video; 001.

[ihope]

[The video flickers on without any trouble. The console's familiar enough that Lex doesn't have to fumble with it to get it working the way he wants. Behind him is the large space of a luxurious room that obviously originates from the Metal Sector. He couldn't see the harm in letting the, uh, 'citizens' of this In-Between see where he stands on trivial matters like his choice of interior decoration and he'd even gone and tidied up some before the broadcast, or at least that's what it looks like with two small cuts above his right eyebrow nothing but thin red lines now as opposed to the angry marks of earlier.]

[And the young man himself is seated comfortably, leaning to one side, legs crossed somewhere off-screen, left arm propped up on the table where the communicating device rests. A finger twitches and, right, he doesn't have anything around to grab a hold of at the moment. And so he begins to speak.] 'Tu Vishan. An In-Between of life, death, and dreaming.'

[And he has a sort of hushed voice despite the obvious intention to project to, well, the audience. And there's some light in his eyes that signals amusement-- or something resembling it. Excitement is either good or bad, never both. There's no upturn of his lips, no creased brow. He shifts, sitting straighter, peering closer into the camera, damn well expecting someone out there to listen.]

I'm supposed to believe this?

[He expects someone to listen, not to answer, because he just goes on.] The Kedan were generous enough to offer the explanation that I might not be dead, and to be frank, I appreciate any attempt of reassurance on the matter. I'd put more faith in it if I hadn't also heard the turtle had been in danger of dying. Spending the rest of my years aboard an ailing reptile wasn't exactly the life I envisioned. [He can believe abduction and drugs, but no deep sleep of his will ever revolve around an animal so stupid and slow. His voice turns wry. He knows he's not dead. He knows he can't be fully alive. The... Kedan were nothing from his waking world. That could only mean one thing left to figure out.]

[He's still seemingly calm. He's still only just sitting, just talking like he can see the company across the screen already. Like it's only a conference call he's taking from his desk. But now he sighs and he wants to smirk, but he doesn't. And now he'll be waiting for an answer.]

So who's the big dreamer?

[Show yourself, mastermind. A clear challenge, but after a second he tacks on a detail with clear concern and some well meaning urgency.] I also heard something about a clinic in trouble. Is there anything I can do to help?

Comments

[takeittothemax]

Huh. Whaddya know, looks like that line of yours worked like a charm.

[ihope]

It was a fluke. I admittedly know nothing at all about fishing. My father thankfully wasn't the type to take me on such aggravating, day-long excursions. [Because switching from figurative to literal was always fun.]

So what do I call you?

shoot missed this tag

[takeittothemax]

Consider yourself lucky on that score.

[It is law all lit professors have a thing for Hemingway or something.]

Max Lord, if you want to go with my name.

no problems!

[ihope]

Do you hold some important title I should be made aware of, Mr Lord?

[takeittothemax]

There are some who call me a glorious leader, now that you mention it.

[Granted, some means his robot lackey, but close enough, right?]

[ihope]

[Right, no, that's not going to happen and nobody is going to be surprised. But now Lex's interest is piqued.]

Are we talking about the people being sober when they say that?

[takeittothemax]

Depends on if an inability to get drunk counts, I think.

[ihope]

[Lex arches a brow. Tilts his head to one side and tries his damnedest to set this inquisitive face. If Max wasn't expecting silence to be a reply, well, that's too bad for him.]

[takeittothemax]

[Oh, that's alright, because he'll just keep right on talking.]

Turns out that cybernetic life form assistants have their perks. [Shrugs.] And before you get any ideas, no, I didn't program that in.

[ihope]

[Technology is a different form of nonsense than what surrounds all of this talk of being on a living city on top of an ancient animal. It's something with charts and failings and human error and triumph- it can be understood with enough hours of study. Lex finds himself comfortable with the very idea of it.]

Poor thing must still be learning.

[He's a boy. He jokes. Don't read too much into it, Max. For once, there's not much there.]

Did it come here with you?