[Voice]

[espigeonage]

Suil, network. Minor question, but I figure I know enough people who can answer it! [he's teasing. More seriously:] What are some of the things you start to notice, getting older?

[he's not telling people about his potential lifespan, there's a safer reason to share]

I looked at some selfies from a couple years ago and some today. My skin's changed, it's thinner now. Not as oily. So that might be it. But I think there's more of a hint of, um, lines around my eyes. [With laughing complaint] I'm twenty-five, this is way too early! And like half-Japanese, that's supposed to set them back more.

Comments

video

[arrowpoint]

Um... you're also kind of part bird, dude. No offence. Could be normal for a bird.

[espigeonage]

Then it should've cropped up when my skin changed! That was back last December.

[arrowpoint]

I don't know, man, things are weird when it comes to this stuff. If it happened all at once I think we wouldn't all be so clueless about our echos. I wouldn't worry about it. It's probably just another thing.

[espigeonage]

[Grudging] Probably. I don't like it, though! Even if I'm not modelling I want to look as good as I can.

[arrowpoint]

What's wrong with natural? Time happens and trees don't look as green anymore, but they're still cool. When I go gray I'm not doing a thing about it.

[espigeonage]

That's far-future stuff. This is now-stuff. I'm a young adult, not in my late thirties. I'm supposed to look young.

[arrowpoint]

I still don't see how you can tell how young or old you look because you're like... the only half-bird-guy around. Who knows? For all we know you're a seriously hot half-bird-man and the half-bird-ladies will be all up ons.

[espigeonage]

I have a human face! I'm not like a macaw, with... they have bare skin, and it's wrinkly.

And there aren't any other bird-monster people around, except Torin, and I'm probably not colorful enough for him.

[arrowpoint]

Dude I know literally nothing about birds I don't know what to tell you. I think you look fine?

[Literally: That word, I don't think it means what you think it means.]

[espigeonage]

What if I don't, though? What if I get unrecognizable?

[This is really the best person to confess that fear to?]

[arrowpoint]

[Probably not. Liam sighs, unsure what to do about the situation.]

...You want to hang out?

[espigeonage]

I... I guess. You have something in mind? I'm not really up for crowds right now.

[arrowpoint]

Hmm...

[Liam takes a moment to think. If they were back in Locke he could just invite him over, but as it was there wasn't a lot you could do in the mountain.]

You want to see a movie? We can go see a crappy one so there's not a lot of people and it's dark so people won't really see you.

[espigeonage]

You might have to lead me around, I can't see in the dark. But sure. Animated or CGI ones are easier for me to track.

...I saw final fantasy alone in the theater with a friend. empty theater was fantastic.

[arrowpoint]

That's cool, I have Elf eyes now they do great in the dark. So... let's see...

[Liam breaks eye contact from the video, obviously checking out other things on the computer.]

Well, in the middle of the day there would be less people... Okay, there's 'Last Legend the Movie', it's PG-13 so it's not for kids, I guess. I think it's fantasy and all CGI. Do you like fantasy stuff?

[espigeonage]

[aww, that does sound fun. ...and to Julien too apparently, he's rallying and sounding more like himself.]

Be my seeing-eye elf in there. Your uncle did that for me once.

Sure, I like fantasy. Think there'll be ridiculous magic swords? And is this in Vegas?

[arrowpoint]

Really? Okay I'm going to have to hear that story sometime.

[He smiles a little at the thought.]

Fantasy is okay, I don't go out of my way to watch it though. I guess there will be sword fighting and magic and all that, yeah.

Yeah is Vegas okay? I don't know what kind of movies they have over there.

[espigeonage]

Sure. He's okay, really.

[Even if Teagan was Difficult.]

I'm not sure if everything here'd be in English! I can come to Vegas. Yeah, my favorite genres are spy and fantasy, they don't come together that often though!

[arrowpoint]

I just don't get to hear too much about what he did when he was numbered.

[...Mostly he's just heard about Teagan being an ass.]

Sweet, I can order tickets. Can you be here at one-thirty? The movie's at two.

[espigeonage]

Well, I thought of him as a friend, I can tell you a bit! Maybe I should send him a card at Christmas.

I think I can do that. Are you going to smuggle in popcorn?

...I feel like this is turning into dinner and a movie. >>;

[arrowpoint]

He's not a bad guy, all and all, just kind of... prickly.

Nah, I'm cool without. If you're hungry though we can get something after.

[espigeonage]

I know. He takes some getting used to.

Popcorn is a terrible thing to try and fill up on anyway. I'll just have a big lunch and see what I think later. Do they have more options for you there than in Locke?

[arrowpoint]

Oh yeah, totally. This is a bigger city.

[He shrugs a little. He missed the family estate and the woods surrounding it.]

I like Locke better though. I'm not a big cactus fan.

[espigeonage]

Good! No one likes seeing you starving. And yeah, Vegas is always kinda hot and dusty. It can be beautiful country out there, away from all the neon, but really sparse. I'm surprised the lake hasn't just all evaporated. Maybe it'll end up some kind of oasis there.