Asylum Log VII; [Video] Sept. 13th. Evening.

[psyd_seward]

[Strangely, for those who may have been watching the feed is at first positively blank. Black, with a hint of subtle light, and the sound muffled-as though a cloth or some sort of cover had been carefully pressed over it in order to keep the contraption concealed for some unknown, secretive purpose.

A faraway voice can be heard, if slightly off in

Comments

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[eidetic_graham]

[There was a sort of muddled look that came upon him at Dr. Seward's rather chipper attitude. There was a number of things he could have been smoking to get him that... high-spirited, but it was really none of his business, it was the man's birthday after all.]

I..it's a real piece of work.

[The moment he saw the lens and his reflection on the monitor, he almost immediately ducked out of it's line of fire. It wasn't that he thought it would steal his soul or anything... as he would expect from a man like Seward who was essentially from the stone-age in any 1980's Joe-smoe's mind. ...He just subconsciously hated his own face.]

Here, why don't you put that down a sec.

[Before you trip and break it.

The contraption looked fragile, being as aesthetically pleasing as it was. He didn't think computers were meant to look like antiques. That seemed to defy the purpose of "modern technology".]

I got you something.

[Making sure he walked out of the computer's scope of view, he handed over the slim black cardboard box he had been holding.]

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[psyd_seward]

[Antiquated-looking it might have been but he was positively delighted by it. He is, a bit puzzled to see such a reaction out of the poor man, but respects his wishes and sets the device down upon its pedestal once more. Thankfully it hadn't broadcasted so much as simply shown a brief blur before blacking out, as he'd let the feed go blank.

The so-called "anachronistic" doctor hesitates for a moment when he realised he'd made a bit of a mistake before letting the gift be pressed into his hands, a kindly smile adorning his merry visage.]

You're too kind, Mister Graham. You really didn't have to...

[Such a gentle heart, this Will Graham. He knew the man was deeply scarred, and perhaps didn't like making public appearances so much, especially since he could smell an intoxicant on his breath.]

May I...?

[He gestured to the box, wishing to open the gift the other had thoughtfully brought him.]

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[eidetic_graham]

[Graham was pretty hammered. But like the doctor, he held it well enough. If the local police back home had given him the Field sobriety test he would have passed with flying colors. ... The Breathalyzer would have nailed him though.]

Yea-yeah, go ahead.

[Offering his typical side-ways simper, as the nerve-damage on the left side of his mouth still wasn't up to snuff. Smiling in itself hurt like a bitch and he allowed for it as little as possible. He didn't find much to be smiling about these days anyhow.. but he did it best for the man who was trying to make him well.]

I figured you needed an update on your.. neck wear.

[Inside the box was a black silk necktie patterned in thin silvery brocade sari. He found it at an antique store and paid a pretty penny for it too. Seward hadn't charged him for a single session with him as of yet, asking only that he do a bit of yard-work when it was permitting. He figured he owed him something nice other than his usual many thanks and apologies for wasting his valuable time.]

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[psyd_seward]

[His swagger was a bit too sway-like for him to be sober, and he'd not indulged often like this before. Seward was your typical Victorian man tempered by the Temperance movement, believing in moderation in alcohol, if not all things. Excess was liable to give way to drunkenness, and so on. He was allowing himself this, if only with the encouragement of Abraham and the modernity where choice was considered above all else. Unlike Will however, his drinking was not to drown out sensation, but rather to enhance and celebrate it!]

Oh...This is..

[He fingers the silken fabric for a moment before looking decidedly pleased. The man was very thoughtful.]

It's very lovely, actually. Thank you.

[It sounds even more sincere with an Oxford accent, and the kind smile behind the gratitude shows he really means what he says. He takes the tie out of its box carefully, and using one hand to unloop his bow tie, pulls it off and over his head.]

Could you show me...?

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[eidetic_graham]

[It may have been nearly two years since the last time he knotted one, but at least his hands remembered how to tie a swell knot.]

Sure, here, they call this one a Half-Windsor.. Good when you're in a rush out the door.

[Like him when-ever he was on-call for a case that couldn't be cracked without him. Or at least Jack Crawford would bitch into him until he caved and got in a taxi. Taking the two ends, carefully sliding the shimmering threads through his weathered hands, he made sure Seward's eyes were watching his every move.]

First you cross, then around, then over, then around again, behind, then through the loop. Easy, right?

[He had to admit, Dr. Seward was made for this. Just a sudden switch from bow-tie to suit-tie and it took 60 years off him.]

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[psyd_seward]

Half-Windsor.

[He repeated. The modern-type of neckwear that the average person was familiar with hadn't yet been invented. Not until the 1920s, at least.

He observed with as much concentration as his present state would allow for, indenting his lower lip with his front teeth. It was a fairly simply process, though he'd end up having to do it several times before he got the knot in the exact placement as Will Graham had.

When at last the fabric was wound about his neck the effect was quite simply dashing! The silver brocade complimented the blue swirls of his eyes, working in marvelously with the silk waistcoat and long-sleeves. All in all a very satisfactory look for a man who hailed from the 1890's.]

Fairly.

[The doctor agreed.

Perhaps because the fashion itself was over 60 years out of date. Funny how that works, isn't it?]

Well, how do I look?

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[eidetic_graham]

Real sharp, ah--

...Dapper.

[He paused only to correct himself; having to regress his slang in place for something the Victorian man would be more accustomed to. Graham took to remembering past British films like Oliver! and Monty Python's Life of Brian, Molly had pushed him to go see to give him a taste of 'British humor'. Not everyone in the theater understood the comedy and had laughed at inopportune moments.. which in itself made the film better.

Dr. Seward already looked 20 years younger with that sleek tie on. There was something about the bow-tie that made a man look in their 70's, no matter the man wearing it. Old-fashioned, they'd say, but Graham was more polite than that to blatantly point it out to the old gent.]

Your secretary will be rubbernecking you in that.

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[psyd_seward]

[The Doctor glanced into the reflected surface of the no longer active NV, turning from side to side to admire the brocade and smooth the tapered end of a finger along it as Will spoke.]

Rubbernecking?

[He couldn't help a small sound of of approval before turning to regard the other man with a slightly lofted brow. Strange that such fashions which fell into disrepute more or less were programmed into the later generations as being 'out-dated'. Surely that would prove interesting were he to take that on as a psychological study.]

That's positively indecent!

[A soft laugh wells up now that he can't quite stifle, his hand coming up to his lips.]

Dear me you remind me of Arthur, what with his incorrigible influences making attempts to take me to Soho...I told him I'd rather settle down and marry without making use of the brothels.

[Sort of a rite of initiation into manhood back in those times. Seward never had had the courage to make use of it.]