Chapter 2: Lost In Space

Ian thought it was like that one day long ago in the server room. That he could sense something had changed, even if there was just silence. Now the silence had lasted for too long. He opened his eyes.

To be honest, he wasn't quite ready for what he saw, that Jo had changed into an angel outfit, with wings so large that she might actually be able to fly. But there was something wrong; she was down on her bare knees in the fog, frowning heavily and mouth curled downward.

"Jo … what is it? Can I do something?"

Jo spoke slowly and hoarsely. "I ... messed up. And I can never correct it now."

This wasn't making much sense to Ian. They had just been having stupid harmless fun. What there was to mess up? As far as Ian could tell, Jo had succeeded pretty much completely in looking very much hot.

But then he realized. It had to be some memory that hadn't triggered until now.

By now he also had more realistic expectations of what he could actually do to help. The rainbow in the sky was just an illusion in Manowar's lyrics.

"Can you tell me? You might feel better."

Jo shook her head. "Not so sure."

Ian closed his eyes for a moment. He couldn't deny feeling suddenly heavy. If Jo wasn't all right, then he wasn't either, really. But, at least they had time. And honestly, they had survived worse.

"You don't have to. But... I'd still like to keep you warm."

For a brief instant, Jo smiled just a little. A moment later, Ian had her in his lap. The wings tickled his skin, and had the situation been different, it certainly would have been amusing. To an onlooker, the whole setup had to look amusing, perhaps to the utter maximum. Ian kind of felt torn up now, and kept silent, just like Jo did too. But certainly, to hold her at this moment was better than not to. He didn't know what else to do.

Slowly, his mind began to wander, until he realized something. That though his heart was heavy, Jo felt lighter against him than what he remembered from being alive.

He began to speak, slowly and almost randomly.

"You know, I was stupid for not realizing this. Back when we first arrived here, I was in a panic for thinking that if I'd wander far enough, I wouldn't find my way back to you. When I could just have had you along with me as I'd navigate toward the sound. Quote needed a tow rope, I don't think I do. There's no inventory weight limit here. But of course, then I wouldn't have –"

He stopped right there. This wasn't the right moment to talk of the theme he had composed. He also realized the tactic (possibly formulated by his subconscious) only a moment later, to deliberately provoke Jo by talking so randomly that she just would have to react.

"What? You're not making sense –"

…

Jo flashed back to something else. It also involved Dad. But this wasn't a bad memory.

He had possessed this ancient computer, which wasn't of much use except for playing old games. Amiga, it was called.

Jo remembered Russ talking about pirates, and only later she understood he meant software pirates, and that games, as bought from a store, wouldn't actually have these intros in front of them, which often played cheerful music, and allowed the player to choose whether various cheats (as programmed in by the pirates) would be on or off.

Now, because of the random quality of what Ian was talking about, that he was apparently imagining this place as a computer game as well, Jo started to think of what the cheats would be in here.

REDUCED HANGOVER (Y/N) Y

NO MOSH PIT DAMAGE (Y/N) Y

and apparently

UNLIMITED BRIDAL CARRY (Y/N) Y

That official term was, in turn, a flashback to Vlad the Forger's cottage and his laptop. The days getting longer and warmer, and while waiting for their forged identities to complete, long sessions of just browsing tvtropes dot org, confirming that everything that had happened in their Agent adventures was already catalogued in there multiple times over.

Jo let out a sigh. Maybe she could tell after all, and Ian probably would understand. Nothing was as bad as it seemed. She almost sensed tears as she recalled those lyrics, but of the hopeful rather than hopeless variety.

Finally, she turned to face him. "Or actually, you are. Thanks."

Ian looked just a bit puzzled. "Thanks for what? That actually made you feel better?"

"Yeah, I guess it did. What bothered me… I remembered how I left Russ without saying a word. Like I almost did with you."

Now that it was out, Jo thought it felt easier to breathe.

"Jo..." Ian almost whispered and pulled her closer, clearly overcome with emotion. It was a familiar battle tactic, to bury his head in her hair just in time before breaking down completely.

A moment of silence passed, until Ian spoke again, close to her ear.

"Maybe you haven't seen the last of him. I mean, I don't know how or where or when, but to end up in a place like this is already … out there. So I wouldn't rule anything out."

"Yeah," Jo replied simply. It was a bit overwhelming to even think of the possibility. She rather wanted to say something lighter, but had to think a bit.

"So, would you want to test the weight limit now?"

Ian extracted himself from her hair at last. He too thought for a moment.

"I'd do it any time. But maybe it's your turn now."

"Is that also … something?"

"You mean a trope? Not that I know of. In Cave Story, there's supposedly Curly mode, where the roles are reversed."

Jo had to suppress a laugh. There were certain subjects to which Ian would always be able to twist the conversation into. But she had sort of asked for it.