in the midnight hour

[Jiang Wen]

He turned the card over in his hand, not for the first time. Every time he actually thought about calling the stranger that appeared in the art shop, he found himself wilting and deciding not to. This time, it was late at night. He couldn't sleep and that card was sitting there on the bedside table, taunting him. When he picked it up, he wondered again if he should do it. Bite the bullet. Make the call. Wen would never see him again if he didn't. It was probably better that way.

Yet, this time, he reached over and swallowed hard before he picked up his phone. Wen, he was old fashioned. He didn't own a cell phone. He had only this landline, in this small rundown cabin in the middle of nowheresville, Oregon. There were others nearby, built into a haphazard community but half of them were empty and the other half were housing hermits just like Wen. It was quiet out here, just the way he liked it.

Hesitantly, he poked the numbers on the card and he clutched the phone harder afterward.

"Hello?"

Queen HaloQ

[Seb DeMarco]

Night time... something.... something... boring... no one cares... can't remember the password for the porn sites... ugh... and then the telephone.

"Oh, thank god!"

Seb picked up the phone.

"Hello, you've reached the house of Seb DeMarco. If you're related to me, go fuck yourself. If I slept with you, how the hell do you have this number? If you are a demon come to tell me I'm going to die in seven days... please. It didn't work the nine previous times."

"Wait, I know that voice. Wen? My precious genius! Is that you? What took you so long? Are we going out for coffee and gossip? Wait, no - it's night. Never mind. What's up?"

[Jiang Wen]

Huh? Demon...?

"Yes. It's... Wen."

Why did I call? This was a stupid thing to do. Why did I not anticipate that question? And why did I call so late at night?

"...what was that money for?"

[Seb DeMarco]

"That's awesome. I was this close to bribing that one town officials to get your number. Luckily you called first."

"Money? Oh, yeah - the check. I don't remember if I broke anything so I left it just in case. Or you can say that you made a sale. You might get a bonus out of it or something. I don't know anything about work. Though I don't know why you'd do that when you could keep the money for yourself."

"Was that it? Or was there something else?... Please, tell me there's something else. I'm going to die of boredom otherwise. I have nothing but you right now."

[Jiang Wen]

"Ah. But... you didn't buy anything." That I remember...

"No, I... I don't think there was anything else. I apologize for waking you up.
...and for your boredom."

[Seb DeMarco]

"... Oh, yeah - I got distracted. So I guess you can keep the money. There's more where that came from. I'm not bragging... well, yes, I am."

"No, no, no, no, no. I wasn't asleep. Besides, I read online that the sign of a good friend is the willingness to listen to their friends at any time. So that's what I'm doing. Because we are friends. That's now happening, just so you know. So let it all out. I want to hear everything."

[Jiang Wen]

"I will use it, then."

He doesn't need to know on what.

"It's dark here. They don't run electric out here anymore. Is it dark where you are?"

[Seb DeMarco]

"Great! What are you getting? No, don't tell me. I don't really care."

"Wait, what? What kind of low-ass accommodations do you have? Do you need a generator? I can get you one. No, wait - that's not the question you asked. I don't think so. The street lights are supposed to be on. There was some newsletter about it. I don't know. But I have these amazing shutters on my windows. There could be an Apocalypse outside and I couldn't tell. I'm also having a hard time keeping track of my circadian rhythms but YOLO! What's the worst that can happen? Oh, maybe I'll turn into one of those things in the Russian Sleep Experiment. No, wait - that's not real... nor has my family ever tried to replicate it."

"You know, if I knew anything about psychology, I could say that your interest in the dark could have some other, deeper implications. But I don't know anything about that. So I'm assuming you don't like the dark. Which makes two of us. Solidarity."

[Jiang Wen]

A free generator?

"I could use a working generator. I live on the outskirts. They don't make it a priority to get electric out here for us. That means no street lamps, either. I don't know what you're on about with the sleep experiments but if you weren't organic... you wouldn't even need sleep."

"I don't like the dark. At the moment, it's just a necessity."

[Seb DeMarco]

"That's a questionable choice. I mean in a town with witches and werewolves and who knows what else light should be a priority... unless there are creatures who like the light. Nah, probably not. No, wait - go back to that last part. Are you suggesting you should turn me into a robot? Because I'm sorta OK with it. I mean it's only fair after I experimented on you. I made you chatty and you'll take away my bodily functions. That's seems fair, right? Hold on for a moment."

Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap

"OK, you'll have a top-of-the-line generator by tomorrow noon. Do you want it delivered to your door or do you want to pick it up yourself?"

"Yeah, darkness sucks. You're just alone. It's quiet. Nothing is happening. Just your thoughts. All the things you tried to hide from. Not that I'd know anything about that. But speaking of - do you need anything else? I'm worried about your basic necessities. Remember, you are not a robot. You just date one. Unlike me. By that I mean I sleep with man-whores but also I'm a man-whore too."

[Jiang Wen]

"No, that's not fair and I'm not turning you into a robot."

Silence for a long moment. If he tells Seb to deliver it, he'll know where he lives--although he's not so sure that Seb can't find that out on his own anyway.

"I'll pick it up in town."

And why wouldn't I know about hiding?

"... I do not date a robot anymore. He's... gone. And that's... ah. Good to know. But I'm fine. Really."

[Seb DeMarco]

"OK, fine... but you could? Just theoretically?"

"Cool, cool... by town you meant your front door, right? Because that's where it's going to be. I kinda know where you live. I bribed a city clerk. It's not weird. I have a frenemy now called Gio and I was trying to get his info but I figured I'd get yours too while I was at it. Sorry."

"What? No! This took a dramatic turn I was not expecting. You built your perfect man and then he leaves. This is just too sad. Wait, did you chip him? Maybe we can find him. I'm strong so I can hold him down until we make it clear to him that it was a huge mistake for him to leave a catch like you. I mean just look at your hair."

[Jiang Wen]

"I... I'm not sure. Possibly. But when you... connected to me, you were powerful. I'm not sure I have that kind of power, to tether you to a machine."

....

"If that's what you prefer."

He already has my information. What more can I do?

"I was the one who let him go." Long pause. "What does my hair have to do with it?"

[Seb DeMarco]

"Oh, me - powerful? You don't say. But seriously, you slammed me into a wall without even trying. If you believe in yourself, you can totally do it! I believe in you:"

"Great. Don't worry. I won't be there unless you invite me... or I get super bored. It's only going to be the delivery guy. I made a special note for them to send some sexy so it'll be fun for you."

"What? What is this soap opera drama I've landed it and why hasn't happen to me sooner? Why did you do that, my too precious for this world friend?"

"Really? Do you know what a blessing it is to have a guy with long hair? It looks good. It feels good. And guys can hold on to it and give it to you good. I'd kill to have your hair. Mine's kinda there. They can get a grip but it's not tight enough. I've made sure everything else about me is tight so that should be too. Is this too much information again? Tell me when that happens, OK?"

[Jiang Wen]

"Ah." Was that me? "I think I'll pass on the sexy, please and thank you."

/sighs

"Is this just a drama to you? I let him go because I was realizing... You know what, never mind. It doesn't matter now. But your obsession with long hair is becoming apparent. It might be too much information, yes. Do I really need to know what you prefer in a... sexual partner?"