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]

Oh... Fine. Quiet? A kind of...everyone knows everyone sort of thing.

[cadmiums]

You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, I just like learning more about you. But it sounds like a pleasant place to live.

[...]

And it's nice to hear about hometowns, especially because I can't remember my own.

[transmittable]

You're still having a lot of memory trouble, huh? You can't recall anything about it? Anything at all?

[cadmiums]

Yeah. If I think really hard about it I...remember a bridge and the moon. But that doesn't really tell me much.

[transmittable]

[ ... ]

There's this bridge in my hometown. It's like...no one really uses it anymore, 'cause it's OLD and rickety, but ever since I was a kid, it'd be this dumb rite of passage tradition to run 'cross it after a rainstorm. All the adults were like, "nooo, that's dangerous! Aaah!" ...but we all still did it.

Dumb kid stuff, you know? But...it was fun.

[cadmiums]

I think that's what makes it fun, when you're close to danger like that. It's in those moments, when you can feel truly alive.

We should run across an old rickety bridge too, but it doesn't have to be in the rain.

[transmittable]

I've always been kinda reckless. I get that. Not after the rain would be pretty nice, though. I've never liked water all that much, not even when I was young.

So we could...find somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Go exploring. See what we get. Do you like the outdoors, anything like that?

[cadmiums]

Really? Why?

Yeah, I like the outdoors because it's seemingly limitless--especially the sky. In Tatsumi, I liked to climb buildings at night to get a better view of the milkyway and all the stars. But I don't really like being alone, and it was hard to find someone who was willing to climb with me.

[transmittable]

I'd go climbing with you. I've never really climbed buildings before, just...climbed rocks or jumped 'em, but... I've gone on a few vacations to the Big City, you know, and it always seemed like it'd be fun.

[ And... ]

As for- you know, water, just... I dunno, I just didn't like it. Getting caught out in the rain, or anything. It's all so vast and...unknown.

[cadmiums]

It is, but it gets a little cold at the top. I think I could keep you warm, though. I could try and shelter you from the rain too.

[transmittable]

[ ... ]

Warm sounds nice. Gotten caught in more storms than I care to.

[cadmiums]

We have a lot of dates to look forward to.

[ It's a nice feeling, even if maybe it shouldn't be.]

Oh, does this count as our third?

[transmittable]

...Is it? Huh, that... I don't know, do you want it to be...? I think it kinda counts, but this week was sort of...unorthodox.

[ ... ]

However orthodox we can get in this, um, situation.

[cadmiums]

I don't mind that it's unorthodox, I think that makes it more special.

[ But he thinks on that for a moment.]

I'd like to have taken you out more than I have anyone else.

[transmittable]

Then...this is a third date.

Thank you, for taking me on three dates so far...um... Ryoji.

[ It's almost lost beneath the static, but it is there. ]

[cadmiums]

[ Well the response she'll get in turn is anything but silent, as he nearly falls out of bed.]

Ah- I- you're welcome! That means we have to keep setting a record, right?

[transmittable]

Oh--!

[ Well it's clear she's watching him, because there's some scrambling on her end as well before there's just. nervous laughter. ]

Y-yeah, yeah, keep the number going up- s-sorry about that, I didn't think you'd fall.

[cadmiums]

[ Give him a second to resituate himself and there that's good enough. He's really happy by the sound and look of it.]

I was surprised but it's a good surprise. I guess that's what they mean when they say you've fallen for someone?

[transmittable]

[ She tries - and fails - to hide a giggle. ]

I don't think this is usually what they mean? I'm no words-girl, but it's not literal. You okay? Bump your head?

[cadmiums]

Oh, but it makes sense like this. [ Just grinning.]

I'm OK! I'm really good! [ He may have bumped his head but that doesn't matter right now.]

[transmittable]

Alright, but you know where the infirmary is, if you need it.

[ It's obvious that she's grinning too. ]

Wow, started this nervous and now I've got you tripping over your own feet. Guess that means it's a successful date so far?

[cadmiums]

Yeah, I think this beats our first date for sure. But so did our second date...

You're getting really good at this, I hope I can keep up.

[transmittable]

Oh, I've no doubt you'll be able to. After all, you've got...what's the phrase, natural talent, for all this dating stuff?

But that doesn't mean I'm not gonna try.

[cadmiums]

Mhmm, that's how I able to get you to agree to a date in the first place. I don't think I'd mind losing to you once in a while though, if it's like this.

[transmittable]

Right, your irresistible charm, or whatever. It's motivating, really. Being the underdog in the game of...uhh, dates.