There has been less sightings of the paranormal in the small, barely inhabited rural area the Membrane's inhabit, but the popularity of a specific secretive investigative group continues on his research, often not leaving any stone un-turned or overlooked. However, with the lack of evidence against a certain extraterrestrial rival he has claimed as an ultimate nemesis, his main goal has fallen flat and, as a result, he is possibly the one who is truly overlooked more than anything. Without the premise of bullying, or friends, falling into the sidelines with his headphones and fairly easy "Skool" studies, life had become so awfully boring that it was sickening.
About anything, just about anything, would quench this ever lasting depression that had taken a hold of his progress, possibly letting him free for at least a week, so he can sleep instead of staying up almost all night just to find something of researchable value. In private, on a blog he uses his alter ego on, he constantly writes about the valuable evidence he has already collected. Pictures, articles, fun interactive quizzes, and so much more. Due to this, this "blog", he has grown a good internet fanbase interested in his work. But, alas, with school, the promise of possibly evidence against Zim, and other pressing issues emerging such as future college and job applications needing much more attention than he's willing to give, he has no time to make better business of it.
With that, not many options are left, and in order to keep up the Membrane name of fame, he has opted to study science. He even landed an internship beside his father, who is proud of him, but only when he can manage to remember his name and that Dib is his son. Dib Membrane, the lonesome child that has been forgotten over and over, his sister being favorited and even then, she can't see her father at times either, due to pressing matters at work. Since he has gotten the internship, he'd think that maybe, just maybe, his father wouldn't overlook him and that time could be spent. Yet alas, he sees him just as much as he's seen him these last 18 years.
Dib has long given up trying to gain his father's attention, though. Honestly this science career he has chosen is something more.... personal. He'd never admit it to anyone, since he knows where that gets him, but this level of study is purely for his paranormal investigations. Perhaps if he masters a hypothetical state of mind, and harbors the ability to create and repurpose technology as his own instruments of investigation, he can get proof that claims he's not as crazy as everyone thinks he is.
Despite all this, the young Membrane has found one difficulty; he's been followed everyday for the past 6 months he's been interning under his father's corporation. None other than his arch nemisis, the arrogance that pushes every button he has, the absolute monster of another planet name Irk - That's right, the irken himself, Invader Zim. For some reason Zim has been like a lost puppy as of late. Constant following, stalking, if you will, and subtle hints that he's working on something horrific. The only threats Dib can take seriously, though, are the ones that happen early morning / late night, when Zim somehow finds his way past Dib's security that locks and insures his window unbreakable or bypassable.
It's these late nights, that Dib whirls around in his chair, to find the irken sitting back on his bed, looking at the ceiling and tapping his fingers together, with legs crossed. Instead of talking, however, Zim seems to just be there. Thinking. Which is the most odd thing the alien has ever done, considering the loud and boisterous nature the much smaller male tends to have.
Of course, tonight was no different. Dib had gotten home from his internship and ordered a pizza for Gaz, telling her he wasn't in the mood to eat quite yet so she could go ape-nuts. Grabbing something caffienated, he headed up to his room for the night's research he has been craving, and a bit of independent technological study. Zim was already in his normal place, upon the bed, not looking as Dib enters, and instead just tapping his fingers together as usual. Just. Thinking. It seems.
Sighing, despite wondering if his efforts would go to waste, he spoke up, offering one of the four drinks he got from downstairs. "If you're going to be an unwelcome guest for the millionth time, you might as well have something to drink. Unless you're too chicken to try it because it might burn you."
