video.

[micycle]

[For a second after the feed fizzles into life, Mike just sits there, blinking at his device in urgent confusion. Normally it would be astonishment, but the kid's been through hell and (part of the way) back, and it shows on his face; this is going to be the coolest once he gets a good night's sleep under his belt, but right now - ]

Um. [He pushes a pair of dust-coated goggles up into his hair, and coughs. The scarf below his chin seems coated with a similar substance.] Is there an Indiana here?

[A brief pause. He knows how dumb that question sounds.]

I really need to call someone.

Comments

video

[airshow]

Indiana like the state or Indiana like the archaeologist?

[micycle]

The state.

[He makes an exagerrated "No, duh!" face.]

I live there.

[airshow]

Hey, you never know! At least once a month someone shows up looking for their long-lost relatives from space or Atlantis or the kingdom of the elves or wherever. I thought maybe you knew someone cool.

[ a clear and obvious lie; he was being a jackass. ]

Anyway. This is one of those good news bad news mostly bad news things.

[micycle]

[Mike narrows his eyes, trying to look far more skeptical than genuinely curious.]

Are you making those up? Have there really been elves?

[airshow]

A few of 'em! [ A beat, and he adds: ] Y'know, the tall willowy devastatingly pretty take-this-ring-to-Mordor kind, not the cookies and/or shoes and/or Santa kind. Just to clarify.

[micycle]

You are not telling me Lord of the Rings is real, too.

[He looks fit to pass out from sheer overstimulation.]

[airshow]

Would you believe me if I did?

[micycle]

Maybe? I don't know. I'd need proof.

[He's a man of science, dammit.]

[airshow]

Smart kid, good answer, don't trust strange men on the internet who tell you things that sound like obvious lies! What kind of proof?

[micycle]

I'd need to meet them.

[airshow]

Uh-huh, and then? I mean, are you more of an interview kind of guy or a DNA samples and ear pointiness angles kind of guy?