observation eleven; voice (encrypted from Yuma)

[soulbonder]

Y'know what's boring? Riddles. Word games, too. Seriously, "give me words starting with the letter 'D'", who comes up with that kind of stuff? [titters]

So I thought I would try that heroism thing, but justice isn't for me. [a beat]

Now I'm supposed to ask some generic question about human morals, right? Go through some sort of weird crisis about my existence? I have committed evil once, certainly I am evil forever! No matter how hard I repent and work towards good, I cannot live with my mistakes and grievous sins!

Oh, oh, oh, maybe even imprison myself 'cos I'm such a monster. [wow stop laughing 96] But really, where's the fun in that?

Comments

[soulbonder]

... What?

[glowsferatu]

Really, Astral, it's such a tired method by which to express self-loathing. Most of us can at least employ enough dignity to recognize our past selves to not be separate from our present state, and even any future incarnations, though you're unlikely to encounter those very often, unless you have abilities that explicitly bridge time.

Nevertheless, all three are fully deserving of the same degree of scrutiny, but especially the you that is active at this very moment.

[soulbonder]

I'm not arguing with myself.

[glowsferatu]

No, but the opening of a new memo largely to criticize your own past correspondences does flirt with the idea, as though you're dipping your toes in the water to test the comfort it may grant you, wholly unaware of the scalding temperatures that await.

[soulbonder]

[seriously]

... Riiight.

First, no, I am not arguing with myself and have no intention of doing so, because that's stupidly foolish. Second, I am not Astral! I tried to see if you'd figure it your own, apparently you're too thick for that. [he taps the communicator, annoyed. the video clicks on.

outside of his dark purple complexion and the bright red marking on his face, his yellow eye appears dilated and out-of-focus; the pitch-black one is fine. aside from those obvious differences, the way he carries himself is much different: he seems more confident and self-assured, and takes up more visual space than Astral]

[glowsferatu]

Oh. Well, I apologize for the case of the mistaken identity, then. Though your use of his communicator does give cause for some confusion.

Your appearances are similar, are you perhaps his compatriot? [ she considers the way he's spoken of astral so far for a moment ] ...Perhaps his kismesis?

[soulbonder]

Nothing else was around! [displaying his maturity, he opens his mouth and sticks his tongue out at her. soon he closes it and squints at the communicator's screen, trying to decipher the meaning of kismesis. seriously, what the fuck is that? Ugh, and she's giving no other clues for context. drums his fingers irritatingly against the communicator again.

he rolls his shoulders back and tilts his head upward, if they were in person this action would be more clear as him looking down on her. that's harder to see on video, the implications of it can be missed. what if he just really likes moving like a creepy mannequin, huh??? DON'T JUDGE HIM]

And sure, I come from the same world. Don't know about the latter, can't be something I don't know or care about.

[glowsferatu]

[ wow 96 so rude, she isn't sure she likes you now ]

Well, perhaps not a realized quadrant, but I would be surprised if you weren't at least entertaining some darker ambition with him. Your hatred is plainly evident.

[soulbonder]

You gonna continue speaking words that have absolutely no meaning to me? [he floats forward, a tentacle extending from his back and grabs at the communicator, flipping it every which way and not giving a shit if he gives anyone motion sickness. rests his chin on his hands.

another drastic difference: 96 can't sit still] The only thing I got from that was hatred.

[glowsferatu]

[ she turns her eyes away from the screen, that is just making her nauseous! ]

Yes, well, that aspect is apparent in the way you speak of him! It may take some further witnessing of the interactions between the two of you, but I think this gives me sufficient grounds for suspicion of your feelings toward him.

[soulbonder]

[shakes the communicator!!!] OK? I'm not really hiding it.

[glowsferatu]

[ she switches to voice; that way she doesn't have to look at the video anymore ]

You should consider voicing these feelings to him, see if the two of you don't successfully realize the relationship.

Or, failing that, an auspisticism may be necessary.

[soulbonder]

[the change is encouraging, he switches back to voice] Could you explain what you're talking about?

[glowsferatu]

Your romantic inclinations, from the looks of it.

[soulbonder]

No.

[glowsferatu]

I think you couldn't possibly be more transparent on the issue. Pardon me if it's an as yet undisclosed affection that I'm casting light on in a public setting.

[soulbonder]

You're annoying.

[glowsferatu]

I'm merely making note of phenomena as it occurs within my purview.

[soulbonder]

You're also wrong.

[glowsferatu]

Or, as is quite likely, you're caught in a phase of denial.

[soulbonder]

Ooor you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.

[glowsferatu]

I will have to remain skeptical on that point but it seems to present a conversational impasse, so I wouldn't be opposed to moving beyond it for the moment.

I don't recall any prior mention of an additional example of Astral's species, have you only recently arrived?

[soulbonder]

[petulant] Been here since November, but I... [was rice cooker for a while there, uh. Yuma's powers are weird] Returned in February. [it's the truth...]

I just haaate mindless conversation like this, so I didn't bother grabbing a communicator. There are way better things to do than sit around talking about the weather or my nonexistent navel. Or my fake imaginary relationships with idiots. But if everyone's just gonna talk to me like I give a crap about who this communicator actually belongs to, I guess I'll go get one of my own. [HUFF]

Anyway. Do you speak of 'additional examples' of your species? That must get pretty tedious for anyone who decides to have a conversation with you. [mimics Astral's monotone:] I shall tell you everything about this particular being I don't like and I am frightened of because I am a lowly coward. [his voice breaks] It's truly the most fascinating conversation ever.

[and there's that damn giggling again]

[glowsferatu]

I do when appropriate.

[ her tone loses a bit of its friendliness and all of its teasing. in its place is something far more matter-of-fact ] But, come to think of it, he's not especially fond of disclosure. ...Fear may be a motivation to further encourage against it, if your estimation is correct.

I imagine you'll have some sort of name.

[soulbonder]

Indeed, I imagine you already know it!