i think that's beautiful. pieces solving a puzzle.

[compsci]

Comments

[asyndeton]

Impossible.

[ It's fine, he's got a lot of grading he's been putting off so he can swan about with her, so he can keep himself comfortably busy until Saturday. He'll still text her a lot between now and then, of course. ]

[compsci]

[ swans mate for life, matthew. did you know that? ]

don't be cute.

[ it makes it hard for her to stay away. ]

[asyndeton]

[ Stop that, don't give him ideas. ]

Also impossible.

[ What on earth makes her think he wants her to stay away? ]

[compsci]

yeah, i know.
you and your boyish good looks.

[ he wants her to graduate, doesn't he? and if she doesn't stay away, how's he going to cope with her just sitting around in his sweatshirt angry typing on her keyboard ... ]

[asyndeton]

I am youthful and beautiful, it's true.

[ He's joking. He smoked for most of his early career and has a full goddamn beard, not to mention the whole tall-and-broad-shouldered thing. Nobody could confuse him as looking "boyish."

There's a reason he doesn't shave any more and only part of it is laziness. ]

[compsci]

my roommate's going out of town this week for a robotics convention
you could always come keep me company while i wait for my code to compile

[asyndeton]

How much of your time will I be occupying?
Should I bother bringing any of my grading?

[ Look. He knows what's up, alright. ]

[compsci]

we could schedule in study breaks

[ that's practical, right? ]

[asyndeton]

They do say your productivity actually improves when you let your brain take a break every now and then...

[ Very practical. ]

[compsci]

and you do make it pretty hard for me to think

[ about anything other than what he's doing, anyway ]

[asyndeton]

I know how fast your brain works, so I'm going to take that as a compliment.

[compsci]

as fast as your mouth, honey

[ is that while he's reciting chaucer, or all the time? ]

[asyndeton]

Hey, are you calling me easy?

[ Yes, yes he is. For her at least. ]

[compsci]

i was paying you a compliment, nerd.

[ his mouth is very good at getting her off. that's the compliment. ]

[asyndeton]

Oh, is that what that was?

[ He knows. He just thinks it's cute to play dense. ]

A compliment immediately followed by an insult, I see how it goes.

[compsci]

[ he doesn't need to play at anything to be cute. that's! the! point! ]

i wouldn't want your head to get too big, it might not fit between my legs anymore

[asyndeton]

Now that would be tragic.

[ She's good for his ego. ]

[compsci]

i'd have to mourn the possibilities. good thing you have me to keep you in check, huh?

[ good thing he has her, full stop. ]

[asyndeton]

I'm very lucky, I know.

[ He's not dumb, he knows what's up. ]

[compsci]

i think the feeling's mutual there

[ a surprising moment of softness from the girl who got all excited about getting raunchy in the backseat of his car during a drive-in double feature. ]

[asyndeton]

[ It's too bad she isn't around to see the way he smiles down at his phone like a big, dumb, soft idiot. ]

You want me to bring anything when I come over?

[compsci]

i won't say no if you pack the wagon with snacks

[asyndeton]

[ Ah, to be young and a college student again. He remembers having hollow legs, too. ]

Any particular requests? Don't say cereal.

[compsci]

i don't know what you have against honey nut cheerios

[ they're delicious, they're easy to eat one-handed, they don't make a mess if she drops them in her lap instead of her mouth... they're god's perfect late-night hacker snack ]

how about chinese
don't go out of your way, though

[asyndeton]

I have nothing against honey nut cheerios. My two-year-old nephew loves them.

[ He's just saying... ]

Anything in particular?