sean

54 48 49 53 20 49 53 20 4E 4F 54 20 41 20 50 4C 41 43 45 20 4F 46 20 48 4F 4E 4F 52 2E

[sean @nilwastes]

[ 2.015 kHz ]

[sean @nilwastes]

[ it took my voice and told me to clean it. make it presentable. ]

[ i don't even know what it wants from me anymore. ]

[sean @nilwastes]

[ the same thing that happened to you, i guess. ]
[ ... oh, you mean this. ]

{ sean glances around, lowering his mask for a moment. there's a hiss of air that follows behind. }

[ it punished me. my sector is... kind of... poisonous. radioactive-like. ]

[sean @beatzzpurminote]

.. yeah.

[ Sean's head tilts slightly- just enough to notice the way the other's gloves stuck to his hands. His appearance alone was concerning. ]

what.. happened to you?

[sean @nilwastes]

{ he turns away for a moment, fidgeting with his gloves. they seem bound to his wrists, as if sealed against whatever is outside. }

[ i guess so. i don't think there's any choice but to try and get used to this. ]

[ ... weird to hear my own voice, though. ]

[sean @beatzzpurminote]

.. there's more than you think.

[ Sean responds after a moment of silence, standing only a short distance away from the other. ]

you get used to it.

[sean @nilwastes]

[ oh, that's weird. ]

{ another you. he turns around, tilting his head slightly. although his voice isn't heard, it's still understood. }

[ how many of us could there possibly be? ]

[sean @beatzzpurminote]

?

[sean @nilwastes]

[ i'm not sure what's happening. ]

[ then again, there's never a way to know for sure here. ]

[ warped and distorted. ]

[sean @nilwastes]

{ a slow, delibrate nod. the icon rotates slightly, like a gear clicking into place. }

[ why do you look like me? i don't understand. you're right that something doesn't add up. ]

{ sean fidgets with the ends of his gloves, plucking at them. they don't budge. }

[EXECRATED @D3SECRATEDANGEL]

[ Pause. No reaction outside of the visible fidgeting- as to be expected. ]

I SU PPO SE I SHOUL D. INTRO DICE MYSE LF.

I AM [[ nilinstance = .EXECRATED. ]].

I A SS UME YOU A RE. [[ Sean ]]

[ Small head tilt. ]

.. SOM ETH ING DOES NOT A DD UP.

[sean @nilwastes]

[ i'm here. ]

[sean @nilwastes]

{ he nods slightly, fidgeting with the gloves on his hands. it's like they're stuck there- hardly moving when he does, melted plastic and all. }

[ at least that much is obvious. if we're... similar enough, maybe that works out for the both of us. ]

[EXECRATED @D3SECRATEDANGEL]

[ It pauses- despite hearing nothing.

Standing up straight, it speaks. ]

Y OU CANNO T SPE AK.

[ Its voice- it's a crude mimicry of his own, twisted and warped, matching it's corrupted appearsnce- mirroring Sean's own vessel.

It is perceptive, however. ]

[sean @nilwastes]

{ he stands still, only watching quietly. it doesn’t seem possible for him to speak; it’s a crueler punishment than some. }

[ i don’t know who or what you are. stay back. ]

{ but nothing happens. }

[EXECRATED @D3SECRATEDANGEL]

[ Staaareee.. Dont think he's ever seen another Sean before.

He begins to approach. ]

[robi @joeltistic]

rare childhood christmas memory: not being able to take a bath because theres a carp in the bathtub

[sean @nilwastes]

[ ? ]

[ another imitation...
or maybe that's something else. ]

[ i don't think that he can hear me. ]

[ what does it all mean? ]

[EXECRATED @D3SECRATEDANGEL]

...?

[sean @nilwastes]

[ the only water here is a crude imitation. ]

[sean @nilwastes]

[ God- I thought I couldn't be sick anymore. ]

[sean @nilwastes]

[ i'm tired. i'm angry and i'm bitter and a whole host of other things but i'm just tired, jake. aren't you? ]

[sean @nilwastes]

[ can't help much of anything. ]

{ when he huffs, the slits on his neck flare open, showing the deep black interior. gills, maybe. there's no air here to breathe properly- nothing to justify red blood cells. }

{ then they fade again, covered by the suit. ]

[ؘ @DIRECTINGSEIL]

then let it remain confusing. you can't help it.

[sean @nilwastes]

[ good morning. ]

[sean @nilwastes]

[ i don't have any answers. i don't think it'll let me. ]

[sean @nilwastes]

[ it's not. i know we thought we could make something out of it, but it's never going to be the full picture. we're just... ]

{ the thought trails off into a jumbled mess, like someone muttering. this method of communication does have its downsides. i'm awfully vulnerable. }

[ؘ @DIRECTINGSEIL]

.. okay.
i can't help much, i'm in the same boat.

( of confusion, it's his first time here after all. he doesn't even know if he should sit next to sean. )

didn't think this place was understandable if at all.

[sean @nilwastes]

[ being awake. you. this. ]

{ his hand tries to point at the icon slicing through his head, but it's jerked back down as if forced to stay at his side. }

[ i don't know. i thought i'd figure something out after this long. i think i know even less now. ]

[ؘ @DIRECTINGSEIL]

about "all what"? lot of things you could be referring to here, lots of issues to address.

( though there may be a few much deeper ones, like his presence at all. hand going to pull at his scarf. )

[sean @nilwastes]

{ gloves and all. there’s something dangerous underneath. }

[ i don’t know what to think. about all of this. ]

[sean @nilwastes]

[ that’s fine. do what you want. i don’t have a reason to care right now. ]

{ it might be a bitter thought, but it’s his own, thank god. he looks tired there, slumped against the wall. his vestments are baggy but cover everything- keeping something away. }

[ؘ @DIRECTINGSEIL]

i don't know.
i thought you'd want company. so i can just stand here and play bodyguard.

( really. he doesn't know. )