fissionmailed | Been wanting to post this forever.

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Been wanting to post this forever.

[Huey was actually feeling pretty good that day, having recently been intimate with Strangelove, as he wandered into a random room that was drawing him in. Then his eyes lit up with interest as he rolled up to a small table with something glorious upon it. He hadn't had a Ziganov in years so he excitedly opened up the pack of cigarettes, lit up, and smoked that vanilla flavor. He let out a long smokey pleased sigh when he suddenly froze, seeing writing appearing across the wall in front of him and his own voice reading a familiar love letter to the room.]

        Hey. Long time no see, huh?

        Sorry for writing to you out of the blue like this. I've been trying to get in touch, but, you know, you haven't been answering... Was it something I said, maybe? If so, I apologize. It's just there's something I want to tell you. So... I decided to put it in a letter...
        I mean, obviously this isn't the best time at all. But I was, you know, kind of curious. About your... research and stuff... Speaking of which, how's the pod coming along? I was wondering whether that program I wrote was working or not. You know, the one that links our two AIs together. If it's not, I could always... go over and fix it... if that's OK, of course. For my own peace of mind, really. You know make sure the program's feeling alright... Er. I guess you wouldn't really say a program 'has feelings,' would you? Ha ha ha...
       Sorry. I'm getting off track here. So, um anyway I've been meaning to tell you something for the longest time. I've been thinking... back when we first met at NASA... those were fun times. You know, living the dream, getting to work all the time with the... the science we loved. Ever since then I've always held you... your... your... research, that is... in highest esteem. No, more than that... I think you're a... a w-w-w-wonderful person. S-Sorry I don't even know what I'm trying to say here. So when you disappeared from NASA all of a sudden, I was devastated. That's when it finally dawned on me... I.. I need you... For my research, you see. I mean, no! Well, yes and no. It's hard to explain...
        Anyway when I saw you were in Costa Rica I could hardly believe it. I thought maybe a divine intervention or something... you know, like it was written some where that we were meant to be like this. You and me, the two of us, from now on... you know... just you and me... doing research together... I mean not just research... well... there's research of course... But research can have so many different meanings, can't it? I'm rambling again, sorry. But we don't have much time left. When Peace Walker is finished, that's it right? There's the end of the project. So... what I'm trying to say is... us... Peace Walker is like something we created together, you know... And when it's finished... then we'll ...
        ... I know we're not done yet. Need to finish it first , right? Yeah. Until we do I just hope you won't disappear like you did on me last time.

        Sorry for taking up your time. I wish you the best of luck with your research.

        Your dear friend,

        Huey

[... He just sat there, dumbfounded, wondering what the hell he was thinking when he wrote that to Dr. Strangelove. Then Dr. Emmerich went back to smoking, hoping no one would see that old message.]

((Welcome to the Love Letter Room! Feel free to "write" one, or just think about it and it'll appear, to anyone within the Nexus or not - addressing it is optional. It shall write itself on one of the walls in the room and be read out loud. Be prepared for people's reactions. Have fun.))

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[He pales, taking in the realization.] S-so you are from...

Oh.

[This is the one he needs to apologize to, even if he hadn't actually done anything yet before he came. And talking to his father had always been so hard...]

[The silver fox realized the change in complexion and took in an extra long suck of smoke, letting it out slowly through his mouth.]

Going to beg and plead for forgiveness like the other yous have?

[He felt that bitterness brewing instead him again - being only two years older than his world's son was hitting close to home.]

I-I... [that took him by surprise. It's not the first time he experiences his father's sarcasm, but knowing what he would have done, it hurts all the more.] Yes.

[He needs to take a deep breath, but the air around smells like cigarette smoke. He just-- steadies himself. Hal is not sixteen anymore.] I didn't do anything. B-but I was going to.

[Huey tapped some stray ashes off his cigarette onto the ashtray near him.]

Didn't screw Julie in your world?

[Having talked to one of the other Hals about it, he's more understanding of the whole thing, but don't expect forgiveness quite yet. The man wasn't at that point yet.]

[He winces at how direct his father is being. A bit stunned for a proper response:] No.

I was t-taken from before that happened.

[Huey often get direct when he's a bit pissed.]

... Some of your older alternates filled you in to what happened?

[So this is another one from before 1996. He feels a bit conflicted. Should he hate his son for a sin he hasn't committed?]

Y-yes. They did. [And they were all too clear in what it had been.]

I think... uhm. Just apologizing d-doesn't cut it, isn't it.

[Papa Emmerich breaks his stare and looks away from his son. He pauses for a long moment, more conflicted now. This Hal knew of the future act but he didn't do it. How should he feel about that?]

... Should I hate you for a betrayal you haven't committed yet?

[His words are shallow, awaiting Hal's response. He smoked silently, still wondering the answer to that himself.]

I d-don't know. Maybe if... the will to betray was there... maybe you should. [He lets out a shaky sigh.]

I didn't mean to betray you, Father. I was-- [Hal doesn't know how to justify it now he knows better. He had loved Julie, and hadn't realized how she was manipulated him at the time.]

[The man takes in another long intake of smoke, loving the sensual feeling of it in his mouth, calming him down. The conversation is making him panic internally.]

Hrm. [He knows their affair wasn't... for the purpose to torture and get back at him. As the other Hal had explained, they were both so lonely and in the same house and, well, Julie took their relationship to a different level. Huey couldn't blame just her. Hal had the choice to stop at any point but he didn't.]

[Emmerich is still unsure what to say - what a weird predicament. He decides to ignore his son's words.] I know you and Julie didn't do it to hurt me. I was just... an inconvenience who was never home.

[He shakes his head.] I... don't think I should hold you responsible for something you haven't done. Like how murder and conspiracy to commit murder aren't the same crime... I...

[Papa sighs, not even sure if his logic is right. He would have to think on this - and he still wanted to confront Julie at one point, if she's here. That's the main hurdle he wants to metaphorically jump over before he can move on to a higher level of understanding.]

[He seems a bit shaken up by his father's words. And hurt.] Y-you were never an inconvenience... dad. [A sigh.] Though, it would've been nice if you were home more-- frequently.

[It's worse when he catches up when the meaning of the rest. "Murder" and "conspiracy to murder"... he deserves that, isn't it?] It's still my fault. I was a-- a stupid kid who fell in love, who didn't consider the consequences. S-so selfish.

I almost destroyed my family back in my world. I'm so sorry about what happened in yours.

[This is the closest he has been to truly communicating with his father in years, now that Hal thinks about it.]

[Huey was noticing his son's distress and he, himself, was stressing out inside, hardly showing any emotion on the outside.]

[The other Hal had commented on Huey not being home, also. He never felt intellectually challenged at home - his family wasn't interested in the same topics as he was. His colleagues at school and constant exposure to the internet filled his need for information. He never realized, until coming to the Nexus, what he had missed by not being at home. Emmerich never noticed he was missed by his family.]

Hrm...

[Guess selfishness must run in the family. He took in a final intake of smoke then put the cigarette out in the ashtray on the table next to him.]

Come here, son.

[Papa had been in almost constant exposure to Hals since arriving here so he was getting used to actually speaking to his son again. And, now, he had a few words he needed Hal to hear.]

[If Huey had been paying any attention, he would have noticed the interests of his son were painfully alike his. They could've bonded over them, maybe even taught him a bit. As it was, Hal had learnt the basic ropes of informatics and robotics alone, and had no one to talk to with the same interests as him, either.]

[Hesitantly, he takes a couple of steps towards his father and a deep breath.] I-I'm here. I'll listen.

[As soon as Hal was close enough, Huey leaned forward and grabbed his collar with both hands, forcing him forward and to look his father in the eyes. He gave the angriest glare he could possibly muster, his eyes turning a deeper shade of blue.]

Hal, if you ever leave this place and go back to the real world, you will not start or be in a relationship with Julie, understand? And don't you dare be involved with someone I'm involved with while here. Got it?

[He kept his grip tight, being dead serious. If Huey could prevent himself from drowning in alternates time line and spare himself future pain, like hell he was going to try to prevent it!]

[The violence of the gesture takes him completely by surprise, forcing a gasp out of him. He doesn't dare to look anywhere but his father's eyes, and the anger he sees there makes him shudder.] Y-yes sir.

[Breathe. Breathe. He reminds himself his father had all the right in the world to outright hate him if he felt like it. Still, Hal can't help but feel hurt. Moments pass as he calms down.] I already knew that, father. S-since the first time I was told.

[He doesn't fight his father's grip.] 'sides, I'm eighteen already. I-it's most likely I'll never get out of here.

Good. [Huey loosened his grip a bit.] Guess the me of your former world is still living then.

[He pushed his son away a bit, feeling better now that he had said that, hoping this one wouldn't screw up the family. Then he just felt awkward, withdrawing his hands back and dropping his stare.]

... Is there really no way out of here?

[Not that he had anything to go back home to but hell but that thought did sadden him a bit. That meant Emmerich, himself, couldn't go back and set everything right either.]

I-I hope so. [He thinks of his world in a sort of nostalgic way, but really, he has it so much better here... He has grown up. And here he didn't have to face his version of his father. His shame is still too strong.]

[Huey lets him go, and Hal relaxes a bit, relieved. He's not that great at physical contact, and much less so if said contact is unfriendly.] Some people d-do escape out of here. Or, uhm, most likely the place spits them out.

[it's strange to go back to talking more basic things now. The place, it's strange sense of time. But at least he can keep on talking to Huey, like he hasn't done in ages. Way before he was sucked into the Nexus, when they barely greeted each other.]

[Papa, himself, was starting to think he was better off here, having the chance to talk to all versions of Hal and spending time with his exwife. Back home, it was just... death.]

Hrm... So we're just slaves to the building's will then, huh? [He frowned but looked overall less angry, having told his son what he wanted him to hear.]

[Huey was also liking the less strained relations with any version of his son, beginning to see how much he had missed the past couple of years. Hal wasn't... too much of a disappointment in his eyes.]

It's more l-like the real world - anything can happen. It's just that "anything" is a lot more ample here.

[This is a safe topic for him. He's used by now to talk about the building, and manages to calm down little by little from his previously agitated state.]

[... It's actually nice, sharing his knowledge with his father. Being "not too much of a disappointment" in his eyes is quite the compliment, coming from him.]

[Huey pushed up his glasses, reaching out for another cigarette.] That is what I've concluded as well. This place should only exist in science fiction, in my opinion.

[He lit up again, not giving a damn about how rude he was being by smoking so close to another person, remembering how the other Hal hadn't liked him doing that.]

Want one? [Emmerich extended the box to him, still not making eye contact. The fact that he would even offer his son such a thing was a big deal for him. Hal was still his flesh and blood, no matter what he did. Even if the concept of 'family' was very warped in Huey's mind, he still loved his son.]

I-it's not that bad, I think. Allows for... impossible things to happen.

[He's avoiding eye contact too. Hal doesn't know what to make of the offer. Is it a test? He answers sincerely:] Father... You do know I don't like cigarettes as a whole, d-don't you?

If you ask me, impossible things exist for a reason, Hal. I don't think everything should be attainable. Some things just... are.

[There's one thing off the bat he would love to fix - his faulty genes. Too bad the Nexus couldn't rewrite them so he could walk.]

[Huey blew the smoke out of the corner of his mouth, away from his son.] Yeah. That's what your alternates have told me. Good to see you didn't pick up the bad habit.

[And he stuffed the box into his breast pocket, a bit giddy about his find. The brand wasn't available in the States.]

Y-you never know, what things one can attain here. Even if it's just... temporary. It's just the way the building is.

[The Nexus may not fix his father's spine forever, but he could get thrown in a room that helps him walk.]

's okay. I don't even like the smell, really, but I was used to it, w-when you were home [It does remind him of you. Maybe that's the reason his alternates are so bothered by it?]

... You're speaking of those effect rooms, correct?

[He had enjoyed being a woman for three days - mostly due to Strangelove. Huey wouldn't mind going into that room again for her. - Maybe there was one out there that could make him walk - he had certainly been wondering about that.]

I guess you didn't get used to it often, huh? [One of the other Hals had made him realize how often he wasn't home. He had never realized he was missed before coming to the Nexus. Miscommunication or none at all seemed to be a major problem within the Emmerich family.]

Yeah. Yeah, I am. [He tries to avoid the rooms, to be honest, but sometimes curiosity gets the better of him.]

You worked so much. [A sigh. He's a budding workaholic too, so he kind of understands, but...] I-I really wish we had a better relationship.

[And Huey doesn't know how hard it was for Hal to admit that.]

Thanks! (FFS RL. Gotta go, what kind of timing is this.)

No problem. Have fun.

<3

<3

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