voice

[glassbox]

Hey.

Hey.

[ The bang of a door slamming open, then traffic, people. ]

Y'know what? A girl gets sick an' tired a'being hauled around like garbage t'do the dirty work of a stupid machine. I ain't answerin' t'that scrap heap a'metal, and there's nothin' anybody can do t'change my mind.

I'm Diamond Lil. Mechanical cow can kiss my diamond --

[ A taxi horn blares. There's a clattering sound, like something metal -- a trashcan, maybe, or a bench -- just got kicked over. Surprised murmurs in the background. ]

At least you coulda teleported me t'the right damn country!

Comments

[glassbox]

[ .............................




ugh. ]

Can't even avoid you in an alternate dimension. Didn't I tell you t'stay away?

[ex_engineers208]

[ and then, speechlessness.

there's no way. this isn't really happening. ]

Oh my god. Oh my god, oh my god, oh god, Lil, Lillian―

[glassbox]

[ what even! sounding annoyed: ]

What, y'don't think I was serious when I said I'd kill you? Unless you're gettin' ready to beg forgiveness for leavin' me t'die, I don't care how many times y'say my name, I ain't listenin'.

[ex_engineers208]

[ in a rush, without stopping for air: ]

No, no, Lil. Lil, you're right, I... I screwed up in all sortsa ways and ruined everythin' and then I lost you and...! [ choking up. ] Aah, I, H-hell, oh god. I'm so sorry fer all the crap y'hadta. All that screwed-up shit y'went through all 'cuz a' me and I won't blame you if y'wanted to neck-snap me. Right here a-and now.

J-Jesus, I'm so, so sorry. I'm just. Sorry.

[glassbox]

[ she does pause instead of jumping down his throat! that's a good sign right? except she still sounds pretty pissed when she does respond: ]

Sorry doesn't fix it, Maddie. Y'know how many times y'broke promises with me?

[ex_engineers208]

[ it's easy for him to admit. ]

Probably more than I can count. But I can't―I'm not gonna let the same crap repeat like some broken record. I can't.

[glassbox]

What, so suddenly you wanna change now, is that it? Did y'have some kinda revelation between universes?

[ex_engineers208]

D'you know how much it killed me, Lil? I don't know how I managed t'hold it all together after... the thing.

[ his lips tighten, and quietly: ]

Oh god, Lil. I missed you. Only when y'were really gone.

[glassbox]

[ impatiently: ]

What's that supposed t'mean, really gone? You're not makin' any sense.

[ex_engineers208]

It ain't nothin' t'be concerned about, kid.

[ earnestly: ]

I'm gonna bend over freakin' backwards t'make sure you don't... I don't. Hurt you again.

[glassbox]

[ a skeptical pause. ]

Y'mean that? Really?

[ex_engineers208]

[ he slowly nods. ]

I can't ask y'to forgive me, nor c-can I take back any a' it. But I don't want it to happen no more, and I wanna heal back a couple'a them scars on us. On our marriage.

I love you, Lil. And I mean it, this time.

[glassbox]

[ hh temper diffusing, but still with obvious resentment: ]

Y'coulda tried that ten years ago, hon.

[ex_engineers208]

[ he shrugs, head facing away. ]

I'm not too sure that I could've.

[glassbox]

[ a disdainful exhale. ]

Then maybe it's too little, too late.

[ex_engineers208]

Y'ain't one for givin' up early, Lil. We can tough it out.

[glassbox]

[ in an abrupt outburst: ]

Where was all this when I wanted t'fight for us? I loved you, and you betrayed me. You -- left me, your wife.

Y'think just 'cause we're in some kinda alternate universe that everythin' is gonna be jim-dandy now?

[ex_engineers208]

[ defensively: ]

It ain't that cut n' dry! Some a' the things I've seen, Lil. The things I've done, I couldn't. I still can't sleep at night that great 'cuz a' that a-and some a' that stuff I just couldn't stop, not even for you. I'm not sayin' I couldn't do nothin', I'm sayin'...

...It ain't that easy. Don't it matter that I wanna try?

[glassbox]

[ her face scrunches up, angry and hurt. but something else too. she purses her lips together for a long second.

finally: ]

Y'don't know how lonely it was.

[ex_engineers208]

[ watching her just brings the pain and the guilt back in a rush. it's just so, so agonizing. ]

I thought it'd be better that way. I thought wrong.

[glassbox]

Promise it'll be different this time.

[ex_engineers208]

I promise.

We're gonna make it this time, a-and nothin'll go rotten again.

[glassbox]

[ just gonna turn her head slightly away, 'cause she's just -- got something in her eye, okay! ]

Fine. Y'promised. And if you go on and break it, I swear I'll beat y'within an inch of your life.

[ less bite now, maybe none at all: ]

Can y'come and get me now?

[ex_engineers208]

Fair's fair, I guess. [ he gives something close to a smile, indiscreetly sniffing. ]

Subway's faster'n traffic for it, just... stay right there and try not to punch that many people through a wall, yeah?

[ disconnecting. (for action...) ]

[glassbox]

[ yes, good. your wife will just be hanging out, towering a good head over most of the crowd and probably looking like a weirdo canadian in her costume. she's not intimidating with her frowny face and impatiently crossed arms, nope. ]