extent | duplicitynet

[ For his birthday, Nick gets a very short video clip. It's of Logan alone in the shower room of the gym, though he has clothes on. He sets the phone down on something, then backs up a few steps to make sure he's in frame. ]

Okay, this happens one time. And you don't tell anyone else about it.

[ He looks down and starts nodding a little. Nick might realise he's counting himself in, because after a couple of seconds he launches into a full-throated and surprisingly decent rendition of the chorus of Kelly Clarkson's karaoke hit, 'Since U Been Gone'. The acoustics in the shower room definitely help, but it's clear that he's getting into it by the time he hits the end of the chorus, even tipping his head back a bit to close his eyes, but that's when he stops and reaches for the phone. ]

That's it.

[ nick watches the video a lot before he replies, each time grinning more than the last, and he deliberately doesn't save it -- but he sure as hell doesn't delete the message, either. just because he doesn't want it misfired somewhere doesn't mean he's going to rob himself of the opportunity to rewatch it.

so--nick loves it, it's basically the best thing he's ever seen, it makes him laugh harder than he has in weeks, but what logan actually gets in response is: ]

i knew there was a pop girlie in there somewhere

if a girl called Alison Blaire ever turns up here you can blame her for getting that song stuck in my head for two goddamn months

anyway happy birthday, hope it's a better one this time

*thank her
u know u set the bar way too high w this, i dont think anyone else is going to match

it is. its different, u know? i had like friends last year sure but i barely knew them
its better this year

good
that's all I want for you, kiddo

thanks

i know this year has been like
whatever
but i'm glad youve been in it

also for the record idc if i get another factory reset im not doing 21 again i'm making up my own rules from here on out

21 is a pretty crappy age anyway

I was a real asshole when I was that age

tswift said idk about u but i'm feelin 22, next year is where its at

what were you doing when you were 21?

I don't remember a lot of it

pretty sure I was living half-wild in the back end of nowhere. fighting wild animals for money, that kind of crap. trying to work out what I was

sounds lonely
do you know how long you did that for?

a while, maybe a few years
not really sure

next thing I knew I was half an animal and having to learn how to talk again
spent some time wandering around and getting into trouble until I washed up into WW1

how old actually are you? i dont think ive ever asked
best guess or w/e

I was born in the 1880's so however old that makes me

pretty sure it makes me old enough to be your great great great grandpappy

well i like 'em a little bit immortal

p sure the o'broins were off being irish bog witches back in those days or like whatever they do on that side of the continent