Fourteenth Message [Text | Handwritten -> Video | Sheet of Paper]

[scramasax]

[Slow and steadily handwritten text in pen:]

This is Anthony. I apologize to anyone who it bothers. However, I am going to switch to video. Excuse me, please.

[The words stay in place with no change in the transmission for between four and five seconds.

It shifts to visual with a hoarse and mumbled "Hello."

When it switches to video Anthony looks no different than he did in his last message - except, of course, rather more composed. At the least relatively - he still looks uneasy. Shoulders distinctly hunched making himself not timidly but anxiously somewhat small in the frame. Eyes don't go fully unlidded, blinking rapid, less-obviously brow slightly knitted and eyes themselves wandering one way and then the other.

His fingers are laced and hands resting from where he had them clasped in front of them before shifting method of communication - also not-so-obvious twitch in his face that'd be a little too quick to catch as some misgiving polite obligatory smile even if his face was in the state it was in April.]

-- I er...

-- thought it - may - be - good -- to mention... that I... -- know from experience that I -- cannot die. -- Normally... [This is cagier than he hopes it sounds, as it's more than he can actually claim to know for a fact.] If -- ...there's a fight -- any time soon -- ...if - we're -- ge - getting attacked, again, I, erm. ... -- Won't mind -- if I can -- ...be - there.

[Less-than-forthright way to say that he hopes to.]

Uhm. That's all -- thank - ...Thank you...

[In a moment his shoulders hunch even deeper and he cringes away from the screen before dusting the page aside and cutting the feed.]

Comments

voice {iphone}

[ursoreckless]

Hey. Just cause you can't die, doesn't mean you should die. You'll just worry everyone if you throw yourself into danger.

[coming from him, this is a really weird thing, oay? Shou is usually the first one to toss himself in front of the firing squad.]

I know what you're trying to get at, but you may find more ways to help out than being cannon fodder.

voice

[scramasax]

[These answers are more or less the lines of what he knew better than to not expect; none of it's changing anything on his mind.] I've been trying to -- I haven't been able to think of anything, and we always -- need -- people, who are... willing to be in danger; I'm -- ...tired of doing nothing. [Said very stiffly; fears it might've been put excessively brusquely.]

voice

[ursoreckless]

So am I. [he can drive, he's got some very uncanny reflexes, and he's got a pocketbook. that's all he's got and it is tiring to not be able to do much more though at the same time, he knows that something will change sooner or later.]

We're still figuring things out about what we can and cannot do. I'd figured that there are places for each of us when we get to the point of needing to stand, but right now, just throwing ourselves at the front lines because we can might not be for the best. You can't die, but are you able to fight and fight well? Because just being fodder doesn't mean anything unless you can make an attempt to thin their ranks too.

voice

[scramasax]

I can fight -- I... can. [He cannot, in fact, fight well, but he'll not say it; will independently weigh pain and damage tolerance to make up for it and say in sincere satisfaction that the point is that he can fight.] And er - I - don't know how else I can use -- being a zombie...

voice

[ursoreckless]

I'm not saying you can't; I'm asking if you can fight well. [he wasn't trying to demean his efforts. what Shou wanted was to prevent any stupid heroism in the face of odds they still haven't that much of an idea about.]

You're still growing into the zombie skin. There might be more stuff to it but rushing off isn't going to help it.

voice

[scramasax]

[His non-answer already given was probably already telling enough in his response in mind to the real question.]

-- I -- [Barely-detectable quick swallow.] - don't know what else it can - be, sir... [Dragged off also-quick and rattling faintly.]

voice

[ursoreckless]

All I'm saying is to not force it. You probably have some skills you don't know about hidden inside. Maybe the zombie effects is part of a huge magic thing. Maybe it's part of a curse. We won't know until that pulse hits.