video.

[theguideless]

[I.D. simply reads "Martin" now. and a Martin surely is at-hand! long time no see, network. only six-plus months long, nbd.

he looks fairly pleased and...relieved after a beat. because he's pretty sure he's figured this out.]

Hello... [his eyes wince. doubt.] Hello? [the screen tilts a little while he inspects something.]

I think this is right. It's been a long time since I've used one of these... [his stare trails away.] I took one of the new ones. I think that's alright, since mine's been gone for a long time...

[a beat. he looks back.]

Is everyone alright? Now that they're gone...

Comments

[fintastic]

You didn't? Like who?

[ She knows of a few people who are gone, really... ]

[theguideless]

Like Ro–[oop. wait. he blinks.] Oh, uh...when there's other names flashing, like this? [pointing at the screen you can TOTALLY NOT SEE PLEASE MARTIN.] That means there's more people to talk to, right? Maybe that's them.

[fintastic]

I think so?

[ She doesn't really know what he... is looking at... ]

You could try it then come back.

[theguideless]

[man neither does he. he stares, puzzled.] I'll...tap them. And see what happens. So then I ca–

[he did it. he tapped the thing. he has momentarily cut the feed off.

by momentarily i mean like 3 minutes.

SOON:]

Feferi? Are you there?

[fintastic]

[ Oh no. She's trying to keep a straight face, but doing a poor job. ]

Yes! I'm here! Welcome back!

[theguideless]

[he looks very relieved.] Oh, good! I'm sorry, I wasn't sure how to get you back...[head ducking, sheepish.] It's been a long time since I've had to use this. And it feels a little different...

[fintastic]

It's fine, it's fine! So who was it?

[theguideless]

Eridan. [smiling.] I hadn't heard from him in a while! I'm relieved.

[fintastic]

Eridan! He was being nice, right?

[theguideless]

Of course! He said he was helping clear out the monsters.

[fintastic]

[ Oooooh Eridan. ]

So he was! I thought he would really get a kick out of that. That is sort of his thing, but at least he was supposed to kill them this time.

[theguideless]

[tilting his head a little.] What do you mean?

[fintastic]

He really likes shooting things. Sometimes things that shouldn't be shot.

[ Like the consorts on his world... ]

[theguideless]

[stare.]

...Oh. I didn't know that...

[fintastic]

He's better now, though! So far he has not shot anything he shouldn't.

[theguideless]

O-oh, I'm glad. [smiling weakly.] I'm still a little surprised... [staring to frown.] But I did watch him fight once, a long time ago. I didn't remember it very well.

[fintastic]

I will say that he is very good at it, even if he doesn't always know where to direct it. You don't have to be scared of him though, not anymore, I don't think.

[theguideless]

[blink.] Oh, I...I wasn't scared of him. It's just...

Bariyan thought I should stay away from him. I didn't really understand why.

time to make this PRIVATE

[fintastic]

I would have said the same thing when we first met, when Eridan first showed up. But he's improved now. He can still be very aggressive, but he's learning.

...it's not all his fault, but I don't think Bariyan was wrong to say it, either. He was just trying to protect you. Eridan can be hard to deal with.

PRIVATE

[theguideless]

[staring in that thinking-slash-listening combination of his that takes some time on his own end.

softly, thoughtfully:] I know you're right, about Bariyan...But I feel like, maybe, I was the hard one to deal with. Back before. And that's why, even now...I think he's a good friend.

PRIVATE

[fintastic]

Well I don't think you're hard to deal with, if that helps.

PRIVATE

[theguideless]

[flushing.] Oh, auh...Yes, thank you. I'm glad about that.