second rock. voice (phone)/action. friday, after school.

[metalbent]

Okay, obviously I have nothing to say about the shiny lights in the sky still because wow I dunno, really obvious reasons for at least some of you - and I don't have a lot of awe to go around for all these "wow look at this totally awesome thing I can do slash that I have!" if it comes with no explanation at all for equally obvious reasons. For...well, at least Peppy and some of the people at that party the other month know why that is, but I guess in the interest of time I will just do a quick disclaimer of "hey, assholes, I'm blind."

So if I don't act all excited about your pictures or whatever don't get all offended because there's a reason your pictures are sort of dull. And it'd be super if in addition to "hey look at this" you also did an addendum of what we're supposed to be looking at, but you know, whatever.

Anyway, that actually wasn't why I started this. I mean, it kinda was just because it's getting old to do the whole "gee whiz golly what a great photo" thing or to get told off when requesting extra information, but that's not the important thing.

Peppy and I went on a walk the other day, and yadda yadda yadda tuning towers yeah I know we all know about it - but because we went - I guess? - I got something cool.

[ And she sounds more than a little smug about it, too. ]

I can see. Not videos or pictures or whatever, so don't bother with that, but...I can sort of see. If I'm barefoot. I've been trying it ever since we went, but it's not really the easiest thing... [ because wow no lessons just the ability ] ...but I can actually tell where things are. Kind of. If it's earth. I guess it's sort of relevant to share.

...Oh, and could I get someone to like. [ She sighs. ] Check me over every so often or something?? Just like tell me if my hair or my eyes or whatever changes randomly. Color-wise. Like, to the point my parents would be concerned. ...I assume I'm pretty much still me, or they probably would have said something. ...This is stupid, ignore that. Anyway, Later.

[ If anyone would prefer an action option, Sophie is trying to unobtrusively get some more practice in at the park. This involves sitting in the grass somewhere with her shoes off and her palms on the ground, leaning back, her cane nearby. She's not going to be out particularly late, and stays in the more populated of areas, since she's, you know, people-watching for practice. ...Though it pretty much looks like she's just hanging out doing nothing, since "practice" involves maintaining contact with the ground and just sort of...listening is the best word she has for it, still. ]

Comments

[toobig]

[He's making his way over to the closest bench, sitting down and taking out the manuscript he's been working on. She can't see it, but the skin on his hands is stretched and flaky-- around his eyes and neck too. It's a little painful to be moving around-- but the sun makes it feel better.]

I... think I do, yeah. I mean-- I, uh, wouldn't know Reiner or Annie if we weren't connected.

[A pause before he starts a little, flustered-- he keeps doing it! More often lately...]

I mean-- Ryan and Ellie.

[metalbent]

[ The many benefits of talking to Sophie: Unless your mutation changes your actual shape, she's not about to take notice of any weird additions. Clearly the best thing to take advantage of.

She turns in his direction, and while she knows where he is, her eyes don't track. ]

I think I've talked to both of them.

...It's just...[ She crosses her legs, sitting up more, although she leaves her hands on the ground. ] ...I dunno if other-me could see, either, then. If the past life thing is a thing.

[ she's still not sure she buys that. ]

[toobig]

Yeah-- uh, Ryan's my boyfriend. He talks to... well, everyone. Ellie's a little ...standoffish but she's a good person.

[RUINING ANNIE'S STREET CRED FOREVER]

Maybe... past you could see through the ground too? Or maybe it's the start of something even better...

[metalbent]

Maybe people where I was from saw through their elements for...whatever reason.

[ she shrugs. if he's going to speculate, she's maybe going to help a bit, even if she's Not Sure about any of this. ]

And yeah, I know. I talked to Ryan when he was talking about you sleeping.

[ that doesn't sound weird at all ]

i added u on plurk if that's cool!!

[toobig]

Their elements? Like... uh, earth, fire, wind...?

[Water, heart? He's an eighties kid.]

---!! A-ah... that... I-I'm sorry a-about that...

[That was really embarrassing!!!]

s'totally fine! as long as i can tell who people are i will add them

[metalbent]

Air, Water, Earth, Fire. And, uh, metal I guess?

[ Also, she frowns. ]

New rule: you can only apologize to me once a conversation. If you do it more, you...

[ ...what is a good punishment. ]

...owe me a candy bar for every uncountable apology. Starting right now!

[ she still has to give you manliness lessons bro, this counts. ]

that's why i wanted to give you a heads up :3

[toobig]

Not heart?

[Shut up Bertholdt. Also, he smiles a little;]

Ah... you don't want cheeseburgers?

[He remembers their first conversation okay!!]

much appreciated!

[metalbent]

...Are you making Captain Planet jokes at me, Bert.

[ Sophie's clearly trying to decide if this is okay with her. She...guesses she can let it pass. ]

Oooh, I can take cheeseburgers, instead. I guess those cost more, too. More incentive to man up!

[ why do you make it worse for yourself, Bertholdt. ]

[toobig]

I think I am. Weird, huh?

[See? He opens up a little after... a while.]

Yeah... I'll do my best.

[He's talking McDoubles, hon.]

[metalbent]

I'll count it as progress for now.

[ McDoubles are to thirteen year olds as something really great is to every other age, okay. ]

You better!! I'll hold you to it if you slip up, you know.

[toobig]

No... I-I know. I believe you.

How about I buy you one now, to make up for before?

[Bertholdt how lonely are you....]

[metalbent]

Well, it's not like I'm going to turn down a burger!

[ ...even if normally going with guys you've only talked to online would be a no-go, the Network stuff sort of...changes things.

Also, Sophie can't bring herself to be the least bit suspicious or wary of Bert. She gets up, picking up the cane as she does so. It's still useful, if in a different way than it used to be - camouflage. ]

[toobig]

[Wow-- Bertholdt you need to stop only talking to small children. But, he's the least threatening person in the world, let's be honest. Sophie is more threatening than he is.]

[So he gets up and heads out of the park with her.]

I guess... it'd be really cool, suddenly being able to "see"... even if it's only vibrations. Independence is always a good thing.

[metalbent]

Hey, hey. I was independent before now! You know, as much as you can be in the eighth grade.

[ At least she refused to believe otherwise. ]

...But yeah. It's nice to be able to walk around with less...memorization and caution, a bit.

[toobig]

I'm not saying you weren't.

[He opens the door for her when they get to the nearest McDon*ld's. Even if she can "see" a little bit now, he isn't going to be the asshole who doesn't help the little blind girl in public wow.]

I just... think it's about time someone got something good from these Echo things...

[metalbent]

[ Well, it's not like Sophie's going to complain about that. For the moment. ]

Hasn't anyone else gotten anything even a little bit good?

[toobig]

Most people don't like their Echoes... or something goes wrong with them.

[He orders her two double cheese burgers, and a thing of fries. He won't eat, but it seems less odd if he buys two burgers for them.]

Do you want a soda?

[metalbent]

Sprite, please!

[ She likes the bubbles, yes. ]

...And yeah, I guess. I didn't give mine that much thought 'till now.

[toobig]

[Bertholdt gets a small soda for himself as well, and they sit down. He always feels awkward in these booths, he's always been too big for them.]

Right. I really hope all of yours are good, though.

[metalbent]

Yeah, me too. I guess mostly I just - eh. Don't really know enough to make sense of the ones that aren't...this.

[toobig]

Right... A lot of mine are... uh, physical I guess, and... it's awkward.

[At least he knows Sophie can't judge him.]

That and memories... I don't really get a lot of them, but I've met some people on the Network I saw in uh... those memories, so I guess it's okay...

[metalbent]

D'you have neon hair or something? I hear that's a thing.

[ APPARENTLY. Also weird eyes??? ]

I have memories, but...I've never met anyone from them.

[toobig]

No-- uh, it's my skin...

Ryan's like that too... I don't know if-- uh, anyone else will be though.

I'm sure you will, eventually?

[metalbent]

What's up with your skin? Is it neon-colored?

[ ............look, she knows neon colors are apparently really noticeable...................... ]

[toobig]

No, uh... it's ...peeling off.