No. 004 [Video] Tell me something good.

[respectedman]

[Dean Smith is sitting on top of his desk, an empty Scotch tumbler cradled in his hands.  He's beginning to realize that he's not necessarily attached to his regular, but he can empathize with him, and understand where he's coming from most of the time.

He glances up at the communicator, and one can see that he's disheveled, rather than primly put-

Comments

[wrath_or_fury]

It's just so marvelous. [Although her tone is rather dry.]

[respectedman]

...I'm hoping that that's sarcasm.

[wrath_or_fury]

More likely boredom, with a touch of cold, aesthetic taste.

[respectedman]

Then why bother saying anything at all?

[DISAPPROVAL. Have some!]

[amenabelle]

I-it's not so bad with- [ She points to her lack of eye ] You- you get used to it.

[respectedman]

...I don't know if he will.

[Unconsciously, he rubs at his own right eye.]

He's used to being untouchable, and I'm actually...worried. I'm worried about him. Is that weird?

[amenabelle]

N-no, I-- I don't think so. They look... like us and they're still- still people too, but I I don't like mine, she cut off my head...

It's nice- it's-- It's good that you're... you're worried.

[respectedman]

[His expression softens a little.]

...I'm sorry to hear that. From what I understand, most of them seem fairly quick-to-anger. I was almost shot, myself.

[Pause.]

I don't believe I've had the pleasure of meeting you, yet. May I have your name?

[britchillsout]

[ Meanwhile a certain mirror virus has decided that he's going to insist on his own body privileges. This is obviously a difficult situation and he does not trust Phil to not make it any worse.

So the reason why Phil is currently standing at the side of the room with his arms crossed rather than sitting at the desk in groping comfort is... well, because this Phil is not particularly Phil either at the moment.

Plus he can't read Dean's narration and thus feels the need to very clearly point out: ]

That wasn't him.

[respectedman]

I know.

[He's quiet, and traces the engraving on the side of the crystal tumbler distractedly.]

I...I know it wasn't him, but it's still...he used his face, someone he trusted, and he-

[Dean realizes that he can hardly hold onto his glass his hands are shaking so badly. Setting it aside and rubbing at the circles under his eyes - he hasn't slept well in days, for obvious reasons - he would take the time to realize that Phil isn't exactly Phil if he wasn't so preoccupied with scrubbing traumatic mental images from his mind.]

[britchillsout]

[ To be fair, the voice change is a little more difficult to detect on the mirror side. Phil already comes closer to regular Clarence's drawl, though at least Mirror Clarence usually stands out by being coherent. And just a little meek.

Claire clears his throat. ]

I'm... I'm guessin' this isn't the best time to introduce myself, but I figured it beats havin' Phil make things worse by offerin' comfort sex.

[respectedman]

[He freezes, looking up slowly. After what happened to Winchester, Dean assumed that the whole 'other mind in my head' thing was true, but wasn't really keen on asking Phil to bring it up lest something equally as horrible happen to himself.

He'd mostly forgotten about mentions of 'Claire' up until this very moment.]

...you're...you're Claire. Right now. So Phil is.....he's...I see.

[Hands on either side of his face, Dean takes another shuddering breath and stares at the floor.]

This must be what going mad feels like.

[video]

[bloodisthegame]

[M!Wonka is all too thrilled to hear about such events taking place. A wicked smile plays across his face, but looking at him one wouldn't be able to see his eyes. He tilts his chin down just enough to where only his nose and mouth can be seen below the brim of his hat.]

Torture, you say? Do tell, my good fellow...

[video]

[respectedman]

[You'll have to excuse Mr. Smith for being even tetchier than usual, but he did see a mirror image of himself having his eyeball torn out by a mirror image of the man he's been sleeping with for some time.]

I don't see why it's any of your business.

[video]

[bloodisthegame]

Then if it's none of my business, why did you bother broadcasting yer thoughts over the network? Many usually have a whole lotta nothin' to say, but you've said quite a bit of somethin'.

[The smile remains. This man is quite the opposite of his real; he very much takes pleasure in harming others and using their blood as an ingredient in his candy.]

[video]

[respectedman]

Oh, I'm sorry, let me elaborate. I don't see why it's any business of yours that I divulge the innermost details of this event. The normal reaction one expects to hear from others tends to be less sickeningly interested than your own.

[eidedick]

[ Alex was all ready to reply with a you're-kidding kind of grin, but... no. No, this is not the face (or drink) (or outfit) of a man who's kidding around.

When he actually appears on the video, the grin's already fading into a look of uncertainty. He starts to speak, then hesitates. See, this is so similar to something that happened to his regular, and it seems a shame not to remark on it, but it looks like Dean doesn't share Alex's 'point and laugh' philosophy of regular-torture and that the anecdote would therefore go unappreciated.

A moment longer, for the last of the grin to fade. ]

Aw shit, dude.

[respectedman]

[He looks back up at the screen, expression unmistakably distraught.]

...Alex.

[Dean nods, straightening up a little bit. It should be fairly easy to tell that he hasn't slept well in days. The dark circles under his eyes are evidence enough, if not the rumpled clothes and hair sticking out at odd angles.

He looks like he's about to fall to pieces.]

How, ah...how are you?

[eidedick]

[ Alex has been kinda keeping his distance these last few days, aware that he seriously misjudged how Dean would react to the whole drugging thing. For once it seemed like a good idea to show tact if he ever wanted to sleep with Dean again.

Now, though, seems like the right time to step in again. Alex doesn't make a habit of worrying about people, but for Dean's appearance he makes an exception. ]

Same old, y'know, same like, old? Like, uh, uhh... totally cool, but like, you kinda... dude, you kinda look like shit?

[respectedman]

So I've heard.

[He sounds mildly amused, but it's tinged with bitterness. He's definitely been better than this. It's Winchester's job to drink like a fish, not his. Dean Smith doesn't hold grudges for nearly as long as his realside, either, so it's a good thing that Alex has kept his distance for the time being.

It is nice to see a familiar face, though.]

It hasn't been a very good...well. Week.

[He's tired and on edge.]

I'm afraid there isn't much sympathy with my current company, either, unless you count his resident alien, but I've been...mostly keeping to myself.