01; Video... sort of.

[trickstar]

[The video feed starts with the face of a young man looking... very confused at the phone in front of him. Squinting, almost. Soon followed by a...]

HELLO?

[...He is literally yelling into the communicator, and pressing it to his cheek. Entirely unnecessary, since this is a video post... But whatever. Say hello to Joseph's cheek, fellow users of the Network. This is all you get for the rest of the video.]

There's no receiver end on this thing, how am I supposed to know where to talk into! Or who I'm talking to?

[Yeah. You're getting one of these guys again. Sorry. He's from 1938. This has been a rough journey for the technologically inept.]

Whatever! I have to go back- it's really important. I'm going to be done for in six days if I don't get to Switzerland! It's a really long story but I don't have time for another adventure, I'm already in the middle of one right now. I don't want to hear any of those excuses I've already been told! I'm being really serious here! I should have memorized Lisa Lisa's phone number...

Comments

t-too pretty for video. in fact, turn it off. no one can look directly at you.

[trickstar]

...

I wasn't listening.

[more like he PICKED A FIGHT WITH THE SOLDIER, TOOK THE COMMUNICATOR AND FILE, AND JUST LEFT THE CAR WHILE IT WAS STILL MOVING but you know whatever same thing right]

no. TELL ME I'M PRETTY.

[corviform]

[ His mouth hangs open slightly.

He resists the urge to roll his eyes, but he does drag a hand down his face. ]

You aren't permitted to leave the country. I'm sorry, but you can't leave this place.

you're pretty, gil-chan!!!!

[trickstar]

Visiting the Switzerland here wouldn't help me, anyway. I'm not going to just visit the alps or anything like that. There's someone there I have to defeat. If this is the future, then they're not here nor there.

... I really am screwed, this time!!

kyaaaa

[corviform]

You should be fine. I know this will sound strange, but time will be as it is when you left your world whenever you are sent back.

[trickstar]

No, it's still not fine! There's a poison in me that can only be cured by defeating a certain man in battle! And he's not here, but I'm still poisoned!!

[corviform]

What?

[ He's not sure he understands the "defeating" someone part, but being poisoned is never good. ]

Are you alright? You need to get to a doctor here as soon as possible.

[trickstar]

A regular doctor won't work! I need a pharmacist or something! But I don't even know if a cure can be made, since they won't have access to the original poison...

[corviform]

There must be an imPort you can ask on the network.

[ He wonders if Loki can cure poisons. ]

Are you feeling ill? How long has it been?

[trickstar]

I feel fine, but it's been twenty-eight days...

[...]

OHHHH NOOOOO!!

I ONLY HAVE FIVE DAYS, NOT SIX!!!!!

[corviform]

You need to find a doctor! Don't waste time on the network!

[trickstar]

Tch, I really don't want to go to a doctor... But I guess that at this point, I really have to. Alright. How do I get to one?

[corviform]

There are various clinics around the town.

Where are you right now?

[trickstar]

The corner of Kent and McLin. Suburban neighborhood. I see some houses number #31 and #32.

[corviform]

Alright, the clinic's a little further into the town, but you can call a taxi to drive you here.

I think I may still have the number... [ And after a minute, indeed, a number shows up on the screen. ] I don't remember the addresses offhand since I haven't been there in some time, but if you tell them you need to see a doctor, they'll know where to go.

[trickstar]

...

[All helpful information, but Joseph is also lazy as fuck. Even when it comes to saving his own life.]

That sounds like a lot of work of talking on the phone.

1/2

[corviform]

[ Are you kidding him? ]

2/2

[corviform]

It's hardly! Don't joke around at a time like this!

[trickstar]

Alright, alright! Jeez... I'll give them a call.

...So do you know what happens if someone loses the keys to the place they're supposed to live in?

[corviform]

[ He practically gapes in return. ]

Did you lose your keys...?

[trickstar]

I just didn't take them. But I figured that the more common situation is for someone to lose their keys instead of what happened to me, so that's why I asked.

[corviform]

You didn't take...

[ Maybe the poison is affecting logical reasoning? ]

You can probably ring the doorbell and see if there's someone inside who can let you in...

[trickstar]

[IF ONLY, GIL. IF ONLY IT WAS SOMETHING HE COULD BLAME THE POISON FOR.]

... I think I heard him say #19 ...

[corviform]

[ WORRIED FOR YOU, HANDSOME BRO. ]

Are you sure you're feeling alright?

[trickstar]

If I'm going to be honest, not really. This whole situation feels like a bad dream. I know it's not, but suddenly being seventy years in the future? Right when things were beginning to get bad for my mentor and friend? It just feels wrong. I hope they're okay, but that's all I can really do, and I feel pretty useless.

[corviform]

Ah...

[ He settles down on his end, looking on sympathetically. He thinks he can fathom what Joseph is going through, having been there himself once. Sometimes, he still finds himself overwhelmed with modern society and the problems surrounding them. ]

I understand. This place must be nothing like your world then? [ He shakes his head. ] But first... you should really see a doctor.