O1 👶 video;

[pillz]

cw implied harm to (fantastical) animal, implied drug use, probably offensive language within ??

[the picture shakes, obviously handheld. when the picture focuses, there's a dragon rampaging down the street, wings flapping, eyes blazing orange, its body built of churning smoke and fire. it has teeth, in terrifying, serrated rows, but that seems somehow less important than the impossible cycling of gas and combustion that form its flesh. the whole situation is very cloverfield. in the background, the sound of human screams rises tinny, shallow.

lower definition than the communicator video.

but there's a reason for that. a discerning eye might notice immediately: the street the monster is running down is empty of people, and there's something wrong with the buildings. not enough detail in the brick, the windows, the pavement, and beyond it, the sky a fuzzy, paint-white blank. when the camera pulls out, reality becomes clear. the city is merely a cardboard model, stylized in a way that will be familiar to some, but this time a rendering of de chima's downtown area rather than sleepy henrietta. the monster, no matter how miraculous, could fit in the size of an ordinary man's palm.

or inside of a drinking glass, as it turns out. the next moment, one such cup plunks down over the creature, trapping it like a spider in the glass. the tiny dragon immediately begins to screech in rage-- or pain; it's hard to tell, but you only need a little imagination and familiarity with fire to consider the consequences.

and then kavinsky squares the camera lens on his face. skinny white boy— young, hollow-eyed and pale, his black hair clotted with too much gel. one earring, wifebeater, probably (definitely) trying too hard, probably (undoubtedly) overly impressed by himself. there is something oddly jittery about his hands, shoulders, the swollen bloat of his dilated pupils. he sprawled inside of a bedroom, generic, unlived-in. past his shoulder, there's a television playing stadium footage of a european football game, hence the poorly dubbed soundtrack. the dragon's outrage grows fainter.

he smiles.]

Made you look.

[he winks, and cuts the feed.]

Comments

permavid!

[brushoff]

[ yeah Dorian is fucking lazy and loves it when people look at him, he's all video all the time even if it's just him replying to a text message. ]

Oooh, I generally call them the bird children. But yes, I have met them. And, fun fact, there's a surprisingly large amount of them here.

[pillz]

[a quick scan of the network had told kavinsky that much, but it's nice to have the confirmation.]

>gansys ass train has a better ring 2 it
theyre funny 2 fuck wit. i would keep them around if i were u
u got a name?

[brushoff]

One more reason to keep them around. [ guess who lives on conflict. ] As for your question, my name is Dorian Gray. And yourself?

[pillz]

kavinsky

[just the one name. not a pop idol though.]

ur name sounds familiar 4 some rson
alias?

[kavinsky knows something of being a pretentious brat, highly invested in self-advertising.]

[brushoff]

Nope. I'm just famous.

[ and modest to boot ]

[pillz]

ok man.

[for later to google.

does this world even have google?]

ok my limey friend
i am trying 2 figure out my priorities here in teh space age 50s
where on the list should fucking wit ganseys ass train go
compared 2 fuckin up the russians

[brushoff]

[ Be happy Gansey, Dorian is taking the 'I still want to find out more about this kid but not blow my friendship(???) with Gansey' option. ]

The Russians have inconvenienced me more than the bird children so I vote fucking up the Russians. They kidnapped a close friend of mine, after all.

[pillz]

[gosh

we all have to wonder how long that option is going to remain an option.]

thank u 4 ur input
r u a superhero

[brushoff]

God no, [ said with an EURGH expression ] Just leave me and the people I care about alone and I don't really care about what happens here.

[pillz]

good deal man.
u gonna tell me who r ur beloved 2 steer clear of or did parrish get 2 u :)

[why beat around the bush? kavinsky knows everything about having a bad reputation, and he won't be surprised if dorian is leery.]

[brushoff]

Oh no, mess with Parrish all you want. [ SORRY ADAM.... ] Really, most of the people I know would fuck you up if you messed with them, I'm not worried on that front. Just leave me, a man named Tobias Matthews and a woman named Elsa Brandt alone and I'll be fine.

[ though, since this guy is pretty obviously a druggie... ] At least, don't actively fuck with them. For all I know, Elsa might be interested in some aspects of you.

[ aka drugs ]

cw joke about underage sex

[pillz]

i get u. sounds good

[he can remember those names. they don't particularly interest him right now, which is more significant to his decision-making than the threat of retaliation! but he's nuts that way, and all things being equal.]

do u mean like underage d

[brushoff]

You're exceedingly too young for her. [ especially since Elsa's one of those immortals who look like they're in their twenties ]

What I mean is that you really need to do a better job of hiding the symptoms or, alternatively, post while you're sober.

[pillz]

haha fuck.
why?
do they make u pee on a stick here
take away ur superpowers if u dont pass

[brushoff]

Nope. You'll just bring all the moralizers out in full force.

[pillz]

not rhe moralizing. im legit terrified fak
u like making all the new kids shit their pants r what

[brushoff]

It's less of shit your pants with fear and more of I'm such a kind and gentle soul I want to save you from boredom.

[pillz]

thank u

[brushoff]

Not a problem. [ a small pause, before, ] By the way, since you're new here, let me impart a few more words of wisdom. The best club scene's in Maurtia Falls and there are a few places there with no cover charge for imPorts.

[ cause hopefully this dude likes clubbing, right? Maybe? ]

[pillz]

[dorian's deductive work is impeccable.]

ill keep that in mind.

[garbage and studying won't pay well. he'll have to find a new market for his wares eventually.]

how does an enterprising young bulgarian get his ass 2 marshy falls

[brushoff]

You can take the Porters in-between cities. Yes, there are some soldiers stationed at the Porter building, but I've found that if you're charming enough, they'll look the other way at certain times.

[ bribery. Dorina's straight up talking about bribery ]

private;

[pillz]

yeah? what r they into

[kavinsky can recognize bribery as easily as he can recognize blackmail.]

if tihs is a gay baby hooker thing u can just say

[he's a lovely person. really.]

private;

[brushoff]

[ Dorian can't help but laugh a bit, straight up rolling his eyes. ]

One's into weed, another's into cash. You've just got to time it properly, most of the guards are so dull.

PERMAPRIVATE its a new word now

[pillz]

ill keep an eye out 4 the good time guards
thank u
patron saint of delinquens

hell yeah it's a word

[brushoff]

Oh I love that title. I'm adopting it as my own, Saint Dorian, patron saint of delinquents.