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[theguideless]

[LONG TIME NO POST. but hey, shiny new...typey-posty-devices. he must try. he must...fail to really get how this shit works.

the feed is sideways. a blink, a beat with an expression realizing oh hey it's doing a thing, and then a moment to quickly right the thing. this way. whew. okay.]

Ha, uh...Sorry. [sheepish.] I wasn't very good with the old one...and this one's stranger. [let him demonstrate by trying to fold one corner of it into view...but not really getting that far and just kind of. shaking the feed. oh well.]

Maybe it just takes getting used to... [by golly it only took months to feel comfortable with the old one what could go wrong with this.] I'll try not to do anything too strange or...press anything I don't recognize. [which is a lot.] I just wanted to make sure I could at least...hear from people again.

[a beat.

wait...]

I'm...being heard right now, right?

Comments

[woahwoahawkward]

[...so you know that doesn't actually make anything clearer, right Martin.]

...right.

[theguideless]

[oh, the tone. he gives a shaky laugh.]

It's...hard to explain. But I'm a protector. I'm part of something very big...and good. [nod.] And I'm here because I was wanted to be here. Like this.

[woahwoahawkward]

So all that business with the lances...

[What he's asking is that you're over that, right? And the whole spitting your teeth into the sink thing, too?]

[theguideless]

[he holds up both hands, palms out. no scars. no nastiness. and he's got all those teeth when he smiles:] It can't happen again. That body's gone.

[woahwoahawkward]

[And Alistair lets out a soft sigh of relief.]

That's very good to hear.

[theguideless]

[agreed:] Yes, sir. [he gets a kind of funny look on his face, saying that, but appears to let it go. it's okay to say yes, sir and not have it follow some miserable resignation.]

So now I just have to figure out...how to be something after all of that. [he shakes his head a little.] I thought I had a plan, but I don't think that's how it's supposed to work. Being...human and alive.

[woahwoahawkward]

[Alistair manages a laugh.]

No, it's rarely predictable in the least -- being human.

[theguideless]

[relief on his end at the laugh. he smiles, grateful.]

I'll do my best. And I won't be afraid, like I was. When you and Anora and so many other people were kind to me. I won't be scared anymore. And I'll try to make up for it. [nodding, looking energized by saying it all.] I promise.

[woahwoahawkward]

[Well, at least Martin seems to be dealing with this well.

He nods in return.]

Good. And you really are welcome here, you know. Anora -- she understands, too, that it wasn't you.

[theguideless]

[he colors a little, because really...what do with all this goodness. he bows his head.]

I'm really glad...Glad I get to know good people like you. Thank you.

[he moves backward into the hall, but stops a step-and-a-half away.]

...Maybe...I'll borrow the key? Sometime. Sometime soon.

[woahwoahawkward]

[He nods, then. Okay, so maybe this wasn't so disastrous.]

Of course. Just let us know.

[theguideless]

Yes, sir. [wait–] Alistair, I mean. [aha.

he backs away, waving a little.] Goodbye, then. But not...not long! [skedaddle, child.]