[text] @five [open]

[fogey]

[ well, there's no way to say it, except to say it, so: ]

One of us died today. Big guy, blond hair. I don't know his name. I found his body.

[ that's his schtick, isn't it? finding bodies. ]

What I do know is that he fell on some rocks near the beach. Looks like an accident, no foul play. The fall shouldn't have killed him.

[ could've, if the bastard really were that unlucky, but it's unlikely. besides: ]

But it did break his lantern. Seems like Winters was telling the truth about that after all. Before anyone asks:

1) No, I didn't see it happen.
2) Yes, I checked for a pulse.
3) No, I didn't do it.

[ juST COVERING HIS BASES THERE ]

One more thing. I had to step away to get my tablet. When I came back, both he and his lantern were gone. No one else was here, I'm positive. They just vanished into thin air.

[ ooc | so as of today, rosinante (callada) is dead :C feel free to threadjack in this post and use it for discussion or whatever! ]

Comments

[kungfuey]

I tell you what Doc.
When the rest of the town starts insisting I call them by their useless titles?
I'll start calling them pretentious too.

[donttalktome]

My titles aren't useless just because they don't serve you.
And at the end of the day, you're still calling me "Doc".

[kungfuey]

So if the Queen of England shows up here tomorrow are you gonna start calling her Your Majesty? Give up your bed for her seeing as titles should matter even if they're useless here?

[ I don't know if you'd really like her calling you Doc if you could hear the sarcastic way you have to know she's going to say it. ]

I can respect your wishes and call you pretentious at the same time.

[donttalktome]

Who the hell is the Queen of England?

[Listen he's never even been to Earth.]

The other problem with your analogy is that I don't sleep, so the bed would be a non-issue.
But I do see what you're getting at, and I have no problem giving people their proper title.
But no one gets special treatment, myself included.

[kungfuey]

I've been a little busy with an apocalypse to keep up on my monarchs but last I checked one of the Elizabeths'.

[ There are just. Too many record skips in this conversation for her to pick at every one of them and the relevance of his words sailed right over her head. ]

Your insomnia doesn't make you special, and do you go out of your way to be contrary or does it just come naturally?
It's a Christmas Miracle. Finally something we can agree on.

[donttalktome]

1. I still don't know who that is.
2. I never said it did.
3. It's a gift.

[kungfuey]

You not being human would explain an awful lot.

[ Baiting? Probably. ]

[donttalktome]

Unfortunately for you, we haven't been long enough off the Earth to develop into a subspecies just yet.
Working on it, though.
As it stands, I don't do so well in Terran gravity, but I could certainly survive a lower oxygen environment.

[Is he just dicking around? Hard to say.]

[kungfuey]

Do you mean off Earth as in this place or are you talking about a prequel to the afterlife?

[ Technically speaking she is a subspecies but like she will ever, intentionally give him that ammunition.

Shame, because he'd probably find a lot of what she is fascinating. ]

I wouldn't go spreading that around. Might see a rise in people trying to strangle you.

[ Come on it was just too easy. At least she didn't try to make a sex joke with Will? ]

[donttalktome]

Off the Earth as in the original home of humanity.
A place I've never been to, but I hear it's nice these days.
This was before death, if that wasn't clear.

[He probably would be interested, except that it's her.]

I said low oxygen not no oxygen.
And don't think I missed the implication that people already try to strangle me.

[It isn't true but it honestly wouldn't be surprising.]

[kungfuey]

We clearly have vastly different versions of Earth.

[ Look if you think she's bad, you should meet her sister. She bites. Literally. ]

You have any idea how long it takes a strangle a person?
In your case I'm sure they'd give up while it's still low instead of no.
Probably.

[donttalktome]

A thousand years and a potential alternate reality will do that.
I know approximately how long it takes for a person to die when deprived of oxygen, though I can't say I have any hands-on experience with strangling someone.

[Pun intended? Pun intended.]

What makes you think they'd stop?
Can't you feel someone's pulse while you're squeezing their throat?

[kungfuey]

Definite alternate reality.

[ Will... Did you make a joke? The question is, is she more amused by said joke or the fact that he actually made one... we just don't know. ]

Most people don't have it in them to kill somebody like that.
It's personal. You have to look the person in the eyes as you do it.
I don't see anyone here being angry enough to do that.
Plus I don't see you being close enough to anyone to make them want to.
Strangle? Sure. To the point of death? Doubtful.

[donttalktome]

I suppose I'll have to defer to your greater wisdom on the subject.
Though it does concern me just how much you seem to know about it.
Do you make a habit of strangling people?

[kungfuey]

Interesting that you assume I was the one doing the strangling.
But to answer your question, no.
It's inefficient.

[donttalktome]

Ah yes, only efficient murder for you.
Though I suppose that's at least calming in the sense that you don't make your victims suffer.

[kungfuey]

[ Now would be an excellent time to provide context, Scarlett. ]

If I'm the psychopath you suspect me to be?
Why are you still breathing?

[ Or you could just do that. ]

[donttalktome]

Well first of all I'm useful.
Second of all, I've only ever encountered you in public settings.
Murdering me in front of everyone would hardly be good for your image.

[inb4 what image]

[kungfuey]

Didn't we establish I don't find you that useful?
You're also mistaking me with somebody who cares what people think.
If I did? I'd have ended up here long before now.

[ I mean. Exactly. ]

[donttalktome]

So people who care what other people think die earlier?
I suppose I wouldn't know.
Fine, here's a guess: murdering me would be a waste of time and effort.

[kungfuey]

If they take it to heart.
True but that probably wouldn't stop me.

[ Should she keep playing? ]

I don't murder people I defend myself.
There's a difference.

[donttalktome]

[The statement stops him short. His next response takes longer than usual, and it's missing the playful tone he's kept up so far.]

Is there a difference?
Be honest with yourself.
No matter how many times you think "I had to", you still came out with blood on your hands.

[kungfuey]

The difference is a choice.
Living with it or not living, period.

[ She's far from oblivious to the words on her screen. Words that can only be born from experience. ]

Would you rather not be able to tell yourself 'you had to'?.

[donttalktome]

I never said the alternative was better.
I don't believe that in the slightest.
I just said murder is murder, regardless of the reason.
The other sort is a choice too, you know.
That's why they call it premeditated.