What is real?

(help me compile a list)

#8 reul, beth, kaiya in the hospital (dani, marybeth, marnie)

So they've made plans at the end of this for tomorrow... I'd like to see them all together again! But I think the scene would begin with them eating ice cream in the room and pretending that they've escaped.... since I don't think anyone wants Reul who just had major brain surgery to leave the hospital just yet... so, who wants to pick up where this left off and when?

beth
hello?

reul
hi

beth
oh good. i thought you were asleep.

reul
no, i was trying to sleep. there isn't really anything else to do

nothing on tv

beth
yeah... tv sucks. even cable.

reul
yeah, i remember when i was little i used to watch it so much and now there's never anything on

beth
so i think kaiya is coming too. at least she said so last time.

reul
so how are you! i cant believe you're here

I missed you

beth
of course i'm here.

you too!

i wonder if i should go tell the nurse to look out for kaiya.

you know how she's always getting lost...

reul
haha, yeah, maybe you should

beth
okay.

brb

reul
hey.

so yeah, kaiya came right after you left

im surprised you didn't bump into each other

beth
when was this?

reul
right after you left, remember when you said you were gonna get a nurse

i think i'm going crazy im so druged right now

beth
no no, you're fine. I'm the one who gets weird in hospitals.

reul
so, anything exciting been happening

beth
no -- but wait, how long was kaiya here?

reul
just a little bit. she had to go to the bathroom

beth
so she's coming back? soon?

reul
yeah i guess, i mean i didn't ask her exactly what she had to do in the bathroom but i figure...

beth
haha, right.

I still have no idea where the bathroom is in here. I think they switch the walls around like cubicles every time I leave.

anyway. Bored stiff yet?

you've gotten your computer out, at least.

reul
well, actully, in the middle of the night there are these weird bathroom monsters that switch the signs on the bathrooms jsut to mix people up

yeah.

yeah, its really boring

i'm so glad you're here though, really.

beth
it must be, since you feel the need to create bathroom monsters.

me too.

I am about to be a little honest here, though, Ruel

reul
you guys are my best friends.

what

beth
I -- well, you too, of course.

Here's the truth then, in the name of bestfriendom.

reul
what

beth
I get so frustrated whenever I come here. Not because the walls shift and because it is always cold and smells like gauze and the fluorescent lights give me headaches, but because all those things must be just a fraction of how much YOU hate it here.

and I have the choice to come and go.

reul
oh

beth
it makes me so angry that you exist this way

reul
don't worry its not that bad

beth
it IS, though!

reul
i mean, im used to it and stuff

and there are bathroom monsters to talk to!

beth
No, see, that's what people who visit you are supposed to do -- be positive! But you're allowed to be pissed off and cramped. Because that's how I feel for you.

reul
if i were pissed off and cramped no one would want to come visit. you even said it yourself, you have the "choice to come and go"

beth
yeah. yeah, I guess that's true...

haha, you're so damn sunshiny.

reul
oh, shut up

beth
fine, fine.

where the hell is kaiya??

reul
maybe she got lost?

im sure she's fine

maybe she fell in the toilett

beth
haha. perhaps

are you waiting to do something on your laptop? I could leave if you're trying to get something done.

or if you're tired, I don't have to be here

reul
no no its fine

you can sit down on the bed with me if you want

you dont have to stand.

beth
well, it's just sitting out, losing battery power...

standing is fine, I don't want to crush your toes.

reul
you wont

i was gonna look at this cool star website. i can show you it if you want

but you cant see from there there's a glare

or whatever, i can put it away to if you want to jsut talk

beth
okay, sure.

no no, what about stars?

reul
remember in jr. high when we always used to cuddle under the covers in the same bed and look up our favorite bands and stuff

and interview with our favorite singers

beth
of course. that never would have stopped if we didn't get too gangly to all lay in the same bed..

reul
thats what this reminds me of. except i cant really move with this stupid head thing

yeah, and Hanson got old

beth
yeah. but at least you only got big-headed literally!

reul
better a big head than a big butt, i always say

no i don't always say that. i just didn't know what to say. haha

beth
hahaha, I wouldn't have called you on it, don't worry.

reul
ok, here look. thats a picture of our galaxy like a bajillion lightyears away. isn't that cool.

beth
who took it?

reul
it looks like a blur.

i don't know.

some satalite or something

beth
how did a satellite leave the galaxy? I didn't even know we reached that far.

reul
i don't know. somehow we have that cool picture

beth
is it the only one? are there more like this?

reul
i dont know. i didn't take it. i just look at it

better than looking at white walls, right

beth
true.

you should print it out, plaster it all over. are you allowed to decorate the walls here?

reul
well, nobody said i couldn't but i'd probabally be in trouble for getting out of bed.

beth
right. well, do you want me to hang anything?

reul
um, i don't really have anything.

darn, that'd be cool though

beth
but I could make things! print stuff!

I could print a copy of the galaxy.

reul
ok. that'd be cool.

beth
you don't sound too enthusiastic.

reul
no, seriously, that'd be awesome.

i'm just kinda sick, you know.

beth
oh, of course. sorry. you know, I've been trying really hard to distinguish between the two.

reul
what, health and enthusiasm?

beth
the lack of one or the other.

reul
yeah, sorry. i'll try to be more chipper.

beth
you know, I think kaiya left.

reul
yeah, i was just thinking aobut that. it has been a really long time. i kinda don't think she's in the bathroom.

why'd she leave?

beth
I might know why

reul
why

beth
I don't know, it's pretty w-- not weird. It's...

we just know you've had a rough time.

reul
so.. she thought i wouldn't want to see her.

?

beth
no, it's not quite that.

reul
beth, don't be stupid. of course i want to see you guys. what do you think i want to just lie around all day doing nothing.

i'm so jealous of you because you can DO stuff. and see people and hang out with eachother.

beth
no, that's not it at all!! I wish it was. at least then I'd be happy to see you frustrated.

but it's not like that.

reul
then what is it? i don't understand

beth
okay. how long has it been since the last surgery?

if you had to guess?

reul
you mean this last one that i'm recovering from now?

beth
right.

reul
i dont know. like... not very long

like a day and hours or something.

is that what you mean?

i probabally wont be out of the hospital for like a week

why waht does this have to do with kaiya?

beth
well, it's just that we're constantly in flux, waiting for news about how you've been doing. and that might be what rattled us so bad a few days ago, during the last procedure.

reul
what do you mean rattled. what did people tell you about it?

beth
we were outside of town, watching stars for you...I don't know if we told you that.

reul
really! aw, thats so cool

beth
and we were sitting there waiting for stars and for news, and we figured it had been a few hours into the surgery, at least...

and neither stars or news were coming.

reul
so you didnt see anything



beth
well, time was passing in flux, you know? It was like, we've been lliving with these waves of waiting and hoping and relief and worry, and it was all being played out, outside of town...am I rambling?

reul
beth, its not a big deal ok. They've been running tests and surgerys and stuff on me since, like, forever, and they probablly will forever so just don't freak out about it.

just watch the stars and know that i wish i were there too.

beth
no, that's just it, just listen, okay? you have to listen.

reul
ok. sorry

beth
it's alright, because I understand that it's a weird thing to listen to. It's the way most people get spoken to after they're dead. and I'm sorry. but I have to tell it right.
reul
ok

beth
I really wish kaiya was here for this.

but anyway...

the stars finally filled us in.

after a few hours up there, we saw you.

reul
ok, um i wasn't really expecting to tell you this...


ok this is so weird. i feel like im in one of those lame books my mom reads and crys at.

beth
you don't have to keep talking, if you don't want to. I think I know what you're going to say.

reul
i don't know why im here right now. i mean, i know why im here in the hospital, but i mean like here, like talking to you.

beth
what are you saying?

reul
ok, so on the night of the surgery i had this crazy dream--liek the weirdest dream i'v ever had in my life.

but it wasn't a dream. (ok this isn't making any sence.) just hear me out.

beth
I am.

reul
so, well, when you have surgery, i mean the kind i had, there's a really really high risk.

i know i didn't tell you that, i just didn't want you to freak out, you know?

beth
well, it's okay, because we knew anyway.

reul
but anyway. i sorta like, died? I dont know! I cant explain it. It was so weird. i don't even know what i'm talking about. a part of me just thinks that its the all the drugs im on right now. haha

beth
ruel, don't make light of it.

reul
ok ok im trying not to, God, i jsut feel so corny talking to you about it

i jus twant to say that i love you, yo know

i mean, i guess i've sorta been trying to say that for like an hour now but not so straight forward.

beth
shit, we need kaiya here.

kaiya
did i hear my name?

beth
when has a bathroom break ever taken that long??

reul
maybe she went to get a muffin or something.

kaiya
you'd think they'd put bathrooms in logical places so that weak hospital-lings could find them quickly, but no

they send visitors on wild goose chases accompanied by full bladders

reul
it was kinda awkward cuz we didn't know what to say at first

hey, who ya callin' a weak-hospital-ling

i've got brain-armor

kaiya
then you're not the afore mentioned hospital-ling, i guess

a hospital knight?

reul
yes. a hospital knight, slaying the bathroom monsters. Hoorah

kaiya
im not even gonna ask what kind of monsters you meet in the bathroom

reul
hey! what took you so long?

i hope you brought back candy or hot-chocolate or something. you couldn't have spent that long in the bathroom

we were about to come rescue you

kaiya
just your lucky day, i've got chocolate for everyone.

reul
sweet!

haha literally!

kaiya
haha

the hospital/maze made finding a bathroom quite an ordeal, but it also lead me past numerous snack machines

reul
yeah, isn't that kindof ironic! i mean, the hospital is supposed to make people un-sick. but they give us so much junk food they just make us sicker

although, im not complaining. yum

kaiya
haha in the vending machines anyway

i dont envy the regular hospital food

i think the chefs have flavor phobia

reul
yeah, actually, i think the patients aren't supposed to be eating form the vending machines. but i always ask my mom to get me stuff when she's here

beth
I think I have to go.

see you in a couple days, okay?

reul
oh, why?

ok

hey, wait,

i really love you a lot

ok?

beth
haha. I'm sure you do.

bye, kaiya.

kaiya
she's not the only one. c'mere and hug me before you go

beth
not with those chocolate fingers. sorry man, you're plain out of luck.

reul
hey i dont know if you want to hug her. she has been drowning in a toilet for the past million years or so

kaiya
i promise i wont infect you

beth
see ya.

kaiya
bye, beth

reul
bye

kaiya
so what did i miss while i was adventuring?

reul
it was kinda weird

we talked about my surgery and the meteror shower.

kaiya
yeah, there were some amazing shooting stars that night

reul
and monsters! and the kinghts who slay them (moi)

really.

sorry, i couldn't be there, but i guess i sorta was in spirit.

kaiya
you were.

reul


kaiya
you scared the crap out of us in the meantime, though

reul
ok, grr you're just like beth! its not really my fault--all the shit that happens, ok?

kaiya
i know! im not blaming you, reul

reul
im sorry i didn't tell you everything at first and that i wasn't really detailed about what kind of testing it would be. I just wanted you to have fun you know.

im sick of everybody worrying aobut me.

kaiya
just cuz we love you, you know

reul
i know.

but im fine now. i mean, except for the fact that there's nothing good on tv.

but other than that..

seriously, i feel a lot better when you guys are here.

kaiya
that is a problem

the tv

reul
Beth said that you wanted to leave?

she wasn't really specific. it was weird. she said she thought she had left because you thought i was having a rough time or somehting?

kaiya
now? or when you were in surgery?

reul
before, when you were in the bathroom. she said she thought you had left.

kaiya
my head was as full as my bladder, i think

reul
so it was true? you did want to leave?

is that because you think i don't want you here?

cuz thats stupid

kaiya
nonono, it had nothing to do with you

reul
oh ok, whatever

kaiya
im just working some stuff out in my head

reul
yeah, me too (gestures to the contraption on her head) haha

kaiya
haha

reul
(contraption isn't the word she was looking for but the Janis can fix that later, hint)

kaiya
well looks like at least you've got yours worked out

reul
you know what we should do?

kaiya
what should we do?

reul
we should do something crazy. not tonight, because its late and I have a head-ace. but sometime

you and beth should come and sneek me out.

there's a window over there behind that curtain

kaiya
i am a strong proponent of crazy escapades

reul
i bet we could figure out how to open it

kaiya
hopefully the windows aren't as jail-like as the squeaky clean white walls

reul
and we'll get ice-cream or something

i just want to get out of here!

kaiya
how long are you supposed to be in here for?

reul
and its no fair that you and beth get to hang out and have fun with out me
i think like a week.
but it doesn't have to be that long, im sure. i feel pretty much fine

kaiya
beth and i will have to come to your rescue, obviously

reul
yeah.

kaiya
even though she probably won't agree until your head stops hurting

reul
i know I fine! and I'll keep the little bracelet thingy on so if anything happens everybody will know just to take me back here. and besides nothing will. i mean we'll just get ice cream and then comeback.

kaiya
we'll protect you. promise. *brandishes invisible sword valiently*

reul
sweet.
so will you try to convince beth... Pleeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaase

kaiya
yeah, yeah i will
i'll tell her that since your physical head is all patched up, we hafta take care of the part of your head the doctors missed, aka your sanity

reul
sure thing
well, i guess i better rest up if we're gonna do this tomorrow.
i am so excited!
this is gonna be awesome!

kaiya
agreed.
tell your head to heal up quick
cuz ready or not you're bustin out

reul
"Reul's head, heal up quck!"
"ok"

kaiya
good girl

reul
oh my God, i'm talking to my head. you're right my sanity does need help!

kaiya
step one sleep.

step two go on daring adventure to obtain frozen dairy product

step three rejoice in your reclaimed sanity

initiating step one..... NOW

see you tommorrow, reul

reul
zzzz (pretending to sleep)

yay, bye. shhhh don't tell anyone

kaiya
my lips are sealed

reul
I wuv yoooooou!

kaiya
i wuv you mooooooooooooooooore!

reul
bye

kaiya
see ya tommorrow

reul
see ya tommorrow

anthony and sam scene

Okay, no one has chatted as Anthony yet so I thought I would post a scene for you just so that you don't forget about him.


Doin' Nothing

SAM and ANTHONY in their apartment, each on a sofa, lying there doing nothing, staring at the ceiling.

SAM
So this is it?

ANTHONY
Well, it was.

SAM
But now it’s not?

ANTHONY
Now we’re talking.

SAM
And?

ANTHONY
And that’s not nothing.

SAM
You can’t talk?

ANTHONY
Nope.

SAM
Not even if you’re not talking about anything?

ANTHONY
It’s still talking which is still something. The goal is nothingness.

SAM
So… complete silence?

ANTHONY
Uh huh.

SAM
Man.

ANTHONY
Just give it a shot.

SAM
This is harder than I thought.

ANTHONY
Uh huh.

SAM
And boring as hell.

ANTHONY
You’ve hardly even tried.

SAM
Alright. I’ll shut up.

A bit of silence.

SAM
What about sounds you can’t help but make.

ANTHONY
What about them?

SAM
Like when I breathe, there’s this slight hiss in my right nostril. That’s not nothing.

ANTHONY
Then blow your nose.

SAM
Won’t help. Always had it.

ANTHONY
What, since birth?

SAM
Probably.

ANTHONY
Doesn’t that annoy you?

SAM
Don’t notice it most of the time. It’s just part of me.

ANTHONY
Then it shouldn’t matter. Just try not to concentrate on it. The whole point is to think about nothing but nothingness.

SAM
But I don’t even know what nothingness is. How am I supposed to think about it?

ANTHONY
That’s the whole point.

SAM
What is?

ANTHONY
Think about nothingness until you can’t think anymore and then you’ll experience it.

SAM
Experience what?

ANTHONY
Nothingness!

SAM
Oh. Okay.

A longer silence.

ANTHONY
You’re doing it on purpose.

SAM
What?

ANTHONY
This hissing. It’s louder.

SAM
No it’s not.

ANTHONY
I couldn’t even hear it before and now it’s taking over my whole brain.

SAM
I’m not doing it on purpose. You probably just didn’t hear it because you didn’t know it was there and now that I told you, you’re focusing on it. Just relax and think about something else… like nothingness.

ANTHONY
You’re an ass.

SAM
I know. Now let’s get back to it.

A longer silence.

ANTHONY
This is impossible.

SAM
I swear, I can’t help it!

ANTHONY
I think you’ve got to be alone for it to work.

SAM
Yeah, I can see that.

ANTHONY
Maybe I’ll go for a walk.

SAM
That’s not nothing.

ANTHONY
I know. But I’m not the one who needs it.

SAM
Oh right, you’re from the Outback. You must have had to do a lot of this.

ANTHONY
I did, actually, but I didn’t stare up at the paint cracking on the ceiling. With stars like those, you can lay there looking up until you’d swear you were one of them, just another pinhole in the fabric of the universe, letting light from the other side pass through you.

SAM
New lyrics?

ANTHONY
Yeah. That obvious?

SAM
Yeah. But it’s a good one.

ANTHONY
Cool. Maybe I’ll keep working on it…

Grabs his guitar and slings it across his back. Starts to head out and then returns and goes to the computer and begins unplugging the router.

SAM
What are you doing?

ANTHONY
Helping you with the nothingness.

SAM
You’re not taking the router.

ANTHONY
Just for a bit. It needs some fresh air.

SAM
Seriously. That’s not funny. Put it back.

ANTHONY
You weren’t going to get online today anyway, right?

SAM
Right, so you can put it back and it can sit over there where it always does and take a little rest.

ANTHONY
Nah, I think it wants to go for a stroll. I’ll just take it along so you have one less thing to think about.

SAM
You’re worse than a mom.

ANTHONY
No man, I am your mom.

SAM
That’s messed up.

ANTHONY
I know, the doctors said you would be a total freak and it looks like they were right.

SAM
At least I didn’t inherit the accent… (with an Australian accent) Now scram! I’ve got a lot of nothing to get back to!

ANTHONY exits and SAM stares up at the ceiling for a moment quietly and then begins blowing out of one nostril, trying to get rid of the hiss. He fails and sits up.

SAM
I’m a failure. At nothing.

He gets his phone out and dials.

SAM
Hey dude, it’s me. Just wanted to see what’s up. Call me.

Dials again

Hey there. It’s Sam. Just wondering what’s going on at your place cuz not much going on here, but unfortunately not nothing either…. Don’t ask. Give me a ring.

Dials again.
A busy signal? How is that even possible? What is this? A landline? Freak.

Dials again.

Hi Sam, it’s Sam. From Philosophy. I don’t know. I just felt like calling ‘cuz you gave me your number and I thought it’d be fun to say Hi, Sam, it’s Sam. I realize that’s kind of lame now. I’ll understand if you don’t feel like calling back.

Scrolls through his phone a bit and then finally settles on a number.

Hello? Noelle. You picked up. Well, I didn’t think you would…

___

Anyone want to take a stab at this first phone conversation between Noelle and Sam since they got into a fight? If two people are interested, we'll set up a chat.

#7 kaiya and beth in the waiting room (molly and marnie)

Well, this one didn't quite go as planned but it's still a great chat. On Sunday, they'll actually get to talk to Reul if all goes well... yay for chatting as new characters!


[2:41:22 PM] kaiyaqrst says: hello
[2:42:04 PM] bethqrst says: Oh, so you did come!
[2:42:14 PM] bethqrst says: I didn't know if we'd run into each other.
[2:42:20 PM] kaiyaqrst says: i told you i would!
[2:43:08 PM] bethqrst says: I know, but you've been pretty busy. I just wasn't sure, that's all
[2:43:28 PM] bethqrst says: they said we could go in in a few minutes; I guess they're doing some check-up sort of stuff.
[2:44:09 PM] kaiyaqrst says: ohh i'm nervous. do we really have to?
[2:44:58 PM] bethqrst says: well, don't you want to see her? they won't leave her deformed or anything.
[2:45:41 PM] kaiyaqrst says: i know. i do. i just don't like seeing her like this. it makes me all shakey
[2:46:00 PM] bethqrst says: Yeah, you'd think we'd get used to it.
[2:46:12 PM] bethqrst says: but how's school?
[2:46:23 PM] kaiyaqrst says: i don't think you can get used to it.
[2:46:34 PM] bethqrst says: I hope not.
[2:46:36 PM] kaiyaqrst says: it's been... terrible.
[2:46:41 PM] kaiyaqrst says: school
[2:46:57 PM] kaiyaqrst says: too much work, not enough time to do any of it
[2:47:07 PM] bethqrst says: but you love school....all you do is rave about Noelle....
[2:47:28 PM] bethqrst says: just had a rough few weeks? I figured I would have heard from you sooner, if it was THAT bad...
[2:47:54 PM] kaiyaqrst says: haha. i rave about noelle, yes. but not the actual school part.
[2:48:06 PM] bethqrst says: well, who does.
[2:48:11 PM] kaiyaqrst says: no, it's not that bad. i just have to write 2 essays for tommorrow
[2:49:49 PM] bethqrst says: well, are you sure you should be here? Ruel will understand, right?
[2:50:49 PM] kaiyaqrst says: oh no! of course i should be here! this is way more important.
[2:50:53 PM] kaiyaqrst says: how've you been?
[2:51:37 PM] bethqrst says: Fine, I guess.
What do you think is taking so long?
[2:53:06 PM] kaiyaqrst says: who knows! i think doctors are paid to be slow. - i'm sure they're getting paid by the hour.
[2:53:56 PM] bethqrst says: or by the year...
[2:54:18 PM] bethqrst says: sorry, I'll shut up
[2:55:47 PM] kaiyaqrst says: so you might as well tell me what's going on with you. and be more specific! none of this "fine, i guess" crap. we do have a year or two before we get called in
[2:56:13 PM] kaiyaqrst says: any good looking guys?
[2:57:11 PM] bethqrst says: ha! Not really, they're all starting to look the same. Is that just something senior boys do??
[2:58:41 PM] kaiyaqrst says: i'm pretty sure it is. that must be what they teach them in grade five when they separate the boys and the girls for sex ed.
[2:59:37 PM] bethqrst says: Must be!! Seriously. Definite lack of cuteness in that department.
[3:00:19 PM] kaiyaqrst says: and the ones who actually are cute are jerks. always. no exceptions.
[3:00:25 PM] kaiyaqrst says: or are taken
[3:00:59 PM] bethqrst says: I'm sure you're dealing with a ton of worthwhile guys at college, though.
[3:02:55 PM] kaiyaqrst says: you'd think so, but no. not yet. they're all the same. (as each other, and as they were before)
[3:02:56 PM] kaiyaqrst says: :(
[3:03:43 PM] bethqrst says: That's unlucky.
[3:04:49 PM] kaiyaqrst says: tell me about it. what are the chances? out of that many guys, none of them are worthwhile
[3:05:11 PM] bethqrst says: At least not yet.

Um, I think my legs are cramping up.
[3:06:12 PM] kaiyaqrst says: mine too. and my feet are cold. you'd think they'd turn the heat up in here.
[3:06:33 PM] bethqrst says: Nope. It's a hospital, so you know, they want to remind you of death as much as possible.
[3:06:55 PM] bethqrst says: Sorry. I try to get all this sort of stuff off my chest before I go in to see Ruel. She doesn't need that.
[3:08:59 PM] kaiyaqrst says: how long have we been sitting here?
[3:09:59 PM] bethqrst says: It's coming up on half an hour, I think. And I was here fifteen minutes before you were.
[3:10:36 PM] kaiyaqrst says: oh god. the wait is just making it worse.
[3:10:50 PM] kaiyaqrst says: wait here comes a nurse... and there she goes.
[3:10:56 PM] kaiyaqrst says: i hate when they do that
[3:11:10 PM] bethqrst says: Me too. They must know what they're doing to us.
[3:11:55 PM] bethqrst says: You know, this is starting to get me kind of anxious. if it's taking this long, it might mean they've, I don't know, detected something.
[3:12:09 PM] bethqrst says: Routine check-ups don't take this long, do they?
[3:13:01 PM] kaiyaqrst says: i didn't think so. oh... don't make me more nervous than i already am
[3:13:13 PM] bethqrst says: Sorry.
[3:13:28 PM] bethqrst says: You know, she didn't know we were coming today. I don't know. I think I should leave.
[3:13:45 PM] kaiyaqrst says: what! no! why?
[3:14:10 PM] bethqrst says: I don't want to be here. I mean, I want to "be here," you know, for Ruel, but if I left and came back tomorrow instead, she'd never know.
[3:14:45 PM] bethqrst says: and we haven't visited her together in so long, two people might be overwhelming. So I'll pass this one off to you.
[3:15:51 PM] kaiyaqrst says: NONONONONONONONO don't! i can't go in alone. the wait would kill me. i can't do it. please don't leave
[3:16:11 PM] kaiyaqrst says: she wan't to see us both!
[3:17:28 PM] bethqrst says: she's seemed fine enough seeing us separate. its been easier than i thought it would be...
[3:17:45 PM] kaiyaqrst says: please!
[3:19:47 PM] bethqrst says: i will be back tomorrow, right after school. if you want to come then, then come -- then we'll both be here by more than coincidence and convenient schedules.
[3:19:53 PM] bethqrst says: good luck with your two stressful essays.
[3:21:00 PM] kaiyaqrst says: but we can't leave! it doesn't matter if SHE knows or not! i can't go tommorrow. i'm seeing my mom.
[3:22:47 PM] bethqrst says: sorry you're so busy. goodbye. call me if you want.

Chat #6 gretchen and noelle (molly and marybeth)

[10:30:27 PM] noelle: hey

[10:30:43 PM] gretchenqrst says: hey
[10:30:48 PM] gretchenqrst says: how've ya been?

[10:31:00 PM] noelleqrst says: pretty good. and you?

[10:31:15 PM] gretchenqrst says: not bad.

[10:31:24 PM] noelleqrst says: are your dandelions still fresh?

[10:32:00 PM] gretchenqrst says: not really. they're sort of droopy

[10:32:29 PM] noelleqrst says: bummer. you should demand new ones. promptly.

[10:32:54 PM] gretchenqrst says: i don't know how much he'd appreciate that

[10:33:58 PM] noelleqrst says: oh, come on. what else has he got to do?

[10:34:19 PM] gretchenqrst says: this is true.
[10:34:23 PM] gretchenqrst says: oh wait... GET A JOB

[10:34:47 PM] noelleqrst says: oh yeah... that.
[10:36:38 PM] noelleqrst says: is he even trying to get a job?

[10:39:43 PM] gretchenqrst says: He says he is, but i don't know how hard
[10:39:57 PM] gretchenqrst says: have you done anything interesting lately?

[10:41:09 PM] noelleqrst says: just been studying for french, but you arent going to change the subject that easily. if hes not looking hard for a job, what's he doing? have you been spending a lot of time with him?

[10:45:01 PM] gretchenqrst says: he's not doing all that much from what i can tell. picking dandylions? wandering around.

[10:47:00 PM] gretchenqrst says: i've been seeing him as much as i can. in between school and homework

[10:48:06 PM] noelleqrst says: yeah, junior year is tight like that.
[10:48:30 PM] noelleqrst says: it helps to have a respite. aka a boy.

[10:48:53 PM] gretchenqrst says: this is true.
[10:49:01 PM] gretchenqrst says: how's your school going?

[10:49:16 PM] noelleqrst says: its good.

[10:49:33 PM] gretchenqrst says: wow. you're unspecific today

[10:50:42 PM] noelleqrst says: sorry? it's school, you know. mostly intro classes, nothing especially interesting.

[10:52:11 PM] gretchenqrst says: do you miss chicago?

[10:52:59 PM] noelleqrst says: new york is fun. theres more... well everything.

[10:53:10 PM] gretchenqrst says: like what?

[10:53:54 PM] noelleqrst says: you know, stuff to do... opportunities... people. everything.

[10:54:28 PM] gretchenqrst says: have you met any new friends? any boys?

[10:55:33 PM] noelleqrst says: umm. well my roommate kaiya is nice...

[10:55:49 PM] gretchenqrst says: and the second question....

[10:56:46 PM] noelleqrst says: yeah, ive met boys. its a coed school. theres an entire floor of them right below me.

[10:57:04 PM] gretchenqrst says: anyone special?

[10:57:18 PM] noelleqrst says: define special.

[10:59:11 PM] gretchenqrst says: oh god. come on! special:1. distinguished or different from what is ordinary or usual: a special occasion; to fix something special.
2. extraordinary; exceptional, as in amount or degree; especial: special importance.
3. being such in an exceptional degree; particularly valued: a special friend.

[11:00:39 PM] noelleqrst says: distinguished or different, extraordinary, exeptional.... i guess.... maybe

[11:00:54 PM] gretchenqrst says: elaborate...!!

[11:01:46 PM] noelleqrst says: every girl loves a boy with an accent, right?

[11:01:54 PM] gretchenqrst says: right

[11:02:04 PM] noelleqrst says: french accents... are no exeption

[11:02:26 PM] gretchenqrst says: mmm what's his name?

[11:04:18 PM] noelleqrst says: ok i was just supposed to get tutoring from him, because this french class is really fast paced, but... i ended up learning more about adrian than french...

[11:04:54 PM] gretchenqrst says: adrian eh? doesn't sound very french

[11:05:08 PM] noelleqrst says: adrien if you want it to be spelled french

[11:05:31 PM] gretchenqrst says: well, how does he spell it?

[11:05:40 PM] noelleqrst says: i dunno, ive never asked...
[11:06:00 PM] noelleqrst says: the spelling of names was never really a priority, to be honest

[11:06:18 PM] gretchenqrst says: preoccupied with other things? ;)

[11:06:33 PM] noelleqrst says: wouldnt you like to know, hahaha
[11:07:05 PM] noelleqrst says: hes got this really cool appartment in greenwich village

[11:07:40 PM] gretchenqrst says: and i assume you spend all your time there.

[11:07:40 PM] noelleqrst says: its way nicer than the dorms, so im over there kind of a lot...

[11:08:27 PM] gretchenqrst says: doing more than studying
[11:08:31 PM] gretchenqrst says: i'm sure

[11:08:36 PM] noelleqrst says: apparently french class is harder than i expected!

[11:09:13 PM] gretchenqrst says: well no kidding, if your tutor isn't teaching you, but throwing partys instead

[11:09:14 PM] noelleqrst says: actually...

[11:09:29 PM] gretchenqrst says: what?

[11:10:04 PM] noelleqrst says: Adrien asked me if i want to move in... since im over there all the time anyway, you know?
[11:10:20 PM] noelleqrst says: and the dorms do kinda stink...

[11:10:28 PM] gretchenqrst says: are you going to?

[11:11:04 PM] noelleqrst says: i dont know. mom would flip.
[11:11:14 PM] noelleqrst says: oh yeah, so that means dont tell her about this.

[11:11:23 PM] gretchenqrst says: i won't tell her
[11:11:43 PM] gretchenqrst says: do you love him?

[11:12:30 PM] noelleqrst says: ... i think so. i havent known him that long.. but aw man gretchen, you should meet him, he's amazing.
[11:13:30 PM] noelleqrst says: kaiya's not so sure about all this. maybe she just doesnt want her roomie to bail.
[11:13:39 PM] noelleqrst says: i would feel bad about that

[11:13:42 PM] gretchenqrst says: will she have to pay more?

[11:14:49 PM] noelleqrst says: kaiya? i dont think so. i think its a flat price for room and board. its more the lack of our amazing adventures that would be a bummer if i move

[11:15:23 PM] gretchenqrst says: oh i see. what kind of adventures?

[11:18:04 PM] noelleqrst says: whip cream faces for every sleeping freshman, large posters of strange creatures appearing on people's beds when they pull back the covers, finding new ways to mess with people in elevators... oh so many good things like that

[11:18:51 PM] gretchenqrst says: that's incredible. i love it! what elevator tricks have you come up with?

[11:21:18 PM] noelleqrst says: we hid a tape recorder in it one time playing a man's voice making lewd comments in there one time, and every time a woman came out of the elevator she'd look all mad and flustered. i think one of them actually slapped another man one time, ha... he was so confused...

[11:21:52 PM] gretchenqrst says: oh man! that's hillarious!

[11:22:00 PM] gretchenqrst says: nothing exciting ever happens here

[11:22:33 PM] noelleqrst says: maybe you should be less boring. go be exciting yourself

[11:23:14 PM] gretchenqrst says: but there's never anything exciting to do!

[11:23:23 PM] noelleqrst says: slushies happen to be very exciting

[11:23:29 PM] gretchenqrst says: oh?

[11:24:31 PM] noelleqrst says: they do. trust me. you can even mix flavors and they explode with dual sugary goodness!

[11:24:45 PM] noelleqrst says: tell me that doesnt sound exciting?

[11:25:12 PM] gretchenqrst says: delicious. but nothing beats cherry and coke. how could you mess with a classic?

[11:25:27 PM] noelleqrst says: i suppose. i suppose.

[11:25:48 PM] noelleqrst says: justin has to be keeping you amused to some extent, though
[11:25:56 PM] noelleqrst says: it cant be that boring

[11:26:48 PM] gretchenqrst says: yeah, he is. and it's not. but i guess i just can't imagine what it would be like to live in new york, and i figure it must be that much better than here.

[11:27:19 PM] noelleqrst says: not necesarily. its all what you make of it

[11:27:34 PM] gretchenqrst says: any suggestions?

[11:28:29 PM] noelleqrst says: telling your sister all about the previously named male companion can be quite fun

[11:29:09 PM] gretchenqrst says: well, what do you want to know?

[11:29:23 PM] noelleqrst says: you guys have been together a while, right?

[11:29:30 PM] gretchenqrst says: yes

[11:30:42 PM] noelleqrst says: you must be really into him?

[11:30:54 PM] gretchenqrst says: very much so :)

[11:31:22 PM] noelleqrst says: just how much are you?

[11:32:16 PM] gretchenqrst says: well, really a lot. i don't like looking too far into the future... but i think i might see one... if that makes sense

[11:33:15 PM] noelleqrst says: yeah, it makes sense
[11:33:25 PM] noelleqrst says: you gotta be careful, though, gretch

[11:33:42 PM] gretchenqrst says: what do you mean?

[11:33:58 PM] noelleqrst says: you've got your own future, too.
[11:34:16 PM] gretchenqrst says: i know. but i wouldn't be much of one without him

[11:34:54 PM] noelleqrst says: well if hes gonna mess around and do nothing for a year, its cool. but eventually he has to do something, and so do you

[11:35:09 PM] gretchenqrst says: believe me, that
[11:35:16 PM] gretchenqrst says: 's what i've been telling him
[11:36:06 PM] gretchenqrst says: i don't like him not doing anything. eventually he's just gonna run out of money and won't be able to do anything

[11:37:00 PM] noelleqrst says: and that could be bad news for you, too, if you get in too deep

[11:37:54 PM] gretchenqrst says: i won't let him dig into my funds. oh, well... i suppose that's not true. at least not too much?

[11:37:57 PM] gretchenqrst says: i know i know
[11:38:00 PM] gretchenqrst says: i'm terrible

[11:38:11 PM] noelleqrst says: hes been borrowing your money?!
[11:38:14 PM] noelleqrst says: Gretch!

[11:39:01 PM] gretchenqrst says: not alot? really, only lunch here and there

[11:40:04 PM] noelleqrst says: Him spending his own money is one thing, but you cant fund his sitting around doing nothing

[11:40:33 PM] gretchenqrst says: he said he's going to get a job soon. he has been looking.

[11:40:49 PM] noelleqrst says: you said yourself you dont know how hard hes lookin
[11:40:49 PM] noelleqrst says: g

[11:41:13 PM] gretchenqrst says: but at least i know that he is. someone's bound to hire him

[11:41:48 PM] noelleqrst says: a job isnt going to just leap into his hand if hes not really making a good attempt at finding one

[11:42:13 PM] gretchenqrst says: i've considered making resumes for him and giving them out

[11:42:33 PM] noelleqrst says: great, so you provide his finances and his job search

[11:42:58 PM] gretchenqrst says: at least the job search will stop me providing his finances

[11:43:04 PM] noelleqrst says: you've already got your own schoolwork, you can't take care of him, too.

[11:43:19 PM] gretchenqrst says: someone has to

[11:43:28 PM] noelleqrst says: yeah, him

[11:43:39 PM] gretchenqrst says: but he isn't

[11:44:04 PM] noelleqrst says: well no wonder if he can just let you do all the work. he'll never get up on his own if you're holding his hand the whole way

[11:44:24 PM] noelleqrst says: his future is not your job. your future is your job.

[11:44:45 PM] gretchenqrst says: well what am i supposed to do? i can't leave him to sit on the streets!

[11:45:10 PM] noelleqrst says: he's a big boy. if the street gets too hard he'll get his sorry butt up and find his own job.

[11:45:28 PM] gretchenqrst says: but i couldn't do that to him. i love him
[11:45:45 PM] gretchenqrst says: he'll figure it out eventually

[11:46:02 PM] noelleqrst says: you're right, he will. you hafta let him
[11:46:31 PM] noelleqrst says: you're enabling him, and its not good for you either

[11:47:11 PM] gretchenqrst says: but i don't know how long it'll take. besides, i'm not doing that much for him. just helping him out a little bit. i've told him he needs to get a job, and i'll keep pressing it

[11:47:25 PM] gretchenqrst says: what more can i do?

[11:47:49 PM] noelleqrst says: not give him money, i'll tell you that

[11:48:19 PM] gretchenqrst says: okay, i'll give you that. i will stop.

[11:48:25 PM] noelleqrst says: good

[11:48:26 PM] gretchenqrst says: ....but what if he starves?

[11:48:35 PM] noelleqrst says: oh please, hes still living at home

[11:49:23 PM] noelleqrst says: and besides, if hes hungry at lunch time then maybe he'll get some motivation to get a job.

[11:49:46 PM] gretchenqrst says: fine. you win

[11:50:20 PM] noelleqrst says: as usual (flex)

[11:51:07 PM] gretchenqrst says: if there was a "sticking tounge out at" emoticon i would use it

[11:51:20 PM] noelleqrst says: :P i win again.

[11:51:57 PM] gretchenqrst says: that's a silly sticking toung out at. i want a "you stink something awful' sticking tounge out at

[11:52:10 PM] noelleqrst says: then invent it yourself

[11:52:25 PM] gretchenqrst says: maybe i will...

[11:52:25 PM] noelleqrst says: ah! somebody's calling me!

[11:52:34 PM] noelleqrst says: i gotta go, ill talk to you later, k?

[11:52:52 PM] gretchenqrst says: okay. talk to you... tommorrow?

[11:53:11 PM] noelleqrst says: i might be at adrien's...

[11:53:23 PM] gretchenqrst says: he doesn't have a computer?

[11:54:00 PM] noelleqrst says: yeah.. but... ok fine. ill see. soon, either way

[11:54:26 PM] gretchenqrst says: haha alright. sorry to cut into your....fun

[11:54:38 PM] noelleqrst says: i forgive you

[11:54:46 PM] gretchenqrst says: :D
[11:54:49 PM] gretchenqrst says: bye

[11:54:50 PM] noelleqrst says: love! bye

chat #5 (on 2nd life!)

a plot twist.... danny and i figured out that the reason sam got into 2nd life was because he discovered elliot's username and password and signed in as him one day to see if he could figure out anything more about him... then Reul (whose 2nd Life name is Aloe) messaged him and he had to go with the flow and pretend he was Elliot... the dialogue below is an example of how that first conversation might have gone... danny and i tried it in 2nd life, but both being new to it had a lot of tech problems... anyhow, here's the chat... what do you think of the plot twist?


[21:32] Aloe Lefavre: bolo!
[21:33] Aloe Lefavre: it's been eons!
[21:33] Aloe Lefavre: i've missed my flying partner!
[21:33] Aloe Lefavre: bolo?
[21:36] Aloe Lefavre: you there ?
[21:40] Aloe Lefavre: coucou!
[21:45] Aloe Lefavre: bolo!!!!!
[21:47] Aloe Lefavre: ?
[21:47] Bolo Ganesvoort: hello
[21:47] Aloe Lefavre: hi!
[21:47] Aloe Lefavre: i thought you'd died or something!
[21:47] Aloe Lefavre: went back to your real life or something!
[21:48] Bolo Ganesvoort: ha yeah, just some technical difficulties
[21:48] Bolo Ganesvoort: whats going on?
[21:48] Aloe Lefavre: meet in our spot?
[21:50] Aloe Lefavre: bolo?
[21:51] Aloe Lefavre: look, if you're sick of me or something you could just say so...
[21:54] Aloe Lefavre: ?
[21:54] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
[22:00] Bolo Ganesvoort: hello
[22:00] Aloe Lefavre: finally
[22:00] Bolo Ganesvoort: haha yeah sorry
[22:00] Aloe Lefavre: i thought you'd forgotten all about me!
[22:01] Bolo Ganesvoort: no of course not. i was just taking a little break
[22:01] Aloe Lefavre: ?
[22:01] Aloe Lefavre: that's all i get?
[22:01] Aloe Lefavre: after so many months!
[22:02] Bolo Ganesvoort: yeah i know. ive been really busy
[22:02] Aloe Lefavre: oh, don't worry. you don't have to tell me everything all at once...
[22:02] Aloe Lefavre: want to roll around on the flower?
[22:02] Bolo Ganesvoort: haha roll around on the flower? um ok.
[22:03] Aloe Lefavre: you know, for old times' sake...
[22:03] Bolo Ganesvoort: ah yes. the good old flower
[22:03] Aloe Lefavre: you do remember how to get here...
[22:03] Aloe Lefavre: ?
[22:03] Bolo Ganesvoort: you know its been so long... remind me?
[22:04] Aloe Lefavre: oh gees...
[22:04] Aloe Lefavre: just a sec
[22:05] Aloe Lefavre: hey stranger
[22:05] Aloe Lefavre: what happened to your hair?
[22:05] Bolo Ganesvoort: wild animal
[22:05] Aloe Lefavre: you gonna sit or what?
[22:05] Aloe Lefavre: nice
[22:06] Aloe Lefavre: little far away though... i might have to yell!
[22:06] Bolo Ganesvoort: haha
[22:06] Aloe Lefavre: ookay...
[22:06] Bolo Ganesvoort: eh i like it over here
[22:06] Aloe Lefavre: if that's how you're gonna be...
[22:06] Bolo Ganesvoort: it's a comfy spot
[22:07] Aloe Lefavre: uh huh
[22:07] Aloe Lefavre: so what, you get a real life girl or something?
[22:08] Bolo Ganesvoort: jealous?
[22:08] Aloe Lefavre: who me?
[22:08] Bolo Ganesvoort: haha i think you are
[22:08] Bolo Ganesvoort: its ok, you can admit it
[22:08] Bolo Ganesvoort: im a charming guy
[22:08] Aloe Lefavre: whatever.
[22:09] Aloe Lefavre: you know i've always got a lot of other friends
[22:09] Aloe Lefavre: who don't desert me for 6months!
[22:09] Aloe Lefavre: god, i even tried to find you in your first life
[22:09] Bolo Ganesvoort: well you know there's a very good reason for why i was gone for 6 months
[22:09] Bolo Ganesvoort: haha
[22:09] Aloe Lefavre: i was worried!
[22:09] Bolo Ganesvoort: dont worry
[22:10] Bolo Ganesvoort: i wont leave you high and dry again
[22:10] Aloe Lefavre: we'll see.
[22:10] Aloe Lefavre: maybe i will...
[22:11] Bolo Ganesvoort: ah!
[22:11] Bolo Ganesvoort: woah
[22:11] Bolo Ganesvoort: cool
[22:11] Bolo Ganesvoort: there's stuff down there
[22:11] Bolo Ganesvoort: whered you go?
[22:12] Bolo Ganesvoort: oh fly
[22:12] Bolo Ganesvoort: lets fly!
[22:13] Bolo Ganesvoort: hey aloe
[22:13] Bolo Ganesvoort: did you leave me too?
[22:14] Aloe Lefavre: slow poke!
[22:14] Aloe Lefavre: hurry up! i'm on the beach!

From Sam with love

Here's a letter from Sam to Noelle:

Hey Noelle,
How’s life treating you? I’m sorry that we didn’t get to see each other over Christmas break. Everything was just kind of hectic at the time and it was hard for me to really see anyone that I wanted to see. From what I heard from other people it sounds like nobody really got out much, which kind of sucks. I was thinking, if you’re going back home for spring break maybe we could go on a road-trip somewhere or something like that. It could be just you and me and Justin, or maybe just you and me if he’s not up for it. There’s this guy I’ve been hanging out with who’s kind of a druggie but he said that I could borrow his car over spring break if I wanted to because he’s taking a train back to Mexico for break. He said it will probably end up being cheaper than driving because of gas prices but I think that just being out on the open road for a week could be fun. Everything else here is pretty ok. Do you ever talk to Justin? I haven’t been keeping up with him as much as I’d like to but I imagine he’s probably having a pretty good time. I can see Justin as being the classy cool college guy. Anyway, let me know what else you’ve been up to. I miss you a lot.
-Sam

I'm feeling some desperation in Sam. I think he's probably in a pretty dark place after everything that has transpired, including having to leave his best friends as well as losing Elliot. It might be interesting if he was pittiable (is that a word? able to be pittied?) for a chunk of the play and then was able to overcome it all somehow. I don't know, just some thoughts.

chat #4 - gretchen and justin

ty and molly found some fun stuff with justin and gretchen on sunday night. ideas for these two characters in the future???? i like that most of this could easily be a scene between them in person. nice stuff!!

FYI -- Next chat is WEDNESDAY 10-midnight!!!

justin ok, i'm here now

gretchen yay!

justin how are you tonight?

gretchen i'm pretty good. how are you?

justin same as always. a bit unsure, a bit relaxed, a bit worried (about others)

gretchen who are you worried about?

justin well, sam for one. but that's always. more presently, you know- what my parents are gonna say when i tell them about college and such. what sam will say, especially considering how he is now, etc.
justin how he is now about school, that is
justin you know, the all-encompassing everythings of life

gretchen you still haven't told him? or your parents? you have to soon. you can't keep lying to them

justin it's not lying, is it? when it's just temporary, i mean.

gretchen it's still lying. "not telling the full truth" is still lying
gretchen even if it's temportary
gretchen *temporary

justin well, i won't keep temportarally lying for much longer
justin *temporarily
justin ;)
justin anyways, i plan to make the big announcement any day now

gretchen well i hope so.... can i be there to see their reactions.
gretchen btw... you're a jerk

justin haha, just kidding beautiful

gretchen i guess i can forgive you
gretchen ) you called me beautiful. i love you

justin i'm just telling it like it is

gretchen awe

justin whose reactions were you hoping to see?

gretchen your parents... and sams. everyones!

justin it's going to cost you a leg and an arm for all those front-row tickets you know

gretchen it's worth it

justin anyhow, i'm not sure how safe it will be when i break it to the folks

justin things might explode

gretchen i'll use you as a shield. you can take the bulk of the blow

justin ha ha

gretchen what, you think i'm joking?
gretchen your parents will freak. i don't wanna get hit by any of that

justin that's why it won't be safe

gretchen which is why i'll hide behind you! and maybe i'll wear safety goggles and a bullet proof vest. and stand feet back. at least

justin at least.
justin but suppose the blast doth tear me limb from limb, good lady?

gretchen probably be more like . wait, where do you plan to tell them? i want to know how much space i have
gretchen than i'll give you a vest too
gretchen and goggles

justin oh, well sweet.

gretchen ;)

justin i'll make sure it's somewhere open, like a field or something.

gretchen good. maybe you should tell them over a megaphone. so the explosion won't hit you...as easily

justin for sam, on the other hand, we'll just need a small room that we can run out of an lock after i tell him. that way he can just burst from sheer confusion and we'll be safe from the splatter
justin perhaps. i'm not sure what the megaphone prices are these days

gretchen haha! I love it.
gretchen does it matter how much they are? it's your life we're talking about

justin i suppose. i'll need to scrape together what little i have left of my graduation money. and maybe take out a loan, depending on the price senario.
incidentally, that's another reason why i need to tell the parental unit soon- not much dinero left, you know?

gretchen i'lll help chip in. i'm as worried about your life as you are.
gretchen how did you plan to pay tuition?

justin well, my parents were mostly going to cover it. and i have some in an account, but that won't last forever
justin but i dont see my parents being willing to financially report their wayward son

gretchen no. neither do i. well, at least you've got more money now than you would have had you gone to university

justin i suppose. i'll need to get a job or something i guess eventually. i'm not exactly down with that either, though. but what else am i gonna do?
justin i don't know. i guess i need to figure out what i'm going to do if school isn't going to be it.

gretchen pick dandilions? i'm sure someone will pay you to clear out their yard...

justin hey, those dandelions rocked
justin there were so many

gretchen i agree. i loved them

justin think of how many dandelions i could get if i cleared out people's yards all the time? a bazillion, i bet

gretchen you should knock on doors and ask people. then i could decorate my room...

justin let's run away together and pick dandelions for the rest of our lives

gretchen okay
gretchen )

justin enough about me. how was your day?

gretchen oh, okay. Lisa's mad at me again. not even about anything specific. she was just in one of those moods. but other than that....my classes were good. i came right home after school. did homework... i found a new band! their called "the buggles"
gretchen that' s the extent of my exciting day

justin the buggles, eh?
justin what type of noise do they make?

gretchen they sing video killed the radio star.
gretchen i don't even know what genre it would be

justin oh, them. s pre-pop?
justin is lisa's attitude anything to worry about? or is it one of those things that passes like the weather?

gretchen sounds about right.
gretchen yeah, like the weather
gretchen she'll be back to normal tommorrow

justin good to hear. do you ever get tired of that kind of treatment, though?

gretchen oh all the time. but you get used to it. i basically just ignore her on those days.
gretchen and think of you

justin aw

gretchen it's the only thinkg that gets me through bad days
gretchen not that today was a bad day... but you always help make a day better

justin )

gretchen D

justin i know what you mean. think you maybe could be around for after i tell my parents?

gretchen sure. just remember everything that happens and tell it to me word for word. explosions and all

justin of course i will.
justin thanks

gretchen you're welcome.
gretchen now, if you don't mind. i need to go to bed. i have school tommorrow. and so do you ;)

justin haha, right.
justin well, goodnight. perhaps i shall call on you tomorrow, if your schedule permits?

gretchen please do. i'll be home at four
gretchen pm
gretchen not am
gretchen that would be dumb

justin yes, yes it would. four am calls are generally avoided

gretchen generally. but if it was you calling i probably wouldn't mind...

justin i'll remember that.
justin goodnight! i love you

gretchen but not too often
gretchen night! i love you too.

wonder what justin would think about this?

http://freegan.info/

maybe he decides to do this on a smaller scale (considering he's still living at home, eating his parent's food)...

wonder what sam would think about justing being a freegan...?

and sam's roommate, anthony....?

and gretchen...?

and noelle...?

character web

so here's one idea for how the characters may be linked. please let me know your thoughts! it's sure to change, but i thought you might like the visual for now..

a thought from Sam

See, if you think of reality like virtual reality, it all makes so much sense. We all make up the world -- we all imagine it and then we build it and then we share it and we keep it all together by believing in it. And then when we don't want to believe in it anymore -- when we decide we're dissatisfied with what we've made -- we start blaming each other and either destroying the world or trying to build another one. But the thing is, neither works until enough people jump on board and say it exists or it doesn't. Until then, we're just a bunch of lonely people complaining and dreaming without aim.

Poet's Poems

Boy
You weren’t the first I’ve seen
losing some part of yourself
in the park.
It’s common for those
self-assured skeptics,
teenagers they’re called,
to wander in through the tunnel
they’ve marked as their own,
and heap scorn upon the
world they won’t change.

Our generation is skilled
at keeping still, gazing
at cosmos and drinking up
what they will, with
five senses.
But your stillness was beyond
a living still; your chest
put up no shivery fight
against the rain chill.

I read in the paper, later,
that you were an Elliot,
one of a few in this generation
of dying timeless titles.

But as I stood to consider
your night-soaked form,
you were no Elliot to me.
You were a boy,
turning cold,
and I knew you
wouldn’t want any
phone call made that
might save you.

chat #3 - poet and jessie (2nd time)

marnie and molly spun this out wednesday night as poet and jessie.... supercool!

jessie hey

poet hello there

jessie how've ya been?

poet I have been pretty constant. How about you?

jessie exactly the same as yesterday.
jessie oh, wait, one exception. i now have a cat

poet Oh?
poet Elaborate!

jessie well let's see, she's small. she has a tail.... and a pink nose
jessie she's an orange tabby. and i named her midnight.

poet I love that. but only because it's ironic.
poet How did you fall upon midnight?

jessie actually i found her! she was sitting beside our trash can, so we took her in


poet I wonder if she knew someone would come for her. It's pretty strategic, isn't it? To sit down next to the most pathetic object she could find?

jessie very


poet well done, midnight.

jessie i think she knew. she certainly didn't seem surprised to see me. she's probably been scouting out my house for a week

poet Only cats can get away with stalking and be rewarded with room and board.

jessie no kidding. i wish i could be that cunning.

poet I'm sure you could be, if given the opportunity.

jessie hmmm.... i'll have to practice.

poet I could give you a scenario, if you wanted

jessie go for it

poet Let's say you had to find a really crafty way to......see me without a webcam.
poet How do you see someone halfway across the world?

jessie ooh okay, i would first off i would search your name on google. and then upon realising that there are waaay too manymeagans, i would fly halfway across the world and knock on everyones door and ask if meagan lives there, and if so, if that meagan is a poet

poet Now THAT'S determination.
poet you don't need any practice, apparently!

jessie unfortunatly it would take me multiple years to complete, and even then i might not find you

poet yeah, and by then you might not even be interested in our little chats anymore.

jessie naw, i can't see that ever happening

poet me either.

jessie (emotocon here?)

poet Well put. I can't bring myself to use them though...

jessie why's that?

poet I don't like bossing them around. Like, "EXPRESS ME NOW!"
poet Because it's something I can easily do myself.

jessie that's awesome.
jessie you can easily express yourself now?

poet well.....as much as I need to.

jessie but not as much as you could

poet perhaps, perhaps.
poet I like to stay ambiguous.

jessie i heard somewhere that in the "natural law" theory, lying is wrong because it is abusing the faculty of speech, because your voice was created for you by god so that you can communicate the truth, and say what's on you mind
jessie not that you're lying, it just came to mind

poet It's interesting enough. I guess it's true. But if it WAS true, that means imagination is wrong, too.
poet because children pretending they're elephants, and me pretending I have a dog, it's all necessary distraction from the world.

jessie this is true. mind you, your imagination is, at the time, what you believe. it's what's on your mind, and what you believe to be true. therefore, by expressing it, it is what you believe to be true and is therefore not a lie
jessie and they think that's okay

poet well, then I think I could buy it.
poet I think.

jessie i'm still not sure. alot of their other beliefs just don't make any sense

poet really? I'm sure it makes sense to them.
poet or else they'd be abusing language, or what have you.

jessie and it's what a great deal of the catholic church is based on
jessie oh, of course it makes sense to them! doesn't mean it's what's right
jessie the whole theory is about letting nature do what it will, and if you interfere with that in any way it's a sin. no exceptions

poet Well, then I think we're the sinners here. It's not like nature would ever have handed us the internet, would it?

jessie but maybe it was natural that humans were to invent it

poet Hm. What about clones?

jessie good question. but then the whole "playing god" thing comes into play

poet true. It's best to avoid that entirely, isn't it?
poet let's talk more about midnight,

jessie that it is. mind you, if it's never discussed, then how does anyone know what to believe?

poet our guy, of course. Our conscience. Our Jiminy Cricket.

jessie but some might say that your conscience is based on influences from your culture.
not that that's what i think, just saying.

poet some might say that. but those are people who write the books I'll never read.

jessie so true. i feel the same

poet Those books just aren't.....
poetic.
ha.

jessie no they aren't. you should write one! that's understandable

poet Let's write something together.

jessie okay!
what about?

poet No idea. any particular inspiration?

jessie uhh... zombies?

poet Your heart doesn't seem to be in the zombie idea. (Unless you really want to...)

jessie haha, no. it's just the first thing that came to mind
jessie that's really wierd
jessie i creep myself out

poet no worries, I love zombies!
poet but they've been done.

jessie yay! me too.

poet we were born to be more original than that, I think, you and me.

jessie have you seen any good zombie movies?
jessie more original thatn zomibes?

poet funny you should ask. I have quite an affinity for zombie film.

jessie *than
jessie *zombies
jessie which ones????

poet Evil Dead, twenty eight Days Later, Dawn of the Dead....it's all excellent undeath.
poet you?

jessie ah yes. soo good. i just watched shock waves the other day. nazi zombies. and all the ones you mentioned, plus night of the living dead, zombie, land of the dead, shawn of the dead

poet that's quite a repetoire. I wish we could watch them together.

jessie me too. i'll just have to watch them and pretend that you and your dog are there

poet oh right, I forgot about my faux pet. I have given him a name, by the way.

jessie oh?

poet yes. Percival.

jessie very nice. what was the inspiration for that?

poet Well, I was thinking that if I had a dog, I would want him to be one of those dogs that lives through everything, thick and thin, worms and all...
poet he would perservere.
poet Percival.

jessie clever. much better than midnight.

poet Oh, I don't think that's true. Midnight brings up some fond memories.

jessie of...

poet all my good nights. And bad ones, but those aren't the fond memories, of course. Do the best parts of your day happen at night? I think that's the case for me.

jessie i know exactly what you mean. i love the nighttime. one of my favourite things to do is sit outside and stare at the night sky. and listen to george harrisons song "here comes the moon"

poet sounds pretty groovy.

jessie it is. it really mellows you out

poet perhaps I shall do it in your honor sometime.

jessie i highly recommend it.

poet good to know.

jessie what are your best night memories?

poet Well, right before we moved here, I spent a lot of nights packing. And of course that was sad. But it forced me to look over every piece of my life I've ever kept.
poet and every piece you keep, you keep for a reason.

jessie seriously, write a book

poet that's exactly it -- we need to do it together!

jessie i don't think you need me.
jessie i'm gonna have to write that down

poet of course I need you.

jessie pff. i'll add nothing. i'm no poet, poet

poet not true. you've just never referred to yourself as one. but I know it's in you!
poet A collaboration -- that's what we need.

jessie i'll do my best. maybe i'll get some inspiration tonight as i sleep. speaking of which...
i'm exhausted

poet fair enough. but you get those ideas stirring, will you?

jessie oh i will. don't worry. night!

poet Good. Ta!

jessie -------------------------------------------------------------

the characters

So that we can all be on the same page, here's what's been decided already for the characters we're working with. These things have been decided either based on the histories of the characters as they were in the plays; through discoveries made in skype chats; or as discussed between Janis and Scott while brainstorming ideas for the most active play. If you have additions, please post them. If you have debates about what's been decided, post those too. Nothing is set in stone yet. This is just a sketchpad to draw on.

Please help me think up more links between the various characters! Or keep it in mind when you're chatting...


Also, just a reminder that the given circumstance are what would occur shortly after the meteor shower in Stars and about 6 months after the rainy Friday night in Rain EXCEPT that we'll go with the Stars idea that Elliot never met Poet and therefore is dead. Scott and I think this will give us the most to play with (backhistory for Sam, ecterra) although I don't want this knew play to be about death. Reul, on the other hand, is still alive. Let's say she died in surgery, had that experience with Elliot in the stars, and then came back to. She's still in the hospital, but changed after she saw the white light...


6 months after RAIN would mean...


Poet (Meagan) -- is a junior. She's no longer the new girl, but does she still doesn't exactly fit in, mainly because she's always writing on her poetry blog. She began writing after she saw a boy dead in the park (rainboy). Her poems are abstract but many of them are about Elliot and how oddly connected to him she feels even though she never knew him. Her closest friend is Jessie, whom she's never met except for online.

Sam -- is in his first year of college in Texas, of all places. He and Noelle broke up before he left but decided to stay friends, although they don't talk that much. He's become a very different person since Elliot's death and now college. In fact, he seems like a different person with every new person he meets... He's been spending a lot of time in a virtual reality program (akin to 2nd life) living out fantasies.

Noelle -- is in her first year of college in New York! (yes, this is a change). Maybe she has a job in the library there like she dreamed of. She doesn't know what she's majoring in yet, although she's taking a lot of French classes, but that's mainly because of the French boy who has been tutoring her... Her roommate is Kaiya, a musical theatre major. Beth spends a lot of time in their dorm room too. There's a guy

Justin -- is in supposed to be in his first year of college in Chicago. He still lives at home and everyone thinks he's commuting downtown to classes everyday. Only Gretchen, his girlfriend of 6 months now, knows that really he has dropped out in order to spend time wandering through museums, reading in cafes, and picking dandelions for her...

Gretchen (Noelle's sister)-- is in her junior year of high school. She spends a lot of time with Justin. I'm not really sure what else is going on with her yet... Is she close friends with Lisa and Sophie and the gang again? Maybe there isn't even a gang anymore... I wonder what her interests are.... what she dreams about these days...

Lisa -- is in her junior year of high school. I have a feeling she's not quite as obsessed with boys or fashion anymore, but I'm not sure what replaced her old obsessions... maybe she has an actual boyfriend now? Maybe she joined a drama group and is intent on becoming a great actor... Maybe she started volunteering somewhere and is a lot less self-obsessed....

Jill -- is in her junior year. She still loves English and is probably taking honors classes or maybe even college classes. If that's the case, then I bet she has a crush on her professor... maybe that's her big secret now...

Sophie -- is in her junior year. She's still super cool though. I wonder what she's up to... wonder if she still has a thing for Justin or if she got over that when Gretchen and him hooked up. Maybe she's got a thing for a girl. Maybe she's gotten really into fashion and is making her own clothes. Maybe she went totally emo.

Casey -- is in her junior year. It's fall so that means she's probably on a sports team kicking everyone's butts. Soccer? Lacrosse? She's sworn to never play Have You Ever ever again in her life.

Maggie -- is in her junior year. She's still a lover, always smiling and making others smile. She's still drawing, although she probably keeps it on the dl most of the time. I have a feeling that even though everyone is into different things now, she still tries to keep the gang together and insists on monthly sleepovers, or something.

STARS

Sydney -- a 16 year old girl who wanted a telescope for her birthday but received a microscope from her inept father instead. She's from a well-developed English speaking country... possibly Denmark. At the end of the play a telescope literally fell out of the sky in front of her.
Wonder how that affected her belief in fate or higher powers, or whatever...

Acadia -- early 20s. Just arrived back in Edmonton after an awesome 6 months in Berlin. She's not thrilled to be home although meeting Daniyar on the flight has definitely made her rethink her situation a bit. She got really into photography while in Berlin.

Daniyar -- 17 years old. Just arrived in Edmonton where is going to be living with his Aunt because his father didn't think it was safe for him in Tehran any longer. His English is almost perfect but he is more afraid of assimilating into Western culture than not fitting in. He's happy to have met Acadia even though she fits his Western stereo-type almost to a tee.

Orion -- A celestial being. A dude who wears a long coat and a funny belt and has lots of insights for people who make the mistake of looking up at the stars instead of down and all around them. A weird, cool, and smart dude who's just a little out of this world.

Reul -- 17 years old, a New Yorker. She's just undergone her 13th brain surgery, and miraculously, survived although the doctors still aren't sure how to cure her. During her surgery, she had a really cool out of body experience in which she met a guy named Elliot in the night sky and they both became stars and hitched a ride on a plane to a meteor shower where they fell with all of the other stars. She was falling and falling forever and then she landed here, in her hospital bed. She spends a lot of time online, and lives the life she wishes she could in a virtual reality... the same one as Sam, I bet.

Beth -- 17 years old, New York. A good friend of Reul's. She spent the evening watching the meteor shower with Kaiya and thinking about Reul, wondering if she was going to make it. She also drank a bottle of champagne with Kaiya and got drunk for the first time. She's a great singer and used to be in choir with Kaiya and Reul. Now that Kaiya graduated and Reul's in the hospital, she's probably feeling pretty lonely. She spends a lot of time in Kaiya's dorm room.

Kaiya - 18, nyc. Spent the evening waiting for the meteor shower with Beth. Kaiya's a bit zanier than Beth, who tends to worry a lot, but she also has a better idea of what is really happening with Reul and isn't sure that she's going to get better. Kaiya's seen her fair share of death already and is trying reconcile it as just another part of life. She's also very excited to be a freshman in college (nyu?) studying musical theatre and she LOVES her roommate, Noelle.

Anthony -- early 20s. Used to live in Sydney but now lives in rural Australia with his mom, step-dad and step-sister, Jessie. He's a guitar player and song writer and wrote this song about the stars that has become pretty popular on the internet. He owes that song to Jessie for helping him to see life more positively, to see the connections between everyone and everything instead of just the spaces that separate them all. Anthony recently decided to hit the road with his guitar. He ends up in Texas for a festival and thinks it's such a crazy place he might as well stay. He finds an ad for a roommate wanted and follows it... it's Sam! (that's for you, Nathan)

Jessie -- 15. Her favorite thing to do is to sit on her rooftop and talk to the stars. She misses her mom who died several years ago. Recently, she and Anthony finally became more than just two people who live in a house together and that thrilled her because she thinks he's about the coolest dude ever. However, now that he's gone traveling the world, she's left trying to follow him on the internet. Searching for his lyrics on the web put her in touch with Poet, who is now her closest friend. They have a crazy time together online and she wishes she could get to Chicago to actually meet her friend.

Robin -- He's just a kid who wants to fly. He's Brittish and he's always finding things to climb and jump from. Intense. I don't think he has many friends... a little too obsessive...

Sam/justin/noelle.... refer to Rain, but feel free to add aspects to their characters that were developed in Stars.

chat 2 -poet and jessie

please feel free to copy and paste bits you like into a comment and add onto them or change them as you wish... you could also just talk about what works and what doesn't there too... molly and i had a lot of fun on this one...

poet
did the question mark go away?

jessie
yes. there is now a check mark. what does the question mark mean?

poet
it means i'm merely a question to you. not a sure thing. not denied.


____

jessie
i've got no clue
who
i've got no clue who

poet
you've got no
clue
who
to
moo
woo
stew

jessie
new

poet
knew

jessie
foo
coo

poet
rue

jessie
boo

poet
you!

jessie
and the one we've been dreading...
poo

poet
ew!

jessie
:)

poet
that was fun

jessie
in the sun?

poet
to run
undone

jessie
with a gun

poet
well, what can you say after that?

jessieqrst
i dunno, you're the poet

poet
nope, just having fun under the sun with a gun and a pun, better run!

____

poet
so, still in the outback?

jessie
yup. i'm starting to get used to it.

poet
yah? you have an accent yet?

jessie
oh i wish.

poet
have you been practicing?

jessie
i've tried but i just sound like a moron. it's much more fun to make fun of everyone else

poet
i guess most anyone practicing an accent would sound like a moron.

jessie
yeah. maybe i'll pick it up though.

poet
wait. you make fun of them? it's their country!

jessie
you still in... chicago?

poet
close enough

jessie
where are you again?

poet
good question.

jessie
hmmm. you confuse me.

poet
you confuse me too! but so do most people

jessie
i'm good at that

poet
oh yeah?

jessie
and apparently so is everyone else

yeah

poet
yeah. the whole world is confusing. i suppose it would have to be though.

jessie
sometimes you just have to pretend you understand. it makes more sense that way.

poet
I think that's what we all do anyway.

jessie
unfortunatly that's what's so wrong with the world

poet
the pretending?

jessie
we try to understand, and then everything goes to hell. no one knows who anyone really is

poet
it's true. most people don't even know themselves.

jessie
it makes you wonder...if you know yourself, or if you just think you do

poet
do you ever surprise yourself?

jessie
sometimes.

sometimes

poet
like, you say or think or do or feel something that seems totally contradictory to who you thought you were?

jessie
sometimes

sometimes

yes

what's going on?

poet
when i think in french... all of these insults run through my brain.

jessie
my internet broke

poet
oh... i thought you were just being absurd again!

jessie
yes
kjhg
fr
f
frhj

poet
uh...?
are you practicing an accent?

jessie
i can't see the chat. something went wrong. everything i writes disappears when i hit enter
can you read this?

poet
yes, i can read this. what a predicament.can you imagine if that happened when you were speaking?

jessie
and now i can't read what you write

poet
if your words disappeared as soon as you said them. if you couldn't hear them leave your mouth?

jessie
yup. can't see a thing. i'm just blindly typing

poet
i hope you type something fun!

jessie
seriously. I CAN'T READ WHAT YOU'RE TYPING. my minimized screen just flashes, so i know you did write something, but i don't know what it is

poet
ha ha! i could say anything! doo-da, doo-da! vous etes imbicile!
na, i can't do it. it only works in my mind.
i just feel bad typing that to you.
and you can't even see it.
i'm such a meanie.

jessie
okay, if i close the window, what you say will pop up.

poet
how does that work?

jessie
magic

poet
you can see with your window closed? interesting...

jessie
indeed. i find it interesting at least

poet
um, so yeah. do you ever surprise yourself? say, with your absurdist outbursts...?

jessie
oh wow i figured it out. all new words are now on top, and not underneath. i can see everything you wrote now. hillarious.
now you know what happened when you were blind
enlightened?

jessie
yes. now i know. i do feel enlightened. and yes, you are a meanie

poet
i'm glad i didn't say something really awful, considering that you're now able to see it!

jessie
haha, yeah. even though you're on the other side of the world, i'd have had to come and .... throw a pie in your face

poet
do folks down under stll do that?

jessie
of course! especially when its done in revenge

poet
weird

jessie
isn't everything?

poet
no

jessie
like what?

poet
i'm unfortunately normal.

jessie
oh i wouldn't say that. a normal person wouldn't wonder all the things you do.
a normal person wouldn't... be talking to me!

poet
oh really? why not?

jessie
i'm sure a normal person would have un-added me ages ago. especially when i started saying "somtimes" about 1789 times. and then typed random letters
poet

poet
well... maybe. maybe there are more normal people than me. a normaler person might have thought you were shiczo or something.normallikenoodles

jessie
what makes you think i'm not?
you're a noodle

poet
schiczo?

jessie
yup. cuz i'm pretty sure i am. all evidence points to yes

poet
really? i wish i could see your expression right now.

jessie
absolutely. i've got 3 conversations going on with myself right now. anthony's looking at me funny...

poet
who's anthony? another self?

jessie
my expression looks like this: (punch)

poet
ah!

jessie
ha, no anthony's my brother... in law

poet
in law? you have a... sister?

jessie
janthony's my other self

poet
or you just decided to go to the court house and become bro and sis?
wait,janthony? who's that? is that australian?

jessie
yeah, janthony. carefull, she'll turn on you

poet
Janthony Carefull? What a name!

jessie
yup. 100.5% jaustralian. she made it up herself. she's a creative one.

poet
!!!
you get weirder by the minute
it's fantastic

jessie
who you calling wierd? me or janthony?

poet
oh, i wouldn't call janthony that.
she scares me
plus it'd be rude to say it behind her back

jessie
good. you should be scared

poet
unless you've suddenly become her?

jessie
you could be talking to her right now...
maybe you are...
maybe you arent....

poet
right, and i wouldn't even know it...

jessie
no one will ever know
i don't even know!

poet
well, shit.

jessie
no kidding

poet
can i talk to jessie for a sec?

jessie
sure just gimmie a sec...
okay i'm back

poet
ok.
you're sure?

jessie
pretty sure

poet
okay, good.
that kind of freaked me out

jessie
me too!

poet
i mean, i knew you were joking...

jessie
i don't know who i am anymore ! lol

poet
but suddenly it just made me realize how little i actualy know about you.
and that's weird.

jessie
like that i'm apparently schitzo?

poet
because you're like...one of my best friends.

jessie
i don't know that much about you either now that i think of it.

poet
you're just a virtual friend.
that's freaky.

jessie
it really is.

poet
and it makes me feel pretty lonely right now.
and a little schizo!

jessie
don't be lonely! at least you know there's someone out there who's virtually hugging you

poet
i mean, i might as well just be having a conversation with myself
you're virtually hugging me?

jessie
i was. but now you're making me feel like i don't exist!
heck yes i am!

poet
how can i be sure?

jessie
OOOOO
how's that?

poet
what's that?

jessie
hugs!!

poet
oh.i thought they were bubbles

jessie
you know, like when you put XOXOX at the end of a letter?

poet
oh. O

jessie
YOU MISTOOK MY HUGS FOR BUBBLES?

poet
shut up. i'm weird.
or dumb. or slow.
or depressed.
strike the last one.
don't want to sound emo.

jessie
i'm glad you've finally realised it. the wierd. not depressed, or slow or dumb. you're none fo those. you're not emo either

poet
i'm just feeling a bit self-concious

jessie
why? i didn't bring it on did i?

poet
do you ever watch too much tv?

jessie
not usually. why?

poet
and then feel really super empty when you turn it off?
like it vaccuumed up your soul?

jessie
wow

poet
please don't take this personally or anything but sometimes i feel like that after we sign off.
not that you were the vaccuum or anything.
just that... i don't know. it's hard to describe.

jessie
no , i understand. or, at least i think i do
like you're missing a part of you
something really important

poet
i don't know.
like, this isn't real.

jessie
like i'll sign on tommorrow and you won't exist

poet
or worse.
when you sign off, i won't exist.

jessie
when then i guess we just can't ever sign off

poet
really?

jessie
sure. i mean, we can leave the computer, but we just won't ever physically sign off.

poet
oh.
i thought you meant...
nevermind.
that was a dumb thought.

jessie
so we'll be connected through our everlasting not signing offism
what were you thinking?

poet
nothing.
forget it.

jessie
no tell me! please?

poet
do you think webcams would help?
like, if we could actually see each other?
or is that dorky?

jessie
what would that help with? no, it's not dorky
i am kinda curious what you look like...

poet
the vaccuum...

jessie
but i don't really want you to see me.

poet
no?

jessie
we might get sucked in!

poet
why not?
to what?

jessie
no, i look like crap today. maybe if i put on a funny hat... and sunglasses
to the vaccum

poet
ha ha!
costumes!

jessie
i love it

poet
and masks!

jessie
okay!
wait, i don't own a mask...

poet
yeah, me neither.

jessie
oh wait! i've got a gas mask! just in case..

poet
jesus!

jessie
where?

poet
why do you have a gas mask?!

jessie
i found it at some random shop for a dollar. apparently they were being recalled, but i knew someone who worked there so he sold it to me "under the table" for a dollar
did i mention it was a dollare?
*dollar

poet
wow.
well, i guess it's a good thing to have on hand.
with the apocolypse nearing and all

jessie
oh yeah. next time there's some sort of chemical warfare going around...
or when someone farts

poet
You'd better put it on!
now!
quick!

jessie
uh...?

poet
my dog just farted.
and he's old.
and they STINK

jessie
ahhh ! can't put it on that fast!!

poet
you've got some time being across the ocean.
but still hurry!

jessie
haha, alright. i will

poet
are you alive still?

jessie
i think so.

poet
maybe you're not.

jessie
it's a little hard to see the screen

poet
maybe we've both died and gone to hell.

jessie
well that would suck

poet
and it's exactly like life.
only we don't get to die.
it just goes on and on and on

jessie
can anyone else see us?

poet
i don't know.
why?

jessie
well, wouldn't it be wierd if everyone who died just stayed there, and we could see them all?
i guess that's what reincarnation is.

poet
except this would be the reverse.
because they would be dead.

jessie
i don't think i'd like that

poet
being dead?

jessie
in that way, yes

poet
i have a confession to make.

jessie
oh?

poet
i don't have a dog.

jessie
then i should probably take off the gas mask

poet
oh.
i was hoping you'd say you didn't really have that either.

jessie
no, i do

poet
and you really put it on just now?

jessie
uh... yes? does that make me wierd?

poet
it makes you more interesting than me.
you don't have to lie.
not that i'm a psychopath or anything.

jessie
i believe you. stop apoligizing for being yourself

poet
why do you believe me?
maybe you shouldn't.
maybe you're gullible.
and naive.

jessie
maybe i am. but that doesn't stop you from being my friend. does it?

poet
no. of course not.

jessie
good.

poet
do you tell people about me?

jessie
yeah
do you tell people about me?

poet
like, when you're at school.
and stuff.

jessie
sure i do.

poet
you talk about me just like a normal friend?

jessie
why wouldn't i?

poet
i don't know. because we're internet friends. i

jessie
fair enough. but you dont have to have seen someone to like them and consider them your friend. i think it's kinda cool

poet
yeah, so do i.
except when everyone at school talk about what they did over the weekend

jessie
what do yo mean?

poet
and all i can say is that i was on the computer.

jessie
oh.

poet
i wish you lived next door.

jessie
me too. you could see the gas mask and know i'm not lying!

poet
you know, i never would have thought we'd become friends.

jessie
no?

poet
i mean when you emailed me the first time about my poem... i was kind of afraid you were an old dirty stalker.

jessie
haha!
ah, i'm imagining myself as an old dirty stalker.

poet
do you remember what you wrote?

jessie
i'm not very pretty

poet
as the stalker?

jessie
not really, something about dreams?

poet
or do you have image issues?

jessie
i really do

poet
shut up
are you really really fat or something?

jessie
:x

poet
what's that?

jessie
WHAT!! why, do i sound fat?
that's me shutting up

poet
hah

jessie
well do i?

poet
i don't know what fat sounds like!

jessie
apparently me..

poet
you're not always talking about french fries or anything.
i'd say that's a good sign... to not being fat.

jessie
this is true
mmmm french fries

poet
if you're wondering about it, you should take off your pants and jiggle in front of the mirror.

jessie
umm.... what?

poet
if you get dizzy, then you'll know you have a problem

jessie
wow. no, no you're the creepy one.

poet
i know. shit.
no one should never write "take off your pants" on the internet!

jessie
i would definatly agree with that

poet
it's a good thing you didn't write that in that first email.
i would have reported you.

jessie
i probably would have! if the poem wasn't about just the opposite.
well, not really the opposite

poet
it was about putting my pants on?

jessie
i was just gonna say that it wasn't about shirts..
but that's a much better opposite

poet
nope. you've got that.

jessie
the shirts?

poet
i don't know. i've lost it.

do you chat with anyone else online?

jessie
no

poet
me neither. it'd be kinda cool though if we had another friend.
then we'd be a chat group and not just a chat.
ya know?

jessie
we should scout the internet and find someone

poet
totally!

jessie
alright, i'll check the left, you check the right

poet
my fake dog is the only thing to my right

jessie
my gas mask is to my left

poet
what are we looking for exactly?

jessie
someone to chat with!

poet
duh.
what kind of someone?

jessie
someone.... crazy
and wierd

poet
actually crazy?

jessie
and generally not normal

poet
or virtually crazy
like, really disturbed?
like, total basket case?

jessie
no. virtually crazy

poet
ok good.
i didn't really want to have to be friends with a wacko

jessie
we wouldn't wan't no nutcases round these parts
someone.... from...... the north

poet
nope. they might rub off on us.

jessie
because it's different

poet
alright, but seriously. do you really want to find someone?

jessie
yeah! why not! we get to be creepy

poet



_______

poet
your summers can't be worse than here with all of the humidity.

jessie
oh, really? it obvious you've never done any travelling

poet
i've travelled!

jessie
where have you been?

poet
just not to the other end of the globe
new york.
italy.
rio
thailand.

jessie
wow.that it?

poet
katmandu

jessie
that's impressive

poet
i know. so. where've you been?

jessie
i've been to.... uh.. .australia... and... um... i ah...
OOH!! i've been to france!

poet
in your underpants?

jessie
of course

poet
yeah, i've been there too.

jessie
show off
why do you travel so much?

poet
my dog... he's got this insatiable desire to see the world before he dies.

jessie
that must be one well versed dog.

what's your real name?

poet
he can woof in fifty two languages

jessie
awesome

poet
i can't tell you.

jessie
why not?

poet
you'll laugh.

jessie
i promise i wont

poet
you'll laugh so hard you won't be able to type.
ever again.

jessie
i swear on your fake dog that i won't laugh at all

poet
you won't be able to help yourself.

jessie
oh come on!

poet
is jessie your real name?

jessie
surely you don't go by poet all the time
yeah, it's my real name

poet
meagan

jessie
that's your name? what's so funny about that?

poet
shut up.

jessie
or is that the name you go by?

poet
you don't have to pretend

i know it's ridiculous.

jessie
i don't understand!!! what's so funny about it?
obviously i can type, so i'm not laughing

poet
it's okay. for real.
i'm used to it.
people just lose their poo when i tell them.

jessie
what? it's not funny! its' a perfectly normal name
or is that the problem?

poet
are you kidding?

jessie
no i'm not kidding!
it's funny that you think it's funny

poet
it's awful!
you know what it means, right?

jessie
no, what does it mean?

poet
omg. you don't?

jessie
uh..no?

poet
they don't use that word in the outback?

jessie
no
not that i've heard anyway

poet
wow. i've got to move there.

jessie
what does it mean??

poet
earwax.

jessie
oh
wow

poet
i know.
sucks to be me.
during roll call people always make the worst jokes.

jessie
what kind of evil parents do you have?
i can imagine

poet
the guy after me always says "q tip" after i say present

jessie
what language is it?

poet
american slang.

jessie
where did that come from?

poet
i don't know.
maybe somebody named meagan looked like a lump of earwax.
and it just stuck

jessie
i've never heard that slang in my life.

poet
ha, ha... pun...

jessie
you americans are wierd

poet
YOU LIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD


jessie
only mildly funny
the pun

poet
i know.

jessie
but i've got the internet.
that should connect me to the other side

poet
alright... let's find us another friend. for real.

jessie
okay!

poet
what do you think... boy or girl?

jessie
hmmm....
well, we're already two girls, so do you think we should change it up
?

poet
we could.

jessie
lets

poet
where should we look for him?

jessie
the end of the internet

poet
where's that?

jessie
www.theend oftheinter net.com

poet
oh shit.

jessie
woah.. it exists

poet
it's just advertisements!

jessie
yeah. well, i guess we won't find anyone there
okay, check random chat pages
or add random namespoet

poet
ooh! i like that! lets pick a name and then search for him and just add him! that's brilllliant!

jessie
this is probably the creepiest thing i've ever done

poet
what's a good name?

jessie
uh...
i've gotta think about this one.
names are very important

poet
tell me about it.

jessie
sorry

poet
how bout a cute, not-creepy, not old, funny, loveable, guy-next-door name...
but not too normal.


jessie
maybe we should we sleep on it?


poet
probably not a bad idea
i'm exhausted

jessie
me too.

poet
it was a good time though.

jessie
remember, don't sign off! just turn off the computer!

poet
i'm not feeling lonely anymore

jessie
that's good.

poet
okay.
have a good night


jessie
don't let the bed bugs bite

poet
you too.
i mean, you either.
noodles!

jessie
oodles!

poet
poodles!

jessie
doodles!

poet
tootles!

jessie
uh... soodles?
foodles?
moodles?
coodles?
i'm gonna shut up now

poet
yeah... might be for the best...

jessie
hey!

poet
OOOOO

jessie
lol. goodnight for real this time
OOOOOOOO

poet
nightie night!

jessie
nite!

___

poet
oh no

jessie
oh no what?

poet
i started feeling the vaccuum

jessie
don't sign off!

poet
i wasn't going to!
i just backed away from the computer
and then i got the same feeling

jessie
i exist!

poet
prove it!

jessie
webcam?

poet
do you have one?

jessie
yeah

poet
i don't

jessie
oh

poet
i did but my dog ate it

jessie
that darn dog!

poet
i know.

jessie
i really should go to bed though!

poet
i know.

jessie
goodnight!

poet
ok.
gnt!

jessie
don't let the vaccuum suck!

poet
i'll try.

____

jessie
you still there?

poet
i'm not signing off, remember?

jessie
oh, right.

---

jessie
does meagan really mean earwax?

poet
you don't believe me?

jessie
uhh....

poet
maybe you should google it

jessie
i did

poet
and?

jessie
it got me nowhere

poet
what did you type in

jessie
meagan earwax slan american

poet
ha!

jessie
what?

poet
i was hoping you'd do that!

jessie
jerk

poet
that's why i made the whole thing up!!!!
too funny!
you're the best!

jessie
that's mean
is your name even really meagan?

poet
yes

jessie
okay. at least i know one thing about you

poet
you know me. i just like to have a little fun. keep things weird.

jessie
it's a good thing i didn't go telling every one i knew that meagan meant earwax
they'd all think i'm crazy
...er

poet
i know. i worried about that

jessie
GOODNIGHT!!!

poet
GDNT!!!!!