Nina's Cell

[Ryan Gabriel]

"And fake is just a waste," Ryan said dismissively. "Like fooling around with mannequin."

[Nina Madaraki]

"Is that why you aren't allowed in the mall anymore?" Nina teases.

[Ryan Gabriel]

"I plead the fifth," Ryan joked, winking at her.

[Nina Madaraki]

"I don't think you can do that in the United Kingdoms."

[Ryan Gabriel]

"Yeah, but we're American, so the only rules that apply to us are the ones we want to apply," Ryan said dismissively.

[Nina Madaraki]

"Oh, well that's convenient," Nina says happily.

[Ryan Gabriel]

"Plus we're superheroes, so we don't have to want any of them to apply to us," he joked, winking at her.

[Nina Madaraki]

"I must be a superhero," Nina muses, "That's the only way the 'it was my evil double from the future' defense makes sense."

[Ryan Gabriel]

"I'd normally say something to trump that, but I don't think there is anything."

[Nina Madaraki]

"Yay! Then I win," Nina says, clapping happily.

[Ryan Gabriel]

"What prize do you want?" Ryan chuckled.

[Nina Madaraki]

"Complete retcon of the last six months, maybe?" Nina asks with a giggle.

[Ryan Gabriel]

Ryan seemed to mull over that for a minute, but the smile he wasn't quite suppressing didn't really help it add any suspense. "Well, I'm sold, but you might want to talk it over with Rachel, too," he said.

[Nina Madaraki]

"How's Rachel doing?" Nina asks, voice filled with concern.

[Ryan Gabriel]

He thought about it. "Pretty well? I mean... still the same 'making a big deal out of nothing' tendencies, but that's just her, you know? And she's getting better at it. Been worried about me a lot lately," he admitted, a little sadly. "But she didn't raise a fuss about losing her job and needing me to help cover bills more, so I'm taking that as a sign that she's getting better all around."

[Nina Madaraki]

"She lost her job?"

[Ryan Gabriel]

"Yeah. Apparently, needing to occasionally miss a shift to save the world makes her too inconvenient to be employed by the freaking campus bar."

[Nina Madaraki]

"Those....fuckers!" Nina says, looking annoyed.

"See if I drink there again."

[Ryan Gabriel]

"Yeah, that's pretty much what I said," Ryan said. "I was going to put up some signs on the 'fuck these guys' subject, but I hate the computer lab, and my computer kind of got wrecked in the fire."

[Nina Madaraki]

"Oh, right the..." Nina pauses, "...All my stuff is destroyed and I have no place to live."

"...I really hate myself."

[Ryan Gabriel]

Ryan nodded sympathetically. "We can help you get back on your feet again," he said. "Not sure how the landlord's going to take things, of course. But if you need a place to stay until you get the 'where you live' thing sorted out, I can talk to the girls to see what they think."

[Nina Madaraki]

Nina shakes her head, "That's a really bad idea. I'm sure Rachel and Byrna don't want me around."

[Ryan Gabriel]

"Let me talk to them before we give it up as hopeless. Rachel's your friend, and Bear loves everyone. We'll see."

[Nina Madaraki]

"Horrible idea," Nina says, "The worst."

Oddly enough, she was smiling though.

[Ryan Gabriel]

"Maybe. And why do I think it'd be fun anyway?" he teased.

[Nina Madaraki]

"My theory is that you secretly enjoy train wrecks," Nina says, sticking her tongue out at Ryan.

[Ryan Gabriel]

"I'm a superhero. Train wrecks keep me employed."

[Nina Madaraki]

"Oh, then you're rooting for train wrecks?" Nina asks, "Worst. Superhero. Ever."

[Ryan Gabriel]

"Or maybe it's the secret to being the best one, just no one else knows it!" Ryan countered, in a fake 'so there' tone.

[Nina Madaraki]

"Touche'."