nero: *glances at Abby did you fall asleep*
Abby: *I was about to ask why you always assume that but then I remembered I am always asleep*
Abby: *pats Nero's face*
nero: *recoils*
Abby: ...
Gwen: Well.. Yeah, but I'm still gonna come back and visit. I've got a bunch of family here. Not gone for good, little buddy.
Gwen: We can skype, I'll call you lots if you want.
Abby: *pulls her hand back uncertainly did I do something* ...Nero?
nero: *shuts eyes tightly then opens them again*
Abby: ...
Abby: Hey, you all right?
nero: *sits really still and slowly turns his head to look around the room*
Abby: *!!? really concerned about you right now, buddy*
nero: *turns back to Abby... but it's not Abby??*
nero: Uhm
DJ: *turns away from gwen to cuddle with nero*
nero: *looks around the room again Did he fall asleep he must've fallen asleep*
Abby: Nero.
Abby: What is wrong?
nero: *flinches at DJ but oh it's just him...*
DJ: *sniffles*
nero: *slowly raises a hand towards Abby*
nero: *touches her cheek*
Abby: ...
Abby: *places her hand over his and raises her eyebrows at him* Did you break? Are you broken? Did you forget how to Nero?
nero: Oh my god.. *gently pushes DJ off of him and slides off the couch*
Abby: *furrows her brow and stares at him*
DJ: *squawks*
DJ: *tears up*
Abby: Nero, what...? You're.. you're really worrying me.
nero: *keeps staring at Abby err Anne--- erm*
nero: *pinches nose and tries to breathe through it*
nero: *Oh my god*
Abby: *stands and reaches slightly hesitantly for Nero's hand* Hey. You. Talk to me.
Abby: What is going on with you right now?
nero: ....uhm *looks around for someone to help him tell the difference*
nero: *looks down at her hand* ...you feel so real, but you can't be
DJ transformed into Sailor Dummy!
Dummy: *rolls out and busies himself cleaning up the room*
Abby: *frowns* What?
nero: *reaches up to touch her face again*
nero: *brushes a thumb across her cheek*
Abby: *can't help leaning into the touch a little, but is still so confused* Nero, why can't I be real?
nero: *mumbles so low* ...because you can't be, you-- *draws his hand back like he's been burned*
nero: *looks around again* No.. You can't be here, none of this-
Abby: I what? You see me every day, just five minutes ago when we were sitting together you didn't seem to be so suspicious about whether I was real or not. Why is it suddenly so impossible that I'm real?
nero: No, no no no... No *chuckles nervously*
nero: *I must be asleep, or high I must be*
nero: *sees the science girl* GWEN, Gwen hey come here *pulls her towards Abby* Who is this who do you see?
Gwen: Huh.. That's.. Abby?
nero: *frowns*
Abby: .............
Abby: Nero, who do you see?
nero: *grimaces*
nero: *backs away and runs a hand through his hair*
Abby: *uncertainly takes half a step towards him before deciding no maybe that's not a good idea*
Abby: Nero, who am I, who do I look like?
nero: ...Are you punishing me?
Abby: What?
Abby: No, I'm not... Nero who do you think I am?
nero: Are you punishing me, because...because this is the only reason I can come up with
Abby: Nero, no one's punishing you.
nero: --for WHY you'd be here
Abby: Why can't I be?
Abby: Who am I?
Gwen: *looks between Nero and Abby* *deems this unwise for her to get in the middle of. Pats Dummy's head, and beckons him to come with her*
Dummy: *whirrs uncertainly*
nero: *No Gwen please don't leave me*
Dummy: *wavers between gwen and nero*
nero: *shakes head* Please don't make me say it...
Abby: *frowns*
Gwen: *rests her head gently on top of Dummy's head* Come on, lil guy.. *this would be better handled without us*
nero: I tried, but you wouldn't LISTEN to me
Dummy: *slowly rolls after gwen*
Abby: ...
nero: *watches DJ and Gwen leave and almost calls them to come back*
Abby: *omg what am I supposed to do do I push this do I play along, I... what* *just stares at Nero*
nero: Please leave.
Abby: ...I... Nero, whoever you think I am, I'm not.
Abby: I don't know who you're seeing, but it's not me.
nero: *tries to keep his breathing levelled*
nero: Please, just go
Abby: *frowns* Not unless you tell me who you think I am.
nero: Who the HELL do you think
nero: *Wake up Josh wake up please wake up*
Abby: I don't know, Nero, because whoever it is, it's not me.
nero: *looks over at Clint like please help me*
Abby: *just looks really helpless and confused*
nero: *backs away and goes to stand infront of Mercedes*
Dummy: *bumps nero*
Dummy: *assign new task*
nero: Could you...look at that woman and tell me who you see?
Abby: *crosses her arms and keeps staring at him, frowning very loudly*
nero: *startles* Go away
Dummy: *recoils*
nero: DJ, not right now
Mercedes: ...you mean Abby?
Dummy: *drops low and backs away defensively*
Abby: *gapes* Nero, the hell?
Dummy: *backs into the corner*
nero: *gruffly* No, that's NOT Abby
Abby: ...
Mercedes: Pretty sure that's Abby
Abby: I am definitely Abby.
Mercedes: Definitely Abby
Abby: I've been Abby the first twenty-two years of my life, I don't intend to stop today. I didn't stop today.
nero: I don't, understand... *looks miserable*
Abby: Neither do any of us. Who are you seeing, Nero?
nero: I'm seeing YOU, who do you think??
nero: *FUCK*
Mercedes: Do you need to lay down for a bit Nero?
Abby: You're obviously not.
nero: *looks at Mercedes like he can't be sure she's there* Yeah... Yeah, I think I do
nero: *I need a drink*
Mercedes: Yeah, you probably just need to rest a little bit. Maybe you'll feel better then
nero: *pokes Mercy's face*
Dummy: *did someone say drink?*
Dummy: *smoothie, yes?*
Mercedes: ....why
nero: *No, alcohol drink*
nero: Dummy, new task... get me some whiskey..
Mercedes: No Dummy don't
Mercedes: Nero no
Abby: *I don't think drinking is going to make this better*
Abby: Please don't, kiddo.
Dummy: *new task defined: find whiskey*
nero: *Well it's most definitely not going to make this any fucking worse*
Abby: ...Dummy. No.
Dummy: *rolls out excitedly to go search the kitchen*
Abby: Please.
nero: Do you want me to... apologize?
Dummy: *starts searching cabinets*
Loki Laufeyson: dummy. Cancel task
Abby: *follows him because is not in a thousand years about to let him bring alcohol out for Nero to drink himself stupid*
nero: Will that get you to leave?
Dummy: *task canceled*
nero: *omg she IS leaving*
Dummy: *whirrs in confusion*
Gwen: Dummy! New task. Come here.
nero: *watches ANNE go into the kitchen*
Abby: *so relieved* *pets DJ*
Dummy: *rolls slowly to gwen*
Gwen: Come on squirt, c'mere.
Dummy: *stops a few feet away*
Gwen: New Task.. Turn into DJ for a bit? I need to have a talk with you.
Gwen: *reaches out to gently pat his claw*
nero: *sighs in relief that she actually agreed to leave him alone*
Dummy: *invalid task input*
Abby: *stands in the kitchen for a few moments staring warily at the door like do I want to go back out there and watch Nero staring at me like a ghost again or would i rather not do that*
Gwen: Dummy.
Dummy: *starts backing up*
Gwen: for me, okay?
Gwen: Dummy. *voice gets a little more stern*
Dummy: *backs back into the kitchen*
Abby: *finally sighs and peeks out, trying to catch Mercy's eye without drawing attention to herself*
Dummy: *bumps abby's elbow with his claw*
Gwen: DJ Stark!
nero: *keeps eyes trained on the kitchen door to see if she'll come back*
Dummy: *tries to hide behind abby*
nero: ...
Gwen: I'm trying to-- *frustrated sound*!
Abby: *pets Dummy* Deej, listen to her? Please? For me?
Abby: *pointedly not looking at Nero for right now*
Dummy: *invalid input*
Dummy: *scrunches under the table*
Abby: *glances at Nero to try and see if he's still freaking out yup looks like yes*
nero: *sinks into the couch grabs a fistful of hair and sort of wants to hide*
nero: *looks up*
nero: *stands up and...and.... fuck it, decides to march right into the kitchen*
Abby: *sighs and frowns a little, before turning to see oh here comes Nero*
nero: ...
nero: *frowny determined face turns slack jawed*
Abby: ...
nero: *approaches slowly*
nero: *reaches out a hand to cup Anne's face*
Abby: *watches him cautiously*
nero: *holds her face gently and just looks into those beautiful blue eyes*
nero: *feels his heart beating wildly*
Abby: *takes a shaky breath because holy shit the way he's looking at her...* *frowns because she doesn't know who he's seeing but she knows it isn't her*
nero: ...How can you be here
Abby: *shakes her head a little* I'm not. I'm not who you think I am, I'm not... listen, whoever you think I am, she's not here.
nero: *frowns* But I'm looking at you. I'm looking at YOU
Abby: *shakily* No, you're not. You're looking at someone else. Nero, it's-- *frowns and covers his hand with her own* I'm Abby. Abby, okay, you're looking at Abby right now and you're seeing someone else *and it hurts*.
nero: *swallows down the lump in his throat*
nero: *kind of just ignores what she just said and runs his hand carefully down the side of her face*
nero: *fascinated*
Abby: *closes her eyes and sighs and knows she should probably pull away but can't make herself*
nero: *frowns a little because he can tell what she's thinking it's not the first time he's seen it*
nero: *he's seen her look like that more often these days*
nero: Hey, what's wrong
Abby: Well, my best friend is hallucinating and convinced that I'm someone I'm not, and refusing to listen to me, so there's that. *opens her eyes and gives a strained smile*
nero: *frowns*
nero: And who are you..
Abby: Abby.
Abby: Gwen and Mercy both told you. I'm Abby.
nero: *drops his hand to his side and just stands there*
Abby: *watches him cautiously again* So... what, you believe me now?
nero: Well they're... lying *shifts*
nero: *It doesn't matter this is all just a dream anyway*
Abby: ...
Abby: *not even sure if she wants to know anymore at this point but there's that stupid insatiable curiosity of hers* So if they're lying, who am I?
nero: Oh you forget your own name now?
Abby: I have no idea who you think I am.
nero: ...
nero: You're upset. *steps back*
Abby: *sighs tiredly* Yeah, probably. So, you gonna tell me who you think I am or what?
nero: *rubs his face* You are Anne. There, happy?
nero: And I don't 'think' you are, I -know- you are.
nero: You think I'd forget you that easily?
Abby: ...Anne. *frowns because that's a familiar one*
Abby: ...*frowns even more* Nero, I'm not Anne, I'm really really not.
nero: Stop
Abby: You remember the conversation we had the other day, about how Anne is a distinct three letters off from my name?
nero: Why are you...
nero: Yeah... But that was..
Dummy: *rolls into the kitchen*
Dummy: *carefully skirts nero*
Abby: Because I don't really think it's fair to either of us to let you keep insisting I'm Anne, whoever she is. That's why.
Dummy: *tucks himself against abby's side*
nero: ....
nero: Why are you doing this
Abby drapes her arm over Dummy, glancing down and giving him a weak smile before looking back at Nero again
Abby: I just told you.
nero: Is it because I barked at you earlier to leave?
nero: I'm sorry, I really don't want you to go, not really
Abby: No. Nero, it's because I'm not Anne. I wasn't when you called me that the other day, and--
Dummy: *whirrs sadly*
Abby: *just stares at him sadly*
nero: *takes her hand almost desperately*
nero: *gives her hand a kiss*
Dummy: *clicks warningly at nero*
Abby: *stares and then pulls her hand away and frowns and can't even look at him* Nero, I'm sorry.
nero: ...........
Abby: But I'm not who you want me to be.
nero: No, please
nero: *looks heartbroken because deja vu*
nero: I don't want you to be -anyone-, just yourself, okay?
Abby: *lets out a humorless laugh* You want me to be Anne. And. I'm. Not. And I'm sorry, Nero, I am, because I don't know who she is but I can tell that seeing her again means a lot and I'm sorry but I'm not. Her.
Dummy: *rubs his head against abby's side*
nero: *frowns so much* Why are you DOING this-- tell me what I did wrong, and I'll make it up to you
Abby runs her hands over Dummy's circuits
nero: *almost whispers* Please don't go.
Abby: I told you why. *frowns so much because her voice is shaking and that's stupid it shouldn't be shaking*
Abby: Nero, please. Please, will you just... I'm not Anne. I'm not going anywhere, but I'm not Anne.
nero: *bounds forward and hugs Anne so tightly*
Dummy: *whines in surprise*
Dummy: *wheels back, startled*
Abby: *just stiffens and doesn't move*
nero: I'm sorry, I'm sorry okay? I love you.
Dummy: *rolls to the counter and pushes the blender back into the sink*
Dummy: *rolls out of the kitchen to keep cleaning up*
Abby: *pushes him away and backs off, her eyes wide and flicking from place to place and oh god nope they're watering they need to stop that*
Dummy: *rolls around confused after he finishes*
Dummy: *tries to find a new task*
nero: *sort of stumbles back, confused, worried*
Abby: Nero, I... no. You don't. I'm not Anne, I'm not her, please, listen to me, I'm not--
Abby: *shakes her head she's gonna bolt*
nero: *feels his eyes stinging*
nero: *swallows* I -am- listening to you, but how can you say that when you're standing -right here-
nero: Tell me what you want me to do, and I'll do it
nero: You want me to help you some more? I will, you know I will
Abby: *shakes her head more vehemently, her voice a little strangled* I want you to believe me when I tell you I'm not Anne, I'm not. I know that I look like Anne to you but I--I'm not.
Abby: Ask anyone and they will tell you I'm Abby, and I need you to stop-- *swallows, shaking her head still because she doesn't know what else to do* I need you to stop saying things like that. I'm not Anne, Nero.
nero: *chews on his lower lip*
nero: *roughly runs his hands through his hair*
Abby: *presses the heels of her hands against her eyes and scrubs at them, not willing to wait for any actual tears to fall because this is stupid she's being stupid she shouldn't be crying at all*
nero: *turns away and says under his breath more to remind himself* You died, ofcourse you're not really here...
Dummy: *starts spraying the living room with the fire extinguisher*
Abby: *quietly, because it's easier to keep her voice from shaking that way, her hands still pressed to her eyes* She's not here. Anne is not here, and I am not Anne, so you can stop addressing your remarks for her to me. Please.
nero: *feels that anger bubble up inside him again*
nero: *whirls around* And WHOSE FAULT WAS THAT, HUH?? I TOLD YOU TO BE CAREFUL-- BEGGED YOU TO STOP
Abby: *pulls her hands away from her eyes to stare at him slightly helplessly because there is just nothing she can say to him clearly; he just won't listen*
Dummy: *rolls quickly in*
Dummy: *pulls nero away from abby*
Dummy: *rolls in front of her and screeches mechanically at nero*
nero: ......
nero: *stares at DJ*
Dummy: *clicks angrily*
nero: *looks at Anne from his new spot away from her* I'm sorry...
Abby: *just stares at him*
Dummy: *pulls up to his full height and leans over nero menacingly*
nero: *eyes tearing up* Why didn't you listen to me..
Dummy: *clicks near nero's face*
nero: .......... *backs away*
Abby: *shakes her head* You're the only one who isn't listening right now, Nero.
Dummy: *rolls back to cuddle against abby's side*
nero: *It's a dream it's all a dream anyway*
Abby: *pets DJ again*
Abby: *mumbles* Thanks, kiddo.
nero: *nods dejected and heads to their little bar to rummage through the cabinets*
Abby: ...Nero.
Loki Laufeyson: *throws a pillow at the air in front of him and screeches*
Dummy: *perks up at the screeching sound*
Dummy: *rolls out to check on loki*
nero: *god this is dumb how am I going to get drunk in a dream*
Abby: *takes a couple hesitant steps closer to Nero because you're NOT if I have anything to say about it* Nero.
nero: *spins around to face whoever said his name*
nero: *just stares at and then closes his eyes tightly shut*
Abby: Just step away from the bar, will you?
nero: *maybe when I open them again I would've woken up and you'll be gone* *again*
nero: Why
nero: Not like I can get drunk now, can I
Abby: *rolls her eyes because he's being actually ridiculous right now* Yes, stupid, you can, and I don't like it when you do that to yourself.
nero: *still has his eyes closed* Yeah, well, you're the one to talk. Imagine this is for the mission, we need to look the part, right?
Abby: *frowns* What?
nero: You know.
nero: I'm just saying, it was your idea to get wasted and I let you. So, let me do this now.
Abby: What? Nero, I'm not--stop.
nero: It's weird though, you keep calling me Nero *finally opens eyes again*
Abby: *blinks* What else would I call you?
nero: ...my real name.
Abby: ...
nero: *grabs a bottle of whatever and makes a run for it*
Abby: *yoinks the bottle out of his hand with TELEKINESIS, BITCH*
Dummy: *wheels around in sad circles*
Abby: You told me your real name? Or was there just a time once when you told everybody?
nero: ......................
nero: Give that back *goes for the bottle again*
nero: *siiiiiiigh* Ofcourse I did, what you think I lied to you about that??
Gwen: *whistles at Dummy and pats the spot next to her*
Abby: *puts her hand with the bottle behind her back, placing her other hand over whichever one of his is reaching for the bottle to impede his progress*
Abby: *frowns* I think you don't tell a lot of people your real name and I'm trying to figure out how long ago that started.
Dummy: *perks up and rolls over to gwen*
Gwen: *high fives Dummy's claw and offers him a soft smile*
Dummy: *whistles and high fives gwen*
Dummy: *gently pokes her forehead*
Gwen: *giggles a little and kisses her hand, placing it on Dummy's camera*
Dummy: *purrs*
nero: *grabs her hand in a way he can pull her closer to him*
nero: Take a guess
Gwen: *awkwardly hugs the bot*
Abby: ...
Dummy: *goes slack with a sigh*
Dummy: *chirps*
Gwen: We all love you to bits, little buddy. You know that right? *pets his camera* Nobody wants to leave you.
Gwen: Clint is back, you're always gonna have a whole bunch of people to love you. It'll be okay if I go away for a bit.
Dummy: *is very still*
Gwen: Buddy. I'm always gonna visit. I'm always gonna call you, if you want.
Gwen: You've gotta know that.
Dummy transformed into Sailor DJ!
DJ: *leans against gwen*
Abby: *sighs and reaches back to set the bottle on the counter out of his reach and just stares at him* Am I supposed to take from that that I'm the reason you don't tell people?
DJ: *muffled* Promise?
Gwen: *pulls DJ into her arms and hugs him tightly tightly tightly*
Gwen: Promise.
nero: *studies Anne's face but yeah basically*
nero: That is a strange assumption
nero: How on earth did you come to that conclusion
Abby: *frowns and studies him right back* Well, I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but there's this thing called context clues.
Abby: Sometimes they steer you wrong, but usually not. 'Take a guess' makes it seem like the answer ought to be obvious to me, and pulling me closer when you said it makes it seem like the answer has to do with me and oh god I sound like Mercy making deductions right now.
nero: ...
nero: *pulls her even closer* Uh-huh..
Abby: *frowns a little* Nero...
nero: *looks at her lips* Mhm..?
nero: *pulls her even closer*
Abby: *leans away a little but I mean he's still RIGHT THERE*
Gwen: *goes to sit by the TV, drapes the colorful labcoat over DJ, and starts Wall-E*
DJ: *snuggles under the coat*
nero: *curls one hand around her waist*
Abby: *there's a thing she's supposed to be doing it involves using her brain it starts with a th and ends in an inking and if she were doing it she would remember to remind him again that she's not Anne but that thing that involves using her brain is kind of hard to do when she is this distracted*
DJ: *slides off the couch, toddles into the kitchen trailing the coat*
DJ: *hesitates, tugs on one of their pant legs*
nero: *leans in close enough to brush his lips against her jawline*
Abby: *blinks, glancing down at DJ for a moment but there is a Nero face RIGHT THERE and it is VERY distracting and his arm is around her waist and--no her brain is out of commission right now yeah*
nero: *places a kiss there and leaves two more*
Abby: *closes her eyes because DJ tugging on her pant leg did actually get the gears in her mind turning however slowly and it doesn't matter how nice this feels, there's something, something about this she's supposed to remember and--* Nero.
nero: Mhm..? *brushes his nose down to her neck*
nero: *doesn't smell like Anne though, but it doesn't matter right because a dream is a dream so this...is whatever*
Abby: *frowns because thinking is haaarrrddd*
nero: *mumbles against her neck* Remember this..? I remember it drove you crazy, Anne....
Abby: *finally snaps out of it and places her hands on his chest, pushing him away, her eyes still closed because it's easier to keep them from watering that way* When we first met I told you my name was Abby and you completely forgot so you went around for weeks thinking I'd never given you my name when I did. You called my eyes incomparable. The first time we kissed was in a game of truth or dare when Gert got tired of us holding hands and doing nothing else all the time. I got sent on a mission for five months and when I finally got back you pulled me close and held onto me for a long time and gave me ice for my jaw. You were one of the first people I told that I got poisoned. The other night you were drunk outside my window trying to get honey from a hornets' nest, and I promised to be your personal superhero after I brought you a bandaid. *her voice breaks* I'm not Anne, Nero. I'm Abby. I'm Abby.
Hill: ((argh my feels)
Loki Laufeyson: ((Ouchhhhh))
nero: ...
Loki Laufeyson: ((My heart hurts))
DJ: ((i'm gonna cry))
Loki Laufeyson: ((You and me both))
Hill: ((I'm a hard-hearted bitch and am eagerly awaiting Nero's response))
Loki Laufeyson: ((Loki is eating his feels for me bc I'm in bed and not prepared to further eat my feels))
Abby: ((To quote Nero "STARTED AT THE BOTTOM NOW WE'RE HERE, EVEN FURTHER DOWN DIGGING A HOLE"))
Abby: ((SO AM I, BLUE MAUREEN))
nero: *glances around like a lost boy again taking a step back*
Abby: *swallows roughly and once again presses the heels of her hands to her eyes*
nero: *feels his throat constrict, drawing in deep breaths, his eyes water and he closes his eyes to keep from showing just how much this is breaking his heart. But tears are escaping anyway*
nero: You're not Abby, Abby isn't YOU. Abby wouldn't pull the crap you did - she isn't that SELFISH
Abby: *pulls her hands away from her face to stare again* I--what?
nero: *I loved you.*
Abby: *just stares*
nero: *doesnt really know what to do next why isnt he waking up*
Abby: What wouldn't I--Abby--what wouldn't Abby have done? *furrowed brow*
nero: *he could jump out the window you always wake up before hitting the ground*
Loki Laufeyson: *nero I am with you on that thought process. *
Abby: *don't you dare*
Abby: *either of you*
nero: *turns to look out the window then back at Anne* She wouldnt have lied to me, would've listened to me when I told her we'd do it together..
Abby: ...do what together?
nero: Not risk her life for a goddamned mission just to try and prove she could handle it
nero: *frowns* Using, what do you think..
Abby: … *stares at him sadly and reaches for his hand* Nero, just... just pretend for a moment that you believe me when I say I'm Abby. If I'm Abby right now, and you believed me, would you let me try something with my telepathy? *because it went so well last time*
nero: *lets her take his hand looks down at it like oh my god you feel so real how can you feel SO REAL*
nero: What..what are you gonna do?
Abby: I'm just going to see if I can't--I don't know, use it to make you see me clearly. That's all. If there's something in your head that's making you see me as Anne, maybe I can--fix it. And I know you don't believe I'm Abby but I can't do this unless I know you're okay with it, so just... for a second, pretend you believe me.
nero: *No mind reading right but this is a dream anyway so it doesnt really matter*
Abby: *no mind reading even if this weren't a dream. just making sure you're perception's accurate*
nero: ...Okay.
Abby: *nods and pulls her hand out of his, placing both her hands on either side of his face and just using her power to see what he sees, frowning at the way that it is not at all her* *carefully tries to fix his perception so he's seeing things how they really are* *ISN'T MESSING WITH ANYTHING IMPORTANT SO SHE CAN'T EXPLODE HIS BRAIN OK*
nero: *nervously shifts and tries to see her hands but obv no possible so he just lets her do her thing*
nero: Oh my god...?
nero: ...stop STOP
Abby: *pulls her hands away, looking at him uncertainly*
Abby: Nero?
nero: *passes out*
Abby: Shit. Shit. Nero. *kneels next to him and shakes his shoulder oh god did I kill HIM now*
Abby: *gives up and carefully lifts Nero and sets him on the couch, throwing blankets over him and tucking him in and watching him anxiously*
