[Video] [Filtered from Lup Taaco]

[barold]

[There's a fidgety middle-aged man on your screens, a bespectacled man who looks like he has absolutely no clue what he's doing. Evidenced by the fact that only about half of his face is even in frame.]

Hello. Uh, no that's... G-Greetings! No that's worse...

[He sighs.]

Okay. Say that you, uh... completely hypothetically... haven't really seen your significant other in a while. Couple months. 'Cause of somethin' you did. Hy-Hypothetically. And you're hypothetically lookin' to get'em a little somethin' now that you're uh, back together again. Just a little present, like, nothin' special, j-just somethin' nice t'show y'love'em.

Your hypothetical significant other also already has everythin'. And they're magic.

[Barry hasn't gotten any answers yet, and he already looks demoralized.]

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Uh. Thanks for yer time. How do I make it stop record--

Comments

video;

[storyseeker]

[Okay. This is going to be graphic, but if he's really looking for advice, he should be prepared for that.]

I'd say you should go down like a rock off a cliff, but if you aren't already, you're probably past hope.

[barold]

[sweet merciful Pan. Lup's friends go hard.]

That's--!

[Nope. Not gonna let her get to him. Taako has already humiliated him - he should've seen this coming when he took this to a public space.]

That's not quite what I was thinkin', Elena. But thank you for yer contribution.

[storyseeker]

[C'mon, Barold, are you really surprised.]

I'm just saying, there are bare minimum standards. I'd show more discretion but as Lup's best friend, I want her to be happy.

[And, you know, satisfied.]

[barold]

[Not really surprised, no. Barry doesn’t know why he even lets himself get agitated anymore.]

That’s real sweet of ya. Thank you fer keepin’ her happiness in mind.

[He clears his throat, shoulders pulling back. He can do this.] I can assure you, I keep her plenty happy and satisfied.

[storyseeker]

[This is making Elena feel bad for him...but she regrets nothing.]

Okay, good. Because I'm sure you're getting a lot of fantastical suggestions, but without the fundamentals you've got nothing.

[barold]

[A little huff comes from him then.] Fantastical is th’word for’em. I get it, y’know, Idiot Doesn’t Know What His Spouse Wants, that’s funny, all that, classic goof, but-- but when someone just asks for help, how’s that then translate to an open invitation for roasting? Y’know? Some of these people should try bein’ married sixty-some years, I’d like t’see them come up with gift ideas off th’top of their heads--

[Barry catches himself before he keeps going, clearing his throat, sheepish.] Sorry.

[storyseeker]

Hey, don't be.

[Despite her previous teasing, if it was that, she's got a lot of sympathy for him. Elena may not know Barry as well as his wife, but she does like him, and would like to see them both happy.]

I'm sorry. Though I stand by my advice. But...as someone who's been where Lup is now? It doesn't matter much what you get her. It's a cliche, but it really is the thought that counts.

[barold]

[Her apology is unexpected, but not unwelcome. It seems to calm Barry a little after his outburst, shoulders slumping, a soft sigh escaping him. Elena is just teasing - like any good friend would. She's not malicious.

The same probably goes for most people here. Most.]

Yeah... You're right, huh? Joke's on me for overthinkin' it. [On another note,] I'm real sorry t'hear that, by the way. Things, uh... work out between you two in the end?

[storyseeker]

Overthinking it just means you care. Otherwise you wouldn't think about it so much.

[That's not what he means, she knows, but she doesn't want him to get so down on himself. Not when it's obvious to her how much he loves Lup.]

And...yeah, it did. It took work, but things worked out. We've been happy.