video.

[theguideless]

–hhhgh...

[behold: the underside of a table. if...you're aware of what the underside of a table even looks like, that's surely what you're looking at.

until a hand lifts and then gracelessly drops onto the screen with a heavy THWUMP.

a grunt.]

Get...backhh... [exhale. the view tilts, then dramatically shifts.

behold: Martin's face, sideways, on the floor. red-cheeked, bleary and slow-blinking.

cue nasally, confused sound:] Mruh–?

[a long stretch of just staring, squinting periodically. he is...sure these are words he can read on this screen. hang on. just...a second...........


nah. nah, he's just gonna...gonna let the screen drop flat and display the table again, rattling a little with the careless move, while he mumbles something unintelligible, topped off with some kind of whiny noise.]

Comments

[stonefaith]

[ water... water by the stove....? ]

Was the water in a glass, or a bottle....

[theguideless]

[a shifting sound. heavily muffled, talking into his arm:] 'Im d'boddle.

[stonefaith]

[ OH NOOOO ]

That... you weren't supposed to drink that.

[theguideless]

Id was burndinnnnng! [sry Bariyan he is hella whiny when intoxicated WHO WOULDA THUNK.

a huff. unmuffled, uNHAPPY:] I wass just tryin' to make something new n'now'm all spinny, I donno...

[stonefaith]

[ PROBABLY BURNED MORE AFTER YOU DRANK THAT VODKA, BABY BOY ]

It's-- it's all right! You're just drunk, is all. [ is all yeah right sure please don't throw up Martin please don't get alcohol poisoning ] I'm coming back, child, it just... might take me a while to get there. Is there anyone else in the apartment with you?

[theguideless]

Mno. [hhh.] Anora said I was gonna die...but it wasn't Anora. N'everyone's yelling at me...

[stonefaith]

You're not going to die. [ HOPEFULLY. ] You don't have to talk with anyone else right now, Martin, just... just save that for later. Is there anyone else in the apartment, Martin? [ ANSWER THIS QUESTION IT IS IMPORTANT ]

[theguideless]

I donnooo. [sniff. hff.] Not since...earlier.

[stonefaith]

[ GROAN. ] It's all right. I'm on my way. And Koltira should be showing up, too -- will you be able to open the door for him?

[ IF NOT THAT'S OK koltira could probably kick the door in, whatever, 's all good ]

[theguideless]

[GRUMBLING. whiny grumbling.]

I'm tired...

[stonefaith]

I know. [ bariyan's voice is gentle, BUT FIRM: ] But that's all you have to do-- just open the door for him. He'll take care of the rest. And I'll be home soon.

[theguideless]

Now?

[stonefaith]

Soon. He'll knock. [ PROBABLY. ] Can you... get yourself some water in the meanwhile? From the sink. [ NOT FROM ANY BOTTLES OR GLASSES STILL SITTING AROUND. ]

[theguideless]

[loud, shifting sounds.]

Nnrh... [a dull bump. off-speaker, talking away from the tablet:] Mno...it's over there. I can't reach...with my foot...

[stonefaith]

Don't use your feet. [ gently, PERSUASIVELY ] Use your hands, Martin.