[Yes?]

[Admin says she has Steph available. Asleep. And something about her changed when Glory divested you of your soul.]

[I don't suppose she specified what.]

[She didn't. She did say that things don't usually change characteristics while they're inactively stored Downside. And she showed me an illusion, which was recognizable but sort of - glowed like a red Christmas light.]

[How charming.]

[It was actually sorta pretty.]

[If you want her. I wasn't sure.]

[I'm not sure either,] he says. [I suppose I have time to think about it.]

[Yeah, Downside's contents aren't going anywhere.]

[So I'll think about it. Have you got time for a snuggle, by any chance?]

[Yep. Minions are set up, I have caught Soph up, I am wide open for snuggles.]

[And I have a handy couch which is calling your name as we speak.]

Mmm, lapsitting. Snuggle. "Well, that's good, I suppose, wouldn't do to have a couch that would just never shut up."

"It would be highly irritating," he agrees, snuggling her.

She puts her head on his shoulder. "Do you want to do your thinking-about-Steph in solitude or d'you want to talk about it? For that matter, I'm also curious how you're doing with the resumed lack of soul."

"The resumed lack of soul is fucking delightful," he says. "I'm not sure what to think about Steph."

"Nice of Glory to relieve you of the quandary of feeling obliged to keep the damn thing. For certain values of 'nice'. Do we get to see your cognition cease to be oriented around misery, now that it's gone and your people are alive?"

"Who in fuck knows," he sighs. "I'm not currently miserable, but I haven't really gotten used to it yet."

Snuggle.

Snuggle snuggle.

"I loved you with the soul too, but this is how you were when I fell in love with you."

"And I'm better off this way by far."