exsilium | 8th Mistake; video

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8th Mistake; video

[Mahdi is once again in the kitchen, wearing his red apron and looking particularly flour-dusted and frazzled. He seems slightly wobbly - probably hasn't slept.]

Hey everyone! I made a bunch cookies and I'm just about to drop them to the clinic.

[He sweeps the tablet over to look at each plate of cookies as he describes them:]

Lemon shortbread will give you calm, safe feelings.

Chocolate espresso shortbread will make you feel more cheerful and energized - plus there's coffee in it! [tiny cheer:] Yay coffee!

Um, these are semi-magical cookies, I guess you could say. The effects will vary by person but I'd say... hmmm, the effects last a few hours, half a day at most.

If anyone else is feeling bad or weird, this should help. I've made several dozen, so if you're near the clinic please stop by and take some. Also, um, be careful with your soul. It's actually pretty important. If someone tries to talk you into giving it up, don't listen to them. Just sayin'.

[Mahdi turns the tablet back around to record himself, and smiles brightly.]

That's all!

[But the look fades into something more troubled and he seems to be looking at something in the distance. He absently fiddles with a wisp of his hair, pushing it into his mouth briefly as he thinks.] Forgetting something... oh!

Ashraf, I need to talk to you when you have a sec. If you're at the clinic I'll just stop in.

[Someone still doesn't know how privacy filters work.]

[OOC: Mahdi is responding to the shadow demons. His cookies could be a potential way to avoid the feelings of negativity they bring.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

D'you need help carrying them, Mahdi?

[Artie ... isn't sure he likes the sound of some of the things he heard his friend muttering to himself, honestly, and he's concerned. offering a hand is the best way he can think of to check up on him without being outwardly nosy]

Um, I've got most of it loaded up into my little wagon, but I could always use company!

[Mahdi does seem rather anxious, even as he smiles.]

[and from what little he knows of Mahdi, that doesn't seem like him at all] Then I'd be happy to come with you. If you're going out into town, especially. People are getting pretty edgy.

Good point. If any bullying kindergartners come by to stick gum in my hair again, you'll protect me, right?

[he laughs, grabbing his hat and his bag] You're never going to let me live that down, are you. I'm on my way...

I really do appreciate the help! [Mahdi laughs.] See you soon!

[and soon enough, he's knocking on Mahdi's door, his doctor's bag in hand]

Someone order an extra pair of hands?

That'd be me! [Without thinking, he tippy-toes to give Artie a brief hug before leading him inside to the kitchen, where he's wrapped up several large plates of cookies. Next to the counter is a child's red pull-wagon, which Mahdi has been using for the transport of baked goods recently.]

Help my pile my plates onto the wagon!

[he stammers ineffectually for a few brief seconds, before shuffling over to comply. apparently people's fixation with thinking that somehow, for SOME reason, he is huggable ... has carried over to Exsilium with him, belatedly as it may have arrived. he shakes his head, smiling a little to himself]

Do you have something to put over them so they don't get rained on? Nothing worse than a soggy cookie.

Umm... [Mahdi taps one toe behind him.] I used the last of the foil? I have an umbrella.

[Mahdi why are you so adorable seriously. Artie starts rummaging in his bag and comes up with ... a tarp. yep. he's got a tarp in there]

Here, try this. It's from the ship that got lost in The Perfect Storm, the, uh - the Andrea Gail. So it'll keep anything dry for two and a half days.

...Whoa! How'd that all fit in there? [Mahdi carefully drapes the tarp over the wagon.]

The bag is an artifact ... which, where I'm from, means it has unusual or supernatural properties. So is the tarp, obviously. [he smiles, snapping the bag closed and pushing his glasses up on his nose] Before the Initiative brought Claudia and I here, it was our job to find objects like this, track them down, then snag, bag, and tag 'em. Some of them have particularly dangerous and nasty side effects. For example: sure, that tarp will keep your wagon dry for two and a half days, but if you don't remove it before that time is up, it'll flood any room it's in if it's not properly folded.

Whoa. It's a good thing I only need it for a little while today.

[Mahdi pats at the tarp just the same, as if it might reveal its secrets.]

That sounds like a really interesting job!

Oh, it is! I wouldn't trade it for anything. Endless wonder, that's what it is. .... I used to like to call it America's Attic.

That sounds fun. And dusty!

[The cookies properly secure, Mahdi searches out his raincoat and zips it on, pulling the wagon toward the front door.]

Some of it is, yeah. We have special vaults for the things that can't get dusty, or cases...

[Artie's coat is already on, so he just takes his hat and puts it on]

Where are we headed first?

I'm taking them to the clinic! That's what I did with the leftovers last time. Who can resist free cookies?

Certainly not me, but I'll be good and wait my turn. ... What else have you been up to? I feel like I haven't seen you in ages.

Not much, just helping with reconstruction. Oh, and a little while ago a kid stuck in my hair for being an icky Transport.

[Mahdi sounds sheepish, admitting he was bullied by a child.]

These last few days, I feel like something's sort of off, you know? I'll probably take a look around the city once I'm done with cookie duty here.

... That's rough. [he frowns] I know what it's like, living in a place where everyone hates you for just doing your job. The town where the Warehouse is ... Univille? It's the same way, even if it's on a smaller scale.

[as they walk, he looks around the city, still saddened by the devastation] A much, much smaller scale. But even before that ... I've know what it's like to be affected by war. So I guess ... I can see where they're coming from, too. Which is just as important.

[but what Mahdi says pings him, on his favorite radar of all: his Warehouse radar] How do you mean, though, "off"? Can you describe it in any more detail than that?

[he actually stops walking and looks him over]

Mahdi, do you ever smell fudge when you know there isn't any present?

Fudge? No. That'd be pretty nice, like if there were fudge candles.

[Mahdi tugs nervously at his ponytail.]

I sense lots of things that humans can't, that's just part of my gig. But this... it's bad. Shadowy. Whispering things.

It could be a demon. Maybe even more than one.

[well, one question down, several pages' worth to go. he frowns] What sort of whispers? Are they always saying the same thing?

[Artie no stop, they'll start talking to you, too]

No. They're saying... bad things. Kind of in the same vein, most of the time, but not always exactly the same.

[Mahdi shudders. His body language has become very closed up.] Anyway, if it's spreading bad vibes around, the cookies should help people.

Well, whatever it's saying, Mahdi, you're still a good person, for doing this for everyone. Don't listen to it.

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