"Well, but, maybe he should be the one who gets to be around."

"I mean, you can invite him if you want, but in the long run, he can't take over for you. You can't maintain backlash indefinitely, it builds up, flips to chronic, and eventually gives you a heart attack or something."

"I don't want that to happen."  (Aaaa.)  "But maybe for tomorrow.  ...I don't want to try it today if he can't sleep, it doesn't seem worth it for only a few hours."

"Okay. What time of day do you expect to be coming out of awakening?"

"I guess the morning?  On Sunday.  Pretty early.  ....What day is it; I've completely lost track."  He goes for his phone.

"It's Friday."

"Wow."  It feels like his awakening has simultaneously been flying by and taken forever.  "So it's got to be tomorrow if it's anything...  But I don't know whether it's - mean or nice to him.  To bring him back."

"...well, if you don't know I certainly don't, you're the one who can remember what his opinion would've been."

"Yeah..."  On the one hand, Julien remembers that Bug was like, 'fuck', when he realized he'd shown up, and also he hated trying to switch and might resent doing that again.  But also he was so afraid of dying permanently, so bringing him back should be good.  But also it's still not known whether he'll be able to exist the day after tomorrow, so the fear of ceasing existence will still be there, and maybe it's cruel to make him experience that a second time.  But he liked existing....

His dumplings are done.  He extracts them from the microwave and tucks in.

...Hm.  "Can you comprehend banks now?"

"- yes, I can, thanks for reminding me, where should I have 'em send it?"

He resumes getting out his phone and pokes at it until he has the relevant bank numbers.  Even though this is kind of scary.

Haru passes these on to Paula, who replies with a thumbs up emoji.

Fifteen minutes later Julien has a biiiig chunk of money.

Ughhhhh he feels kind of sick.  "...This is so much.  I was already going to do that."

"It's what they would have paid June. There's an argument they should pay you less because you were already around and already had backlash suitable to pull down mine but there's also an argument they should pay you more because you are not, in fact, an active esper who they normally hire for things let alone have on call for emergencies, so I figured it was a wash."

"Well.  Do you think a set of harnesses suitable for flying are the sort of thing one can buy online with overnight shipping?"

"...I have no idea."

"Probably ones for rock climbing are more the thing than the ones for stage flying...  Do you think?"

"My idea was skydiving ones, but I have no information on how these compare basically at all."

"Right, right."  Hey the internet, whatcha got?

The internet has a normal and realistic array of harness options with an unremarkable array of options for getting them delivered to Toronto addresses.

Numbers are so scary when they're this big and also accompanied by a dollar sign for what is effectively an impulse purchase, but also, Bug should get to come back, maybe, and also Julien really really doesn't want either of them to have to sexually harass Haru for the handoff back to Julien to occur.  He's trying really hard not to feel too bad about the last one, or to blame Bug for it, but.  Obviously he should set things up so it doesn't happen again.  Even if it means spending more than ten dollars without thinking really hard about it first.  Really a fair bit more than ten dollars.

He has Haru spot-check the weight rating and - the sizing looks super clear for the amount of adjustability it claims to have and the reviews support, but maybe they should take measurements anyway?  But once he's very confident in the size and model and shipping option and colors of one for each of them, he sends the order through.

Haru can dig up a tape measure from Ren's room when it's called for.

And they can both do it for themselves, obviously.  Because as well acquainted as they've gotten with each other's torsos, the same does not need to be true of thighs.

Is he sure soon! Maybe!

And then Julien can go back and finish his remaining two dumplings from before he got distracted about this.  He doesn't bother to reheat them.

"...Is your partner going to be mad that I've kind of taken money from her?"