❀ ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ

[aojona]

[ The feed on the screen today displays both a strange sight and from a strange angle; it appears to be a view from the top of a building in Heropa (from what other scenery suggests), angled in such a way to capture an alleyway -- and the walls that frame it -- below.

On the ground there's a yellow spray-painted silhouette of a woman, her hair a wild, spiraling cloud that also spreads over part of the walls; in the shapes of her hair appear numerous eyes, painted in green, an there are red poppies growing from the ground precisely where her face would be.

Also, the camera is being held upside down.

Pablo himself doesn't speak immediately, although the view on the screen shifts a little as he moves the arm holding the communicator, giving a glimpse of the fire escape that he's lying on. ]

I found that here this morning. [ Almost definitely his doing, but he doesn't remember doing it. ] It reminds me of my sister, actually -- it's her birthday today.

[ His twin sister, if he's mentioned her. ]

We haven't seen each other in a few years, but I uh, I always try to do something anyway... I think it's nice to have rituals like that, you know? Um, or in general. But I think it can help, like, keep people close to you even when they're not. Does anyone else have those?

Comments

[aojona]

Really?

[ Pablo considers that for a moment, because true that a lot of people he's met just find his habits and rituals kind of weird. Could it be just him? ]

It's probably different for everyone, I guess. Some people might not need to do anything to feel like that. Uh, which is a good thing too. [ Then he pauses for a moment, and says simply: ] Well, I haven't seen any of my family since I left home. So, um... it's just been a while.

[dumbfound]

Oh, me too.

[ He fidgets with the corner of his communicator for a second, before asking-- ]

What kind of rituals do you have?

[aojona]

Were you close with them?

[ He thinks about the question, but mostly how to ... describe? his answer. ]

Well, there's actually a lot of them, but... on her birthday I like to write my sister a letter and tell her everything that's happened since last time. I don't know if she gets them, or reads them, but uh-- I feel like the thoughts still get to her somehow, you know?

[dumbfound]

Mm, my mom.

[ Not so much the rest of his family. ]

No?

[ What a response, but... ]

It sounds nice though. Uhm, the whole idea, I mean.

[aojona]

Me too. My mom is who I picked a lot of it up from, she's um... like, she has rituals for everything, so she knows a lot about it.

It is nice when it helps. Sometimes it's a lot of work though, so, uh-- maybe make sure you believe in whatever you're doing, if you do anything. Um, that's just a suggestion, though.

[dumbfound]

I don't think my mom did anything like that, but mostly she lived close to my grandparents anyway.

I think I can do that, maybe.

[ A pause, because the more he thinks about it the heavier that maybe gets. ]

What kind of believing?

[aojona]

Um... [ That's difficult to answer, somehow. ] Something like faith, maybe. Like you feel something when you do it.

[dumbfound]

Like religion? Going to church?

[aojona]

Well, not exactly. It's like, um... [ He pauses. ] Like a puzzle, maybe. You know? You, um... just have to trust all the pieces will fit together by the time you're done.

[dumbfound]

Yeah!

[ ... ]

I don't get it.

[aojona]

[ Hm... ]

Uh, well, what kind of things do you do normally?

[dumbfound]

[ A short pause as he tries to figure out what exactly "what kind of things" is referring to, and taking a stab at it. ]

I don't think I really do anything.

[aojona]

Do you believe in anything?

[dumbfound]

Like gods?

[ Considers for a second. ]

Not really.

[aojona]

No, just anything. It doesn't have to be religious.

[dumbfound]

... vampires?

[aojona]

Well, I think vampires have some rituals. Or, um... things that are supposed to be true. There's something about garlic, isn't there?

[dumbfound]

Yeah! ... That's not really true though. It's ok, unless you try to eat it. But then you'll throw it up. That happens with all food though.

[aojona]

What do you mean? ... For vampires or for you?

[dumbfound]

Both? Uh... it's the same thing?

[aojona]

What is? [ ...???? ] What do you eat, then?

[dumbfound]

For me and vampires. It's the same, because I drink blood... because I'm a vampire?

[ As condescending as that wording was, the tone comes across sounding a lot more "mildly confused and unsure." ]

[aojona]

Oh. [ It's okay, it's almost impossible to give Pablo that impression. ] You really can't eat anything else at all? Wow. Since how long?

[dumbfound]

Since I became a vampire.

[ That answer wasn't meant to be as obtuse as it is. ]