[Video]

[espigeonage]

[The view is from the floor, of the ceiling of Julien's room in the hotel, which has a poem taped to it. You can hear the sound of his very deep breathing, noisier and more labored than usual.]

I can't get up. There was a pulse - something's gonna - [A white wing is briefly visible, flapping. It's another moment before he says anything.]

It hurts.

Comments

[espigeonage]

Bad pulse. I'm changing again.

[flutter. he's got to try to rally!]

-Hurts but I've had worse. Guess I just couldn't, couldn't stand not saying somethin'.

[mistakesmakeuswhoweare]

Damn it, Blue. Look... is there anything you want me to do?

[espigeonage]

Don't come out here, Red. I'm freaking out- there's nothing-

-just talk, okay? Please. What are you writing now, what would... if they made one a movie. What d'you think about pirates versus ninjas. Anything.

[mistakesmakeuswhoweare]

So, I'm not supposed to take the poem as some secret Batsignal calling me out?

All right, all right. I'm trying to work out a direct serial from my first published novel, The Siren's Call. This time where a pretty pirate captain has to use her wiles to escape being punished by clan of harpies...

[espigeonage]

No. I don't want anyone to see me like this. Why I'm off camera.

[It's bleak and he'd really rather try to focus on something distracting.]

Hhh. Are they all beautiful women harpies, or boys 'most as pretty as me, 's it a coed clan?

[mistakesmakeuswhoweare]

Damn. That bad, huh?

OK, well. No, it's a mix. At least one male harpy. Was going with the idea that harpies can't breed with each other to produce little harpies. They have to do it with humans. Too weird?

[espigeonage]

Yeah. I'm not looking very pretty.

Nah. Weird but hey, there's weirder. What'd she do, she... [long pause, fluttering] kill their baby-daddy?

[mistakesmakeuswhoweare]

Maybe later I'll come paint your toes again.

More like she has to be the one the baby-daddy sees next. Next harpy-mama sort of thing. I mean, it is a romance novel, and readers love the breedings.

[espigeonage]

Hah... 's long as it's not glittery.


If she's gotta - if she's gotta - an egg - maybe too weird. [he's panting] Maybe they're partho - parthogenic like these lizards - and, and, the harpies can...
can breed with a guy, or just need a good lay and clone themselves.

[mistakesmakeuswhoweare]

Naw. I've got a nice robin-egg blue, if that works for you. It'll go great with your dye job.

I wasn't thinking she'd have an egg. Live birth, more like. The female harpies have to lay eggs after mating with human men, but the male harpies just knock up human women.

[espigeonage]

Nice and pretty. Yeah.

Gotcha. That's not so creepy - humans shouldn't. [Off-camera there's a thump.] How's she gettin' outa... how's this? A couple should, should join the crew.

[mistakesmakeuswhoweare]

Thought you'd appreciate that.

[She frowns at the thumping, but doesn't say anything.] Yeah? What are you thinking, Blue? Be my muse here.

[espigeonage]

'f it's a serial there's more coming. Right? S-so she's gotta get out, or they let her go. Dunno. Harpies're big right now. 'f they're in the supporting cast, then then... then they get to be in, in the sequels. For the mermaids. And the winged mermaids. And... so on.

[mistakesmakeuswhoweare]

We did have sirens in the first one, as if you couldn't guess. Not sure how many books I'll make this serial yet.

[espigeonage]

Mm. Still wanna keep the option there, for fish-on-bird action, right? Or sandwiching. Hot.

[mistakesmakeuswhoweare]

You like that idea? I'll have to keep in mind. What else have you got for me?

[espigeonage]

Surf and turf. Hahhh... I'm terrible.

Semi-Greek-myth stuff? Uh. Maybe... Scylla and Charbydis. Scylla's all tentacles, Char... hnnn.

[He makes an incoherent noise like a whine, cuts it off. Julien is trying very hard not to panic.] Sorry - can't - Charbydis! Giant!

[mistakesmakeuswhoweare]

Blue. Talk to me. What's the deal?

[espigeonage]

It's just... I don't want this. I never wanted this.

[mistakesmakeuswhoweare]

Look... Blue... Whatever's going on... You're still you, OK?

[espigeonage]

I know. It's still - I'm - god damn it.

[he goes for humor a lot. it's still not at all hard to tell he's afraid.] I was so good-looking, though.

[mistakesmakeuswhoweare]

[Yes, good, humor she can do. Sympathy is harder.]

Well, now you'll have even more pretty plumage to preen.

[espigeonage]

Anything for your - feathers thing. Right?

[mistakesmakeuswhoweare]

Something like that. Really, it's a pity you can't braid feathers. Can you imagine what that would be like?

[espigeonage]

Like braided le- haah - leather.

[He swallows audibly.] Keep talking please talk.