voice (UN ????) | open to anon/misfire replies

[priorly]

What's that poem about how the world ends? Fire, or ice.

Funny, really, we've been at the sharp end of both in recent weeks and here we all are, still muddling along, impossible to destroy. Like cockroaches, or Twinkies. Well. Most of us, anyway.

But it seems to me that ice is more a paralytic than an ending. Perhaps a precursor to slow cessation. A numbing, which - left long enough - allows one not to even notice as all the more vital components gradually freeze. Stasis, an ending without closure. They're the worst kind, I think.

But don't mind maudlin old me. I haven't been sleeping well.

At any rate. If you knew Byerly or Dorian -

Well, lucky you. They're gone now. Stasis. I thought some people might like to know and it turns out to be torture to have to say it over and over.

And it's colder here than I anticipated.

That's all.

Comments

Text; UN: ??????????

[impavid]

[ John may make pretty average to poor detective but he can connect dots:

He remembers Prior saying I really do have to start telling people Byerly's gone, and this style has a certain dramatic flair to it that is distinct.

So he starts off, casually, with: ]

This sounds like a good time for you to cash in a drink.

[ Sends it, see's his username come out garbled, and sighs the sigh of a man tired of bullshit. Follows up with: ]

If I'd known I was going to be a mystery person too I'd have thought of something more interesting to say.

Voice; UN: ????

[cassus]

[ It doesn't take a genius to guess that such an announcement stems from a place of suffering and loss. Whomever this person is, they were close to two people who are now 'gone', shuffled off into an endless sleep without any promise of reawakening. ]

In times like these a man's best friend is often a stiff drink.

[ He lost Odasaku twice. The first time, years ago and to a bloody end, had been agonizing enough. But losing him here? That had just been cruel.

He can empathize with this stranger's situation a little too much. ]

Speaking from experience- It helps to forget for a while.

voice - to - text : un: ????

[priorly]

[Prior's voice is also largely undisguised - at least for most people tuning in. Who knows what havoc the machine might be wreaking at John's end. He may even sound gruff. But the response is text, so he switches appropriately, letting voice translation turn what he says into pixels to save him squinting at a screen.]

It's not too late. Tell me you despise cowherds and all their accoutrements and I'll be stumped all over again.

MYSTERY THREAD ALL ROUND

[impavid]

Never met a cow I liked, never met a cowboy I liked either.

[priorly]

I thought dogs were supposed to be man's best friends. More of a commitment, certainly, but less of a medically established depressant.

[He's been drinking, more than he should since reaching this city. It helps with the cold - and it doesn't. But never for long. Anyway, he's being facetious.]

I would, but there's nobody left to roll me home. And I'm a cat person.

[And, as he hasn't missed this part, and god knows misery loves company-]

Recent experience?

[priorly]

Well I'll be damned. Howdy, stranger.

[impavid]

Howdy, partner. The normally sweet sound of your voice has been overrun with creepy distortion, which is all very cyberpunk. Have you considered auditioning for the 57th Terminator sequel? I hear it starts filming this fall.

[nineteenfortyfive]

And the world is colder without Byerly's... charm.

[priorly]

Really? I barely recall the first. Althoigh - is that body builder still doing full frontals? I'd try out but I'd hate to see his physique put to shame by my own unveiling: he looks like he works so hard on it.

[priorly]

Well, maybe just to me.

Do you know what's worse? He was more charming when he gave up on charm entirely. He could be charmingly earnest. I don't think he even knew.

[impavid]

It's all about attitude. I think you could sell it. Size isn't everything.

[ Don't even start. ]

Anyway the drink part is still an open offer, doesn't have to be in the competitive liver damage bar if you prefer a quiet night in.

[ He can just get trashed in an ice motel room, no problem. ]

[priorly]

I said his physique would be put to shame, baby, but I appreciate the pep talk. Though you're wrong: size everywhere isn't everything. Size in certain places certainly helps.

But I'm sure Arnold has a big... heart, too.

Drinking. More numbing. I could always lay out in the snow for a while.

[impavid]

Well yeah but you're not as tall. I wasn't worried about the physique. We already know you outshine him.

[ Or something. These trains of thought make perfect sense in his head. ]

And I've always preferred emotional numbness to the physical sort.

[priorly]

It may have required a small measure of liquid encouragement to make this post.

But I'm a mopey drunk. You should make your offer on a good day. I hear they happen from time to time.

[impavid]

People who won't appreciate you when you're mopey don't deserve you when you're fabulous.

Anyway, you listened to me talk way too much. It'll make it even. No cow songs, I promise.

[cassus]

[ Oh, that makes him laugh, despite how any mention of man's best friend feels like a punch to the gut. Finding someone with a wry sense of humor makes up for that in spades. ]

Finally, someone with good taste. [ Fellow cat people unite. ] Dogs are far too needy.

[ If there's one thing he's good at, it's commiserating with others and sharing sorrows over several glasses of something strong. So the offer of his company hardly seems like a bad idea in these circumstances. ]

I've done my fair share of rolling in the past.

[ His smile is audible, unable to resist how much he likes this person's wit. ]

It's about time I switched things up, if you're interested in a drinking buddy.

[ He expected the question, but that doesn't make answering any easier. ]

Hm-mn. [ Said much quieter than his words before. ] Still feels that way, though.

[priorly]

Why Marylin, you should've said it was you. What's the afterlife like? How's Judy?

I don't plan to talk. About this. Just so we're clear. I advertised my losses to a whole city of strangers to avoid talking about this. I'm done now.

[impavid]

In case you hadn't noticed, I'm an expert at not talking about things. You don't need to. I'm offering company. It can be quiet company. Company is just better than being alone.

[priorly]

And a stupid question on my part. We've all lost worlds.

[Whether that means whole planets or the small circles upon them within which someone existed, the smaller circle of people who might make up a whole world: everything that matters.

It's a year, now, since Prior lost his world. A little longer since he lost almost everything that mattered to him on it. And he's been building a fragile house of cards here only to have it tumble.

Perhaps a drink with a complete stranger isn't the worst of thoughts.]

They say misery loves company, but I've been keeping its company for weeks without anybody getting happier. So why not. We can meet at that godforsaken sports bar to compound the effect.

[priorly]

[A little delay before the response.]

Well, you might be right about that.

[impavid]

[ Good answer, Prior. He doesn't care if you're 'good company' right now. He just wants to make sure you don't do yourself any deliberate or accidental damage.

John's a worrier. ]

So, your place or mine? Mine might have some bonus Welsh features but they can be redirected. Unless you want a sacrificial lamb.

[ It's a Welsh joke. He's limiting them but he's still getting a few in here and there okay. ]

[priorly]

[He's terminally ill, John. Self harm would seem somewhat underwhelming in comparison. And they're too trapped here for him to run himself into the ground by other means.]

I met your bonus welsh features, the other day. An appealing addition to the decor but

I'm not really dressed for an outing.

[impavid]

Then I can make a home visit, just spin me a number.

And I'll tell him you think he's appealing. I'm sure he'll be pleased with the tacit approval.

[priorly]

Oh I can make it explicit if you like. I'm good at explicit. But, s'il vous rend heureux, il a naturellement ma bénédiction.

And it's 53. There's no rush, really. Don't let me drag you away.

[impavid]

As much as I love this ocean of white, company is better. You're not dragging me away.

Any requests on my way over? Magazine? Fresh towels? Extra blankets?