A Different Kind Of Keyboard

[Alan Mason]

"I think I'll keep my distance. Thanks for the warning."

[Vertie Easley]

"Sure thing, would hate for you to get your brain melted as collateral damage of being at ground zero when World War Teep hit critical mass."

[Alan Mason]

He laughed, "World War Teep. That's a good one. So your brother goes here too?"

[Vertie Easley]

"One of the college students. He's hard not to spot. Very very tall and build like a mac truck. A feral, feline. Terrifying to anyone who doesn't know the not so secret secret."

[Alan Mason]

"What's the not so secret secret?"

[Vertie Easley]

"Don't hurt the little sister." She smiled. "Growing up there were only two people who weren't bat shit insane over me, Gar and our mother. Gar took care of me when mom couldn't, it might seem twisted and a little creepy to some, our relationship, but it's cool."

[Alan Mason]

"Don't hurt the little sister. Got it."

[Vertie Easley]

"Doesn't mean little sister can't do this." She pulled her phone out and fiddled with it then crossed the room and handed it to him. She'd set up Melissa's contact info, complete with custom name "Gar's Budgie-Boo"."

[Alan Mason]

Alan looked at the phone and chuckled, "You want me to try to transfer this to his phone?"

[Vertie Easley]

Vertie's eyes lit up and she grinned mischievously. "Oh yeah. Do it."

[Alan Mason]

Alan began staring at empty space, setting her phone down as he began making strange gestures in the air. "Can you text him? That might help me... wait..." Her phone dinged as a text came in. "What that him?"

[Vertie Easley]

She took the phone back and looked. "Nah...some guy name La'van asking Shona for a hook-up." She chuckled, cleared it and send Gar a text asking him to bring home mini marshmallows for "reasons"."

[Alan Mason]

"Got it," he said, watching the data flow back and forth. "This may not work, but I can try..." he said, muddling her data stream with Gar's to try to transfer the contact over.

[Vertie Easley]

"So, will you know if it works or will I have to tell you about it later today?" She smiled as she watched him.

[Alan Mason]

"You'll have to tell me about it later. Although, I suppose I could figure it out if I watched his phone's communication long enough, but that seems creepy."

[Vertie Easley]

"True and you've already said you wish to stay away from the "creeper" label. I promise not to name you as an accomplice."

[Alan Mason]

"Appreciated," he said, "I'd like to stay in one piece."

[Vertie Easley]

"No worries. He may be a bit of a mopey mope, but he does have a sense of humor under all that brooding largeness."