04 | [Video]

[talktothedoll]

[The webcam feed opens, and Mort looks a bit ashamed of himself.]

It would seem that I...well, I seem to have forgotten everything about these numbers and this network for the past couple of weeks. It's somewhat alarming, really.

[He sighs.]

I apologize if you came in looking for help with anything and I gave you a difficult time about it. I'm now leaving a few notes for myself in the event it happens again. Don't worry--it's nothing personally identifiable or dangerous to keep lying around, but it should be enough that I won't immediately start treating anyone talking about numbers and strange powers as delusional.

My office usually isn't open on Sundays, but given the circumstances, I'm here now. If you need to talk--or if I may have made things difficult for you this past week, please, stop by. If anyone's experiencing any new developments they're having trouble with, again, please feel free to stop by.

[There's another pause, as though what he's about to say next rubs his sense of ethics the wrong way.]

If circumstances call for it, I can...er, I can reassure your family members that everything's under control and that they've got nothing to worry about with these changes.

[There. He didn't outright say he'd lie for anyone, but that's basically what he means, loath as he is to admit it.]

Comments

[Action]

[shiromadoushi]

[[Not too long after the post, the open office door suddenly slams shut with no indication of there being anyone there.

There is a very angry Bakura currently being hidden from sight by Diabound's powers behind that slam...]]

[Action]

[talktothedoll]

[Mort jumps at the door slam, and he gets up to investigate.]

Hello?

[Action]

[shiromadoushi]

[[There's no response. Just an eerie silence as Bakura slips past into the inner office]]

[Action]

[talktothedoll]

[How odd. Mort seems a bit unsettled by this as he opens the door, looks outside, closes the door again, and walks back into the office, where he'll sit back down in his chair and thoughtfully sip at a cup of coffee.

As a matter of note, the chair is wheeled and swivels. Surely neither fact could be at all exploited by a vengeful spirit.]

[Action]

[shiromadoushi]

[[Surely not.

Unless pulling the chair out just enough so that Mort could miss the chair as he sits counts~]]

[Action]

[truthandlogic]

[Miles definitely was wanting to speak with a therapist who wouldn't find him crazy because he has a phobia and recurring nightmare now that do not belong to him, so Mort's post had good timing to it because Miles was about to look back to try and find who had made that offer.

So that brings Miles to the office in the afternoon.]

[Action]

[talktothedoll]

[Mort will greet Miles with a smile, although since he doesn't realize Miles is on the network, he's not going to say anything about that first.]

Can I help you?

[Action]

[truthandlogic]

[Miles doesn't exactly smile back, but then he's not exactly the type, definitely someone far too serious for his own good.]

That would depend. Are you the one who posted on that forum earlier today?

[Action]

[talktothedoll]

[Mort's still smiling. It's par for the course when dealing with patients, even if he doesn't tend to have much of a sense of humor himself.]

If you're thinking of a forum with a...shall we say, numerical bent, then yes, that was me.

[Action]

[truthandlogic]

[Miles can at least force a smile when dealing with clients, but often they just want to know he's skilled and competent and niceness is secondary to ability to keep them out of jail. Since he's not working, definitely staying serious, especially since he's not pleased that there is even a need for this, stupid phobia appearing out of nowhere.]

That exact one. So I imagine you'd not think I was hearing things if I mentioned the annoying buzzing that has been giving me a headache all week, right?

Action;

[shut_up_idiot]

[ It took him a little while to search through the network to find the guys information but after anything that's happened the past days he thinks talking to someone, a professional someone, would be a pretty good idea.

And so he shows up at the office in the late afternoon, looking tired and worn as he knocks on the door, hoping that not too many others have decided to take the doctor up on his offer. ]

Action;

[talktothedoll]

[Mort will look up at the new arrival there, and he won't mention the network at all, preferring instead to wait and see if his visitor brings it up first. Safer that way.]

Please, come in. You need help with something?

Action;

[shut_up_idiot]

[ It's been years since Youou has been in a situation like this and he can't help feeling a little bit awkward about it, partly because it sort of feels like he's fifteen again and in trouble. ]

Yeah. I saw your message on the network about being open today even though it's off hours and, well, things have been a bit difficult lately. Thought talking about it with someone who knows their stuff might be helpful.

[ He doesn't say anything about the numbers but he hopes the mention of the network will be enough to indicate part of why he's here. ]

Action;

[talktothedoll]

[It's definitely enough, and Mort will motion for him to get settled and make himself comfortable. He'll also move to close the door in order to make sure they've got privacy.]

That's what I'm here for. Is there anything in particular you need help dealing with?

Action;

[shut_up_idiot]

Thanks.

[ He takes a seat and breathes in deeply to steady himself and his nerves. ]

Yeah. I've been having problems with my temper. I had a bit of a problem with it when I was a kid but it's been long dealt with, and even then it was nothing like this. This is much more... [ He swallows hard. ] violent.

Tuesday

[shiromadoushi]

[[Going back to the crime scene, so to speak, is never a good idea, Bakura knows this. However, he wants to gloat. Which he knows he shouldn't, so instead, he'll settle for seeing if Mort's still rattled.

And to chew him out personally while he's at it.

He takes care to make no sound as he slips into the office. With luck, Mort would be working on something and not notice...

And indeed, he was. A dark smile briefly curled Bakura's lips as he leaned against the door frame, glaring daggers at the man within.]]

[talktothedoll]

[Mort is busy flipping through a couple of files, thank you very much, Bakura. The speakers on his computer have been removed, and there is now a small combination lock on the drawer where he keeps the doll.]

[shiromadoushi]

[[another small quick of a smirk as he notices.

When Mort still doesn't realize he's there, he starts faintly singing under his breath, only half the words coming out it's so quiet. Eventually, Mort should hear~]]

[talktothedoll]

[The color drains from Mort's face as jumped at the noise. He turns around, and he actually looks a bit relieved that it's just Bakura, if not ever-so-slightly annoyed that Bakura spooked him like that.]

Must you?

[And if he looks suspicious, well, someone might be starting to put two and two together.]

[shiromadoushi]

[[a smirk at that startle. Good.]]

I saw you, last week... You didn't say anything. Just passed by like I was nothing to you.

[[his eyes narrow as the rage from the previous week bubbles up fresh]]

You're lucky that this is all you get...

[ text ]

[mezool]

good to see you back, doctor. [ she had to delete the word boy from the end of doctor a lot before she sent the message. WOW we are not calling a full grown man that. Creepy. ] i've never had a reason to go seek therapy, so i don't know if that excuse will fly with my parents, but it's good to know that the option's there!

[ text ]

[talktothedoll]

Thank you, I'm glad to have made it back with no ill effects.

I'm also a medical doctor, should you need that angle.

[ text ]

[mezool]

same here. no new pulses, though? 'cause i've got a doozy.

whoa, that's really cool! medical degrees aren't easy... or so i've heard, anyway.

[ text ]

[talktothedoll]

I can't say I've experienced anything new that I've noticed. What did you get?

It takes a lot of hard work, but it's worth it.

[ text -> video ]

[mezool]

i see... it sounds kind of scary, but it's gotta be worth it!

here, let me show you.

[ hello! the video is zoomed in on her left hand. the change that she's gotten becomes clear very quickly - her hand glows, then comes alive in a flurry of cell medals to become, uh, mezool's hand!! she wiggles her black fingers, her blue finger nails shimmering in the light, before changing it back. ]

sooo... yeah.