Thirty-First Message [Video | Sheet of Paper]

[scramasax]

[All the usual. Usual poor lighting. Usual wall and ceiling colors. Usual voice out of no-longer-in-tact vocal chords.

Anthony himself, however, is entirely out of sight. On his own end, he's leaning forward to rest and focus.

He is very husky. Yet high. And hesitant. But steady. He's - perhaps not practiced, but mulled over what he's going to say, at least.

Coughs.]

-- It's Anthony Janvier. They're --

...We're talking. About -- what we have to do. Since - they're... talk - talking about us. More and more.

A - a while ago I asked if -- we should, um. Collect -- information about -- "mutants". On the network. A couple of times, to help - anyone else who's - going through extreme changes.

May -- perhaps if - we start. Uhmm. Discussing it now, we could - release, um. Some of the information to -- um, outside the network. So people will know what - to expect from us, don't expect anything that -- isn't true. So it'll be safer for them, and -- for us, to... start -- showing ourselves.

If, um. If everyone who's - not human could respond - describe ev - everything they know about what they are -- that-that-that they're comfortable with sharing, it -- would be... It could be helpful.

For -- for everyone. Not just me. You can -- discuss things amongst yourselves. Uh -- please don't - use text; I -- would rather be able to know what's going on.

[By all means use text if 'tisn't meant for him to hear.]

If you -- have to talk anymore -- to anyone, maybe they -- maybe we could - leave our Numbers. If that's all right. Or -- just keep talking here -- later I'll...

[He really can't say he will do anything. Or will be able to do anything, can't make any promises, and so he unceremoniously cuts it there to proceed.]

[Private to Alex K.]

[It doesn't so much as go through. He doesn't stop to bother with the idea of confirming, as it isn't as if it's doing any harm if it isn't. Muttering.]

Alex -- it's uhm. A-Anthony; I -- sent a message to the network. -- Need your help with it too, uhmm -- 'ss -- been a month, just - please say something. If you get this. Here or on the network, umm...

[And "cut".]


((OOC: In other words? A "tell me about your species"/"mutant type" sharing post! Anthony will be responding, but consider this a free-for-all post - if anyone says anything your character can tag, take it and/or threadjack at will.))

Comments

[Video]

[scramasax]

[Opens with a cough and a throaty opening.] I'll -- start -- I suppose...

My uh -- [Another cough. And an actual edging into view.]

...My name's Anthony Janvier. -- I'm a zombie.

It -- uhh... -- It happened slowly. Innn. -- Stages. It's, uh -- it's magic. The -- other me, was umm. Turned by a spell. On a scroll. The same way.

I uhm. I don't eat -- anything; I couldn't -- "turn" anyone else. I don't bite and I couldn't do the magic. [Wouldn't, for that matter.] -- And uh, I don't. Sleep. -- I can't die - normally - either. Don't know what -- it would take, but I don't uhmm.

-- I suppose it's because I don't uhmm - "need" anything that's - that's - that's dead already.

If -- [Skips and falls over a word or two.] -- any questions, I'll uhmm. [Swallows.] Ta -- take them. -- My network number is 3813367419...

[Increasingly husky and trailing at ends, though that wasn't inflected as the end of a thought. Hands a moment.]

And that's... -- It. Thank you.

text;

[siesinddasessen]

Stop being an idiot. Do you really think airing everyone's details will do anything to protect their safety?

video;

[scramasax]

I can't --

[Breaks off, floats thin.]

Hear you...?

voice;

[siesinddasessen]

You weren't lying, huh?

Anyway, you're being an idiot and need to stop that. Airing everyone's details like that will endanger people rather than keeping them safe, a baby would know that.

voice

[testsonseashells]

Should consider downloading screen-reader.

video

[scramasax]

I -- always use paper... That --

["Wouldn't work, would it?]

[testsonseashells]

Not on paper, no. No electronic devices?

voice;

[brotimaeus]

It's a good idea in theory, man, but people as a group are really fuckin' stupid, especially when they're faced with something they don't understand.

video;

[scramasax]

But that isn't --

[That isn't what people had said before, is his first thought. "Before" he'd framed it another way entirely. Namely one of collecting information for the network's benefit, back when there were more of them, more "monsters" and "mutants" enough to be vocal and more likely to gain something from reassurances and tips on getting by, for that matter.

...God, he is so, so stupid.]

But we can't just -- can we pretend we just don't exist...?

[A question which might or might not logically follow for that but he's almost asking (not even grasping) for a straw as opposed to a broom already - he's already judging the probable drop of faaailure with regards to this, after mulling over that it was or had seemed like a good idea, would seem like an all the more relevant time to finally do it...]

video;

[brotimaeus]

Nah.. we can't do that, either.

[It's really a Catch 22, isn't it.]

But think of it like this. The media's already full of sensationalist bullshit about what people like us may or may not be able to do. Actually comin' out and confirming that any of it is right is going to cause fucking anarchy and it ain't gonna matter what we say is wrong about what they're reporting.

[Video]

[chalicejoker]

I turn into a big bug. I don't need to sleep anymore. From the things I'm remembering, I'm a big bug who fought other monsters. That's it.

[At least, that's all he's willing to admit publicly.]

I don't know if anyone outside the network needs to hear that last part. Just let them think I'm some guy who turns into a big bug, or let them keep on wondering what the hell's up with the Lord of the Bugmen. It's as good as a mask as far as I'm concerned. I don't know that I'm willing to give that up just yet.

[He sighs.]

But if anyone needs...I guess advice is the right word for it? If you need to talk about becoming something not-human, I first turned around this time last year. Here's my number.

[And he'll recite his number.]

[Video]

[scramasax]

[You're a peach for humoring 'im, Hajime; however, regrettably, at this instant, this is what it'll get you.

Namely a cough and a constricted, dejected:] -- Thanks. Hajime.

[Video]

[chalicejoker]

[He tried.]

It's worth a shot, but not everyone's going to be up for it. People are just jumpy right now.

[Video]

[radiantchicken]

But does it count if you were never a human to begin with? I used to be just a normal parrot.

[Video]

[scramasax]

[At this point, honestly, he was braced to hear more talking down.

But - that and it's the parrot!

Takes a moment to come unsnagged.]

Uhh -- yes...! Yes. Of -- course it does; why -- wouldn't it...!

[Video]

[radiantchicken]

Ah, I suppose there's no reason!

[There's a slight laugh as he thoughtfully strokes his whiskers.]

It seems as though it might be easier for humans to understand this sort of thing from the perspective of a human who has changed, rather than another, non-human creature who has simply changed to another thing that is also not human.

Video

[thebalrogslayer]

It's a nice enough idea, but I'm not sure that people at large will believe what we say, and others will take our weaknesses and use them.

Video

[scramasax]

How - how - how can they not believe us, we're right -- here...

[He is honestly trying not to sound good 'n defeated.]

Video

[thebalrogslayer]

Oh, there are some things that we couldn't lie about, of course, but for example if I could telepathically broadcast a conversation and I told everyone that, they're going to start being careful what they say around me. I might tell everyone anyway, because I'm a good person, but if you were already suspicious of me you might think why would I tell anyone something like that when they can't see it and have no way of knowing for certain until it's been used against them.

[He sighs, but there's a touch of a smile about it.] It's a nice idea. I just don't think that things are that easy, that people won't continue to look for excuses.

audio;

[detectivetroll]

Like PR for network members? That might be something we need, in the near future. I wonder if we have anyone on here actually in public relations.

[Yeah, he's seen the other responses to this, but he's choosing to ignore them. Refined a little, it's a good idea.

...then he sets this next bit private.]

What would you say to a vacation? Somewhere outside the city?

video;

[scramasax]

[He doubts very much indeed that Nick wouldn't've seen the other responses. That's good enough for him.

He's not actually sure what he does say to that, though his initial inarticulate thought isn't good or bad. Tone's likewise ambivalent, isn't sure how to start in...]

Don't, uhh, p - ...People need us here -- with um. The mob, and... - things. ["Things". Strayed out half-whispery. (Ohh, what do you mean "us"?)]

And -- [Swallows a cough.] -- That -- isn't exactly -- what I meant. -- I think. Winter Adamas already... suggested that. Something like it.

[Of course she did, of course her idea was the one that actually had its head wrapped around what they apparently need on the whole, of course of course of course...]

-- PR. In general. -- I-I mean.

I -- in the past, everyone said this'd be a good idea - [Deliberately winds itself to spring just for the moment over the fact that back then it was framed entirely differently, and that there were more of 'em obvious oddities and so-called monsters to actually benefit from anything anywhere in that area.] - now I just.

Don't -- have any idea what else I can possibly do.

[He's stated it before. Pretty much the only other thing he's got on him apart from the apparently-redundant spell and possibly demonic spell is a capability he was heavily discouraged from actually using - namely "not dying".]

audio;

[detectivetroll]

There's PR in general, and there's us getting what we know together so we're all on the same page, and then figuring out what parts of it we should tell everyone.

It helps network members who might be in similar situations, and eventually it'll be a starting point for relating to the public. It's still a good idea, man.

[Other people seem to be unable to get past not wanting the general public to know everything about them. Which, yeah, is a good point, but that's not the whole issue here.]

And I think the city can manage without us for a weekend. You could do with the chance to get out, and I'm... trying to do more things with the people I care about, outside the city.

Voice

[umbrael]

[See, here's the thing. He knows he can't exactly walk around in the light of day, being a very large dinosaur. Still. Not turning back at all, this seems to be his life forever now. And considering everything that's happened in the last year, it's fair to guess that even if he's made some benign-ish appearances before, people might not be happy to see a large black and red angry-looking dinosaur.

At the same time, he'd really like to be able to go outside again. That garage was feeling smaller by the day (even though he's pretty sure he wasn't growing anymore).

He's not sure which reason is behind his responding to this post, but then again, he's not really optimistic for an outcome here.]

[Since Anthony here said no text, he gets a voice post. Which is a low, rumbling growl, similar to an alligator, but not quite as hollow and airy.]

Video

[scramasax]

[He's been this way and that mentally too long for him to fall into sensible connection. Instead everything along his spine freezes, uncertainly.

Connection could be failing or unclear, somehow, to the fault of the medium on the other end or something else, or he could be failing to hear it. Or hearing things entirely.

Brow knots. Docilely tries:] ...Excuse me?

voice

[umbrael]

[Did he stutter?

Another rumbling growl, drawn out a little longer, and punctuated by a snap of his jaws. Some kind of large, growling animal on the other end, clearly.

Anyone who could speak ancient dinosaur growling could tell Anthony he's hearing 'see what I mean?']