∮ 002. backdated early morning of 6/16.

[elongates]

[ reed sits, as usual, in an empty laboratory. ]

I'm not the first one to remind you all about the incoming holiday. I'd ask you all a question of a vapid nature like "What does it mean to be a father?" but I would be lying if I said it would be of use to anyone. I know what constitutes a good father, and, well. I know what doesn't.

[ while his shoulders slump low toward his desk, his torso nearly unravels into loops around his work area. ]

The simple fact is: I am going to be a father one day. I’ve been aware of enough of my multiple selves to comprehend this. Children and love are my constant, as they are Susan’s. [ bitterly: ] At least one of us has to accept this reality.

[ plucking a test tube off a bunsen burner with tongs, he passive-aggressively mocks a toast toward the communicator. ]

So, here’s to the inevitable Franklin and Valeria Richards!

[ clink. ]

May you arrive to a better world with nicer, less abusive people.

Comments

encrypted;

[elongates]

[ and he nods in response, head stretching up and down with the movement. ]

It is still a secret here, right? Even with the clone running around?

encrypted;

[incywincyhero]

[His voice goes cold.] Her name is Jessica Drew.

encrypted;

[elongates]

Give her a name if you want, but it's still you. You with a genetic malformation, but...

Semantics.

encrypted;

[incywincyhero]

[Wow, that's not revealing or anything, Reed.]

It's the name she took, not me. It's the life she's lived since she got free of his Ockiness. And an X chromosome isn't a malformation, for crying out loud.

Genetics don't make a person, any more than twins count as one individual. If you don't understand that, we're not going to get very far, here.

encrypted;

[elongates]

[ welp. he raises his arms, since, you know. backing off. ]

Relax. I wasn't looking for a debate. After all, she's really nothing like you. [ as sincerely as he can possibly put it!! ]

encrypted;

[incywincyhero]

You'd be surprised.

[He'd love to rip into Reed a little more, but that's not what this conversation is for.] Anyway. To answer your question, yes. It's all about misdirection. [And a psychic blindspot.]

encrypted;

[elongates]

I can imagine it must be a lot easier here. You only have a handful of prior attachments in this place.

[ waves vaguely. ]

You know. People.

encrypted;

[incywincyhero]

Ha. It's funny that you say that, because I've become notorious in import circles for knowing so many of the other imports from back home, or versions of them. You being a case in point.

encrypted;

[elongates]

Huh. You're essentially a hub of transdimensional knowledge.

[ a pause, as if dwelling on the idea. ]

That's not a bad thing to be.

encrypted;

[incywincyhero]

You know, I ... hadn't thought about it that way before. Huh.

It is kinda weird so many of us are from the same network of universes, though. There are a couple other ones that are popular, but we really get the lion's share. Or maybe that's just confirmation bias.

encrypted;

[elongates]

Right? I noticed that, too.

Of course, I'd like to think that it's more than just out of sheer coincidence―a deliberate decision on the part of the machine would at least feel more certain. Spatially overlapping dimensions? At least they would be set in stone.

God, I wish I wasn't so useless in this case. I'm usually on top of these things.

encrypted;

[incywincyhero]

Well, you're not exactly the first of us to get stumped on this. I wouldn't take it to heart, Reed, just keep on keeping on.

encrypted;

[elongates]

[ he's smiling. just a little. ]

Ever consider becoming a motivational speaker, Peter?

encrypted;

[incywincyhero]

No, and the fact you suggested it is proof that you are actually evil. I mean, think it through for a second.

encrypted;

[elongates]

Oof, I really need to watch my tongue.

Those ideas will be the death of me and my insidious, world-shaking plans.