:// cryptonoir.org /

TWO says, "It is nice."

ONE says, "How would you know?"

TWO says, "I'm sitting here, too."

ONE says, "Not that spot. I mean this spot. Right here. I really like it here. I don't see what's so special about over there."

TWO says, "It's a nice place in general."

TWO says, "Neither do I, really."

ONE says, "But you chose to sit there. Why would you select such an undistinguished position? What were you thinking?"

TWO says, "I guess I was thinking I need to rest my feet."

ONE says, "Aren't you even the least bit nervous? How many are we at?"

TWO says, "Uh, five. I'm excited. But I wouldn't call it nerves."

ONE says, "Of course it's nerves. It's all nerves."

TWO says, "What all?"

ONE says, "You all. We all."

TWO says, "What?"

TWO says, "I hear stuff though, I hear glasses clinking, various conversations...there's an uncomfortable silence at the table just over there."

ONE says, "What you are 'hearing' is just your nerves telling you glasses are clinking. Telling you when there are conversations. Not telling you when there aren't. How else would you know you're excited?"

TWO says, "Okay, sure. I'm using my nerves. But I'm in control of them. There's no reason to panic."

ONE says, "See. That's what I don't trust about you. Nobody who is as calm as you pretend to be--"

TWO says, "I'm not pretending."

ONE says, "Nobody who is as calm as you claim to be can be trusted."

TWO says, "No, that's not right. Calm inspires trust."

ONE says, "But it really shouldn't, should it, I mean, given that it's just your nerves telling you you're calm, causing you to believe you're in control when you aren't. And most people will cease to observe carefully that which they believe they can control. Like, how many confirmations we at right now? Don't look."

TWO says, "Seven. You were saying? I observe what needs to be observed."

ONE says, "The nerve observes. You just interpret. Who are you to say what's making things relevant or irrelevant in that noggin of yours?"

TWO says, "It's not who I am, it's what I am. I'm a human being. And that's something that I need to get on with being. I'm not going to be able to put myself to any good use trying to observe every little--"

ONE snorts, "Not from that spot over there, you aren't. But maybe from this spot here. That's the beauty of it."

TWO says, "What is it with you and spots?"

ONE says, "Switch with me and I'll show ya."

TWO says (rolling his eyes), "Fine."

ONE says, "Is anyone breaking up?"

TWO says, "What do you mean?"

ONE says, "Is anyone breaking up with anyone? At other tables? On the street, outside?"

TWO says, "No, but..."

ONE says, "How do you know?"

TWO says, "I can see them."

ONE says, "Right. And I can't. Not from here."

TWO says, "You can see that window."

ONE says, "But I can't see all the windows. You can. So only you can know definitively that no breakups are taking place on the street outside."

TWO says, "When's the last time you saw a breakup on the street?"

ONE says (wistful), "It's been a long time... but then I haven't been around. Back in the day, this was it. My spot. I watched a lot of breakups from this spot."

TWO says, "I come here almost everyday, and I don't think I've ever seen a breakup."

ONE says, "Why should you? They aren't relevant, right?"

TWO says, "Right."

TWO says, "How many confirmations does it say on my laptop now?"

ONE says (checking the screen), "Eleven."

TWO says, "That's more than enough. They're late. Now that gets on my nerves, in a situation like this. Think they'll ditch?"

ONE says (distracted), "I dunno."

TWO says, "I don't get you. You were the one on heightened alert. You were all cranked up about it."

ONE says, "So their being late is no more of a concern than anything else. As far as I'm concerned it's all an emergency. Because it's all happening, right now. And I can't stand it. And those two seem somewhat estranged."

TWO says, "So, you're just a lit fucking lunatic by nature. Which two?"

ONE says, "What was your first clue? Those two."

TWO says, "I barely know you at all. And I don't see em."

ONE says, "Love you too. Next to the column: they're actually together."

TWO says, "Not anytime soon."

ONE says, "Not THEM."

TWO says, "Oh, 'them'? Well, obviously 'they' do take requests, so..."

ONE says, "How do you even ask something like that?"

TWO says, "Not really sure. I mean, if you know they're willing..."

ONE says, "But we don't know. Wouldn't it be easier if they turned out to be a man?"

TWO says, "We could have asked for a man, but you wanted to roll the dice."

ONE says, "Should we just like write it down? Before they arrive?"

TWO says, "But what would we write...? It's the same problem..."