealous?
Eep (to Mouse): Um, yeah. Kinda. Before Christmas she said she saw a photo of you on some promo flyer, and that you were attractive and she was a little jealous.
Mouse (to Eep): Oh... good.
Eep (to Mouse): Yeah. Good. Wait. Good? You just said good, right?
Mouse (to Eep): I was going to try & play it cool, but I'm actually a little bit happy about it. After hearing you talk about the post-breakup stuff. I like the idea of her being jealous. I'm sorry if that sounds a bit petty.
Eep (to Mouse): Heh. No. Um, well, no pettier than I am. I sent Vincent that picture of her last night because he said he wants to watch her squirm. I, uh, I just wasn't expecting you to say good. To be fair, what happened afterward wasn't really Mad's fault. And after I was released, she did keep trying to see me. She tried to check up on me, but I was still too hurt to see her. Plus I WAS unstable. I can't blame her for wanting to end it.
Mouse (to Eep): Umm, that's actually why I wanted you to look good for the party...
Eep (to Mouse): Ha ha ha! And here I thought that was all Vincent. And, I have to admit. Knowing I'm gonna be there with the hot DJ makes me feel a fuck more charitable than I might otherwise be.
Mouse (to Eep): Well, I feel pretty lucky that you're going to be my date. :-)
An hour or so later:
Eep: Oh God... I just found a photo of myself from my black lipstick and eyeliner phase.
Mouse (to Eep): Oooh, I want to see it.
Eep (to Mouse): Oh God. Really?
Mouse (to Eep): Damn skippy.
Eep (to Mouse): God. You know I must like you to show you this. Just... Just don't show Vincent. He'll NEVER let me live that down.
Mouse (to Eep): Oh my...
Eep (to Mouse): God, I know. It's... Jesus. It's TERRIBLE. I figured it's only fair since I saw your bumblebee costume.
Mouse (to Eep): I have to say that I'm really glad you don't do that anymore.
Eep (to Mouse): God. Tell me about it.
Mouse (to Eep): Well, I have a photo where it looks like I was the lovechild of Siouxsie Sioux & a raccoon. I don't think you saw that one.
Eep (to Mouse): Heh. I don't think I did. Heh. Guess we've reached the sharing of embarrassing photos portion of the relationship.
Mouse (to Eep): Yes... and, if you're nice to me. I may show it to you. :-P
Eep (to Mouse): Sweet talker.
Mouse (to Eep): Yeah, I know. :-) Any chance that I'll get to see you before your shift tonight?
Eep (to Mouse): Oh. Uh, yeah. Sure.
Five hours later:
Mouse (to Vincent): This is to thank you for the loincloth picture. DO NOT tell him I showed it to you. [See earlier Eep photo]
Vincent (to Mouse): Oh. Oh, OH MY. U need 2 get that man in makeup more often. As long as U don't tell him I took the loincloth pic.
Mouse (to Vincent): Really? I like him so much better without it. Oh, of course, I won’t say anything about the loincloth photo.
Four hours later:
Mouse (to Eep): How's work tonight? Are you still up for coming to my place & watching this movie after work or do you want to put it off?
Eep (to Mouse): God, I'm glad it's over. The new guy came in. He's... he's a little, uh, intense. He kept asking me about myself, and then would just stare at me while he waited for an answer. It was... yeah. You still wanna have me?
Mouse (to Eep): Yeah, I'm hoping he chills out after he gets settled... if not, I'm gonna have to find someone else. We should get this movie watching over with... before I lose my nerve.
Eep (to Mouse): Oh. You, uh, you wanted to watch THAT movie. Right.
Mouse (to Eep): We don't have to...
Eep (to Mouse): No. God. You're right. Um, it's OK. I just wasn't... I hadn't steeled myself for it. But it's probably better that way. The more I think about it, the more I'm likely to freak out.
Mouse (to Eep): Well, I figured if we watched it now, we could be done with it, rather than putting it off. It'll just be more painful, later. And, I've got a decent selection of booze & mixers all ready for us, if we need them.
Eep (to Mouse): God. Yeah. They may be needed. I should probably stay sober, though... Um, you're sure you wanna see this?
Mouse (to Eep): No, not at all... but, I said I'd watch it with you & I need to know what I'm dealing with. I actually read a review about it so, I have an idea of what to expect... are you sure you wanna watch it with me?
Eep (to Mouse): Um, no, but I don't wanna watch it alone, and you're really the only one I trust with, um, with this... this shit. Oh God, there are REVIEWS? You know what? I don't wanna know. I'm just afraid that you'll, I dunno... I don't want you to think I'm... Um. I don't want you to think less of me.
Mouse (to Eep): Awww, I promise you that will not happen. I love you too much for a dumb movie you made when you were younger to ruin anything. I'm just worried that you're going to judge yourself too harshly.
Eep (to Mouse): Oh. Uh, I don't know if I can promise that. But, I can try.
Mouse (to Eep): Look, no matter what happens in the damn movie, it's not going to change the way I feel about you.
Eep (to Mouse): I know. I know that. If I didn't believe that, I wouldn't have asked you to do this with me. I'm just... I'm nervous. Sorry. I'm being a pain in the ass.
Mouse (to Eep): But, the more we talk about it, the more nervous I get, too.
Eep (to Mouse): You're right. Let's shut the fuck up and get this over and done with.
Mouse (to Eep): Ok... good.
Eep (to Mouse): OK. I'll be there soon. Um, thank you.
Mouse (to Eep): Don't thank me, yet... I may make a complete ass out of myself while watching it... I've never watched anything like this before.
Eep (to Mouse): Well, I have the distinct feeling I made an ass out of myself when I made it. So hey, we're even. I'm kidding, by the way. Kidding.
Mouse (to Eep): It's a good thing I like you. :-P
Eep (to Mouse): Heh. It really is.
