Your shaking shoulders prove that its colder

This struck a sour cord with Tim. All the Operator did was hurt people just for the hell of it. He can’t imagine that it does any good at all. Though he’s sure Alex is just being sarcastic as usual, it still made him slightly perturbed. He tries not to show it since he still wants to make some amends with Alex after, well, what happened.

That doesnt need any explaining.

“Brian- well from what I remember- used to talk pretty highly of you.” Brian. His Brian. That’s the Brian in question. But he used to remember his Brian talking about Alex as if he were a creative genius as deep as the sea itself. It seemed ridiculous, but hey he wasnt gonna stop Brian from being happy.

At the mention of Brian, he immediately perked up, even going as far as to sport a rather bright smile. Brian was always or rather usually such a good friend after all. Everything he did was just what Alex needed to cheer up. All except for being an absolute ass when he lost his mind anyway. Considering how they’d both turned out though, he couldn’t exactly fault him for it. At least Brian never killed anyone after all.

Just be an overall pest but still, that never really did kill anyone. Not directly anyway.

The thought of those old times makes him sad- though he still sees those memories through fond eyes. Those were good times. Everything had felt okay for a while. That, of course, didn’t last long. It was nice while it lasted.

“You should have heard Brian on the way to the audition.” He shakes his head, remembering how Brian was so proud of Alex for putting together Marble Hornets. 

With a mix of what? and the fuck? swirling in his mind, he couldn’t quite diagram everything Alex said straight away. It even took a minute for it to click that “T.O.” = “The Operator.” This isn’t the kind of thing he expected to hear. But what could he expect? There’s not any reasonable way of explaining de-aging.

Government place? What caliber of government place? Do they work with the Operator? Are they hurting Alex? 

….Are they hurting Alex? That, in this moment, seems like a safer and more pertinent question in this current moment.

Yes, he could ask about the government place but hes sure Alex can’t talk about that in open areas if at all ever. Which begs the question, how much of any of this can Alex even talk about? It’s hard to tell. Call him paranoid, but Tim doesn’t exactly trust the government already, this doesn’t help.

“Are the o- the thing or the government people hurting you?”

Okay that’s just the weirdly worded version of are you okay, Tim realizes but no point in dwelling.

He cocked his head when Tim questioned him again. It was odd for someone to take it that seriously but then again, it was probably weirder for him to be used to such things. Maybe I said too much after all. 

It’s not like he had anyone else to talk to about it since it’s kinda a sore subject for the others, or he figured anyway. So really it just sorta slipped out. It was nice to finally talk about it since it was a huge thing and all, but he still wasn't’ sure if it was quite the best idea. 

“Honestly? I h-haven’t really seen TO sin-since then. Or well since before the gov-vernment shit anyway.” Not that he could remember anyway. Having no memory in this state wasn’t exactly uncommon though since he was constantly forgetting what was going on; usually needing to rely on someone to help him remember. Mangle really tended to come in handy with that which he was eternally thankful for.

But was it a crime or self defense? In all honesty whoever it was that did this was not following laws restricting unethical practices in science. Laws he’s heard to hell about.  Though, was it possible to turn someone into an age that young? Apparently? Really the entire situation is just, confusing? That’s the only term it can be mentally described as for the socially inept.

“You don’t suck at socializing, don’t worry.” He waves his hand dismissively, though he keeps it low in hopes of not frightening Alex. “I just can’t carry a conversation.”

He hopes that will help, but he doubts it. He never exactly practiced talking to people so it’s not easy. The best he knows is being polite to anyone who works in retail. But otherwise he’s not really gonna say ten words where he can say two.

“I think it’s a bit of both actually, since I used to be able to just carry a conversation on my own.” Alex shrugged. He glanced at Tim’s hand as he waved it around and very nearly went to playfully swipe at it. He managed not to though which he was glad for but the urge to do it was still there.  Just focus on talking.

“I was probably always thought to be annoying because of it though so who knows, maybe that freak did everyone a favour.”

That doesnt need any explaining.

He couldn’t really catch what Alex muttered, but he wasn’t gonna press him on about that. Might as well drop the movie before he unintentionally does cause unnecessary problems.

Anyway, yeah that had made it even. So there was no point in talking about it anymore anyway. Theres nothing to say about it anyway.

“Yeah that’s fair. “ He says with a nod of agreement

Even without TO’s influence, he couldn’t carry a civil conversation apparently. That’s reassuring… I’m glad I’m a lost cause no matter what. He sighed internally at the thought.  Maybe he could salvage this though. Or at the very least just apologize for being unbearable. 

This creates a lot of concern. He knows Alex had done unforgivable things in his life? Death? Span of being awake? But he certainly does not deserve to die multiple times. He didn’t even deserve to die when Tim killed him.

He would ask if Alex was okay. But that’d be a dumb question, and one Alex wouldn’t answer even if the question were legit. Alex is stubborn like that. Then again, Tim isnt one to talk, hes just about as stubborn as Alex so really he can’t complain. He also can’t really blame Alex either. Had it been the other way around, Tim would probably be just as stubborn and distrusting.

That didn’t stop his concern.

“What happened?” The concern dripped in his tone- even in his face no matter how much he tried to hide it. He’s just too damn expressive sometimes.

At first Alex just figured that Tim was simply curious about his current state because most people probably would be. His expression said otherwise though, and it was admittedly odd to think that Tim could ever be concerned for him of all people.

Despite how strange it was, it was actually rather nice. At least I know I’m not that much of a hindrance now.

Regardless, he had no intention of letting on to that so he simply shrugged.

“I jusst ended up getting kil-killed again. I think I was suppo-posed to stay dead since it toook forever this time.” He replied, taking a second to think it out since really he was pretty fuzzy on the whole thing. He remembered dying which honestly makes him terrified of ever bleeding anymore so he would rather he didn’t remember that bit.  And then two months later he woke up in that weird government place as a teenager. And some of my friends were there with me. 

“Umm…I’m n-not really sure though, I just rememb-ber that and then coming back completely br-brainwashed pretty much.” He sighed softly at that fact. Remembering being like that certainly wasn’t fun. “But anyway, I g-guess it’s easier for TO to con-control younger minds so I guess I p-pissed him off with disobeying to-too much.”

Government place? What caliber of government place? Do they work with the Operator? Are they hurting Alex? 

....Are they hurting Alex? That, in this moment, seems like a safer and more pertinent question in this current moment.

Yes, he could ask about the government place but hes sure Alex can’t talk about that in open areas if at all ever. Which begs the question, how much of any of this can Alex even talk about? It’s hard to tell. Call him paranoid, but Tim doesn’t exactly trust the government already, this doesn’t help.

“Are the o- the thing or the government people hurting you?”

“I mean, it certainly could be worse.” He gives  little shrug. It could have been as bad as Jurassic shark… But that wouldve been hard to top probably.

“Not really, no.” He reaches to pick at his own lip awkwardly, feeling a tad sheepish.

That was a little better so there was some hope but it didn’t lift his spirits about it all that much. “Jee thanks, Tim, that makes me feel so much better.” Alex scoffed before quickly and quietly muttering to himself. “You might as well just kill me again.”

There was no point in getting pissed off about it though. That would just cause unnecessary problems after all. Luckily being part fox helped keep his calm. Of course having work that you were passionate about would bother anyone so there was still a bit of irritation left over.

Anyway, yeah that had made it even. So there was no point in talking about it anymore anyway. Theres nothing to say about it anyway.

Of course he’s skeptical. But the whole fox thing did make enough sense to convince him that this is definitely the person he had killed.

How he hates to think of once killing Alex, but he did it and he cant undo that. So no point in sugar coating what happened. If that’s even completely possible to do? It probably isn’t, which is for the best. He’d rather not stick his head in the sand like an ostrich. 

“Nope, just you.” He states that much first before formulating what else to say without sounding too insensitive. “Since when were you a teenager though?”

“Aren’t I special.” Alex snorted with a roll of his eyes. “And I d-dunno, Tim, maybe abo-about eleven years ago? Everyone t-tends to be a teeenager at some point in their lives, or did-did you not have that?”

He would ask if Alex was okay. But that’d be a dumb question, and one Alex wouldn’t answer even if the question were legit. Alex is stubborn like that. Then again, Tim isnt one to talk, hes just about as stubborn as Alex so really he can’t complain. He also can’t really blame Alex either. Had it been the other way around, Tim would probably be just as stubborn and distrusting.

That didn’t stop his concern.

But it was too late! He already began to piece things together… But he couldn’t be sure… This could be a kid trying to mess with him. I mean, his face is plastered on the internet now and not even subtly. Before he didnt even have social media profile pictures but his face is just everywhere now.

He certainly couldnt just ask if this was Alex or  prank. He can’t trust that someone wouldn’t lie right off the bat. Anyway, Alex isnt event his young…

Tim hs never seen Alex anytime before his early twenties and if he saw any pictures- well he wouldnt know, he can barely remember what hes done every day the past week mucuh less some pictures he glanced t when he was 19.

So he formulates his words carefully.

“You already said it, how do you know my name?”

“Umm.” He muttered, glancing to his pet in hopes that she had an idea for how to get out of this mess. Of course she didn’t though, she only knew so much and he’d already fucked up. All she suggested was coming clean. ‘That would be fucking embarrassing.’ Alex replied back to her with a combination of movements and yips. 

He hadn’t even realized he’d spoken more akin to an animal until Mangle mentioned it. And apparently he didn’t stutter like that. Then again it’s magic so it probably doesn’t give a damn about what his brain thinks. Great, I love useless information. Alex hissed internally. And what’s better than useless shit than me drawing a fucking blank and then ‘talking’ like a lunatic in front of Tim. 

With an exasperated sigh, he pinched at the bridge of his nose. This really was a lost cause. I can’t salvage this so she’s probably right.

How he hates to think of once killing Alex, but he did it and he cant undo that. So no point in sugar coating what happened. If that’s even completely possible to do? It probably isn’t, which is for the best. He’d rather not stick his head in the sand like an ostrich. 

He rolls his eyes but the slight smile on his face stays, “Just tweak it?” He asks, somewhat as a joke… Somewhat….

The topic of mental hospitals makes him pause. Those werent necessarily happy memories. At least, from what he remembered. Most of said memories were being dragged to his room and isolated then being given pills. Though, that’s not really something you bring up in conversation. “Yeah that’s right.”

“C’mon, it’s not that bad is it?” He knew it needed work but it wasn’t a complete mess was it? He put years into writing it so if it really was that bad then was it really all for nothing? Well that’s fucking depressing if so then. It was mildly irritating as well actually. It was a lot of work after all.

Hes sure hed remember knowing someone who looked like this. Not that he was judging, but theyre certainly out there.

“Wow, T-tim, you r-really can’t recogniiize the person you m-murdered?” He scoffed, choosing to ignore Mangle’s incessant yipping. Whatever she had to say could wait. “And I thought that my m-memory was bad.” 

Before he could get into trying to somehow convince Tim that the crash was his fault though, he finally managed to catch what his pet was trying to tell him. Once it sunk in, he immediately lost his aggravated demeanor.

He certainly couldnt just ask if this was Alex or  prank. He can’t trust that someone wouldn’t lie right off the bat. Anyway, Alex isnt event his young...

Tim hs never seen Alex anytime before his early twenties and if he saw any pictures- well he wouldnt know, he can barely remember what hes done every day the past week mucuh less some pictures he glanced t when he was 19.

So he formulates his words carefully.

  Despite the cold temperature of fall, Tim didnt mind actually walking rather than driving sometimes. Not for any reason of course. It just, for some reason, felt right to him.

  Especiallly after finally figuring out how to navigate around the neighborhood and get into town. Sure he’s been there awhile, but still. Memory isn’t exactly his forte.

At least he had some means of getting around now though. And the means of transportation he opted for were heelies. Definitely not as embarrassing as being driven around anywhere. Plus they’re pretty sweet still. Then again, since the shoes went out of style years ago, he might just look like a jackass. Being part fox and looking like a scene kid probably didn’t help either. Well I always tried to stand out so I guess this works.  

And thanks to his wonderfully rad way around and his oh so helpful fox guide, he was making decent time in getting to the library on his own. As handy as Mangle was though, Alex couldn’t help but find himself getting lost in his thoughts as he hummed familiar tunes from the past to himself, causing him to accidentally crash into someone. To his defense though, no one should have been walking around on a chilly day like this. 

Hes sure hed remember knowing someone who looked like this. Not that he was judging, but theyre certainly out there.