loop 001 - voice

[sweetbirthdaybaby]

[ The voice coming across the devices is brassy, whiskey-rust and three packs a day, thick New York accent with a hint of yiddish. She's angry, obviously, but when isn't she? ]

Okay, you know what? Fuck this. Fuck this up the motherfucking ass - I don't know what kind of sick turn of events this is but I'm not about to play this game with you! You hear that, universe? Still not engaging! Fuck!

[ A pause, in which there's a telltale click of a lighter. ]

I'm not wearing my panties on the outside. Forget it. Not doing it.

[ Another pause, an exhale this time. Frustrations somewhat subsiding, she continues with a softer but no less raspy tone: ]

Alan? You around?

Comments

voice;

[plentystrong]

Yeah, that was about my reaction.

[sweetbirthdaybaby]

Glad to hear I'm not alone in this predicament.

I'm not, right? You're not some manifestation of my subconscious? Because I could believe that too. [ With the day she's had... ]

[plentystrong]

Uh, no? I consider myself pretty real. Though honestly, I wouldn't mind if all of this turned out to be some kind of fever dream myself.

[sweetbirthdaybaby]

That's exactly what a manifestation of my subconscious would say! How am I supposed to trust anything?

VOICE.

[unvariable]

[ Luckily, someone else has been staring at/scrolling the network obsessively since he got here-- half-numb and half-panicked and barely actually processing any of it, but Nadia's voice is unmistakable. Alan's is tense -- conflicted -- but nonetheless relieved in return. Of course she's here. ]

Of course I'm here. Wherever one of us goes, the other has to follow.

[sweetbirthdaybaby]

Yeah, but that usually keeps us in the same goddamn neighborhood. Last I checked, this ain't New York.

[ That said... ]

...it's good to know you're around. For what it's worth.

[unvariable]

You too. Are you...

[ "Okay?" But that's such a loaded question, and Alan isn't sure he's prepared for the chance of her asking it back. So, he swerves instead with: ]

Do you think this is bad or good? I can't figure it out.

voice

[ct_7567]

I've been led to believe that the outfit isn't mandatory.

[sweetbirthdaybaby]

Ey, it's my lucky day. At least I don't have to compromise on my sweet sense of style. [ It's pretty fab, if you believe it. ]

[ct_7567]

You haven't got to compromise on much. Despite the whole speech they deliver to you upon arrival, they ask very little of us.

But engagement on some level is inevitable.

voice;

[the_horror]

Pretty sure you don't have to wear the underwear on the outside for this. Or even do the super hero business at all.

[sweetbirthdaybaby]

Good, cause uh... I ain't no frickin' hero, alright? That's not my deal.

[the_horror]

I'm not much of a hero type either. [Even if that was his job as a kid.] I think it might be optional here. Just live a life and not worry about it?

[flightforfreedom]

Welcome to Earth, I guess. Or if you’re already from one, welcome to this Earth.

All underwear related mandates are entirely optional. [ There’s a dry amusement to his voice. ]

Find your friend?

[sweetbirthdaybaby]

Eh, I always doubted if New York and North Carolina existed in the same world. Seems fake.

And yeah, I found him. Figured he'd be around somewhere. He usually is.

[flightforfreedom]

Lucky. Seems sometimes people port in with their friends in batches, and some never get them after all.

But it’s good to have friends. Probably makes the culture shock easier. [ He wouldnt know, he came in alone. ]

So your universe likes to fuck with you back home, too? [ That’s the take away he got from all the swearing. ]

[lasersounds]

Trust me, you don't have to don the uniform. Most of us don't.

You uh...you good though? Freak out's normal, I guess...

[sweetbirthdaybaby]

[ There's a pause. A brief one. ] You know what? I've been worse. A lot worse. All things considered I don't have all that much to complain about right this minute.

Give it some time though, I'm sure it'll turn.

[lasersounds]

Doesn't it always turn? I mean luck likes to do what it wants from my experience.

Enjoy the good parts now, I guess?

voice;

[grandtheftequine]

Luckily, there's no restriction on where you do and don't have to wear your panties.

[sweetbirthdaybaby]

Thank fucking God for that. My panties my business, you know? If I wanted to turn 'em into a uniform, I'd become a stripper and I'm way too short for that.

[grandtheftequine]

Oh, I've met several very talented little people who would disagree with you on that.

video

[knaval]

[said with the expression and tone of someone who knows he's about to make a poor woman's day worse by being a giant fucking robot that's sending a video:]

Hey!

[sweetbirthdaybaby]

[ She's had a very hard not very nice... oh who the fuck even knows anymore, it's been so many loops and so many deaths and now this? Now this, I guess. ]

Okay, now I know I've had an aneurysm.

[knaval]

It would be super cool if it was that easy.