savetheearth | Twenty-Sixth Message [Video

Excuse me -- excuse me.

[It opens with voice for once, hasty and dry, but with actual words bringing the connection in.]

I'm sorry -- I don't...

[Starts over. Coughs. A moan solidifies into an "uhmmm". Tapers off and presses out through Anthony's nose.

Takes a breath to stall, gets the message together, and... speaks up again. Actually steadily - halting but articulate.]

...This is Anthony. Janvier, and I -- just -- thought I would say, um. In case, that -- I've been hallucinating, since -- fall. I think. And it -- uhh. ...Something happened last week - 'mmh not sure what's - happening. ...Exactly, but I.

[And that's where the organization of his train of thought ends.]

In case it -- might be interesting -- to someone.

[He'll put the fact that he's legitimately scared at where this might be going out of his head as far as possible in favor of what he's just said - it might be interesting to someone! There was that suggestion before that it could be due to his brain deteriorating, on one hand, and on the other, there'd been the boy who'd brought up "monsters" going insane, and the psychologist a while before, had touched on the idea of "treating" what had sounded to be that sort of thing.]

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[ Emery gives a little 'hmmm' of thought, and there's the sound of something tapping (he's on his laptop) before he turns on his webcam -- eyes vaguely tipped down to the options he's clicking on. He tilts his head at it, looks up after a moment then grins. ]

There, that's better! Closer to an actual meeting if you know who you're talking to, isn't it? Anyway, Emery is a sort of mineral. It's very coarse, and they use it to make things like nail files and stuff that's a bit like sandpaper but not. That's why some nail files are emery boards. Apparently it also means strength or something, maybe that's because rocks and minerals and things are sturdy.

[ He wrinkles his nose a little, shrugs slightly as if half dismissing his own reasoning. ]

Have you ever looked up your own name?

[ He is, in fact, well aware he is not touching the topic of Anthony's post. He's still trying to see if he can get him comfortable, a little less nervous. Worth a try. ]

["Hmm"...?

Brow knits and face gives a couple of twitches in the space between that and "there, that's better" and - know who you're talking to...

Oh. He had been using plain audio and switched to video, he assumes, keeps his mouth shut on the matter and pauses as he holds what Emery's saying out to judge he's got a grasp on where he's going with it.

Gives a jerky nod, twitches what of the muscles around his mouth are in-tact again for a quick polite smile. He figures he does get what the man's doing, making conversation to ease into some other point - this is coming off as... procedure, in a way.

Left eye blinks on the question.]

Ah -- [Tumbles out a bit too high and wavering - his own conversational tone's not quite ready and at its sharpest.] -- what it means - ...! -- You mean.

Right! There are lots of famous people named Anthony, after all.

[ He's keeping his tone conversational, light, but slowly he's getting an idea that he might have misjudged this a little. Anthony looks... well, rather akin to a zombie, but Emery had thought maybe he still had some degree of vision.

There's no reason it isn't possible. Zombies are possible. Emery can make candles dance and throw snake statues back a few feet. Why not?

He twitches his nose in thought, typing on his keyboard a second to search up the meaning of 'Anthony'. ]

Apparently it means 'priceless'. Not bad! Oh --

[ There's a soft swish as his cat leaps into his lap and Emery wrangles it a moment, huffs in mild irritation as fur fills the air for a second. ]

Sorry [ He interprets, just in case Anthony is suffering bad or non-existent eyesight. ] cat wanted to say hello too.

[He takes a voiced, very hushed and wobbling breath to stall for time as he mulls over some type of response - cuts off when he hears the keys tapping.

His brows lift a bit at the result, he tries an "Uhh - " which also cuts off on Emery doing the same - jerks frozen...

And, well, it doesn't sound like anything more than a benign interruption. The tension sticks, he's wincing a little out of apologetic curiosity (is he... peering into something overmuch without realizing?), but the startled-ness factor steadily lays down.

At the explanation:]

-- Oh.

I, uhh - you can - ... [Tapered off nasal.] - go, if - ! [The tone's not meant to be anxious, but it still isn't as casual as he's hoping. By all means, if your cat demands to be entertained, see to it; probably preferable for both their sakes to entering what might prove to be a somewhat nerve-racking subject, from this buildup.]

Edited 2014-04-27 00:27 (UTC)

No, no don't worry -- it's fine. He's a pushy little beggar but he can wait.

[ Merlin takes a second to re-arrange the cat a little better, lets it settle and start purring as he scratches behind its ears affectionately. His voice is still amiable and calm, as if they might as well be chatting over coffee.

Not that Anthony can drink coffee. But still. ]

Cats are supposed to be pretty relaxing, you know. They use cats as therapy animals sometimes, for people in hospitals or recovering from things, kids with learning difficulties. Anyone who just needs their blood pressure lowering, anxiety eased in some way. Obviously they have to pick the right cat, though, can't try and soothe people with one that just wants to scratch everyone.

It -- makes sense... [Apart from the halt, he was attempting to respond submissively casually in kind, although it's not much of an response at all. Attempting to engage would feel like stepping in the way, a little - this still feels like buildup, and much as it's got him cringing on the edge, whatever it'd contribute to Emery's actual end to respond to isn't here yet.]

Twenty-Sixth Message [Video | Sheet of Paper]

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