01.

[bonely]

[ There's a click as the communicator switches on. Something rustles as its owner pulls away from the camera; bone-white, segmented fingers carefully adjust the angle of the video.

The camera swings over to reveal a cloaked and hooded figure perched on a table who stares contemplatively into the camera for a long moment (though the longer the moment goes on, the more a perceptive viewer may realise that perhaps this ominous figure is just thinking of what to say).

...wait, is that a skeleton? It certainly looks like one, what with the body shape and the limbs and everything; the cloak only covers part of the torso and the shoulders.

After that long and awkward pause, the figure reaches out and adjusts the camera over to reveal a scythe propped up in a chair. ]

...Someone should take this.

I don't want it. [ This new imPort's voice is mostly toneless and surprisingly quiet. ]

...And I don't think I can sing. [ What a weird non-sequitur. The video is switched off, though. Apparently on purpose; this imPort has nothing more to say. ]

Comments

permatext

[deadtective]

Well, there go all the Don't Fear The Reaper jokes.

permavoice

[bonely]

[ what is typing ]

...That's almost exactly what the band is called. [ Skullman you should probably like...give more information about that.

His voice is faintly confused. ]

[deadtective]

[no, this is fine. the vaguer it is the further Hazel can run with it.]

Shit, I'd hope so. Someone needs to get that reference out at least once.

[bonely]

...Why? [ He sounds even more confused. ]

[deadtective]

It'd be a fucking crime otherwise, that's why.

VIDEO; (also just tell me if u want normal font!!)

[htespagheti]

[A VERY LOUD GASP. Papyrus claps a hand over his... jawbone...??? in excitement.]

COULD IT BE????

WHY, FRIEND... ARE YOU...

A SKELETON??????

permavid

[bonely]

[ exuberance at his appearance is something he has no idea what to do with

he takes it in stride, by which i mean he stares blankly at the screen before answering. ]

...I was built to look like one. [ So yes...? ]

[htespagheti]

BUILT...????

[Skeletons are BORN, Skull Man. Ya goof. (Maybe? Possibly? Who knows.)]

WELL! I MEAN! A SKELETON IS A SKELETON! SO WE'RE PRACTICALLY RELATED ALREADY!

MY NAME IS PAPYRUS! I LIKE YOUR ENORMOUS... ARC-SHAPE....... KNIFE??

[bonely]

I'm a robot. So I was built to look this way. [ And kind of suffered for it. ]

...I guess. I don't know much about skeletons. [ At least, not ones that talk...and are really loud. ]

...It's a scythe. But I don't want to keep it. [ Too many disquieting memories. ]

Video

[bindsthedead]

I'll take it, if you don't want it. Weapons shouldn't be tossed out carelessly.

Does your job... want you to sing? It can be a talent, but it's also a skill that can be learned.

permavid

[bonely]

[ His body language becomes more withdrawn than relaxed; it's easy to see, and he doesn't bother to hide it. There's a kind of edginess to his voice, when he speaks.

There's something about Sabriel he doesn't like. ]

...If you want to take it, that's fine.

Yes. I don't know how. And I'm not sure how to learn.

permavid

[bindsthedead]

You can find instructors- really, it's all rooted in breathing, posture, and diction. Everything else comes from that. [Although if he's a skeleton... or a robot skeleton, judging by the other thread she saw, how much of that will be relevant.]

[bonely]

...I will take that data into account. Some of it should be useful even to a robot.

[ He's not even sure if he wants to do this job. It kind of shows. ]

video

[laid]

Can't blame ya, walking around with a scythe, lookin' like that you're bound to spook a whole buncha people.

[He pauses, flashing a grin.]
Everyone can sing, though. You just maybe can't sing well.

video

[bonely]

[ More humans. He withdraws a little; his hood falls a little more over his face as his posture closes up. His eyes are a little narrowed. ]

...Intimidation is supposed to be a factor of my appearance. But the scythe is unnecessary. I don't need it.

...Singing isn't one of my skills. [ Or something he's ever thought about like at all. ]

video

[laid]

[There's a whole mess of us here, sorry buddy. If this guy notices the tense reaction, he's ignoring it as he seems pretty relaxed himself, still.]

Doesn't have ta stay that way though. You gotta learn how just like any other skill. And I betcha people would be pretty jazzed about a singing skeleton! People love gimmicks like that.

[bonely]

[ OH, HE'S AWARE. IT DOESN'T MEAN HE HAS TO LIKE IT. ]

I'm not here for people's entertainment. [ The sudden flare of anger in his voice might be surprising from someone who was so flat before.

...But it fades, quickly, to something more bitter and cold. ] Do they? I wasn't aware.

video

[bad_in_latin]

[ Well that is. Surely something. Mal kind of opens his mouth and closes it for a moment, not even sure how to react. ]

Huh. You're somethin' new.

permavid

[bonely]

[ By this point he's just staring in a way that suggests he doesn't trust whoever's at the other end of the line. (Sorry, Mal, it's nothing personal.) ]

...You're not. [ Not new to him, he means. ]

You haven't seen robots before?

[bad_in_latin]

[ Hey, Mal gets it. He's feeling much the same way himself. ]

I seen 'em. They just ain't talkative.

[bonely]

...Drones, then. [ Helper robots and others of that stripe. Not beyond his notice, but... ] You've never seen robots that talk? [ The joes assigned to him could talk, if only to impart information. ]

video; as i've just noticed they're housed together...

[oceanthief]

You can just leave it in my room.

[how can Lapis recognize that room as part of the house she's assigned to considering the limited view of it? either a gem's natural observance or the fact that a lot of the time she doesn't really go out that much. it's truly a mystery.

...as is what she could possibly do with a scythe, but you know. one thing at a time.]

[bonely]

...Which room is yours? [ This is a more convenient alternative for a robot that's had enough of going outside for the day. He grabs hold of the scythe and hefts it up onto his shoulder with little difficulty as he awaits an answer. ]

[oceanthief]

The one with the stuffed sea lion in it.

[this is only vaguely embarrassing to admit to because Lapis hasn't quite understood that stuffed animals are generally for children. normally the answer to this would be 'the one I'm in' but she's on her way home from work right now.]

[bonely]

Understood.

[ He'll just use his communicator to look up what that actually is. When Lapis gets home, she'll find the scythe in her room awkwardly sort of just propped up against the wall, and Skullman poking around the communal living room like he's never seen such a thing in his life.

To be honest, this is probably the case. ]