God, I can’t tell where the metaphor stops and reality begins [sighs and shakes her head] I didn’t leave without telling you on purpose, you know. I got handed a black tab at 2200 hours and was en route by 0100. You were asleep, I… I didn’t want to wake you up. You don’t sleep.
[grits teeth] That’s a flimpsy excuse and you know it. No note, no nothing. I had to hack the database just you know you weren’t inside the country. And now you’re back and if we’re supposed to go back to before we-
[rubs bridge of nose] Fuck.
[tightens her jaw and closes her eyes] I’m sorry. I don’t know what else you want me to say other than I’m sorry.
[hesitates and moves closer]
[opens her eyes and touches his jaw with two fingers, smiling a little] It is good to see you, in spite of it all.
…Yeah.
God, I can’t tell where the metaphor stops and reality begins [sighs and shakes her head] I didn’t leave without telling you on purpose, you know. I got handed a black tab at 2200 hours and was en route by 0100. You were asleep, I… I didn’t want to wake you up. You don’t sleep.
[grits teeth] That’s a flimpsy excuse and you know it. No note, no nothing. I had to hack the database just you know you weren’t inside the country. And now you’re back and if we’re supposed to go back to before we-
[rubs bridge of nose] Fuck.
[tightens her jaw and closes her eyes] I’m sorry. I don’t know what else you want me to say other than I’m sorry.
[hesitates and moves closer]
God, I can’t tell where the metaphor stops and reality begins [sighs and shakes her head] I didn’t leave without telling you on purpose, you know. I got handed a black tab at 2200 hours and was en route by 0100. You were asleep, I… I didn’t want to wake you up. You don’t sleep.
[grits teeth] That’s a flimpsy excuse and you know it. No note, no nothing. I had to hack the database just you know you weren’t inside the country. And now you’re back and if we’re supposed to go back to before we-
[rubs bridge of nose] Fuck.
I just wanted to, you know. Say hello to an old… friend. Or whatever you think we are now.
I think that you would really like to define it because you don’t do well with vagueness, so go ahead and say what you’re rolling over and just it out there, Tony.
[shifts to lean against door] I think it really depends on you.
And what does it depend on? Please, throw me a bone here, because duplicity is kind of your thing.
I wouldn’t lie to you. I want to know where we stand.
[inhales quietly and closes her eyes] Right now, you’re standing on the other side of the room.
[tries to smile but fails] Really? Never would have guessed.
[rubs her forehead and sighs, pushing to stand and crossing to settle in front of him, arms crossed] I don’t know, Tony. I really don’t.
[Steps into the hallway] Well. Tell me when you do, ‘Ria. I’ll be right around the corner.
I just wanted to, you know. Say hello to an old… friend. Or whatever you think we are now.
I think that you would really like to define it because you don’t do well with vagueness, so go ahead and say what you’re rolling over and just it out there, Tony.
[shifts to lean against door] I think it really depends on you.
And what does it depend on? Please, throw me a bone here, because duplicity is kind of your thing.
I wouldn’t lie to you. I want to know where we stand.
[inhales quietly and closes her eyes] Right now, you’re standing on the other side of the room.
[tries to smile but fails] Really? Never would have guessed.
I just wanted to, you know. Say hello to an old… friend. Or whatever you think we are now.
I think that you would really like to define it because you don’t do well with vagueness, so go ahead and say what you’re rolling over and just it out there, Tony.
[shifts to lean against door] I think it really depends on you.
And what does it depend on? Please, throw me a bone here, because duplicity is kind of your thing.
I wouldn’t lie to you. I want to know where we stand.
I just wanted to, you know. Say hello to an old… friend. Or whatever you think we are now.
I think that you would really like to define it because you don’t do well with vagueness, so go ahead and say what you’re rolling over and just it out there, Tony.
[shifts to lean against door] I think it really depends on you.
[leans back in her chair and crosses her legs under the desk] … maybe.
[takes a deep breath and stays at the door] I thought you were, dead, ‘Ria.
You mean like every night that I sat at my desk or laid at home wide awake while you were off playing tin soldier with an armed nuke strapped to your chest? I can’t imagine how hard that was for you, Tony.
Don’t even try to compare that. I looked everywhere for you with Extremis for two whole years, and suddenly you’re here, completely alive.
Well, they don’t call it undercover for noth-
[huffs an irritated breath and waves her hand at the door] In or out. Not both, you’re making me nervous just standing.
[Shakes his head minutely] I think I’ll stay here.
[taps her fingers against the desk] Alright, well. I’m alive. You’re here. What did you need?
I just wanted to, you know. Say hello to an old… friend. Or whatever you think we are now.
[leans back in her chair and crosses her legs under the desk] … maybe.
[takes a deep breath and stays at the door] I thought you were, dead, ‘Ria.
You mean like every night that I sat at my desk or laid at home wide awake while you were off playing tin soldier with an armed nuke strapped to your chest? I can’t imagine how hard that was for you, Tony.
Don’t even try to compare that. I looked everywhere for you with Extremis for two whole years, and suddenly you’re here, completely alive.
Well, they don’t call it undercover for noth-
[huffs an irritated breath and waves her hand at the door] In or out. Not both, you’re making me nervous just standing.
[Shakes his head minutely] I think I’ll stay here.
[leans back in her chair and crosses her legs under the desk] … maybe.
[takes a deep breath and stays at the door] I thought you were, dead, ‘Ria.
You mean like every night that I sat at my desk or laid at home wide awake while you were off playing tin soldier with an armed nuke strapped to your chest? I can’t imagine how hard that was for you, Tony.
Don’t even try to compare that. I looked everywhere for you with Extremis for two whole years, and suddenly you’re here, completely alive.
