THE CITY INBOX.

[fossick]

USERNAME: FOSSICK WEIR DREDGER ORIGINAL CHARACTER TEXT • AUDIO • VIDEO • ACTION • OVERFLOW

source

Comments

@midnightespresso, after the party

[nerine]

[Knock, knock? Who's here to make sure Weir's inbox doesn't look sad? This gal!

When the video feed starts, it's Monts in the coffee shop. Her device is angled just so, that the espresso machine and herself are in view and she doesn't have to hold it up herself. She waves to the camera with a bright smile.]

Hello Weir! It's your friendly local university student who slings coffee for a living. How do you like the video? Is your mind blown? Are you wondering why there's a tiny woman gesticulating across your screen?

Gesticulating! That's a 10-dollar word for you.

[Wow, it's like they'd didn't have an argument the last time they talked at all! But surprisingly, she does address that point.]

So I know we didn't leave on a totally friendly note the last time we talked. In fact, I still think you're moody, a total grouch, and you need to brush your hair.

[wow]

But I can help you learn how to make fun videos like this and more! I did remember that's what you requested. Well...

[She sighs, putting her hands on her hips.]

"Requested" is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. Anyway, I'm available to teach you how to make videos or just voice messages, unless you've found someone else you like better than me which I highly doubt. Or even if you did, they wouldn't be as fun and engaging as myself.

Monts out!

[The feed ends.]

[fossick]

[Thank you for your service, Monts.

All the better that she has the sort of personality that might shrug off a less-than-pleasant interaction the last they spoke; Weir certainly was not going to be the one to reach out first, at least not so soon.

But here she is, a "video" playing across the screen of his device, so bloody tiny of a thing, yet she still comes in crystal clear. Sharpness of display and audio that feels utterly surreal to hold in the palm of his hand. And have no doubt he is making a face more and more as the message plays out.

Eventually, he sends a message back, at least as soon as he wraps his mind around the fact that this was not a "live" recording of a moment happening in the here and now.]

I know what gesticulating means.

[nerine]

Hello to you too!



Have you brushed your hair though?

[fossick]

[...why did he reply to this.]

My hair is fine.

Are you sure your generous offer was not just a thinly-veiled excuse to let loose insults my way?

[nerine]

[ If anyone's gonna die of FUN it's gonna be Weir.]

Friend or foe, no one is safe.

Anyways, back to business. Are you in or out regarding learning how to use the other functions of your device?

[fossick]

[If this phone wasn't so useful in literally every other way, he'd as soon chuck it off the top of a building. Being "connected" 24/7 is not a new concept to him, at least insofar as a certain voice in his head used to apply, but this is a new level altogether.

There's a long delay before a response comes through.]

And what we spoke of last? You'll opt to ignore it?

[nerine]

I'll keep it it mind. There's not much else to do until then. I don't really operate on thinking about danger until it's clear and present.

[At this point, she would joke that Weir is the most likely to attempt to murder her but that's morbid even for Monts.]

Also, remember you asked me if I felt any different the first time we met?
That's pretty much where I'm at right now.
Different. Held back.
But even if I was in my usual state
I'd still be making jokes about grooming yourself.

[fossick]

Fine.

[It'll have to do for now. Time and space has given him... Well, not more malleability, but the distance to realign his thoughts and focus on what he actually could glean from her: mostly, this. Her knowledge regarding this technology for now.

He'll not forget about that thing on her neck, but that just means he'll have to always be on his guard around her. Nothing new for a man like him in a strange place.]

I'll tie my hair back, just for you.

[Sarcasm! He won't!]

When you say held back, do you mean substantially?

[nerine]

That would be a good look for you.

[If one asked Monts, she would say twenty years of living under the radar with only one major turning point was a pretty good streak. It's been a year since then and she doesn't want to know if she's capable of reverting back to that state within such a short amount of time.

So for now, she's just. Her.]

I think so.
But anyway
Technology time

When can you meet up?

[Changing the topic deliberately again.]

@DONQUIXOT3, text, day after death

[icanfixer]

NEARLY LYING SER
I HAVE RETURNED HALE AND WHOLE AS PROMISED

[ whew she's really working her way around ]

[fossick]

[Ah. He wondered if he would receive some kind of missive granting confirmation that she did, indeed, die. And that she did, indeed, come back to life.]

And so your little experiment is complete.

No adverse consequences for either mind or body?

[icanfixer]

NONE SAVE THAT I DO NOT REMEMBER MOST OF WHAT HAPPENED PRIOR TO MY DEATH
I DO RECALL THROWING THE GLOVE
BEING ACCEPTED
AND THEN STANDING BEFORE ANOTHER INTENDING TO FIGHT
BUT THE DETAILS OF THE FIGHT, AS WELL AS THE FACE OF WHOM I FOUGHT AND THE MOMENT ITSELF, IS LOST
HOWEVER
THANKFULLY, AS IT WAS DETERMINED PRIOR WHO I WOULD BE FIGHTING FOR SUCH A PURPOSE, I DO KNOW WHO SHROUDED DEATH AROUND ME

[ it's terrible. at least let her remember her five second fight. ]

THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING A MEMORIES IS STILL VERY MUCH IN THE AIR
BUT I SUPPOSE THAT SHALL COME WITH TIME, GIVEN I WOULD NOT KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN IN THINKING NOR IF I WOULD KNOW IF I WERE MISSING IT IN THE FIRST PLACE

sorry for the wait! the weekend defeated me

[fossick]

Is that so? The details of the fight itself are beyond your recollection? And here I thought memories were to fail someone closer to the point of death.

What of your physical body? No scarring? No phantom pains?

oh mood

[icanfixer]

TO THAT I OWE IT WAS A QUICK DEATH
A SWIFT FIGHT AND A SOONER ENDED
I AM CERTAIN IF IT WERE LONGER, THEN I WOULD HAVE RECALLED MORE
AS IT STANDS, HOWEVER, IT WAS NO LONGER THAN THE FIGHTS I HAVE HAD BACK HOME

[ very swift, nothing poetic about it. simply a few blows and then an end. she's used to it; it's her preference. ]

I HAVE NO SCARRING THAT WAS NOT THERE PRIOR NO
NOR OF ANY PAINS WHATSOEVER
ALL IN ALL, I AM FEELING MORE FINE THAN THE ONE WHOM STRUCK ME DOWN AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ATTENDED
THE CONSEQUENCES SEEM TO BE MUCH LIGHTER FOR THE VICTIM OF SUCH AN ACT
WILLING TO THEIR GRAVE OR NOT

[fossick]

[Ah, wait. Wait, now. Weir particularly focuses on one line, something he was direly unaware of.]

Those who attended your duel suffered consequences for it? Is that your meaning?

[icanfixer]

[ ... mmmmmmmmm. too bad he can't feel her sigh, or see her remorseful smile. ]

UNFORTUNATELY, IT WOULD SEEM SO
AT THE VERY LEAST, THE FEW WHOM I HAVE SPOKEN WITH CONFIRMED AS SUCH
THEY EXPERIENCE NIGHT TERRORS ALIKE TO THE MOMENT I HAVE FORGOTTEN
IF I HAD KNOWN IT WOULD BE AS SUCH, I WOULD HAVE ENSURED FURTHER THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WITNESS SAVE THE ONE NEEDED

[ not just alike, though. very much the same. but she doesn't wish to say that -- she knows how she died, it sucks that everyone else has to remember it for her. ]

[fossick]

[Well, that's... worrisome, but good to know. Though Weir had Quietly Judged how eagerly willing she was to participate in this whole experiment, he must admit: this is useful information.

If not grating.]

It is as though they are undergoing what, then? Would you call it a punishment for simply viewing a violent action?

[No, maybe not quite. That doesn't make full sense to him.]

Or for not putting a halt to it?

carnival event

[unimportant]

[ Even fun times require a break in-between, and that's Yuki's plan for the moment. Everything is free as per usual and so she picks up a hot dog and some bottled sports drink for her delight. However, she's not the sort who likes to sit down and eat quietly all alone. She's scoping the outdoor food court area by the food stalls and spots a handsome man sitting by his lonesome. Excellent. ]

Hey, mind if I sit here?

[ Her eyes glance pointedly to the seat across from his at the table, even as there are plenty of empty free tables, smiling confidently. ]

[fossick]

[Oh, gods. Maybe he was sitting on his own for a reason, Yuki. That is, he looks up as she approaches, a water bottle in-hand. He brow raises, and then he glances at all the seats nearby that are not taken.]

You can sit wherever you like.

[This reply is, at least, a step up from a flat out "yes, I do mind", but there is still the sense that this man is now mentally shoring up his defenses for potential... small talk. Imagine, people wanting to talk to him!!]

[unimportant]

Great, thanks!

[ She knows when she is unwanted by a guy trying his best to be alone, and so she sits right across from him. Be assertive and tell her to screw off next time. ]

This is such a huge place, it tires you out pretty quickly. Have you tried out any of the rides?

[fossick]

[Gods. He will learn his lesson for next time.

For now, he looks at her, almost deadpan, before speaking.]

I've tried the... "Tunnel of Love." [He says it in a way you can clearly hear the scare quotes.] It was nothing short of a farce.

[unimportant]

Yeah it really is. Did you know they're supposed to have boats? You get to ride down the tunnel with someone next to you, and take your chance to get a kiss. Or other raunchy acts.

[ Very raunchy! This tunnel has no such opportunities and is kind of awkward to try to sneak a kiss in. No stars. ]

[fossick]

[Other raunchy acts. Help him.]

I walked in the dark and felt like someone was watching us. It was the farthest thing from "romance" I could think of.

[Not that Weir is very versed in anything romantic at all.]

Ruined my taste for any other of these wretched activities.

[unimportant]

Hm. Knowing this place, what you felt was almost certainly real. [ So yeah, she can't blame him. Though- ] Maybe what you need is an activity that's in broad daylight?

feel free to handwave/drop this if it's been too long!!

[fossick]

[He highly doubts that. (Maybe he doesn't know what the definition of fun is, really.) But he'll humor this woman, with a bit of a wry twist to his words.]

And am I to assume you have something in mind?

[Certainly, there are a vast array of carnival activities that Weir has simply been too fuddy-duddy to even try.]