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]

[ Usual filters, usual sound. Usual Transmitter. ]

Ha- better, stop. Less bad, stop.

[arebetter]

Good, stop. Okay, the telegram thing is already untenable, time for it to stop, stop.

You think any more about the request at all?

[transmittable]

You know, between all the monitoring and strangely nice conversations, I did. There's this song, Obstacles? Syd Matters, real nice smooth jam. Know it?

[arebetter]

Uh... yeah, actually. I think I heard it in a video game, of all things? I can swing that.

Assuming no one makes us need a trial tonight, I'll play it tomorrow, sure.

[transmittable]

[ ... ]

Cool. Cool, that'd be cool, and I'd appreciate that.

[arebetter]

No worries. Figured you... deserve something nice here. [ Or whatever. ]

[transmittable]

...Thanks.

You know, seriously, how friendly you guys are? Not expected.

[arebetter]

If you tell anyone else I'm being in the neighborhood of friendly I'll deny it. And this might shock you, but I didn't expect any of this.

[ But then a uh. A Tone enters her voice. ]

But speaking of friendly... so you and Ryoji, huh?

[transmittable]

[ Record scratch. ]

Oh no. I am not having this conversation.

[arebetter]

You're going on dates, Transmitter. Dates! C'mon, there's a story there.

[transmittable]

Noooo. No. You're, uh- I'm going through a tunnel!

[ .......she's making static with her mouth. Because sure. ]

[arebetter]

That would work a lot better if reception weren't clearly already not an issue.

[transmittable]

...Uhhhh-

[ ...she panics and hangs up. ]

[arebetter]

[ And she is just going to call back! ]

[transmittable]

[ Immediately- ]

Okay, okay, I KNOW that was a stupid idea, but I panicked! Wouldn't you panic? Anyone would panic. Oh my GOD, I am an idiot- listen, he- he's really nice, okay? He's really nice and nice isn't something I've had in awhile and I'm an idiot. Like, I don't know if you've got this yet but I'm an IDIOT, and I'm rambling, to one of my- my captives, about dating another one of my captives, ohh, ugh.

[...It sounds like. There's a soft clang- her head has very much flopped into something metal. ]

[arebetter]

[ You kids and your dating. ]

Eaaaasy there, cowgirl. So what are you gonna do about it?

[transmittable]

Keep...dating...him...?

[ A noise somewhat resembling a strangled frog. ]

He called this morning and it was so nice and sweet, and he likes me for- God knows whatever reason, and even though there's no way it can end well, I- I wanna...enjoy myself, however stupid small ways I can, and so does he.

[arebetter]

Alright. That sounds like a good choice. He's worried about you, but you probably heard us talking anyway, so. Just seeing what was going on there.

By the way, you were surprisingly friendly to me first, for the record.

[transmittable]

I... Look, you might not believe it, but this whole...everything isn't fun for me either. As much as you guys don't want a cackling maniacal overlord, I don't want to be one.

[arebetter]

Which I appreciate, because let me tell you, if I had to deal with the Risen all the time I'd have been setting walls on fire day two.

[transmittable]

We have ways for dealing with fire.

[ ... ]

Really, you know... ...Even if it makes things harder, I figured...why not get something undeniably okay out of this?

[arebetter]

Yes, but it would have made me feel better.

Go for it, you crazy kids. Someone might as well be happy around here.

[transmittable]

I didn't mean just him.

[arebetter]

[ Oh, that's met with a thoughtful pause. ]

Well, you know. It's kind of refreshing, being able to talk to someone who doesn't care too much that I'm a big ol' rock star.

[transmittable]

If I knew your songs there'd probably be a bit of fangirling.

Just thanks for talkin' with me. I've missed talking with people who aren't...well, the people I've been with.