video.

[theguideless]

Ha, um...

[exhale. Marty fidgets, tablet propped up on his lap, himself squeezed against a corner of a room. his face goes through periods of twitchy, half-hearted smiles that he forgets to keep for more than half a thought.

he tugs at a length of hair, his bangs, holding them down as far as they'll go – just short of the tip of his nose.]

I need to borrow scissors. Or a knife. [weak smile #3.] See? It gets into my eyes and hurts when the wind blows too hard.

It'll only be a couple minutes.

[too bad that's not very long at all. not-so-cheap excuse to talk to the void and get some answers? you bet it is.]

Comments

[theguideless]

Uhm... [his mouth twitches.] Both? I think...

[gevurah]

Why? [ for the "don't" part. BE MORE CLEAR KATE!! no!! ]

[theguideless]

Well, I'm...I don't count really well, and I don't know how long things like months or years are here, so... [SO THAT'S IT, RIGHT. NOT MEMORY LOSS.

RIGHT.]

[gevurah]

How long has this been going on? [ no one can have that bad a memory unless it's an actual issue. ]

[theguideless]

[frowning.] What do you mean...?

[gevurah]

Have you always had trouble with dates or was it something that began here?

[theguideless]

Oh, well...I'm pretty sure. [one eye squints, thinking about it.] I mean, I never learned them...

[gevurah]

You're sure you have problems with memorization or you simply never learned?

[ MARTIN BE MORE CONCISE. ]

[theguideless]

Uh... [off-balance by these questions!] No, I think it's just that...where I was from? We didn't count years or months like that. I never learned, so...I don't know how long time is here...and the weather changes so strangely, I can't tell by that, either...

[gevurah]

You would have adapted to something like that after some time.

[theguideless]

[a wincing smile.] Ah, maybe...Maybe it's not enough time yet. I'm not sure, really.

[gevurah]

It's not normal.

[theguideless]

[blink.]

...Really?

[gevurah]

It could just be a reaction to being transported into another world. [ or... some form of PTSD. ] Have you told anyone else about this?

[theguideless]

Umh...No? I don't think so. Is it really a problem?

[gevurah]

Better to see a doctor about it.

[theguideless]

[frowning. really?]

But... [mhh. murmuring to himself:] I guess I could ask Bariyan if that's...

[gevurah]

It wouldn't hurt.