Eleventh Message [Audio | Cell Phone]

[scramasax]

[Anthony's defaulting to his typical least-preferred method of communication for two reasons - text isn't quote-unquote enough for his peace of mind about now, and video is for another package of sub-reasons not ideal - at least to start with.

He doesn't have much of a voice for speaking on the phone. Still, the particular brand of apprehension he's got in it presently pulls it through to register relatively well - and he's loosely rehearsed this in his brain enough times for his tone to be evenly-cadenced and -pitched on the whole, if just a little hoarser than his usual natural, and restrained. All the same best to clear his mind on this, better sooner than later than never.]

Hello. -- This is Anthony. ...Janvier.

I -- spoke - about this before, but I -- ...thought I should - be clearer. About it. Now... -- I -- am - a zombie. So please -- ... [Trip here - second-guesses phrasing.] -- don't be alarmed - when I use the network. -- Anyone. -- It's... - unpleasant-looking -- I know. However -- I promise that it's safe.

-- I can, er -- [Also second-guesses and wrings and waffles over making this offer, but again, if wanted it'd be better sooner than later!] -- also show anyone, who'd like me to... if it may help.

... -- And if you're - one of the new ones - in this, er... - Transforming - hasn't been common... among pulses - or Echoes... -- It happens, but - it's -- normally in ways that aren't -- extreme -- like - hair and eyes changing color -- [Bumbles quickly and back to a higher pitch through this next as he has no idea if he's being presumptuous in saying it but it must be worth something - at least he'll not name names!] -- ...others are becoming "monster"-like but they're -- all - ..."safe", also.

Thank you. Uhm. -- And please excuse me.

[For any and every way in which that might have been a poor move - and alas what's done is done - he'll see if it'll have appeared to have at least been benign.]

Comments

Voice | Cellphone

[icy_heavens]

So it's official, huh?

Voice

[scramasax]

Almost -- my... [Little pause - voice drops force just a little to carry less of the sort of dread he's feeling in putting it to phrasing like this.] ... -- organs are not dead - completely -- ...but my flesh is.

-- It doesn't feel that bad.

Voice

[icy_heavens]

Well, you're surviving, anyway . . . as much as a zombie can do that kind of thing, I guess. [Yeah, this is weird. How do you tell a zombie that they're surviving? Zombies are by definition dead, right? It feels kind of stupid to say that kind of thing. But it's out there.]

So the lights made you change more?

[Text]

[shiromadoushi]

Congratulations on coming out of the closet.

If anyone gives you crap, lemme know and I'll beat them up, kay?

[[He's pretty sure Anthony will never call in that promise, but he does mean it.]]

[Text]

[scramasax]

[Haa, definitely chagrined at reading it that way, if pettily - the attitude of it's plainly understood...]

I'm not "coming out of the closet", Bakura... It was already impossible for people who see me not to know.

However, thank you for everything.

[Indeed Anthony firmly intends not to - but he is touched by it.]

voice;

[hollowleg]

Geez.

Sorry to hear that, man. But thanks for stickin' up for us monsters, ha?

voice;

[scramasax]

-- Don't be...! -- I meant it -- it - ...I've erm - been adjusting to it...

...Should I have, by the way? I - er -- ...know it isn't my place to -- ...talk about other people's transformations -- [Lops that off unceremoniously - it can't be exactly his place to qualify it after asking a question like that, either.]

Voice, laptop microphone

[dominateartimus]

How are you holding up?

[Why yes he does sound concerned, but at the same time silently ridiculing himself for his poor choice in words.]

Voice

[scramasax]

[It's a question Anthony's been asked more than once since the process began - he reads nothing into the phrasing.]

Fine - thank you... -- Xander. [Tried to deliver that in a polite and sufficiently convincing unbroken and even tone - that last pause was on catching himself and correcting from a habitual "sir" on recollecting what was said on it the last time he and the source of this voice spoke.] -- It's -- already been almost a week since it - got -- more - obvious... -- It happened the night the -- ...light - reappeared. The -- pink light - in the sky.

[Likewise concerned - and additionally curious in a way of a simple and plain curiosity.] -- Did you, er - see it -- ? If I may ask...

[stavros]

A zombie?

[scramasax]

Uhm -- ...yes - a zombie. -- I could -- ...make visual connection - if you'd like.

[Ah, dear, someone he's unacquainted with. Making a point to deliver that as easily-articulately as possible, tone still reserved - nothing to fret over for himself or anyone else - but the consciousness of it affects. Not necessarily expecting a yes, but as a sort of in-case!]

audio;

[aetos]

[Oh, he...recognized that voice. Admittedly, it would be hard not to. Roy thought something sounded off when this person answered him previously, but wow, this was not the sort of something he expected.

Maybe he should have.]

...Are you alright?

[He still seemed to have his sanity, which is more than what the media usually grants to the undead.]

audio;

[scramasax]

[Anthony likewise thinks he recalls the voice replying, with a silly sort of "caught" feeling as he does assume in fact that the recognition's mutual - tries to put some lightness into his tone. It comes off as obviously sheepish, relatively quick scansion and hoarse-ish quality aside.]

-- I am, uhm. I've been er - ..."turning"... since - June... actually. -- ...I know it doesn't sound - "good" -- but it still - hasn't been surprising. [He might have attempted to put an all-the-more-sheepish bit of a laugh of heart into the last couple of words were this not probably an inappropriate situation, and that laying it on a little too heavy.]

Are, erm - ...are you all right - ...? [Asked a little thinly and lifting high - doesn't want it to come off as nosy, or as a deflection of undeath matter, even though it's partly that - killing the four birds of deflection, confirmation of recognition, lingering concern, and curiosity as to precisely what that was with one stone.]

[ action, because I can ]

[allinvein]

[John's actually in the shower at the start of Anthony's voice post, but as he steps out with a toothbrush shoved in his mouth and his hair plastered to his head, he stops and quietly listens to what the kid has to say. An odd but fond smile tugs at his lips, and when Anthony finishes, John comes over and gives him a light squeeze on the shoulder.

He doesn't do anything else and doesn't say anything--he just wants Anthony to know that he's there for him, zombie changes and all.]

[ action ]

[scramasax]

[Anthony hears John come out - quick to pivot to turn a bit, but doesn't try or rather makes himself try not to turn dead on. Carries on with the message without trying to find someplace to look for direction, or approval or disapproval on saying anything as it comes out - wouldn't be fair, he started the message himself anyway, finish it as naturally as he can.

He freezes tensed on a judgment for it, not necessarily positive or negative, that he more-consciously knows isn't going to come when he finishes the recording. With it cut he finally turns his head to watch John coming over with a look similarly too blank and undecided in its anticipation to be deer-in-the-headlights.

Some part of his mind knows well enough to expect the gesture, still - and though he doesn't feel the contact as immediately, fully as he would have before, he feels it more than well enough for it to be greatly relieving, reassuring.

Gets a humbled, deeply thankful smile. Still not entirely dead-on but in a rather cowed spirit. Huffs a short fractional breath out through his nose as acknowledgement as well - without any sense of permission to, isn't going to say anything, either, and hopes that the thank-you is strongly-enough felt.]

[Audio]

[playerspooker]

...a sentient zombie? That's a new one on me.

Also kinda really jarring. So, uh. To be perfectly blunt, do we gotta worry about you, y'know, gettin' hungry for the flesh of the living?

[Audio]

[scramasax]

[A question that makes his skin crawl (in a sense) - but at least it isn't a first as one he's had to answer.] -- No ma'am... -- I don't -- ...eat - anything. ... -- And I think that makes the most sense - since -- ...something dead - shouldn't -- ...need to eat... -- Should it - ...?

text; cellphone

[hoennmaihime]

[...]

That's quite terrible. My sincere condolences.

[And for once, she actually means it. Zombification is certainly an extraordinarily horrific way to have one's life ruined.]

What does your family know? Also, I want you to show me.

[She can never pass up an opportunity to toughen herself up.]

audio;

[scramasax]

[He suspects not a thing as to who this is based on text - if he did then he'd certainly sound far more caught off-guard.]

-- Thank you. I -- appreciate - ...the condolences.

Uhm -- ...my parents - have been -- ...placed under the impression - that I have a medical condition - and have - been under emergency care... - Thanks to Dr. Strider... -- I - still speak to them - every day. So they know that I'm - still "there"... -- I - don't know if - they've -- been telling anyone else - much.

[A subject that makes him anxious to a probably creeping into his tone, also hence the possible too-much-information - thus moving on:] -- Would you, er -- ...like me - to show you now...?

[video]

[gogoghostpowers]

[He is still wearing that dumb hat to hide all his dumb hair.]

Uh--h-hi. [he waves a little bit.] I'm Danny, we're--we're in the same grade? I don't think we ever talked much in school, but we...shared some classes, I think.

I-I noticed you haven't been in any classes lately, though, and I was getting kinda worried, but I guess now I know why not... Um. S-Sorry.

Uh--if you ever need me to bring over like some homework or anything, I could do that? I-I don't really know if you need that, but. I figured I could try and help out.

[video]

[scramasax]

[Ahh he recognizes Danny - most immediate connection with his brain going first to the network at this point is as the boy who'd been bleeding glowing green - but they did have a few classes together, he does recall now - and this is unexpected. Not sympathy, everyone's been rather giving with it for everyone else here, but that his lack of an appearance at school had been cause to worry.

It seems fitting as a move of solidarity to change method of communication - reciprocate the method he's responding to, and possible lending to give-and-get; he's wondering about the hat.

Picks up a number-scribed sheet of paper, hesitates a moment.]

Uhmm -- ... [It's dry-voiced - and with that visual connection's established in turn. He twitches a rather tiny, sheepishly-polite greeting smile - goes on a bit hesitant.]

Danny - Fenton -- ...correct?

[text]

[goldenclothes]

[ oh, anthony. ): now that you aren't around the library she misses your apprehensive but studious nature.

which makes her wonder how long she'll be able to go about things... maybe she's luckier than she thought? ]

Let me know if you would like anything from the library. I can easily sign things out under your account and drop them off.

...ah, it's Miss Bainbridge. [ even while she sits there wondering who's who she forgets that people can't tell who she is either if she doesn't say or they don't know her writing. ]

[text]

[scramasax]

[He does dare to take guesses as to just who this might be on processing the offer written in.

The continuation confirms - and he is practically thrilled with relief as he is grateful to have that offer.]

Hello, ma'am.

Although I have to decline if it isn't convenient, I am grateful that you would think of doing so... [Anyone going out of their way to get books from Point A to Point B as the possible excessive inconvenience, that is - even he isn't going to doubt that the process of signing out would be simple and non-controversial enough.] Thank you, Ms. Bainbridge!

[ text ]

[seabeast]

hells but you look awful lad
what is this zombee sickness

[ video ]

[scramasax]

[Takes but a moment - and is oddly amused, some sort of surprised in a neutrality leaning toward positive. Unexpected recognition of a respondent, and one whose appearance is always something of a surprise.

She's already alluded to his appearance and he tries to trust that someone with likely minimal having-picked-up-on human culture around death, so-called monsters, and all such wouldn't be that put off - and it may help make any points clearer.

Answers are not apprehensive but rather dry and halting as he wasn't prepared to need to describe what a zombie is, isn't sure what parts need be explained, but in that case best to at least start.]

Er - hello, Stella - ...! -- It's... - not a sickness - actually. -- It's not - ...supposed to be, traditionally. [That sentence said as if a separate answer to the one before, rather than a qualification.] It -- means I'm -- ...physically dead. ... - A zombie is an animated dead body.