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TEXT CHAT

PAST

Conor: Are you a patriot?

Star: I used to be. You?

Conor: Yeah. I guess.

Conor: Did you change after Afghanistan?

Star: No. It was before then. I saw a lot of corruption in the sandbox. We were supposed to be there to bring freedom to those people, but it was just about oil, power, and leverage over both.

Conor: Isn’t it always about that?

Star: Why do you think I’m not a patriot anymore lol?

Star: But I love my country. I love what we used to stand for. I just don’t love it how it is now, and with everything that comes out about the Sparrows, it confirms that we’ve never been further away from what our founding fathers wanted for us.

Star: Sorry, I didn’t mean to get deep. Why do you ask?

Conor: I’m infinitely curious about you.

Conor: Haven’t you figured that out yet?

Star: Lol. Weirdo. My turn at twenty questions then.

Conor: Hit me with it.

Star: What’s something you’re afraid of?

Conor: Living in a world without my brothers in it.

Star: Really?

Conor: Really. Nearly everything I do is to keep them safe. It’s one of the only reasons I always answer to Da when he comes calling.

Star: Why?

Conor: He’s paranoid about being betrayed.

Star: He thinks THEY would betray them?

Conor: Yeah. The older he gets, it’s a fear that, I guess, niggles at him. I think he knows it’s irrational. At least, I hope he does.

Star: Is that why you developed that bug?

Conor: Yeah. I listen to about one percent of all the recorded conversations and have the software weed out keywords for me to check, but I have everything on file so that I can always prove they’re innocent of whatever BS he accuses them of. It hasn’t happened yet, but I can’t see that being the case forever.

Star: He didn’t ask you to do that?

Conor: You know from personal experience that people don’t know what we’re capable of.

Star: Meaning he wanted you to do something but he didn’t know what. Just wanted to make sure his boys weren’t traitors.

Conor: Yup. So I came up with the bug. It keeps him happy.

Conor: What scares you?

Star: Dying alone.

Conor: Even though you, in your own words, push everyone away?

Star: It’s not an irrational fear then, is it?

Conor: Not like mine. There will come a day when my brothers die. We might evade taxes, but death is something we can’t avoid forever. Whether I’m the last one standing or another is, it’ll happen at some point.

Star: Uh huh.

Star: This is a cheerful conversation.

Star: How did we get onto this subject anyway lol?

Conor: You’re the one who brought up fears.

Star: I was listening to a podcast.

Conor: YOU? You listen to podcasts? What kind?

Star: Nvm.

Conor: Ohhh, no. You can’t go quiet now. We’re sharing.

Star: Goddamn sharing.

Conor: You’re the one who started it.

Star: It’s your fault.

Conor: It can be.

Star: Where’s my Christmas gift?

Conor: I’m still developing it.

Star: Jesus. I’ll be old and gray by the time it’s ready.

Conor: It’ll be worth it.

Star: Says you.

Conor: Which podcast?

Star: It doesn’t matter. I’ll tell you the title of the episode though.

Conor: Deal.

Star: “How to maintain long-distance relationships.”

Conor: …

Conor: …

Star: Fuck off.

Star: Okay, don’t. I mean. You don’t have to fuck off.

Conor: …

Conor: This is me being speechless.

Star: Don’t make me regret telling you.

Star: Oh, wait, I already do. Jesus. Let’s go play Halo , yeah? We haven’t played this week.

Conor: Oh, noooo. You’re not getting out of this. “How to maintain long-distance relationships”? I’m assuming this is about us, or are you talking to someone else like we talk?

Star: Conor, if you think I have the patience to talk about the shit we talk about with someone else, you’re insane.

Star: But of course, I speak with other people. Don’t you?

Conor: Yeah, but I don’t tell them that I’m scared of living in a world without my brothers in it. ^^

Star: Exactly. We have a thing.

Conor: A thing.

Star: Yes. A thing.

Conor: An LDR?

Star: Well, if you want to label it.

Conor: Oh, no, honey. You’re the one labeling it lol. I’m just watching you dig your own grave.

Star: I’m going to play Mario Kart with Kat. She doesn’t give me shit.

Conor: Lies. Plus, it’s three AM. Lol. Doesn’t she have school tomorrow?

Star: No. School’s out for the summer. Duh.

Conor: Oh, yeah.

Star: Really observant. It’s hotter than hell outside.

Conor: Don’t leave my apartment much. Air conditioning FTW.

Star: Yeah, I hate going out too.

Conor: We have so much in common lol.

Star: Yeah, we vibe over AC. :P

Conor: We could vibe over other stuff…

Star: What stuff? I already told you I won’t watch cartoons with you anymore. You’ll have to stick with Jake for that.

Conor: If I send you something, would you use it?

Star: Sure.

Conor: Would you let me watch you use it?

Star: Oh.

Conor: Oh.

Star: You mean a literal vibe, don’t you?

Conor: Yes.

Star: TBH, I thought that was what my Christmas present was supposed to be.

Conor: It is. But I can’t get it to stop glitching.

Star: Is it supposed to glitch? How much code can you pack into a vibrator?

Conor: What kind of question is that? Rude.

Star: LOL. Does it talk?

Conor: No. That’s what I’m for.

Star: Oh.

Conor: I don’t want to send you something that will electrocute you.

Star: I appreciate that lol. You’re all heart.

Conor: I know. :P So… if I send you something, will you use it? And let me watch?

Star: I’ll let you listen.

Conor: Thank you.

Star: Can I listen to you too?

Conor: In full surround sound.

Star: I share my place lol. I don’t need Link knowing what I get up to. He’s kinky enough without me giving him ideas.

Conor: That’s fine with me… I don’t want your housemates to know what you sound like. That belongs to me.

Star: I belong to myself.

Conor: Never said you don’t. But if you’re getting off on a toy that I sent you and listening to me talk dirty to you, then that orgasm is mine. I earned it. Agreed?

Star: By that logic, if you’re getting off to listening to me get off then your orgasm is mine too.

Conor: Without a shadow of a doubt. Haven’t you figured it out yet, Star?

Star: I don’t think I have. What’s to figure out, Conor?

Conor: That I’m all in.

Star: Oh.

Conor: Yeah, oh.