Voice Mail

[ladywithnovoice]

This is Red.

Leave a message, and I'll get back to you.

Comments

text;

[me_first]

because it wasn't actually you who did anything wrong. not in the sense that most people would think.

if there's anyone to blame for throwing things off the rails it's sybil.

text;

[ladywithnovoice]

[...Well she can't argue about that.]

Do you want me to hate you?

text;

[me_first]

not really.

but i'd understand it.

text;

[ladywithnovoice]

Well I'm not.

text;

[me_first]

apparently.

go to sleep, red.

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[ladywithnovoice]

When you do too.

[me_first]

[He's not going to sleep but he's going to just... stop texting.]

[ladywithnovoice]

[Yeah, nice try Royce Bracket.]

[After around five minutes, there's the sound of bare feet trying to be very sneaky on the cold wet ground of the cave. Yeah she's coming over to check on you.]

[me_first]

[Scout peers up at her, illuminated by the dim light of Royce's Pokegear. He's not sleeping at all - he's checking the network instead.]

[ladywithnovoice]

[Red quirks up an eyebrow to Scout, a silent 'can you believe this', before she just reaches over Royce's shoulder to try and take the 'Gear.]

[me_first]

Hey.

[He tucks his 'Gear in his pocket. Stop that.]

[ladywithnovoice]

[Too slow. Oh well. She instead crosses her arms and just stares at him.]

[me_first]

... What? I'm... not really tired anymore. But you should rest.

[ladywithnovoice]

[Red doesn't move.]

[me_first]

... Really? You're insisting on this?

[He's not gonna go to sleep.]

[ladywithnovoice]

[YEP she's insisting on this. This is why you don't get on her nerves in the middle of the night, Royce.]

[me_first]

What do you want me to do?

[ladywithnovoice]

[The 'Gear finally gets pulled out again, for lack of any other options.]

Sleeping is generally encouraged. Do you need help with it?

[me_first]

[Oh. Okay. He pulls his out again, and Scout climbs on his lap. Royce pats him idly before responding.]

I don't really need help. This is normal for me. I don't generally... sleep that much - I didn't sleep that much in Cloudbank, not at all. Too busy, too many other things to do. Now... too many plans, too much data. Not enough ways to express it, not enough ways to store it. The human mind is... so imperfect, the memories too fragile and easily corrupted. Not enough backups.

[ladywithnovoice]

The Pokegear isn't enough?

[me_first]

It's not the same as a proper terminal, not at all. I could make some modifications, most likely, if I had the right equipment, but I don't think it's really designed for larger-scale data projects.

[ladywithnovoice]

Just write down your thoughts then. Save everything for later.

[me_first]

I've tried that. It's not the same.

[ladywithnovoice]

I think it's really your only option unless you somehow made a computer.

[me_first]

Believe me, I've... had that thought. But I need more money and parts before I think about doing that.