video.

[showtunes]

[ the feed is of nothing more than a table of a hundred-odd white dominoes, lined up in precise rows on the dining table of maurtia falls #2, a residence that hal has only today taken up. hal himself doesn't appear to be in the frame — accidental video posts are passe, of course, but his deference to learning modern technology has only extended so far as phones with cords. ]

[ also, he's a vampire. ]

Hello.

[ a little uncertain, used to conversation rather than using a platform to talk into the void. this was much easier when he simply read and listened to other people's discussions rather than attempting to start one of his own. but now that he is far from prison and his powers are restored, he finds himself having to come to grips once more with this brave new world that has such people in it. ]

I'm looking to source some household cleaning supplies, either donated or on loan until such time as my first check is paid. Marigolds especially important. Also a pack of cards and as many jigsaws as you're willing and able to provide.

[ the voice is cultured, british, and rough around the edges. but nobody can see the way his hands shake, or his rough beard growth, his bloodshot eyes. if he had any morality at all this request would be to tie him to a chair and feed him mushed banana for the next three months, and he knows it, but some whisper at the corner of his mind stops himself from giving over to that indignity. ]

Also Alex Millar, if you're out there anywhere, please contact Tom or myself at once.

Thank you.

[ and the video clicks off. all replies will be from voice or an equally featureless video feed. ]

Comments

[rathercommon]

[ ...Well, this is very strange all around. And strangeness always piques her interest. ]

You haven't been paid yet? Where are you working?

[showtunes]

[ one would think she'd at least appreciate his manners. meanwhile, he's unimpressed with her salvo, given it has the typical casualness of writing displayed by many others here. ]

I'm to have my first day tomorrow, and therefore I can hardly fault them.

[rathercommon]

No, I suppose not. Where is it you're working, though?

video.

[expatriates]

[ Natasha only turns video on when she's certain her expression is placid. Flat and conversational: ] Planning on making a mess?

video.

[showtunes]

Planning on cleaning one.

[ he pans around the kitchen, which... okay, there are dishes still in the sink, dominoes everywhere, it's not exactly a model home, but it's not disgusting either. ]

video.

[expatriates]

You didn't strike me as the Better Home and Garden type.

video;

[brushoff]

[ British meet British. ]

Cards and jigsaws? You have terrible taste.

voice.

[showtunes]

I do not, of course, limit myself to cards and jigsaws, however I find them both an excellent way to occupy the mind.

permavid!

[brushoff]

Let me guess, crossword puzzles as well.

video;

[fistofthejoestar]

Cleaning supplies and jigsaw puzzles? That's certainly an eclectic list.

[although he simply means it as an observation rather than something to laugh at, as evinced by his soft smile. Jonathan's voice is similarly sophisticated and British, but there's something much gentler about it.]

Do you have any preference as to what scenes you'd be putting back together?

[showtunes]

If it's any difference at all, one has nothing to do with the other.

[ he can't clean with jigsaws or anything. ]

And no. Though the more challenging the better, of course.

Video

[bays]

Hal, if ya needed a loan, ya should've just said somethin'.

[Or that mashed banana thing. You know you can always count on Tom for that.]

video

[showtunes]

Given you've only newly arrived yourself, I would not impose upon you.

[ also he's kind of terrified that Tom will take one look at him, haggard as he is, and know. ]

[ he drops some of the stilted formality, though. ]

Where are you, anyway.

[conducive]

There's a patch of marigolds in the window box outside my office in an atrocious shade of chartreuse that you are more than welcome to liberate, if you'd like.

[ the office that the cheerful looking blonde is sitting in. her french accent really only flares up on the color. ]

I'm sure there's cleaning supplies as well, since it's an office building and all. Bathroom always smells like peppermint so either the water is scented or there are products here you can commandeer with the blooms.

[ seriously. take the flowers. ]

[showtunes]

[ pretty girls make him so nervous. hal clears his throat. ]

While I do, er, greatly appreciate the offer, I was speaking of the cleaning gloves, rather than the flowers.

[ marigolds because they're always yellow, see. ]

And I'd— to be honest, I'd prefer not to "liberate" anything.

voice.

[glowsferatu]

I would have expected there would be some better upkeep, if you're in the provided housing. The existing occupants must have been slovenly if you've come into a mess, completely unequipped.

I can sympathize.

voice.

[showtunes]

[ to be fair to his housemates, hal has incredibly high standards. ]

Quite. I find there are very few people in this modern age capable of ensuring a home is well-kept — unless it is their admirable profession.

video

[teaspectre]

And you do the washing up?

I feel like having you around is going to be a slice of heaven.

[ Because honestly, a vampire that actually does chores. How does he exist? ]

[showtunes]

Thank you, Annie. During our time living together you were always very appreciative of my efforts with the chore roster.

voice;

[slightlyoffchilt]

Well that sounds neurotic.

voice;

[showtunes]

And what exactly leads you to that [ incredibly accurate ] conclusion?

text;

[humanistic]

[Man, this is kind of embarrassing by proxy. And also a little worrying, and suspicious, and he's wary of the requests because he knows the name Hal Yorke, but this-- seems off.

Mitchell delays responding, nearly doesn't--he'd rather go on ignoring Hal--but

man this is embarrassing. Important stuff first:]

Turn off the video

video.

[showtunes]

[ hal has no problem turning off the video and using voice, given it's about the same for him and people just assume he doesn't know how to get himself in the frame because he's technologically incompetent (true) or that he doesn't want to be seen (also true). ]

[ and yet despite his capability, and despite his demurrals to Annie about not participating in the vampire hierarchy, he's not going to allow himself to be ordered around by some upstart that he's done an excellent job of snidely ignoring. ]

[ until now, anyway. ]

Ah, Mr. Mitchell. I wondered when we'd speak. Annie's told me all about you.

[ still just videoing some dominoes :) ]

audio;

[grimreaping]

[ Kid's been doing a good job of keeping #002 pretty clean given his own proclivities, though his room has been given priority of course, but he recognizes the dining room table. He also mutely approves of how neatly you've got those dominoes lined up. ]

I have most of them from the house.

audio;

[showtunes]

Good.

[ which in another man would be an expression of great joy, Hal's just reserved. ]

That's good. I thought I should use my own, or at least, ones I have borrowed but intend to pay for, given I intend to be thorough.