OVERFLOW.

[665]

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[665]

:P
That's the spirit. Maybe a night of drinking!

It doesn't save that much time.
You get it, Alan. I've tried it.
There are certain topics I know I have to ease into talking about with you, too.
I went too fast one time and we ended up almost enemies.
That was a sad run.

[ Certain topics like how he's dealing with Scratch.

That had ended very poorly, but it usually does. ]

It's a good one, right? :)
One of my favorites.

Not at all, my friend!
With film, you can give in to certain lies.
But you don't enjoy lying to your audience.
However, sometimes with my films, there have to be a few lies here and there to make it compelling. Not a mystery but a deliberate ruse put in so the audience is surprised and maybe even scandalized later.

[because]

Ha.
Want to go on a bender with me?

And you’re not going to tell me any of these topics if I ask, are you?
I never liked Groundhog Day all that much.

The character was a little too cryptic with me though.

Visual media is a whole different thing.
The mystery is what I was doing.
I mean, I need
I WANT the reader to have that moment with a reveal where they realize they could’ve cracked the entire case wide open with all the clues dropped along the way.
The subtle bread crumbs. A few red herrings because it can’t be too easy to make it boring. But nothing that makes it unsolvable.
The “twist” wasn’t a blindsided move. The pages never lied. It was right under their nose the entire time.

[665]

Absolutely.
It's the best way to conjure up ideas!

Nope. I've learned my lesson. :)
Wish I could be more helpful but I can only help this much.
Doing more or less tends to backfire on us.

[ He might get the sensation - like a flash of Tom in the apartment - bobbing his head side-to-side as he agrees that the diver may have been too cryptic. But he flashes a smile to show that he still loves the character. ]

And that is why you're my favorite author.
I hope I can be your favorite auteur.
Even if my medium does have some lies in it.

[ More than some, but eh... ]

[because]

I don’t know about that but I certainly was writing on them in the past.
One of those Night Springs episodes was honestly nothing but cocaine but apparently everyone loved it so…

Couldn’t hurt.
Unless I’ve been looping a hangover this entire time.

[ . . . has he?

Anyway. ]
What’s your poison?

Glad to know I wasn’t doing it in vain.
I’ll have to watch more of your films to return the compliment but I can overlook a lie or two if it pays off.

[665]

Now THAT sounds like a real party.

A jump-cut here and there; you'll never even feel that hangover.

[ ANYWAY! ]

Cocktails.
I'm a sucker for them.
They're too tasty for their own good.

You weren't. I felt there was always meaning in what you did.
AND! I'll hold you to that, Alan!

[because]

You're invited to my next one. Not that I plan on doing lines anytime soon.

You can edit that out? Neat.
Just don't skip too hard that I don't remember it happening at all.
That's becoming too big of an issue.

Yeah? Classy.
I've always just ended up drinking straight out of a bottle somehow.
Actually, have you ever mixed bourbon and coffee together before? Not bad.
Maybe I could invent a cocktail.

Thanks.

[665]

Aw.
More for me, I guess. (^_^)bbb

To take a page out of your book, if it isn't enhancing the story or adding to a scene I'm planning on, no reason to keep it in.
But if you want to have some of it, we can have some of it.
I'm flexible with making sure my collaborators are happy!

I've mixed a lot of stuff over the years.
That's a pretty good one, too.
But! If you made a cocktail, what would you name it?

:)

[because]

I’m strung out too much for it right now.
Lol. Who taught you emojis?

Fair enough.
I don’t want the headache and I don’t miss them at all.
A short montage of aftermath. Can you do that? Just to keep my ducks in a row.

Bet you have some wild stories.
“Metaphor” and it would knock you on your ass.

1/4

[665]

Aw, just some hard liquor for you, then.
Who? Well

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[ Almost stumbled into a forbidden topic there. ]

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I've just been around long enough.
Things slip down here.

You know how it is!

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But anyway!
I can do that!
Something like that's pretty easy.
Dunno if I want to be part of it, but I'll humor the idea!

They're kind of lonely since for a long time just me.
I think it's less a party when you're alone.
More like a solo bender.

The metaphor! That sounds great!!
I'm excited to try it!

[because]

[ Flashes on the TV. Following what happened to Hartmann. Hearing new music.
Echos from the other side.
Zane could’ve learned this way. Checks out. ]

Right.

You can spare yourself the headache. I’m just a stickler for having all the details right now.

Been there.
At least we can spare you the sad solo drinking now. Even if it’s not me, you can get Ahti a drink. He seems like he’d enjoy one. Nice guy.

Glad to hear it!
I have no idea what’s in it.

[665]

[ Whew. ]

Just don't get too lost in them, Alan.

Ah, Ahti.
I did love putting him in my films.
A real charismatic guy.
And what a voice!

We can workshop that together.
If I may!

[because]

I'm trying.

Yeah?
I figured you guys were friends.
He calls me Tom.

Go ahead.
I'm wide open for drink collabs.

[665]

I'll do what I can to help.
You know you.
If you forget, how should I reach out to you?

[ He almost writes "next time." Best not rub salt into an open wound. ]

I wonder why he does that.
Well, we do look quite alike.
Must be a bit confused.

Hooray!
Let's see, gotta think of a good base...
Dark rum, maybe?
Not as popular these days but I think we could bring it back.

[because]

With a phone call.

[ The hindsight in the immediate answer I give to the question makes me feel weary down to my bones. I sigh all the air out of my lungs. ]

Let me try to think of something.
Give me a minute.

You'd think the facial hair would help but you've been here long enough that you've probably tried some different looks, huh?

Rum's great. I don't know why it would lose its luster.

[665]

[ The fact that Tom makes that immediate answer cannot be put into words. Perhaps, it is simply due to a mixture of things. Knowledge, amusement, and a hint of wariness dance over his face.

And all he thinks is: It's good that Alan can't see it. It'd kill the vibes! ]

Of course.
Don't feel rushed at all, my friend.

More than my fair share.
But I like the one I have right now the most.

I dunno.
Too strong for some folks?

[because]

Right.
I just feel like I'm running out of time somehow.
[ What if you- No, that wouldn't work. I'd freak. ]

It looks comfortable, despite the leather.
Are leather pants comfortable?
I've obviously never tried those.

Cowards.
Okay. Dark rum. I'm picturing like an old fashioned but
Chocolate bitters?

[665]

You always feel that way.
Sorry.
Just go with the flow.
The answers will come to you.

They are!
They're all broken in so it's quite comfy.
If you want some, I can lend you a pair.
That's more fun than just deciding on a new outfit, right?

Mmm... that I like that a lot.
The taste already feels like it'd be deep.

[because]

Always?
Fuck me. Now I really want a drink.
If you say so.

No kidding?
Uh. I'll try them if they're good for running.
Are we the same size too? Guess I could just go through your closet.
All I have are sunglasses and tweed, mostly.

It's a really deep metaphor.

[665]

Well, this is kind of new.
But you always act like there's no time.
Or time's slipping away.
I guess the urgency in how we work is a little different.

No kidding!
I hadn't had problems running in them yet.
By my estimate, we're pretty close.
I'll take some sunglasses!

Right, right!!
Needs some spice to it.
Maybe some cardamom.

[because]

There's no way I haven't said that before.
Isn't it though? I feel like it's all borrowed.
Something could happen if I don't get out in time to stop it.

I probably would. I'm more of a jeans guy.
Why is that, anyway? Is that just a coincidence?
Are you even going to tell me if you knew?
You're welcome to them. I always have a pair in my pocket.

Oh. I like that.
We should've been mixologists instead.

[665]

[ He opens his hands in surrender even though Alan can't see it. It's why Zane said "kind of new," which allows for a little bit of deniability. ]

No need to worry too much about it.
Oh, you don't need to worry about him, either.

Yeah, just a coincidence.
I'd tell you if I knew! Honest.
Yay! I only wear them every few runs.
Maybe I'll keep a pair this time.
Would that be weird for you to see them?
Should I hide them, then?

We should've.
Might not be here if we were.
But then we wouldn't have all our collaborations.

[because]

What the hell do you mean?
I'm going to worry.

Some coincidence.
I've loaned them before?
Seeing you is already weird but it might help me know I was there already if you had something of mine like that.
Worth trying, anyway.

So you'd rather have the art than not being trapped in an alternate dimension?