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.

[bonely]

[ clearly, his introduction is already going well. ]

...Your reasoning is strange. I don't understand it. [ He's honest, at least. ]

[deadtective]

That's fine, as long as we're having a good time. You new?

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??????

[bonely]

[ He can't exactly say he's having a good time, but his grasp on such a thing is nebulous at best. ]

...Yes.

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...? ]

[deadtective]

[Hazel's having a good time for sure, and that's all that matters.]

Well, I guess it is that time of the month. I'd say things get easier the longer you hang around but that's kind of a fucking lie.

[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??

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.

[bonely]

...Encouraging. [ Bleak, but! He's right at home with bleak. ] This is...a standard greeting for everyone?

[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. ]

[deadtective]

The scythe and Blue Oyster Cult jokes? Nooot really. But everything else is probably the same.

Unless you mean me personally, in which case oh yeah, absolutely.

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.

[htespagheti]

OH, A ROBOT! WELL, WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST SAY SO!

YOU CAN START KNOWING ABOUT SKELETONS RIGHT NOW! LAY CLAIM TO YOUR PROUD HERITAGE! HALF SKELETON... HALF ROBOT! THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS... ANYONE WOULD BE JEALOUS!

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.

[bonely]

[ Heritage...? He doesn't have much in the way of that. ]

...I don't think anyone would be jealous.

...What do I need to know about skeletons? [ It takes a surprising amount of willpower not to fill in the blank with 'they're the remains of the dead and humans place particular symbolism on them'. He's...he's trying. ]

[bonely]

...You have an interesting way of greeting others.

How long have you been here?

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. ]

[deadtective]

Since January, I think? Something like that. And I don't know, I think this is a pretty low-key way to let people get to know me.

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?