I dunno, dude, the portal is weird. Like, maybe there’s some parallel universe or some dark future where I get a robot eye, or where I become an astronaut, or maybe I end up dying in some weird alternate dimension, or whatever.

[ ha ha like any of that would ever happen. ]

Point is, the portal doesn’t seem too worried about what’s possible. I mean, I shouldn’t have these— [ And he lifts he gestures a little with both hands, drawing attention to the Walkman and the wrapped box. ] —but here they are.

[ A pause, and he puffs out another breath. ]

Ego destroyed them. [ His mood cools slightly, and his expression faintly dims. ] He— crushed it – tape and Walkman and all – like it was nothing. And I left the first tape back in my room with all my stuff in his stupid castle.

These... they shouldn’t be here. But— they are, so—

[ And now, his brow furrows, and he chews on his lower lip. ]

This is— good, right?