020 // [VID....

[echo_of_utopia]

[ How many days of memories and energy slipping away now? Too many. This calls for a transmission. It would be a simple audio one too, if only Lamb didn't forget to switch the usual video feed off, allowing the mansion to see her slumped in her chair in a less than impeccable pose

Comments

[ocdwebbing]

Big-thing go talking? Hello big-thing!

[echo_of_utopia]

[ The statement confuses her, until she spots the note she left herself: MAKE STATEMENT ABOUT EVENT LENGTH. She looks up at the screen, doing her best to put at least some force into her strained voice. ]

I apologise, I meant to say that I was wondering....

[ Uhm, what was that again? The beginning of that sentence seems like an awfully long time ago. ]

[ocdwebbing]

Ahh, Big-thing thought-scatter, nasty-bad grabby land-thing take all thoughts! Is not good all over.

[echo_of_utopia]

[ ...yeah, deciphering that is going to take more brainpower than Lamb has left at the moment, especially since she's never talked to Petalwing before. ]

May I... help you?

[video]

[playingbadcop]

[Stango thumbs the first button he comes across, and the feed turns on to show him slumped across a desk even messier than usual--one of his sleeves is stained, soaking up a puddle of spilled coffee that he simply never got around to mopping up. He's pale and unshaven, with his chin pillowed on his folded arms.]

Heh. You look...

[But he can't summon the energy for much malice, and after a moment buries his face in his arms, apparently going to sleep.]

[video]

[echo_of_utopia]

[ There is no movement beyond that of her lips and the occasional blinking of her half-lidded eyes. Her voice is low, almost inaudible. ]

Likewise, detective.

[video]

[playingbadcop]

[A grunt, followed by a snore.]

[video]

[echo_of_utopia]

[ You know what would be great now? Just lying in bed. Sleeping. But...

...the bed is so far away and getting up is so exhausting although this chair is pretty comfortable too and mayzzzZZZzzzzZZzzz.... ]

[jesusing_clown]

...You okay Dr Lamb? [Speaking much less formally than he normally does. Which is hard to portray in English, but take my word for it.]

[echo_of_utopia]

[ The narration believes you, knowing that Lamb's sentence would normally be more elaborate as well. ]

......Exhausted.

[ Was that mumbling just mumbling or did the sentence start sooner than that? Who knows... ]

[jesusing_clown]

[Oh narration, you're the only one who understands me.]

Mm... M'tired all the time too. It's lame.

[echo_of_utopia]

[ Oh square bracket text! ♥ *embraces* ]

I believe I was...

[ Are you trying to give a lengthy explanation here? Screw it, just get to the point! ]

The event--

[ She is interrupted by her own yawn, followed by a heavy sigh. ]

...longer than usual.

video... oh, there's... audio and stuff? whatev... effort to change.

[40410]

[ Bet you've never seen Alex with stubble before!

Please enjoy this video of him:

1. starting to say something, possibly distressed;
2. not managing to say anything, inflection notwithstanding;
3. repeating that nod-and blink thing that people do when they're trying not to fall asleep. ]

[ zzzZZzzzZZzz ]

[echo_of_utopia]

[ The narration acknowledges Alex stubble and raises Lamb's hair without the toilet roll! That thing just takes such a ridiculous amount of time and energ... what were we talking about again?

Furthermore there will be a video response of Lamb making a great effort to sit up straight, blink several times and truly manage to look alert for a moment, at least before opening her mouth and realising that she forgot what she meant to announce.

Then she will just rub her temples and sigh. ]

what you saizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[40410]

[ No, he... definitely had something to say. Perhaps. No, he did. Um... crap.

He has one elbow on the desk, knuckling his glasses against his face in the vague hope that it'll wake him up a little. ]

...holding up...?

[ No, that wasn't the whole sentence as he intended it, but... ehhhhhh. ]

[ uhh... ]

[echo_of_utopia]

[ She answers his question thoroughly and enquires about his health as well, yet all Alex sees is Lamb staring at the screen vacantly for a long time.

If only she hadn't forgotten to actually reply out loud. ]