the strongest disappointment

[frogsicles]

[so people might notice that Cirno sounds surprisingly quiet.

this is because she is holding the phone upside-down while she talks.]

So I guess you can use this thing to talk to people who aren't here? Or something? That's what the creepy lady said when I asked her

Comments

[versus_virus]

Yes, that's what it's for. Talking to everyone else here. Though you don't need to keep your voice down; if you don't want someone to hear you, I think there's a way to block them somehow. [She just. Hasn't bothered to figure out how to do that yet, given how much she dislikes using it in general.]

... [And, almost helpful-sounding,] Don't worry. I don't think "weird" the word I'd use to describe you. It's a pretty nasty word to call anyone.

[Does she mean it? ... Probably half. At least she's trying to be nicer.]

[frogsicles]

Yeah, that's right! It's really mean and I don't like it!

And I'm not keeping my voice down, I'm talking normal! You're the one who's being quiet...

[versus_virus]

I agree. So who called you weird, anyway? Just out of curiosity.

... I am? [Well that wasn't what she expected. ... Hm.] Did you do anything before you picked it up? Messed with the cords, or something like that?

[frogsicles]

The stupid weird kid called me weird. [she's referring to Mao, but she never got his name.]

I didn't touch anything, I picked it up and talked and when people talked back they were all real quiet.

[versus_virus]

Hn... Did they say it for any particular reason? [You didn't see any pronoun fail due to frozen fingers, no sir. :|]

All of them, huh... In that case, either you're holding the phone wrong, or it's broken. This's the first time you've ever used one, right? So it's probably the former.

[frogsicles]

No! He's just a dumb, weird bully!

I'm doing what the creepy lady told me to do, so I must be doing it right. Maybe yours is broken.

[versus_virus]

Ah, that type. Well, don't let it get to you. There's lots of people like that wherever you go, unfortunately.

If it is, I'd like to know how it supposedly happened. Given what I live with, the only person who would break this thing is me. And since I haven't done anythin--

[Cuts herself off because a thought occurred. re: If France did this somehow. :| That's what we get for not kicking out random home invaders. ... Deep sigh.]

A-anyway. It doesn't look broken, so I seriously doubt that's the problem. What did the "creepy lady" tell you to do, exactly?

[frogsicles]

She said to pick up the phone and talk into it. So that's what I'm doing!

[versus_virus]

And you're apparently doing a great job so far, but humor me for a second.

Take the part you're holding and turn it over, and see how well that works.

[frogsicles]

Turn it over...

[you hear the sounds of someone fumbling with the phone.]

Like this?

[versus_virus]

There you go; I can hear you much better now. How does it sound to you? [Because if hers is still quiet, Lucia's got a manhunt to get started on. He broke it, he bought it, regardless of whether it was originally hers to begin with.]

[frogsicles]

Yeah, it's louder now.

[versus_virus]

[A sigh. This time of relief, or something thereabouts.] Good. Just use it like that from now on, and you should be fine.

[... Now what. Uh...] So, you're new here, I'm guessing?

[frogsicles]

Yeah, I got here a couple days ago...but the moon rabbit says I've been here before, but I don't remember any of that.

[versus_virus]

Ignoring what a "moon rabbit" is supposed to be... Really? That's the first I've heard of anything like that, actually. Maybe you got home somehow?

[frogsicles]

Well, I don't remember it happening, so it must not have happened! So don't worry about it.