SWITCHBOARD

[transmittable]

If you'd like to ask the Transmitter something over the phone, go right ahead! The Transmitter will answer the phone as soon as she's available. Leaving messages is impossible, given how old these phones are, but you should be able to reach her at almost all hours.

Comments are screened for privacy; all Patients are offered confidentiality, didn't you know?

Comments

[transmittable]

...I can't.

[ There's a tone of defeat. ]

[nachetanya]

[ . . . ]

Did you get scolded today?

[transmittable]

Not...exactly. They LIKED doing this. It's probably going to happen more often. But...

They reminded me there's a fine line between being approachable and being...too...approachable- I can't remember what they said, okay, it's been a day, but that's what they meant. So. While I can still talk with all of you, I need to be a little more...uh, careful.

[nachetanya]

[ Mmm ]

Does that mean that you won't answer further requests? Or perhaps that you won't have another date with Ryoji?

[transmittable]

[ Blankly. ]

That second one's up to him. The other... Expect a lot of wait-and-see.

[nachetanya]

I won't pry, but you really did get in a fight with him, didn't you?

[ Eesh. She shakes her head ]

I decided to confess to Tsubasa.

[transmittable]

Wha- I didn't, they did! It wasn't even- they just...mocked him and said things, and-

[ Maybe she does remember more about that conversation than she cares to admit. ]

I- ...I'm glad you did. Even just...a crush, something fleeting, in this place...you don't want to regret anything.

[nachetanya]

Ohhh. If it's something as simple as that, I'm sure you and him can work it out! In the meantime, you please try to think of something you can repay me with for going to cheer up your paramour.

[ . . . She may or may not be trying to tease the mastermind, yes. ]

[transmittable]

I don't think it's that simple.

[ From her bitter tone it doesn't seem to be working... ]

[nachetanya]

Why not?

[transmittable]

Because of the things they said. ...Things I don't feel inclined to repeat.

[nachetanya]

I don't think that saying any one thing can destroy everything, if you felt you had a connection before now.

[transmittable]

...You can think that.

I'm just- not feel too idealistic right now, Assertive.

[nachetanya]

I do. Even with your most bitter enemies, I don't think it's impossible to turn things around, at least for a little while.

[ She shifts in her seat ]

You think I sound idealistic?

[transmittable]

Not often. Don't worry, your words usually have a nice coat of cynicism to 'em.

[ That doesn't really sound like an insult or put-down. ]

Right now, you're just a hell of a lot more than me. And I'm...not usually idealistic to begin with.

[nachetanya]

I was going to say... ideals and dreams have always seem too ephemeral to me.

[ she laughs and... ]

Do you have a goal, Misty? You personally, independent from the Risen's goals, unless you've wholly taken theirs as your own. An ambition?

[transmittable]

[ ... ]

Yeah, I do. Their goals...kinda line up with getting me to mine, but- I do.

[nachetanya]

Good. [ She exhales ] I'd be offended to think my life's been put on the line for something shallow like entertainment, judgement, or an experiment.

[transmittable]

No. It's...selfish, and it's personal, but... It's for a reason. A real reason.

[nachetanya]

[ Nachetanya hesitates for a long moment, and then - ]

Obviously, I'm not going to praise that, but if you know about me, you know I respect ambition significantly more than I respect most other traits about a person. So that actually reassures me a little.

[transmittable]

Ha- yeah, no, I wasn't expecting a "good job, Transmitter, you're a good girl after all!"

[ An obviously fake bright and cheerful tone, before it drops back to the dour one she's been sporting. ]

But I also... Yeah. I know...some stuff.

[nachetanya]

You've convinced some people you're a good girl. I don't know if you were listening to the meeting, but Greed at least was convinced you're taken in by the Risen. Rin's thoughts seem to stray there too.

[transmittable]

...Huh. They did? You- you were being monitored, still, you're ALWAYS being monitored, I just...didn't hear that part. I was a little. ...Busy.

That's... Courageous too? Wow.

[nachetanya]

If I had to guess about Rin, her opinion is a little bit more complicated than that... but Greed's theory is that you were selected to oversee us because of your compassion. Rin speculated that you might be being trained, and are inexperienced relative to the rest of the Risen.

[transmittable]

Hm. Interesting.

[ Seems she IS feeling a little better because she's getting back to her cryptic commentary. ]

What do you think?