voice| on the other (octopus) hand

[ohrlyeh]

[Usually Howard interacts with the network through text, since he's nervous of using any other format, but this time, his deep and weary voice can be heard.]

Um. A question out of curiosity, I-I suppose. If you've "received" a physical change through Retrospec, what was it? If you've received several, what is the worst one...?

[There's the sound of something falling off a table onto the floor. He lets out a shuddering sigh, his tone slightly exasperated.]

Yeah. [A pause.] Before I forget, I need someone who can go out and get some groceries for me. I'll pay you for it. I just don't feel like going outside for a while. I-I'm fine...really...............

[ooc: somebody's got tentacle hands now. life is fun!]

Comments

[thesettingsun]

Magic, probably. [Shuji's trying not to think too hard about it in case his body stops working in a puff of logic.]

I'm not asking you to come out, I'm coming in.

[Clearly completely different.]

[ohrlyeh]

Right. Magic...

[He shakes his head at that, though he realizes that is not going to get captured through voice.]

Shuji, please, I mean, I know you're my friend, I know you're worried, but you don't need to...see me like this.

[thesettingsun]

Are you worried that you're going to scare me? Because you're not. That's just impossible, because I know you.

[It's Howard. He couldn't be scared of Howard.]

And I might not need to see you like this, but I do need to give you a hug.

[ohrlyeh]

I mean, I know you wouldn't be scared, I... [A quick breath.] I don't know if I want you to have this image of me from now on...I don't want to ruin that.

[There's a long pause.]

I don't know if I could even give you a hug back, like this.

[thesettingsun]

[If that's so, then it's probably worse than the eyes, but still...]

I don't want you to worry that our friendship will be ruined if I see what Retrospec did to you, so I want to get that out of the way as soon as I can. I know - worrying about it is the worst part.

[Anxiety over the event rather than the event. As different as he and Howard are, that's one thing Shuji can empathize on.]

You don't have to hug me back. You're the one who needs the comforting right now.

[ohrlyeh]

I...

[Do I deserve it? Being like this?]

Well, I mean...I guess I can't stop you...

[Shuji is stubborn, he knows that for a fact.]

I just don't want...I don't know. I just don't want anyone looking at me. Is that weird to say? The attention...it makes me itch....

[thesettingsun]

It's not weird.

[This is all a pretty reasonable reaction to whatever Howard's gotten.]

I can hug you with my eyes closed?

[ohrlyeh]

...Maybe?

[It'll be strange, but...]

I think I couldn't mind that.

[thesettingsun]

Okay. I'll be right over. I'll have my eyes shut when I ring the doorbell, so don't worry about opening the door for me.

[ohrlyeh]

I'll see you then. [A beat.] Even though you won't, uh, see me.

[That sounds so awkward....]

Just knock and let me know when you arrive.

gonna hit up howard's inbox

[thesettingsun]

'I'll hear you then' doesn't really sound the same.

[It is funny, though.]