Joes virtual face was screwed up in an expression of pure concentration, complete with narrowed eyes, lip-biting, and flared nostrils. He stared at the unstable tower of tiny wooden blocks before him as if it sohow held the secrets to the universe. Warily, slowly, his hand moved towards its midsection. His index finger and thumb gently gripped one of the rectangular blocks, which he proceeded to carefully coax out of the stack. The tower wobbled slightly as its weight shifted, but remained upright as the chosen block was skillfully removed from it.
Once it was clear the pile wouldnt topple over, Joe gripped his new acquisition firmly and threw it at the person opposite him. The wooden block sprouted a tal blade as it spun around in midair. Now a small knife, the object precisely stabbed into Maggies forehead. There was a tense mont before the handle lit up and projected a small holographic sign that clearly and proudly declared, 300 points.
Jenga! Joe triumphantly yelled while throwing his arms up. Huzzah and hip-hip!
His celebration was cut short when a knife-block identical to the one hed thrown struck him right in the eye, which was apparently worth 500 points.
Jenga, the girl rrily declared.
Ugh. Damnit, Maggie, the man grumbled. Couldnt you have let savor that for at least a little bit?
I could have. I chose not to.
So thats how you wanna play it, eh?
Joe plucked the blade out of his face. There was no pain, of course. Not the physical kind, at least. Getting absolutely dominated at Knife Jenga hurt his pride even if he fully expected this outco. It was impossible for Maggie to lose a ga of pure chanical skill, and Joe was well aware of that when he challenged her. His intention wasnt to win, though. Just the opposite, in fact. He had noticed that the two of them mostly played gas that slightly favored his skillset over Maggies, so this was his way of letting her strut her stuff for once. It seed to be working, given how the girl had been grinning ear-to-ear the whole ti.
However, Joe was a simple, petty man, and couldnt help but let his bruised ego get the better of him.
I didnt want to do this, but Im afraid Ill have to unleash my secret technique.
Maggies smiling face lit up with excitent. She always struggled with things like strategies and tactics, and hadnt been able to think of any tricks that could be applied to such a basic ga. Yet Joe apparently had one lying in wait, and she was eager to learn his secret technique. She watched with bated breath as he leaned forward with focused intent. His eyes seed to glint with determination and his face bore a confident smirk. His hands then gripped the edges of the table and, with the fury of a hundred exploding suns, flipped it over, sending the tower of Knife Jenga blocks scattering everywhere.
Match aborted, the gas announcer declared flatly.
Heh-heh, Joe brazenly crossed his arms. Youve still got a long way to go before- Ow. Ow! Ow-ow-ow-ow!
Maggie was less than pleased at this developnt. Both the expression on her face and the eye-adorned tentacle tugging on the mans ear made that more than obvious.
Joe Mulligan.
The words, Uh-oh, full na, crossed the sore losers mind.
We discussed this unacceptable behavior of yours, did we not?
Ow! Ow ow!
You agreed you wouldnt rage-quit anymore, did you not?
Yes! Ow!
Then what was that just now?!
Okay! Im sorry! Im sorry, so please stop! Youre gonna rip my ear off!
Indeed, it was a very real possibility since the girl was tugging on both his virtual and actual earlobes simultaneously in order to bypass the pods pain filter.
It is my understanding that the human nervous system has a way of compensating for the loss of a sensory organ by enhancing the others.
She tilted her head and widened her eyes, amplifying the unforgiving voids of her irises.
Perhaps if I remove one of your ears the other one might actually listen.
But- Owww! Your obligations!
Ear loss is neither fatal nor permanent.
As per usual, Maggie was terrifying when she was angry.
*BRRRRRRING*
Oh, look, soones at- Ow! At the door! Better go see who it is!
Joe took this opportunity and instantly logged out of V-Life. Hed never been so glad to hear a doorbell, nor had he ever truly appreciated the convenience of having it hooked up to the virtual reality pod. It was standard practice to integrate the two systems, of course. There wouldnt be much point to a doorbell if the residents couldnt hear it on account of being plugged into their pods. However, at that point in ti, this seemingly basic feature had doubled as Joes lifeline. It was only a temporary reprieve, though. Maggie woke up at the sa ti, and the look on her face made it clear that this wasnt over.
The girls expression softened considerably when she noticed who was outside the door, just before Joe opened it.
Evening, Mr. Mulligan, Officer Maloney greeted him with a tip of his hat. I apologize for the inconvenience, but may I speak to Miss Oh, please?
Joe stared at the policeman for a good few seconds as his panic shifted to mild irritation.
Uh, sure. Maggie?
Good evening, Officer Maloney, she stepped out of the tiny apartnt.
Evening, Miss Oh, he said with a small nod.
I was not expecting you for another forty hours. Has humanity invented a more efficient ans of faster-than-light communication since we last spoke?
Hah. Nothing of the sort. Im afraid were still stuck to relying on couriers.
Humanity, and indeed the rest of the galaxy, had mastered interstellar travel through wormhole generators. As one might imagine, bending the fabric of reality to create shortcuts through the vast emptiness of space was no simple matter. It required expensive machinery and trendous amounts of energy, but it was by far the most expedient and cost-efficient thod of getting from one end of the Milky Way to the other. However, the civilizations of the galaxy had yet to discover a ans through which they could communicate across the cosmos in real ti. As such, any information, ssages, and other data had to be transported like any other cargo. Barring ergency dispatches, it usually took several days to receive a reply to any letters or missives sent to other solar systems.
In Officer Maloneys case, he was waiting to hear back about a suspect he was investigating from neighboring solar systems, which would take another two days according to freighter schedules.
Ive actually co bearing gifts.
The policeman lifted his left hand to show he was carrying a stack of white plastic boxes in a bag. Each of them was stamped with the crab-thed logo of Leonardo da Pinchi, the classiest seafood restaurant in the area.
I do not require tribute, Officer Maloney, Maggie said matter-of-factly.
What? No, its nothing like that. See, I got called down to Leos because a couple on a date were causing a huge scene, right? he started explaining himself.
Could you get to the point? Joe interrupted. Were kind of in the middle of sothing.
Sorry. Long story short, I handled the situation so well that the owner was really impressed. And grateful. He gave a whole bunch of food he was going to throw away tomorrow as thanks. Its way more than I can eat by myself, and I wouldnt want it to go to waste, so Im passing it around to all my mates and colleagues.
I comprehend, Maggie nodded. In that case, I shall assist in minimizing the wasteful spoilage.
That and shed really like to try the nebula lobster special, Joe chid in.
Indeed, the girl quickly wiped so drool from her chin.
Haha. Well, dont let keep you. Good night, Mr. Mulligan. Miss Oh.
Maloney placed the take-out boxes on the ground and went on his way. Maggies lecture was temporarily postponed as she brought the high-class seafood dishes inside and instantly got into them. She ate in small bites and chewed slowly, fully savoring the free al. She even tossed a few pieces to AzgodKalar, who was chilling amidst her coiling locks as per usual. The tiny serpent seed to like it, and his owner agreed that it was exceptional.
The girl had been quite curious about Leonardo da Pinchis nu ever since she saw an advertisent for it weeks ago, but Joe refused to go there. Not because of the prices. They were actually surprisingly affordable, and Maggie could easily cover them besides. It was the overly posh atmosphere. A basic bloke like Joe didnt belong in that kind of swanky establishnt, and would surely feel awkward and out of place. It was disappointing that he refused to go, but Maggie wasnt going to force him to. Thats why Maloneys gift was most fortunate. It made her so happy that she silently decided to postpone her lecture indefinitely.
Joe, on the other hand, seed to be in a foul mood. It wasnt that he didnt enjoy the food. He absolutely did. Even though V-Life had all kinds of delicious treats, the real deal definitely had a different feel to it. It wasnt a matter of taste or texture, but a psychological response. Knowing that the virtual cuisine was fake tended to make it less satisfying for most people. That was why custors preferred the genuine article over the digital replica, and Joe was no different. However, he was definitely bothered about sothing, and Maggie deed his mood odd enough to warrant addressing.
Is sothing worrying you, Joe?
Hm? No, not really.
Magge instantly grabbed his already aching earlobe and pulled on it.
Ow-ow-ow-ow! Okay! Okay! Youve made your point!
The girl released him with a sigh. It still baffled her how this guy kept forgetting she could imdiately tell that he wasnt being honest, but that was hardly the most important subject at hand.
What is causing you such prolonged concern? she asked.
Prolonged? What?
You have been behaving oddly ever since the incident. Is the sequence of events involving the shooting the cause of your concern?
You could say that, he said evasively.
It had barely been a week since Joe saw Maggie die and co back to life, then slipped into a two-day coma. Logically speaking, even he would suffer so psychological scars after an ordeal like that. Both the dical droid and Joe himself assured her he was fine, but the girl refused to accept their claims. The human mind was a tricky thing that tended to convince itself that it was healthy even when it clearly was not. Joes judgent couldnt be trusted, and neither could the machines. True, it had advanced diagnostic software and several libraries worth of dical texts in its mory, but it was a synthetic mind devoid of free will or self awareness. The very notion that it could accurately psychoanalyze a sentient creature was ludicrous, at least in Maggies opinion. Admittedly the girl was hardly suited to the task either, but she knew soone who was.
Should we go visit Dr. Boring after all? she suggested.
Who?
A ntal healthcare professional in our area. His online reputation is quite promising. He will surely help you overco any trauma you might have.
Ugh, he rolled his eyes. I dont need to see a psychologist.
Psychiatrist, she corrected him.
Sa thing.
No, it isnt.
Look, Im telling you, its nothing that serious. Also, those guys creep out. With their little glasses and big beards and bald heads.
Now that Joe ntioned it, Maggie realized that was actually a trend. Thinking back to her browsing activities, almost all of the psychiatrists she looked into had one or more of those features. Dr. Boring in particular was three for three. Was it perhaps so kind of social construct? An unofficial uniform? Or did the field of psychology simply attract people with those kinds of grooming preferences? No, those were questions for later, and she couldnt get sidetracked.
So you know precisely what is bothering you? she pressed.
Yes! I just dont want to talk about it!
Maggie wasnt having any of that. It wasnt so obligation that made her so persistent, but her own feelings of guilt. She felt personally responsible for putting Joe through that ordeal, and her budding conscience wouldnt calm down until she was absolutely certain that there were no long-term complications. That said, perhaps she was being a bit too pushy. The subject of ntal health seed to be a sensitive one, so perhaps pressuring Joe any further would only backfire.
I comprehend, she relented. I will be here to assist when and if you wish to entrust your thoughts to .
The guy watched her go back to her alien seafood platter with a look that implied he couldnt believe that argunt worked. Once the shock wore off, he felt his ears burning. Not from all the pulling that had gone on, but from a surge of sha. Here she was, the most beautiful, understanding, smart, strong, and terrifying - but in a good way - girl he had ever t. She was only trying to help, and he brushed her off like a jackass. Maggie probably didnt care about being rejected, but Joe absolutely did. After being shot down by romantic prospects ti after ti again, he was deathly afraid that the girl of his dreams might disappear from his life. That was why this subject was so difficult for him.
That said, if there was one woman out there that would tolerate his petty, childish, and pathetic problems, it was Maggie.
Its about Officer Maloney, he finally revealed.
It is? the girl was utterly confused. Are you concerned he might arrest you?
No, of course you dont get it, he groaned. And you probably wont unless I embarrass myself like a twat trying to explain.
The man rubbed his face with both hands and paced around the tiny room as he collected his thoughts. anwhile Maggie quietly set her half-eaten dinner down and gently lowered herself so that she was sitting on the floor instead of in the air.
Try and picture things from my point of view, right? Joe began. I et you, soone absolutely fantastic and charming beyond belief, completely by chance. You decide Im this curious and interesting bloke and follow ho, we spend all this ti together and its a blast. Like, unbelievable. With so far?
The girl nodded firmly.
And then, this Maloney guy shows up out of nowhere and starts acting all familiar with you. He keeps dropping by, talks to you in private, brings you stuff. He even has his own little na for you.
Your concern is my relationship with Officer Maloney?
What? No, dont be silly! he waved his hands around in an exaggerated manner. Why would I be bothered about a good-looking, fit, successful, employed guy in uniform regularly talking to the girl I like? The girl that only follows around on a whim? Thats ludicrous!
Maggies eyes narrowed and she pointed questioningly at Joe.
Yes, thats sarcasm, he anticipated her question.
Oh!
The girl smiled, satisfied that her guess was on the mark.
Oh. Ohhhh
Her expression changed to concern and then to enlightennt as she realized why Joe was acting that way. He was jealous of the policeman. It was curious how the shooting didnt even seem to be a part of it, but other than that, it all suddenly made sense to Maggie. She felt she really should have realized this sooner, what with all those soap operas she followed. Then again, the events and characters in those shows were overly dramaticized. Real jealousy was far more subtle than she had been led to assu.
Furthermore, Joes concerns were completely unfounded. Officer Maloney did all that because he felt indebted to Maggie after she indirectly awakened his inner detective. Ever since then, he had sought her guidance and advice on various leads, patterns, and investigations that he was now actively conducting. He was a disciple at most. Him calling her Miss Oh was sothing he started doing since he felt Mags was a far too informal and inappropriate ans of addressing an existence of her caliber. On the other hand, calling a sweet young girl sothing ominous like Magh'rathlak the Observer didnt feel right, either. So, he started referring to her by the first letter of her title, which proved sufficiently acceptable to both parties.
Maggie knew all that, but Joe didnt. He hadnt been made privy to their talks since Officer Maloney didnt want to drag a civilian into his police work without good reason. Then again, hed probably still be jealous even if he did have all the details. Emotions related to romance tended to be powerful enough to trump logic and reason on a regular basis. As such, alleviating Joes concerns wasnt a simple matter of explaining the situation. Even if that worked and put him at ease, it was only a matter of ti before a similar misunderstanding happened. Maggie would make sure to clear things up regardless, but if she was to properly address this issue, then she had to treat the underlying cause of Joes jealousy.
Naly his abysmally low self-esteem. Joes need to compare himself to Officer Maloney likely stemd from his feelings of inadequacy and incompetence when it ca to won. Addressing such deep-rooted insecurities wasnt sothing that could be done quickly, or easily. Well, not without so serious brain scrambling, but that was too extre an option for sothing so minor. Maggie determined that her best course of action was to give him a push in the right direction, and she knew just how to do it.
The girl stood from the ground and walked over to Joe. She wrapped her hands around his back, pressed her soft mounds against his chest, and nestled her head against his neck. It was no re hug, but an intimate embrace. The poor sod was completely taken aback by the gesture. Completely unsure of how to react, he held his hands up as if he was being arrested and started stamring sothing incomprehensible.
Im sorry, Maggie spoke softly. I understand.
Wuh? Y-you are? You do?
The mans mind was racing as it made a futile attempt to determine where she was going with this.
Yes. It is my fault that you feel this way.
It is?!
I have failed to consider your emotional state, which has caused you distress.
Dont be like that! Its all because Im such a-
Joe Mulligan.
The man instantly clamd up and tensed up as the phrase Uh-oh, full na once more bubbled up to the forefront of his thoughts.
Do not underestimate your own worth as an individual. Though you may be inferior to a specin like Officer Grant Maloney in terms of physical fitness and ntal faculties, I must reaffirm that these qualities are not the basis for my ongoing interest in you.
O-oh. Yeah, I know. Im just a goofy science experint that sotis teaches you pointless things, he said bitterly.
This is true. However, you seem to have a fundantal misunderstanding of exactly what this connection ans to .
Then explain it to ! his frustration spiked. Im not a mind reader! I cant tell what youre thinking unless you use your words!
Speech has its uses, but also its limits. What I wish to convey cannot be trusted to such a basic and inefficient form of communication. That is why I intend to relay my thoughts to you directly, in a way that cannot be misconstrued. However, this thod carries a risk even I cannot fully mitigate. Knowing this, will you accept my unfiltered thoughts, Joe Mulligan?
I I think I would like that, yes.
Then you should comprehend what is required of you next.
The girl pulled her face up, closed her eyes, tilted her head slightly to the side, and stuck her lips out. Joe was absolutely stunned. Of all the ways he imagined this discussion might go, this wasnt one of them. He knew what he was supposed to do, of course. He had fantasized about this mont far too many tis to admit. Yet, now that he was here, he hesitated. Looking down at Maggie, he felt as if he was staring at a deep abyss far beyond his comprehension. Ironic, really, considering his casual and relaxed attitude during their first eting.
Paralyzed by indecision, fear, and uncertainty, he stood there aghast for a full minute. Then two. Or was it five? Maybe ten? Joe was so nervous that his sense of ti was completely screwed up. Yet regardless of how many seconds had actually passed, Maggie didnt move from that spot. She just stood there, pressed against him, waiting patiently without a hint of backing down. Incidentally, she also slled really, really good. Like apples, specifically. Joe liked apples, and focusing on that relaxing aroma cald him down. Having relaxed a bit, his heart stopped thumping madly in his ears long enough for him to hear himself think.
Stop faffing about and just kiss her, you daft cunt!
With that last self-derisive push, Joe screwed up his courage, threw his arms around her, and placed his lips on hers. It was his first real kiss. Maggies too. And then, much like any other fresh experience, the girl took it a few million steps further than expected, as per usual.
Joe felt his awareness expand exponentially outward. By the ti he blinked, he could see ga-city Dave-156 in its entirety. Then he witnessed the planet Butterpond-4, followed closely by the rest of the solar system. He then beheld the particular arm of the Milky Way where his ho was located, but it didnt stop there. He saw the rest of the galaxy, then all the other ones, including the imasurable distances between them. It wasnt until he felt as if he was staring at the entirety of the universe at once that his awareness ceased growing.
There, within that vast quantity of uncaring nothingness, represented by a soul-crushingly insignificant speck, Joe saw his own self. It was an extre level of perspective that could easily leave a sentient mind ntally scarred and deeply traumatized, or at the very least cause severe depression. However, there was sothing there with him. A dark void that shone paradoxically bright surrounded that seemingly inconsequential point, enveloping it in its un-light. It showed that, with all of creation at her disposal, out of infinite possibilities, and in spite of an unthinkable number of variables, Maggie had chosen him, and him alone to embrace with her entire being.
And Joe felt pretty good about that.
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