savetheearth | (no subject)

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Good afternoon Numbers Club! It's Julien. I haven't put my voice out here much before, but it's gone and changed. I'm about to switch to audio so you can hear it. Be ready!

This is what I sound like now. Yeah, really. And here I thought puberty was bad enough the first time, haha!

[Here's a visual representation! The only thing human about his voice is how it's ended up shaped by his lips and tongue, like it's just some strange instrument piped through a talk box. There seem to be two identical voices rising and falling together, resonating oddly. And there's this flanged aspect like purring or rattling, or a throbbing trill, or a gator roar. It's not ugly, or... not totally. But he's got an incredibly sophisticated archosaur vocal system being used like a mammal voicebox.]

[Now he keeps to the same vocal range he used as a human and stops one of the voices. It helps, and he does sound more like Julien. There's still that trill and resonance, and it's not totally steady.]

But I've been figuring it out. Still have a ways to go, obviously. Also there's a little favor - I'd like someone to get me to laugh. There's something I need to find out.

[He's also gone and sent private texts to a bunch of people asking how they're doing/if they're okay. If you're wondering if your character is one of them, they probably are.]

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Sure, as long as we don't go too fast! I'm a little clumsy so I'll do my best to be careful.

[ She steps closer to admire the bike to take his hand, since he's offering it so freely! ]

So you like bike riding?

So, you can be in the second seat - you don't even have to pedal, the pedals are independent! What will they come up with next, huh?

[Exaggeratedly gallant, he bows again and just brushes the back of her hand with his lips, then smiles brightly.]

I like it fine! Not really on the pro level for me, just pure practical hobby, hah. Tandems like this are a little cheesy, a little Daisy Bell, but I don't mind.

[ That makes her blush, but only a little! ]

I think it's cute! Though I really don't have to pedal?

[ This one certainly looks excited to get started, like a peppy little golden retriever puppy. ]

I didn't know they could be independent. Still, I'll do my best! It's been a while since I've ridden a bike.

[ Oh! ]

When should I tickle you? That was the point of this, right?

Really, you don't! I can do all the work - and don't you worry about that, I'm getting all buff these days. See?

[yes flexing your arm is a great way to show you can pedal a bike, Julien. He grins and rolls his eyes at himself. While he's not exactly musclebound... he does have something there.]

Seriously, if we're not climbing inclines, it's not hard on me.

Ah, ah, eager are we? That's up to you. If you want public, well, can't say I mind. ...aaah, I'm teasing. You could go at it right now, or when we're in a booth, or I was thinking about catching some Shakespeare in the Park and I just so happen to have brought a blanket, for some reason!

[ She laughs at that -- well, he's certainly more built than she! And she has no problem avoiding inclines. ]

Hehe, well, I know that's why we're meeting up! So I'm good for it whenever you are. The park sounds like a good place too! I've never seen Shakespeare in the Park before. [ Is that some kind of play?? ]

Okay! Well, LCU's drama kids are putting on A Midsummer Night's Dream in one of the nicer parks. Not much in the way of props or costumes, but it's free. I've got friends there saying this group is good, and it's a nice day.

[He checks the time on his phone] Aaaand, it looks like there's time enough to pick something up to eat there! Ice cream again, or ice tea and lemonade and sandwiches. What do you say?

Sandwiches sound good! [ They're a little less messy than ice cream and are more of a Real Food anyway! ]

Oooh, and I remember that story. I liked it a lot! We had to read it in high school for English class.

We should get going then, huh? We don't want to miss anything!

All right, then! Hop on and hold tight. I won't spill you.

[handwave? skip to tickling? his reaction's a little abnormal.]

[ tickling!! tickling!! ]

[lol okay!]

[During the intermission. Food and drink have been either consumed or set aside, on the ground next to the Kansas City Royals blanket Julien packed. There are other picnickers/watchers meandering or lazing. It is a nice day. The sun is on the hot side, but there's a pleasant, steady breeze.]

[Julien lays on his back and stretches his arms up above his head, straining his white buttoned shirt over his chest a little, and crimps his neck a little coyly to look at Colette.]

You could do it now, you know.

[ Ahhh, this has been so fun! It's not fancy or anything, but she doesn't mind in the slightest, since the actors seem to be having a lot of fun acting! She turns to look at him, curiously, when he speaks, and then her eyes light up a little. ]

Really? Now?

[ She is so ready to be of use! ]

All right! Are you ticklish anywhere specific?

[He crosses his wrists one over the other and closes his eyes in as serene an expression as he can make himself assume.]

Nowhere unusual, I think. Probably want to avoid my feet, but that's more for your sake than mine! [He means that his feet smell. Also, he's still got his sandals on.] My safeword [he sticks his tongue out for a moment; for that moment he continues speaking without moving it or his lips, a moment later he's back to making speech look normal] is geranium, so don't mind me if I say no.

At your leisure, milady.

[ She likes geraniums! But oh -- right, okay, yes, focus! Which would be the best spot... his sides, right? Those usually make the kids at church laugh when she tickles them. ]

All right!

[ She leaves over to begin ticking his sides with the tips of her fingers, like she might do to the kids. ]

Aaah! [He doesn't flail too much yet, but there's a little rocking and yeah squirming.] Murder, police, halp! [Yeah, he says it "halp", grinning.]

[Grinning, but not really laughing. The way he exhales suggests it, in short bursts.]

[ Hm! So no actual laughter yet... she moves her hands to his stomach, to try there instead. ]

The police will be too slow to assist! This is the end!

N_{oo_{oo_oo!}} Aaah! She's evil! Someone stop her! [Julien half-curls up, makes himself lay flat, curls again in ridiculous spasms while kicking at nothing. He's exhaling in repeated short not-entirely-voluntary ways. It's laughlike? Somehow he's able to speak pretty much normally, though his voice doesn't always match the movements of his mouth.] I'm doomed!

[ Ah... that's strange. She blinks a little, wondering if she's just seeing things, but no... there does seem to be something kind of off.

She moves her hands up to tickle a little more just to make sure. ]

Yep, definitely doomed! But this isn't the worst way to go!

[He keeps himself from pushing at her hands, partly by flailing in the other direction.]

Curse you! Aaah! With fire - aah! and storms and - noo, stop! - a plague of crane flies!

[ She laughs a little, finally letting her hands retreat. ]

All right, I'll let you off, for now! I hope I didn't tickle you too much!

[Julien goes limp, limbs splayed a little for effect, eyes closed.]

Whew! Nah, nah. Haven't been tickled like that in a long time, though. 'S nice.

[One eye opens] And now you know my oh-so-terrible new secret: I can't laugh normally anymore. I wasn't completely sure a couple days ago, but... now I am. [He doesn't seem all that bothered.]

[ At least he doesn't seem too bothered by it... still, she's worried. He's gone through a lot! That time he couldn't breathe and had to go to the hospital, and now this... it's a little scary. He's handling it much better than she'd ever expect anyone to. Idly, she plays with the ends of her hair, wrapping the curls around her fingers. ]

It... doesn't hurt, does it? How are you feeling?

Mm. [He flips over to lay on his stomach, chin on his hands.] Better than might be expected, I guess? Took me a while to be sure. I can still make the sound, you know, and sometimes I do that without thinking.

It's such a small thing to complain about! No, it doesn't hurt.

[ She sighs a little, a small huff, but there's a smile on her face. ]

You're taking this all really well! Though I guess that it helps that strange things are happening to everyone, huh?

Well, I wasn't happy when I found out. What kind of person has to always make himself laugh? But I want to try and keep perspective, you know?

[ She nods a little. ]

I'm sorry. It's better to try to keep positive, right?

[ Considering that's literally what she always does when things get tough. She's not actually a super positive person by nature, it's mostly forced, but it's enough to help her deal with whatever happens. ]

So... you can't laugh without the help?