Back in Neptune

[obligatoryass]

Logan's strangely tired as he steps through the door. It's not as if he didn't get enough sleep at Milliways - some days it seemed like he did nothing but sleep. But stepping from that place and into this one weighs on him, as if all his troubles have resumed their place on his shoulders, sapping all his energy.

He's in the Neptune Grand, which is a relief. He was more than half-afraid he'd end up back outside Veronica's apartment and still need to drive home. To a mental list of "Things to Do," he adds "pick up the XTerra." It goes right underneath item "Prepare for inevitable crushing rejection from Veronica."

First on that mental list, though, is, "Call Trina."

Logan stares at his cell phone for a very long time before picking it up and dialing her number.

If he's really lucky, she just won't answer, and he'll have fulfilled his fraternal obligations with a short voicemail message.

Comments

[obligatoryass]

"Yeah," he says. "Maybe just reset your voicemail message to say, soothingly, that arrangements will be announced or whatever."

Long pause. "So, um, you need me to do anything?"

Not that he wants to, but it seems like the thing to do.

[dead_hooker_2]

"You're gonna get calls, from reporters and other vultures," she says. "Try not to say anything to them that's gonna make it worse, okay?"

Slight pause.

"You'll be at the funeral, right?"

[obligatoryass]

"Sister dear, I promise that I will do my very best to avoid talking to them at all costs, and should said conversations occur, I'll give them my best nothing-speeches."

Another pause, slightly shorter this time. He's got no real choice in the matter - he's got to go, or Trina will never speak to him again. He'd rather not have that happen.

"Yeah."

[dead_hooker_2]

"Good," she says, because she can't quite say thanks.

"Look, I hate to cut you off, but I have to go. I need to . . . there's some administrative stuff that has to be done by a family member."

Like identifying the body, as if every person in America over the age of ten couldn't identify Aaron Echolls, even with a bullet through his brain.

[obligatoryass]

"Yeah," he says. "I get it. Just...if you need anything, you'll let me know, right?"

He's sure she won't, and he's not sure he wants her to, but the offer has to count for something, right?

[dead_hooker_2]

It does, though less than it might if she didn't know he's quite certain she won't take him up on it.

"I'll do that," she says, and she's sure she won't, too.

A long pause.

"Thanks for calling. And for lunch, after graduation. We should do that again sometime."

[obligatoryass]

"Yeah, we should," he says. Like after the funeral. Only not.

"And, yeah, you're welcome. Um. Take care."

[dead_hooker_2]

"You, too. Stay out of trouble."

She's only half kidding. She absolutely cannot handle it if Logan gets himself, say, arrested this week.

[obligatoryass]

Logan doesn't think he can handle it either.

"I intend to," he says.

Pause. "You too."