[network] @ADMIN; Arrival

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Comments

@beyonce | audio

[thewarningafter]

Thanks, I really appreciate it. It's been a hard week, so that means a lot to me.

[Funny guy. Stephen kind of likes him already.]

You get a chance to read the guide yet? Between reading fan letters.

[jmencalisse]

You're welcome. Really hitting these low notes these days, Bey.

[Yes, he has skimmed the guides and they give him a headache. Most of it goes over his head or is just so plain crazy that he really just wants to wait out this dream/delusion/psychedelic trip he somehow stumbled into.]

I'm working on it. It's very sci-fi.

[thewarningafter]

Head cold. Really dropped my register.

So I'm guessing early twenty-first century, no previous contact with the supernatural or any form of interdimensional interference. Am I right?

[jmencalisse]

And here I thought it was the steroids.

[Interdiwhat?]

What, me? Non, I am a regular fighter against the forces of evil. I am just so good that we don't have them anymore.

[thewarningafter]

Oh, well. Congratulations. I'm sure we're all very lucky to have you.

[jmencalisse]

That is so!

Sooo what is that interference thing? [It sounds nerdy.]

[thewarningafter]

[Look buddy he knows you're talking shit about him in French elsewhere. Stephen's picking up on the fact that this guy's English might not be entirely perfect.]

Oh, interdimensional interference, yeah. That's just general terminology, really, I was referring to a broad spectrum of conceivable phenomena by which you might have previously experienced some kind of breach or reverberation across disparate planes of existence.

[jmencalisse]

[You fucker.

David's smug expression immediately changes into one of annoyance. It's almost definitely something his partner would do which almost makes it funny again. Maybe over time, wizard guy. Maybe over time. Today, it's just pissing him off.]

How about I punch your face out of its disparate existence.

[Yes, that is a) the level of his maturity, b) the speed of which you can turn the tide and rile him up in return, c) the level of his English proficiency, at least when it comes to speaking. Disparate is mispronounced, too.]

[thewarningafter]

[Scoff scoff. You can't punch him through the tablet, jerkface.]

Very intimidating. If you need clothes, by the way, I can usually help with that. Might have a little cat hair on them, though.

[jmencalisse]

[That makes him frown.] What, do you con... [God motherfucking he knows this word, you just disracted him. Ffs.] make them appear with the magic?

Are you part of the cat gang?

[thewarningafter]

Conjure. And no.

[Stephen draws in a breath, and there's a little hint of something pained in the way he lets it out again.]

Yeah, I'm with SnowClan.

[jmencalisse]

Fuck off. [It's nothing but a very automatic response to the correction, there's no bite behind it.

That pause gives David pause in return.]

Those clothes are not cat pelts, are they?

[thewarningafter]

-- Christ, no!

[Genuine horror in his voice. Sorry, the cats he knows here are Fully Realized People and that's a pretty messed up thing to suggest.]

[jmencalisse]

Right. Good.

[Look, it's not his fault this place is so messed up. He's just trying to get a feel for it.]

What do you want for the clothes?

[thewarningafter]

[Mutter mutter. Don't say things like that.]

I want you to pass the favor on when someone else is the new guy.

[jmencalisse]

[Another frown.]

Someone wants a lot of booze for only two cigarettes. You are giving clothes away just like that?

[thewarningafter]

Would it make you feel better to pay me?

[jmencalisse]

No. Would hate that, actually.

I just want to know about the, the... small print first.

[thewarningafter]

...I was going to ask for your firstborn child, but I thought that was just a given.

[jmencalisse]

[David smiles thinly but there's a warning glint in his eye.]

Well, we'll have to find something else.

[thewarningafter]

I'm kidding. There's just...not a lot here that's worth much to me.

Tell you what. You find any left-handed wrist braces, or if you can play any decent music, I'll take either as payment.

[jmencalisse]

Oui, I know. [Which is why he's trying to play it cool but congratulations, Stephen. You found one thing he is very much humorless about.]

I'll keep my eyes open then.

[thewarningafter]

Thanks. And let me know about the clothes. I don't have any spare boots right now, unfortunately; that's usually a big one.

[jmencalisse]

[Alright. He'll take this gift horse for now.]

Okay. How can I find you and the clothes?

[thewarningafter]

Oh, I'm -- around. Let me know if you're in the main residential area; that's where we've been...circulating.