11th Letter; video

[hisdiscretion]

[There's a sort of yanking motion as the NV turns on and starts recording. It's a bedroom, neatly kept and elegant, with a big, comfy bed, rumpled with a rather familiar dark-haired, noticeably unclothed and dozing. The voice (and the slight glow originating from behind the NV) is recognizable as Franz d'Epinay's. Cultured, precise, and more than

Comments

[payback]

Oh my God how can you be that immodest.

[hisdiscretion]

[Oh hey Franz still hasn't put his shirt on.]

It's fun!

[payback]

But poor Daedalus.

[hisdiscretion]

He'll live through it. A little embarrassment is good for the soul.

[payback]

No, that's terrible! People will make fun of him.

[hisdiscretion]

[frowning] They'd make fun of him for a lot of other things, too, he's got the type of personality that makes him easy to pick on. Better they make fun of him for me than because they think he's tailing Re-l Mayer when she's obviously involved with someone else.

People don't know I exist, that our relationship exists. Well, now they can't forget it.

[payback]

Well what if he's mad?

[hisdiscretion]

If he's ashamed of us, then we'll probably break up. [Shrugging, but it's not really a convincing display of not caring.] Otherwise, he'll forgive me.

We love each other, after all. I think we do.

[payback]

Well maybe he wants to keep it private for a good reason?

[hisdiscretion]

[Narrowing his eyes.] What are you trying to say?

[payback]

I dunno. But if he's so shy about it, maybe it's not you? And anyway, anybody would be upset about being shown naked to everybody on this network...

[hisdiscretion]

It's just a little nudity. If anything people would probably be impressed to see he could get some! [he shakes his head a little] But I guess I should've known better...

[payback]

Well...

[A brief and awkward pause. She feels a little strange about the whole thing, really - two men together, sleeping with each other, apparently, like a man and a woman. That didn't really happen at home, or at least not so openly. It's a little... well.

He seems to mean well, and she can't be cruel to him. Though the actions are embarrassing, too open and weird for her to like.]

... I hope it all works out for the both of you.

[hisdiscretion]

[His face softens. He's genuinely touched by her words.]

Thank you. That's very sweet of you to say.

[payback]

[Shy... and, yes, a little tongue-tied.]

Ah, you're welcome.

[hisdiscretion]

[That shyness is a little endearing. He's reminded of Valentine.]

I don't I caught your name. I'm Franz d'Epinay.