Touch-Tone Dialtone

Before reading, myself, (Jackson), the author would like to dedicate this story to my partner in life and my rock. My muse, my sole confidant, and the reason I feel the passion to write stories such as these.
The feeling and tones in this story were all evoked by my life partner, and deserve to be mentioned. So, thank you, to those who decided to read this story, and most of all, my boyfriend in life. If you read this, I love you, and I can only hope our story doesn't come to a close anytime soon.

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Oliver and Randy had both grown up in Dialtown, a miserable place to live that was essentially a downgraded version of New York City. They had both experienced "The Dial-up," a movement that had occurred in 1949 where all human heads were replaced with phones, typewriters, printers, and other assorted objects.

Oliver had always been an extroverted and friendly person, with a confident and unapologetic sense of self. He worked at the cinema, which was owned by his mentor, Mr. Dickens. Oliver aspired to be like Mr. Dickens and felt a sense of responsibility to keep the cinema open. He often used 80s slang and had an outdated way of speaking, which he attributed to Mr. Dickens' influence.

Randy, on the other hand, was quiet and reserved, with low self-esteem and a lack of confidence. He lived in a dumpster behind Bunny's Burgers and worked as a swan wrangler for Dialtown Animal Control, as well as a sex hotline operator. He was vocal about his dislike for his jobs and his quality of life, and he struggled with feelings of depression and inadequacy.

Despite their differences, Oliver and Randy's paths crossed one day when Oliver called the sex hotline that Randy worked for. At first, they were wary of each other, but as they began to talk more, they found that they had a lot in common.

"Hey, how's it going?" Oliver asked, trying to make small talk.

"It's going," Randy replied, his voice laced with exhaustion. "Just another day in Dialtown, you know?"

"Yeah, I know how that feels," Oliver said sympathetically. "I work at the cinema, and let me tell you, it's not always the most exciting place to be."

"At least you have a job," Randy said, a note of bitterness creeping into his voice. "I'm stuck working two dead-end jobs just to get by."

Oliver could hear the sadness and frustration in Randy's voice, and he felt a pang of empathy. "I'm sorry, Randy. That must be tough."

"It is," Randy sighed. "But I guess it could be worse. I mean, at least I have a roof over my head, even if it's just a dumpster."

"Hey, you're right," Oliver said, trying to cheer Randy up. "And hey, you never know, something better could come along any day now."

"I hope so," Randy said, but he didn't sound convinced.

As they continued to talk, Oliver found himself drawn to Randy's vulnerability and raw honesty. He admired Randy's bravery in being open about his struggles and for trying to make the best of his circumstances.

For his part, Randy was drawn to Oliver's kindness and compassion. He appreciated the way Oliver listened to him and never judged him for his choices.

Over time, Oliver and Randy's friendship deepened as they confided in each other and supported each other through the ups and downs of life in Dialtown. As they grew closer, they began to develop feelings for each other. They were hesitant to act on these feelings at first, but eventually, they couldn't deny their attraction any longer.

"Hey, Randy, can I ask you something?" Oliver said one day as they were talking on the phone.

"Sure, what's up?" Randy replied.

"Well, I know this might be kind of sudden, but I've been thinking a lot lately, and I just wanted to say that I like you," Oliver said, his nerves getting the better of him.