-Swabbie-

The first time they'd met at Dan the Man's Big Band Snag Stand, it was when Swabbie got lost trying to find the bathroom. This man, rangy and wild-looking, directed Swabbie down the hall and there was just something about him that was so… captivating. From that moment on, Swabbie was a regular customer at the Snag Stand – he would meet his squad there throughout the week, each time finding a way to run into this mysterious man once again. He collected tidbits of information about him like treasures.

It was getting completely ridiculous. So Swabbie had stopped going to the Snag Stand – telling Harold, Dez, and their sub Handbag that he got food poisoning there. He'd tried to forget about the man. He had tried everything – everything – to get that Dishie out of his head.

But that day, he couldn't get out of going back to the Snag Stand. And he couldn't help that the man ran straight into him. And he really, really couldn't help asking for the man's name.

Thoughts of Scrubbie were starting to consume him - he needed someone to talk him down. But Harold and Handbag were away making a VR game.

I wonder if Dez is home, Swabbie thought.

"Come in!"

Swabbie cautiously pushed open the door.

"Hey Dez," he said, relieved to see Dez shutting the lid of his Portahub and turning in his hovering desk chair, pants zipped up at least 85% of the way.

"Hey man, what's up?" Dez waved hello. The movement dislodged a pile of used tissues from the desk, and they fluttered to the ground like leaves.

"Nm, wbu?" Swabbie said.

"Nm," Dez replied, wiping a sheen of sweat from his brow. "You said you needed to talk?"

A shock of adrenaline went through Swabbie. He had to just get this over with before he was sick with nerves. "I… I'm confused," he admitted. "I met someone who is, well, kinda perfect for me, but they aren't what I expected… you know?"

Dez nodded sagely. "The heart wants what the heart wants, man," he said. "Best not to resist."

Swabbie sighed heavily and forced himself to keep talking. "What if I said this person was… um…. a – a Dishie. What would you – say. To that."

Dez's fingers tapped against his desk. "That… doesn't really change my answer. When you find the thing that completes you, you gotta fight for it. Sorry man, I'm probably not being helpful."

Swabbie shook his head. "No, you are. Thanks man. I'll let you get back to it." He left Dez's place wishing he could be as satisfied with his right hand as Dez was.