[ Dustin grins in response, picking right up on that petulance. ]

It's way more advanced then stuff where I'm from. Like the whole communication devices being portable. We have wires on our phones, and they're curly, and one time Mike threatened to strangle Lucas with it when Lucas kept making fun of Will's drawing even though it was really good. Then Mike's mom came down and told us all to be quiet because we were making Mike's little sister cry.

It was pretty funny, but I think you'd have to be there.

Anyway, technology is really neat but what you need to get caught up on is food. I bet you've never had a pop tart in your entire life.

_{[A blink.]}

... Hm.

_{[At first that's all he manages in the face of Dustin's verbal onslaught. There's too much being said here. Had Dustin always talked this fast, or had his younger self just had an easier time keeping up?]}

You seem to be adapting well enough--you sent that video to my device without a problem.

<sub>[Does the boy get in contact with strange men often? Maybe that's something to ask about later...

On the matter of pop tarts, Dustin isn't wrong. Victor doesn't even know what that is.]</sub>

Another type of sweets, I presume?

I'm part of my school's AV club, that's like a place where you get together and talk about communication stuff like this. [ Plus he's a lot smarter than most people give him credit for. He Was the one that thought about the compasses leading to the gateway. ] Before everything went crazy where I'm from, we were trying to send messages to Australia.

Yeah, but for breakfast. The strawberry ones are the best, but anyone who gets unfrosted ones are basically dead to me. Sugar Smacks are good, too, sometimes I eat two bowls before school.

[ He's just rly passionate about food... ]

Is the postal service no longer active where you come from in 1983?

<sub>[He couldn't resist, sue him.

That a boy enjoys sugary foods to the detriment of his diet is of no great surprise--Victor's treated his fair share of stomachaches disguised as more serious health concerns, all because some child stuffed their face with something they weren't supposed to--but he's still not positive how he ended up getting roped into this. Hefting the heavy container, he looks pointedly down at it, then to Dustin.]</sub>

And this? This is your comfort food?

_{[And he wants Victor to eat it, too? This seems like a fine way to add to his woes, not subtract from them, but Victor can see Dustin's heart is in the right place (in the vicinity of his stomach). Either the boy's looking for company, or he thinks Victor needs it--either way, he can't resent Dustin's intentions.]}

[ Dustin giggles--a full on, absolutely delighted giggle. ] 'Postal service.' [ God, Viktor's funny.

But he's also carrying the ice cream. How is a scrawny nerd actually that strong? Or maybe Dustin just has no concept of that sort of thing. ]

It's actually Mabel's--you know, Mabel Pines? My age, crazy sweaters, braces? I just got addicted to it.

[ He's already out the door, taking his time. At least he holds the door open for Viktor. ]

It's just impossible to be sad while you're eating ice cream. That's a cold hard scientific fact.

<sub>[Well, at least someone laughs at his jokes.

With their impromptu ice cream lunch date in full swing, they probably make quite the odd sight trooping down the hallway together, Dustin with his baseball cap and gap-toothed grins, and his Victorian escort carrying his prized snack food for him. (When you've wrestled an inhumanly strong woman in the throes of demonic possession, a tub of ice cream is nothing.)]</sub>

That's clever. _{[Both for the pun--cold, hard--and for invoking science in front of the scientist. Victor allows a dry sound of amusement to escape him as he follows Dustin's lead.]} And how have you been faring since the event ended?

_{[Maybe it's not just Victor who needs the comforts of ice cream (in Dustin's mind, anyway). Victor rather hopes the rest of the event had treated the boy better than it had some others.]}