[action/text] the dead welcome him with open arms

[builditstrong]

[He's in the orchard when his Shadow appears. He tried to fight it at first and almost broke his own jaw when his hammer bounced off the Shadow's head. After a few more tries and some of the Shadow's yammering, he figured out what was going on. And tried to endure it while he gathered apples.]

Y'know you've thought 'bout it over an' over. "Why're you alive?" What makes you so damn special?

Shuddup.

All 'f 'em died 'cept you. They's nothin' special 'bout ya. Ya were lucky. Ya feel lucky, Kid?

I ain't listenin' t'this.

Why'd ya survive, Kid? Ya didn't deserve it. Ain't fair, 's it? They all died, an' a useless piece o' nothin' like you survived. Ya shoulda died with th' rest 'f 'em.

I ain't listenin'.

[Eventually he gets fed up and sends a text.]

TEXT

ther must be a way to shut em up

Comments

[voice]

[appealingavarice]

Haven't found one yet. You'd better let me know if you do.

[In the background, there's some rustling noise and a second, fainter voice:] -that the one with the giant gun? That was fun, I liked him.

[voice]

[builditstrong]

'Course. I can't...listen t'this.

Can't, but will.

text;

[righteously]

Try locking his ass outta the room, seems to work for a few minutes at least. If all else fails stock up on headphones.

text;

[builditstrong]

but its only tempr temporere however you spell it

text;

[righteously]

Yeah, well, take what relief you can get. Trust me, it ain't gonna end any time soon.

text;

[builditstrong]

you gotta point but this is gonna drive me insan befor then

video;

[masukukunai]

Sorry. It's from my world.

[His shadow smiles in the background.]

And this time you can't get rid of me!

text forever

[builditstrong]

yor world must be shit

[masukukunai]

It's usually not a permanent thing... There used to be a trick to getting them to go away, but it's not working this time around.

[builditstrong]

you relly have to put up with thes things all the time wher yor from?

text;

[eatsyourscience]

if you argue with them, they keep talking so i guess you could not talk to him

text;

[builditstrong]

sum of thees things are hard to ignor

text;

[eatsyourscience]

I know. but its all part of you to begin with. so i think it's stuff you'd be telling yourself anyway.

text;

[builditstrong]

that dont meen i like hearin it out lowd

( video )

[ahousedivided]

[ There's two pairs of yellow eyes getting uncomfortably close. ]

That's some pretty heavy survivor's guilt you got there.

[ And the real thing crams his way between them. Trying to shove two people away while looking sympathetic is pretty hard. ]

The only reason he's even chimin' in is 'cause he's known too many of his men over the years who had the same burden on their minds. We've got too many men who feel like that.

Right! I'm assuring him he's not alone!

You're probably embarrassing him by addressing his feelings.

Anyway, you find a way to shut 'em up, I'm all ears.

( video )

[builditstrong]

How did ya... [Oh HELL no he left video on. His Shadow looms up behind him as Kid struggles to switch to text.]

Oh, that sorta thing won't work on 'im. See--

[CLICK. TAKE THAT SHADOW.]

[Kid tries to be polite though so a few seconds later he replies with a text.]

you spyin on me fella

( video )

[ahousedivided]

[ America sticks with video since he literally knows nothing else. Too bad too; text would be a great way to avoid his Shadows.

...Or not. They'd probably steal the communicator at first chance. ]

What? No!

Not this time anyway.

Why'd we wanna spy on you? We ain't that invested in ya.

You just... the video was on, saw it, thought I'd say something.

Because when we're making people feel better, it's easier to play pretend and call ourselves a hero!

TEXT 5EVER

[builditstrong]

wasnt suposd to be videeo thank you for the consern but im fine

[Text]

[throughthedark]

[...there's a text function on this?

Well. That's certainly something. If only because it's slightly easier to play keepaway.]

If there is, I've yet to find one.

I can't even touch mine. Which I suppose means he can't touch me, and that's a small mercy.

[Text]

[builditstrong]

oh its you im sorree i forgot to warn you about events like this . i cant tuch mine ether or more like its like things just bownce off

Re: [Text]

[throughthedark]

It's all right. I probably gave you the impression that I knew already. At the least, I forgot to ask.

[Besides, even if he had been expecting a metaphorical second shoe, it hadn't been anything like this.]

In turn, I'm sorry you're going through this. Unfortunately, if they really are us, as mine has claimed, I don't see that we can affect them, just by nature.

[Text]

[builditstrong]

its fine i can handle it how you doin tho

text;

[tact]

If your guy is as self-obsessed as mine, shove a mirror in front of it and tell it her hair is all out of whack. Shut the hell up for a good five minutes.

text;

[builditstrong]

no dont think thatd help much soree

text;

[tact]

Has your clone thingy sneered at anything you've done? Do something you don't like to it. Maybe it doesn't like it, either!