[Video]

[godotblend]

[The video feed is live, but the visibility is terrible. The tablet's owner sits in the near-dark, three stripes of red light where his face should be. Diego's spent much of his initial week in as much solitude as the circumstances allowed, an ear tuned to the chatter streaming over the network.

Best to test the temperature lest you burn your tongue on the first sip. That's what he always says.

But there's a matter that needs to be addressed, and urgently.

When he speaks, his voice is gruff, drawling:]

This world seems determined to serve up one cup of bitterness after another: monsters, mayhem, missions to the past.

[The red light flashes when it's briefly obscured by his knuckles and the handle of a mug as Diego puts it to his lips. The contents are choked down with a scowl that's barely readable in the low light. ]

I was happy to swallow every drop until I tasted this sewer water. They call it "coffee", I call it an abomination.

If there's a single tolerable bean in this city, I want it. Name your price.

Comments

[godotblend]

Men who have claimed perfection are grains of sand in a desert. I haven't known a single one that can stand the heat.

[obfuskate]

Not until now, to be sure.

[ why, yes, he is implying that he is a perfect being. yes indeed. ]

[godotblend]

[Didn't see that one coming.]

Where I come from, evidence is king. Where's yours?

[obfuskate]

At the moment, I cannot reach my records, but do know that I am scientifically classified as the world's ultimate creature, the Ultimate Lifeform.

[ of course, he doesn't expect those words to mean much, not when he lacks full proof. ]