maskormenace | 001 ☕︎ video

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001 ☕︎ video

[The video feed opens up to a morose looking dude in a pale blue shirt and a bland tie with it's knot loosened heavily. Looks like someone's returned from a disappointing time out.]

Ladies and gentleman, it is with a heavy heart that I bring you this terrible news: The 4.7 rated restaurant, Maison d'etre has been lying to us all. Like you, I was fooled by the high praise it was receiving on such popular food blogs as "Good Morning Viet-nom!", "Let's Taco 'Bout Food" and "Making Ends Meat" who all labelled it a culinary adventure of locally sourced food.

However! [His voice breaks halfway through the word, wavering between anger and the desperate need to cry in disappointment.] I have since eaten there and can say with complete certainty that the only culinary adventure to be found in that excuse for a restaurant is the amount of imported ingredients they have on their menu! Even their corn is imported from Ukraine. Who can't find locally sourced corn in America?! I tell you, ladies and gentleman, I am just one big D right now. Disappointed!

[A sigh that's as weighty as the world itself, and... was that a small, barely restrained sob as he quickly bows his head? At least he's quick to compose himself, straightening himself up in his chair and puffing out his chest after a deep inhale.] But it's not all bad news. I, Charles Boyle, will be sure to continue conveying these injustices to the world!

And a few weeks from now, I'll also be sharing my knowledge of food to any folks willing to learn. Watch this space for Boiled Over, an imPort cooking show in front of a small live audience, set to delight and astound. [And just like that, his previous disappointment steadily creeps towards eagerness, because cooking is awesoooome.]

I'm sorry, I'm just so excited for this opportunity! Wow, what a rollercoaster of emotions this place is!

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[The video feed comes in with just the top of Rosa's head in-frame. Still, it's probably enough that Boyle would recognize her. Notably, however, the name coming through the feed doesn't read "Rosa Diaz." Nothing close. Instead, it's Emily Goldfinch. But there's no mistaking the voice.]

It isn't a rollercoaster if you don't have emotions. You just have too fuckin' many of them.

[Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat the fuuuuuuuuuuck. He'd know that top of head anywhere, doesn't even need the voice, but damn, it certainly helps solidify who this "Emily" is!

Boyle's just letting at a high pitched screech of excitement as he jumps at the camera screen like he can somehow reach through it.]

ROSA! OH MY GOD! [Clutching his chest as he slumps back into his chair.] Ow, ow, ow, my poor heart. I can't handle this rollercoaster.

[Her face immediately comes into focus on the video, and she is Not Pleased. She looks like she might very well try to jump through the screen and fucking strangle the shit out of him.]

MY NAME ISN'T FUCKING ROSA. [She slams her hand down on a nearby table - or child? dog? something? - off-screen to emphasize her point.] It's Emily. Emily fucking Goldfinch, got it?

[Once she's had a chance to calm down a tad ..] Where the fuck are you, anyway?

[The yelling is met with cowering, even if he knows she's on the other side of a screen, slinking further into the chair as she continues.] Emily, I'msosorry. It's Emily. [Plz don't punch him through the screen.]

I'm in Heropa. Please don't hurt me.

[Without a word, the screen goes black and the video cuts off.

Maybe fifteen minutes later, Rosa's tracking down Boyle's location. It isn't exceptionally hard, especially once she gets into cop mode. He's sitting in the back of the first cafe she walks into, which she only chose because it had an obnoxious name and even more obnoxious, "adventurous" menu.

She bee-lines towards his table, taking a seat opposite him without saying a word. She stares at him for a few solid minutes, as though trying to gauge whether it's really him or not. She seems satisfied as she eventually says:]

You're here.

[It's hard to tell exactly what her cutting the feed off actually means, and as much as Boyle hopes against all odds that she's coming to get him, he can't help but assume she got disconnected. Or that she's super mad at him for showing too many emotions. Or she's never ever going to talk to him ever again because he called her Rosa. Oh God, WHAT IF HE SCREWED IT UP FOREVER?!

But then, just before he slips into a never ending pit of despair, she appears in the doorway. Boyle jumps to his feet but makes no further movement, a quick learner when it comes to pain avoidance and self defence, he merely clamps his jaw shut, clenches his fists and keeps silent, even if he is trembling lightly from ALL THEM REPRESSED EMOTIONS OMGGGG.

He sits as she sits, silent and staring like the most eager of puppies, one that's just been told to sit and stay despite wanting all the love ever. Please just give him attention, he wants it so bad.

Only once she speaks does he let out a huge exhale like he's been holding his breath for minutes.]

It's really you?! Ros-- Emily, please, please just let me give you a proper greeting. [Aka the biggest of all hugs.] I need this so much. Ten seconds. I swear. You can time me.

[Silence for 30 seconds.

Silence in which she does nothing but stare at Boyle's face. She doesn't look like she wants to injure him, even though his bursting emotions make her want to vomit at the table, but she almost looks happy to see him. .. In Rosa fashion, at least. To an outsider, it'd look like she wants to kill him.]

Five.

Deal! [And this little guy sure can move fast when it's seconds on the line, because he's already out of his seat and attaching himself to Rosa within the first second, going in for a tight hug. This is pure happiness right here.] I thought I was the only one.

[Before she can even finish groaning, she's caught in his vice-like grip and groaning louder, only this time, it's more of a shout. ]

You go a fucking second over five, and I'll be the only one.

Three, two, one. Let go.

[He releases the second "one" leaves her lips, retreating rapidly and sliding swiftly back into his chair like he was never even near her. Nope. Totally wasn't just clinging, no need to hit him. Though Charles does whisper a quick:] Thank you!

At least coming through the Porter hasn't made you any dumber. Got that going for you. [She leans back in the chair, folding her arms across her chest.] When'd you get here?

[He's so proud of himself, and so, so overjoyed at having Rosa in front of him. She'll just have to deal with him beaming happily.] Few days ago! I did look for you all on the network but it was so hard to see through all my tears. Did you just get here too?!

[She looks .... less than enthused. Pissed, even. She rolls her eyes - exaggeratedly, pointedly. To make sure he gets her meaning.] God, just - fucking - ugh. Do you have a coat or something to use to cover your face? I can't deal with the way you're doing that stupid thing with your mouth right now. [She means smiling.]

Been here since June, I think.

You're the first from the precinct to show up.

... Smiling? [He does his very best to try and stifle the grin, it mostly just comes across as a pained expression instead but she'll probably appreciate that slightly more than grinning.]

June is so long ago! And you've just been here alone? Ugh, you're so brave, it's not fair.

Yeah, that weird shit you're doing with your face. [She gestures vaguely in his direction.] Better.

It's been great. [That's a bold-faced lie. Rosa's anxiously waited for SOMEONE from the 99 to show up. Anyone.] Thought the Sarge might've been the first to show, but. You're ....

[She steels herself. It's obvious she's about to have a "moment" and is trying to muster the nerve to do so.] A good second choice.

[Those last few words are music to Boyle's ears. He knows Rosa well enough to realise it means she's glad to see him, and he's doing his very best not to let that grin return. Maybe if he just keeps talking, he can distract himself from all the happy, swelling pride, because he's pretty sure mentioning what she just said will result in being punched.]

I totally thought Jakey would've made it here! Or Gina! They're such trend setters that new Universes seems really like their thing. [Especially Gina, in fact. If anyone was going to be the first to a new Universe out of their group, it'd be her. Maybe she's already here, ready to make a dramatic entrance one day when they least expect it.]

Are you kidding? Gina would've fucking fought the Porter the second it tried to fuck with her.

Jake would've been sucked in without even realizing it.

[There's a brief moment of silence as Rosa's mood suddenly looks a little darker, and she manages to mumble:] It's been .. weird, without the 9-9 around. There's a "Brooklyn" here, but it's all fucked, man. No precinct, no Shaw's, no city blood, no gross urine smell. It's like the Disney version of Brooklyn.

Huh, yeah, point. [Two valid assumptions on Gina and Jake that he can't even argue with.

He could talk about Jake all day, but Rosa's actually talking and showing vague signs of emotions so you can bet Charles is shutting up and listening intently.]

There's no 99? How can there be a Universe out there without a 99?! [Sigh. And poor Rosa's been stuck here for months.] Oh, Rosa. I'm so sorry. It must've sucked to be here without anyone.

Shut up, I've been fine because I don't get sad about shit and feelings and emotions are for dum-dums. [She leans over to give him a hearty fist to the side of his bicep.] But yeah. This universe is pretty sick cause of powers and shit but .. no 9-9. No Captain, no Sarge, nothing.

[He doesn't even cower from the hit this time, in fact he takes it with a smile, even if it's also accompanied by a light "ow" and a light rub at his arm. Punches like that are a good sign, but it's best not to push too far into the feelings and emotional side of stuff, so Boyle's happy to steer towards another subject.]

Oh, hey! What powers did you even get? I bet it was something super cool.

[Okay, Rosa will admit - to herself, that is, not to anyone else - that it's nice having Charles around. It'd be nice having almost anyone from home, except for Scully or Hitchcock, but .. she is pretty glad that Charles showed up. The only two other people she'd have been equally as happy about would've been Jake and Gina.

1 out of 3 isn't too bad.

At his question, she doesn't answer - instead, she reaches into the lining of her leather jacket. When her hand comes back out, it's gripping a sword, then repeats this over and over until she's got an array laid out on the table, including a couple daggers and handle with two blades sticking out, perpendicular to the handle. She glances at him casually before slowly replacing them all into the inside of her leather jacket.]

You?

[He wouldn't have been so surprised were she to pull out several knives, that's just normal for Rosa, but swords that somehow remain hidden in her jacket? Plus a whole arsenal of point things? That's some next level super powers. And yet still very much a perfect fit for her.

Charles gasps, less at the weapons themselves and more at the realisation of what Rosa can do.]

You're like Mary Poppins! Except your carpet bag is a leather jacket. And also your household items are deadly weapons. Basically the same diff. [Mary Poppins Rosa is the best thing of all time and he wants to savour this memory forever.

His powers seem far less impressive compared to the armoury presented to him.]

Me? I taste things. I can also let other people taste things. And apparently I can read the past of things I taste?! It's. Not exactly knives. But... [Shrug. Not knives, but at least these powers are better suited to him.]

You call me Mary Poppins again, and you're getting one of those deadly weapons to the chest. [Mostly a real threat. Maybe not entirely. Not that Boyle needs to know that.]

What do you mean? Everyone can taste things. That's not a super power. [Her faces grows more and more contorted with disgust as he talks, though.] Why would you want to know the past of the things you taste? Does that mean you taste like, the dirt and manure that a potato grew in or some shit?

Not taste the dirt and manure, no, one should already have that sort of awareness from standard eating alone, but I could technically tell where that potato grew through a sort of... memory. [He's still not entirely sure why everyone doesn't find this power instantly awesome, because he's pretty sure it's great, but this is Rosa, and Rosa likes things like pulling swords out of her jacket so maybe...]

Okay, here, imagine a gruesome murder. A whole lot of stabbing, blood everywhere, murder weapon found but no prints or trace back to the killer. These fine tastebuds could find out the killer from the murder weapon thanks solely to nothing but a good tonguing! Pretty cool, right?

[Granted, he's only used it so far to to check if his food is locally sourced, but the potential is there!]

[She's still making her disgusted face.

It isn't getting better. If anything, it's getting worse the more he talks.]

If you say 'tonguing' again, I'm going to stab you in the stomach or cut your tongue off.

Why the fuck would you lick a fucking murder weapon? Aside from completely fucking up the evidence by tampering with it.

[video - using alias Emily Goldfinch]

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