Anthony (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
scramasax) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
savetheearth2014-10-09 11:41 am
scramasax) wrote in savetheearth2014-10-09 11:41 am
Thirty-Sixth Message [Video | Sheet of Paper | Forward-Timed to Later Afternoon]
[Happy October, Numbers.
Have a special post to accompany one of the surprise complications of the day. Special lighting, special location. Anthony looks especially disheveled for this one - or p'raps that's the broad daylight overhead highlighting what's always been there? That might be another spot worn open in his forehead, the opening in his cheek a little wider, hair apparent enough as distinctly mussed in the back. In any case, he's on a street, and what view of buildings there is says not too far from Espresso Yourself.
His right sleeve's empty. Hanging down straight. He doesn't regard it one bit.
Sits put a few moments, opens his jaw, and takes a couple of breaths - good 'n slow, considering, loud by contrast to the lack thereof prior. Turns his head up one way, tips another - the loose sleeve swings - and he refocuses when the left hand catches the connection point.
When he speaks, apart from the halting, he sounds incongruously composed. His tone is almost dully even.]
If. There's anything on the news...
It. Wasn't. Me.
I -- was told... You - [Gulp.] - know who it was...
Dead - [That one hit a distinct tense chord. Falls out of it flatter and husky.]
We'll -- ...figure it out, figure it out, we - have - to figure it out, why does -- ...
It'll be all right... It'll be all right...
[He... had a train of thought. He still has it - just on standby. Don't blame him for being a wee bit freaked out right now - he knows he is, hence the disorientation and this current apparent detachment of his arm - all in his head, got to be all in his head, happens from time to time...]
I -- 'mmh.
I'll want to talk. ...When I, I, 'mm home, I -- think.
[Audio]
[There is a lot of concern in Hajime's voice here. He recognizes the location, but he's concerned Anthony isn't even going to make it that far.]
Do you need me to come over there and l--
[--no. No, he did not almost just say "lend you a hand," that is the worst, most insensitive and awful thing he could have possibly said, thank goodness he caught himself--]
--help you get somewhere safe?
[Video]
[Still stiltedly calm-ish and clipping. He twitches a smile - means it, but it's also a bit - off. Distracted.]
Don't. Know if, if, uh. It -- still have work, uhm. They shouldn't - I think they won't - they left but - uhh.
Thanks, uhm - so much.
[He would've said "I'm fine", but, no, thinks are not fine, and not even for the visible reasons.]
[Video]
[He's trying to keep his voice as calm as possible, but he's still quite worried. No idea what's happened.]
And you're sure you don't want me to come get you?
[Video]
[Actually he'd appreciate that very much, as dear lord who knows what's going to happen next, but well that isn't really for him to decide, is it?]
Was only, erm. Was only - people... Probably not - with - anyone as uh, -- much as I could tell...
[He's not clarifying very efficiently; forgive 'im.]
[Video]
[There's a jingle of keys to emphasize his point, since he knows Anthony can't see he's holding the keys.]
What sort of people?
no subject
Wheezes whenthe subject changes.] They -- they were only, uhmmm...
...I-I can't really tell you; only, uh - ...people. [Gulp.] As -- far as I could tell, uh... Think -
[Shakes his head.]
Thought they were -- they -- thought they - were handing me in to the police, or - ...
[He hadn't meant to say "or" anything; lets that trail.]
'Mm sorry.
no subject
[He's talking as he's jogging out of his apartment and to where he's got his motorcycle parked.]
And if anyone hands you in to the police for whatever reason, the Lord of the Bugmen's busting you out.
Nothing to be sorry for.
[Voice]
[Video]
[Quick gulp.] -- Actually doesn't - it's -- only the mob. Only the mob, I... think.
[Voice]
[He's just going to be neutral right now, even if he does feel bad for not greeting the younger man right away.]
How so? Are they trying to cause trouble again?
[Video]
[...He's being misleading, he's got his head straight enough to tell he is - clarifies.]
The - the murders I mean -- that -- was them. Uhm. Don't, uh - don't think that -- ...anyone just now was them...
[Which is deeply, deeply troubling in its own right.]
[Voice]
By the sounds of it, they want to frame us for murders we didn't even cause. If only we could catch them in the act...
[That meant they would have to get creative with killing to replicate certain skills the Numbered has. He might have to look in to this with his shadow mimicry, even if they know about that ability.]
[Video]
[And his mind goes straight to Nick, but no, he has absolutely no business telling him what information to get, how to chance using it - does he? Nick's the one actually in on it, would know better how it actually works... Makes an "Nngh" sound, shakes his head.]
- Have to think of how... If --
[Quick bind - dear God, he's rather hurriedly getting ahead of himself, but if - the mob's got to be chancing things going for them, they're doing absurd things to frame them between beast people and the cybernetic street gangs before, if -
Voice slips to quavering. Yes, he doesn't know what he's talking about.]
If we could - do -- something, about them it'd-it'd-it'd help everyone, wouldn't - it -- [Coughs.] -- get us trust, get -- rid -- of them...
[Voice]
[He didn't mean to come across as discouraging, but they were going up against the mafia and some modified beings. Plus, Nick would probably be angry with him for giving Anthony ideas.]
Even if we discuss plans on here, there is a chance that someone may leak them to our enemy.
[Video]
Shakes his head.]
Don't see why it would have to be here -- I.
We -- that isn't the only way we can interact...
[Voice]
[Even if that meant having to private a lot of posts from here on out to avoid prying eyes.]
Announcing meetings on here would put things at risk.
[Video]
[Again shakes his head.] Sorry -- I'm sorry i-if I sound like I'm fighting but I want us to --
[Coughs.] Oh my God, I really -- want us to... to - to change things.
[Voice]
[Another sigh is heard and a slight rustle of fabric as he rubs his face.]
...Avoiding the matter won't get us anywhere. It'll make things worse instead of better.
[Video]
I -- [Clears his throat.] -- can't tell where it - where it should -- where it should start -- though... a-at -
[An erratic sort of whimpering sound.] -- I told -- the press that I-I don't eat - is-is being - forward -- useless, or-or was I - are we not being "heard" - enough -- ?
[Voice]
[Please don't whimper Anthony. You'll make him feel even worse.]
...You told the press that you don't eat other people, correct?
[Video]
[Voice]
no subject
no subject
[Okay, maybe that was a bit excessive and unnecessary. There might be a chance that people won't believe it either.]
Voice
Anthony, none of us who know you would actually think that you did that, okay?
Video
Coughs.] You - you say that. -- But I wouldn't've been sure uh - to be honest, just uh - can't know - can't - but uhh...
Thank - thank -- thank you... [Gulp.] -- For saying. That.
Voice
So who was it? [Since you seem like you have some idea of it.]
Video
[Yet another swallow.]
Wish I -- ...knew -- who, e - exactly, uhh -
I'm sorry.
[Perhaps more can be dug out, so to speak, but again, he can't say he knows it works that way.]
Voice
We've really got to do something about this. [Vocally anti-Numbered they may have been, but that doesn't mean they deserved to die -- especially not like that.]
Video
Short jerky nod.]
We - do, it's - keeps getting worse for everyone, I - we have to - have to think of where to start...
[Trailing into the hoarser. Sort your thoughts out, think behind this, clean everything up, think about the murders, think about where everyone stands...]