maskormenace | ⅰ ♦ audio. backdated to midnight.

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ⅰ ♦ audio. backdated to midnight.

[ It's a bit past midnight and given the timing of this post, it's hardly a surprise there's minimal background noise that can be heard on Gil's end, save for the light scraping of soles against the pavement.

In spite of how late it is, when Gil speaks up he sounds quite awake, a hint of surprise filtering into his voice as he talks into the communicator. ]

There are quite a few messages that have piled up in the past few weeks. I'm sorry for not getting to them yet ― I've only just been ported back. [ A quiet scoff at that. ] And it's almost July already. I hope I haven't missed anything important and I'm trying to catch up, but um... What's this about some game called "paint ball"?

[ Did the government sponsor child's play or something? What. But he's heard the Porter was involved. ]

Did they really allow imPorts near the Porter? If so, did anyone find out anything? I've heard that these temporary port outs never happened when the first wave of imPorts were here. It makes sense if they began after Lachesis synced up with it, but... I've also been wondering if she was successful in the end. She hasn't been responsive since right before our arrival, unless someone found out something.

[ What's the 411 on that? ]

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[ Shade could only laugh. Gilbert was often...quite too easy to rile up. He understood the sentiment, but for all his trappings, Shade was very much a modern man. He liked the way things changed, and it was fun to rile Gil about it. ]

No, I have not. I heard of people going home but... perhaps I wasn't paying enough attention, or perhaps you are the first. A pioneer!

Hardly. It's not common, but it happens. I'm not sure if you heard about Kenzi.

[ Then again... she had died back in her world. Perhaps there's nothing to return to. ]

Honestly, I didn't think it would happen here like in the City, but this Porter is just as much of a mystery as Lachesis was.

I had heard she left, but I hadn't heard that she didn't go home.

[ He lifted a shoulder. ]

It is indeed. I often suspect that things will be the same, and yet... Who knows, things may be entirely different.

[ He eyes Shade, puzzled. ]

It doesn't worry you?

[ He shook his head. ] This is the most fun I've seen in quite some time.

[ That, however, probably didn't make sense. he puffed at his pipe for a long moment. ]

Gilbert, I'm over two hundred years old, what should I be worried about? I can't be killed, eventually, I'd like to go back home, but until then, I'll see what happens.

It's all just a game to you?

[ That's rather off putting and irritating to hear. It's easy to presume most have something important to return to, rather than idle lives. ]

Hardly, but I have no way of changing it, do I?

I'm not a technical expert, and the more I worry at it, the more frustrated I'll become. I'd rather not.

[ But what if he could? Those paintball game winners could get the answers they need to get out of here.

However, it's late and he shouldn't be so impolite to someone offering him a place to sleep for the night. ]

... True enough. The less we know, the more it is.

[ He sighs. ]

Indeed.

And perhaps, someday, it will resolve itself, but I'm apt to wait, until we can see results.

But that's hardly appropriate talk, for a guest. Did you have a nice walk here?

I... [ Got bowled over by an over excited husky. ] It was fine. A short walk away, is all.

... Do you have a lint roller?

A -- A lint roller?

[ A pause, because Shade actually had to think on that one. ]

We may, why don't you come in, and we can take a look?

[ He nods and steps onto the porch. As he draws closer to the light, there's long white hairs stuck to his dark pants. Evidently, dog fur. ]

A bit of dog hair...

Goodness, how many dogs were there?

[ He asked, and opened the door, to lead him in, already starting to fish and root for a lint brush, when they stepped into the door. ]

[ He follows closely, taking care not to apply too much weight into his footsteps. ]

Just one. Ace...

[ He laughed, softly. ]

I see. He must be rather large, isn't he?

[ Shade stepped around, before finally finding a drawer that held the object of need. ]

Aha, here we go.

He's a husky, so yes.

I wonder how a dog with that much fur manages in this humidity.

[ But yes, he has places to be later and he doesn't want to show up covered in dog fur. ]

Good question, he would be a dog suited to cooler climates.

[ Shade leaned against a table, like he was considering something, before he finally stepped away, and toward the kitchen. ]

Something to eat, Gilbert? You look lean.

If there's any leftovers, that'll be enough. You don't need to start preparing anything this late.

I made mackerel pastries tonight.

[ And there were one or two leftover. Shade could be, at times, painfully British. ]

Or if you'd prefer, I'm sure I could whip something together. You know I like cooking.

[ He hesitates. ]

Are you sure it wouldn't disturb the others?

[ He frowned. Was that almost borderline rude of Gilbert? It very well could be. ]

Did you ever notice me cooking late at night before?

[ Is that a trick question. ]

Have you cooked in the middle of the night?

I never sleep, of course I have.

[ Well then. ]

Then I guess it's fine...

I thought it might be. And what would you like, Gilbert?

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