[Fair enough. Rean even gives a half-laugh at that.]

No. But I've been more or less okay here. [He hesitates, briefly, unsure of how much he should say.] ...Elliot is here, too. It helps to have that kind of support.

[Yeah, just gonna... save the boyfriend reveal until later, he thinks. Not because he thinks it's something to hide, but because if he knows Crow, that will completely derail this conversation and he will never get any answers.]

So you're from the future, where I'm concerned. [He sighs.] Lovely.

I guess that... kind of explains why I. You know. Was pretty sure I was never going to be able to talk to you like this again.

[His voice shakes a little on those last few words, and he swallows to steady himself.]

I would hope that after everything, you wouldn't be avoiding us if you had the option, anyway.

All right, then. I think we both know my main question is: how on earth am I even talking to you right now?