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

[whatsupcroc]

I'm from Earth, but I can say for sure it's not this one. So kind of yes? Things sound like they were pretty similar to home a few hundred years ago.

[theguideless]

Oh...

[gee Collette that still does sound crazy-weird. but--] You think it is? Or...we'll get sent back to where you know? Or where other people know? [OLVOSKI????/]

[whatsupcroc]

We've already been to the 90's. That's my decade! You know, when we had to steal art for the sake of science?

[theguideless]

What? [you mean when he was running around in godtier jammies screaming? art?? science? what's a nineties?]

[whatsupcroc]

( More accurate depiction of the 90's than 99% of people will ever realize. )

Back when people got put in all the wrong bodies?

[theguideless]

Oh.

[that.]

[whatsupcroc]

... You were probably more focused on the whole different body thing, weren't you?

[theguideless]

Uh, haumh...Yes. [sheepish.] I mean, that was...

[whatsupcroc]

A wild ride?

[theguideless]

[weakly:] Something like that. Didn't...you think so, too? [u were a boy. and – eyebrows lifting – walking, right?]

[whatsupcroc]

Yeah, but you kind of have to deal with the cards you've been dealt, you know? It could have been worse!

[theguideless]

[staring a bit. dang, Col'.]

Mmh, that's true...

[whatsupcroc]

Yep! So it's fine in the end. Especially because we're all back to normal now!

[theguideless]

[dang, girl.]

I...Well, yes... [mostly. kind of? he's not sure.]

[whatsupcroc]

There! You even agree! It's not to say those things don't make you think... but what's there to linger over?

[theguideless]

[licking his lips, pressing them tight in a pensive fashion.] Mmh...

Well. I don't know...I mostly wonder if anything has changed because of it for good. I mean, [patting the side of his face, sheepish.] I know I'm in the right skin, so not that.

[whatsupcroc]

What, like perspectives?

( She... has to pause. )

Well, yeah. I think some things did. You know, nothing too traumatic or anything, but there's stuff I figure people learned that they'll never unlearn, you know?

[theguideless]

[perspectives? he blinks, his expression blanking for a moment as he thinks about that, only to be distracted by the rest of what she has to say. he shakes out of it.

learn they'll never...unlearn...]

I... I suppose so. [maybe; he doesn't sound altogether sold on it, but it's good to respond, right? right. yes. he's more convinced:] That might be it.

[whatsupcroc]

( Collette is queen of shots in the dark. Accurate? Not so much, but taking a chance until she can gauge what might be more accurate? Certainly. )

It's what I think, but I don't know. What was it really like for you? I mean, there's no way to say it wasn't weird or freaky or disturbing, but... yeah, I don't know. It's confusing. People aren't meant to actually be other people.

[theguideless]

[grinning just out of lack of anything else he can do -- he's confused.]

Maybe I... [hmh.] Maybe I'm just getting all...it all mixed up with other things. In my head. It just felt so...wrong...[wrong, because...

ah. he realizes again.] ...Because it was... [THAT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE THANK U. THANK U MARTY.]

[whatsupcroc]

( She waits. There's not something eating at her, pushing her into rushing and losing patience with waiting for a reply. It's closer to how she usually is, against personal wishes: waiting for people to say the things that added up to a greater picture in her head.

She rests her chin on her closed fist, elbow propped up on the table she's sitting at. )

Because it was...?

[theguideless]

[his attention flickers back to her. huh?

oh...thinking out loud. right. his mouth tugs.]

Mmh, I don't think I can explain it. It's all... [his hands lift and gesture by the sides of his head.] It's all mixed up inside.

[whatsupcroc]

Did you want to try?

[theguideless]

[he licks his lips before pursing them, thinking about that.

he squints. then he smiles, self-conscious, and shakes his head.] Mmh, no. I think that was enough. At least...I feel a little better about it, somehow.

[whatsupcroc]

( She brightens up, sighing inwardly when her curiosity won't be sated. Teasers were a whetting of an immense appetite, fueled perpetually by the tapestry of different lives that made the collective image of the Transports what it was today. )

That's probably the most important part. I'm glad you're feeling better!