closed; Merton and Tommy

[overactiveimagination]

[Merton has sent the better part of the week trying to research what the hell sort of a place they're in. He can't find a half-way decent computer anywhere, so he's resorted to spending most of his days in the bookstore reading everything he can get his hands on. He was so busy he barely noticed a week had passed until a note was innocently left on the desk in their hotel room, asking them to pay up or leave, please.

They're both getting ready for the morning when Merton slides the note over, a nervous look on his face.]

I'd call it something like an eviction notice, but that would involve us even choosing to live here in the first place.

Comments

[justhairy]

[Tommy glances at the note and then shrugs.]

Don't worry about it, Merton. I got plenty of knock-knock jokes.

[Yes, he's still impressed that the guy at the pub takes jokes as payment.]

[overactiveimagination]

Tommy, I think paying for a hotel room is going to be a little more than coke. There must be some sort of rate of exchange.

[justhairy]

I'll add a few "Your mama" jokes then. You worry too much.

[overactiveimagination]

No, I worry exactly the amount that is called for in any given situation. We've been here for a week, Tommy. Either we seriously need to start looking for a way out or...

[justhairy]

What do you expect me to do?!

[Yeah, okay, so maybe Tommy isn't as chill about being trapped here as he seems.]

So far, nobody's shown up saying "Hey, I'm the one who brought you here. Beat me up and I'll send you home!" You're the genius.

[overactiveimagination]

First of all, thank you for the genius comment.

[He collapses on the nearest bed with a sigh, body sagging.]

I don't know what I'm doing either. I've read everything I can about this place, and nada! If I had my collection back home...

[justhairy]

You have books about crazy alternate dimensions where fictional people are real?

What am I saying. Of course you do.

[overactiveimagination]

I find it best to be prepared for any situation.

Except maybe not quite prepared enough, in this situation.

[He flops again dramatically.]

I'm a failure!

[justhairy]

Oh come on.

[He sits on the edge of the bed and pats Merton reassuringly on the chest.]

You'll figure it out. You always do.

[overactiveimagination]

Thanks, Tommy. You're a really good friend.

[Tommy gets patted in return on the nearest part Merton can reach, which is an awkward angle on his hip.]

[justhairy]

I know. [grin]

Right. Well, I'm gonna go pay up for the room while you [pokes Merton's belly] work on finding us a way outta here.

[overactiveimagination]

[Merton pokes him with his toes in retaliation.]

Yeah, I'll get right to that. I'll research the room service menu for clues.

[justhairy]

[Tommy tickles him a little in retaliation before quickly heading out the door.]

[overactiveimagination]

[Merton still has his suspicions about how Tommy's going to convince them not to kick them out. Which is why he packs the few things he owns in this place into the most goth-friendly backpack he could find. Just in case.]

[justhairy]

[It doesn't take long for Tommy to come back, looking traumatized.]

[overactiveimagination]

Do I dare ask?

[justhairy]

She wanted my memory of my first...

[He can't even say it.]

We gotta get outta here, man.

[overactiveimagination]

Wait, people here can actually take memories as a form of payment? I have to go talk to her! This could be revolutionary!

[justhairy]

NO.

[Tommy grabs Merton's shoulders.]

No way, man. Let's just go, all right?

[overactiveimagination]

Fine, fine. You got out of the wrong side of the bed today.

So where are we supposed to go?

[justhairy]

There're apartment buildings around here, right? We can just ask them if they have any space. Should be pretty simple.

[overactiveimagination]

[Oh. A place for him and Tommy. To live in. Together.

It makes sense really. They're the only two who know each other here, and it would be stupid to split up. Besides, it's not like Tommy doesn't spend half his life in the lair since the beginning of the school year. Still. An apartment. It feels like a big step.

All this goes through Merton's brain, but emerges as-]

Aren't we a little young to be renting an apartment?

[justhairy]

[Tommy frowns, confused.]

What else are we supposed to do?

[overactiveimagination]

I guess so. Short of finding our way out of here within the next hour, we don't have too many options.

I wonder if this place has wanted ads in the newspaper. Actually, I have no idea if they have a newspaper. Wouldn't that be hard to maintain with people coming and going all the time? If they had a solid infrastructure in place I guess they could still work it. High turn-over, though.

[justhairy]

Merton, you're babbling. Let's just go, walk around, knock on a few doors, and see what we can find out.