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The carnival program Gordon transferred the gang into for the day was surprisingly much larger than he'd anticipated, so he was thankful it only took about twenty minutes to find Coomer, who stood alone by the pier, looking over the ocean as it glistened in the sun's rays. Just outside the carnival and away from the rest of the group.
Coomer turned to face Gordon as he approached and smiled warmly. “Hello, Gordon!”
“Hey man,” Gordon joined him leaning on the pier rails. “How are you liking the carnival? I know it isn't much…”
“Oh, it's been wonderful, Gordon. It's everything I could ever want and more!”
“Glad to see you're enjoying it,” Gordon turned his gaze to Coomer's face. He seemed… Gordon couldn't find the right word, but it looked like something was bothering him. “Is… You good?”
“Oh, yes! Apologies I've been… thinking, a lot, lately,”
“About what?”
Coomer didn't respond for a moment. At first Gordon figured he didn't hear him, but right before he could repeat himself, Coomer spoke.
“Me,”
“You?”
“More specifically, about what I am, what all this is,” he gestured to the view before them. “...and what that means. I like to think I've since come to terms with my existence but…”
“But it's a lot,” Gordon finished. Coomer nodded in confirmation.
“Precisely!”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Coomer went silent again, staring into the distance. Gordon did the same. In that moment, he could faintly hear Bubby’s screams of terror in the distance as he rode the tallest roller coaster at the carnival for the fourth time.
“Gordon, can I tell you something personal?”
“Oh, y— yeah man, of course,” Gordon stammered. “What's up?”
“I've already told Bubby about this but I figured… Well, it wouldn't hurt to share with a very good friend of mine, now would it?” Coomer flashed a brief smile before his face fell into something more grim. “I… I see it in my dreams, Gordon,”
“See what?”
“Nothing,” His voice wavered. “Every time I close my eyes, it's there. It swallows me whole. I can't escape it,”
“Even when I wake up, I feel like I'm still… there,” His gaze fell to the deep blue ocean before them. “Sometimes I still feel it tearing me apart,
“...How long have you had these nightmares?”
“Ever since I saw outside Black Mesa,” … “Though, they did stop for a while after you transferred us over, but it seems they have decided to return,” he sighed.
“Geez I'm— Im sorry man, I had no idea,"
Coomer seemed to put up his happy facade again. “Ah, no need to be sorry for me, Gordon! After all, it's nothing this old man can't handle,”
“Dr. Coomer?” Gordon started. “Can I… hug you?” He shook his head as he hastily added “I— I mean— only if you want, of course. I just— I thought— You seemed like you needed one, is all,”
“Gordon,” Coomer said, prompting Gordon to turn to face Coomer. His mustache curled up into a smile. “I would appreciate that very much,”
Hugging someone in VR wasn't the same as hugging in the flesh. Gordon couldn't really feel Coomer's embrace. He could only feel the rumble feedback from his controllers as he wrapped his arms around Coomer in return. But although the hug couldn't entirely be felt, the sentiment behind it definitely was.
Once the hug broke, Coomer returned to staring off into the distance.
“Hey uh…” Gordon started. Coomer turned to face him. “I was gonna try out a couple carnival games, would you wanna join me?”
Coomer smiled. “That sounds splendid, Gordon, I will join you!”
“Great! C'mon, I know a couple I think you'd enjoy,”
“Now Gordon, it's only fair I warn you I was an expert at the carnival games in my day, do not expect me to go easy on you!”