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, those? Naw, I didn't. I... ...Um, there's a charm to this kind, but honestly? It's 'cause uh...those guys, you know who, they're kind of...technologically challenged?

[ She says this like she's snitching on someone, with a nervous laugh. ]

So, old phones. Again, charming! But old.

[heritrix]

[If anything, Rin feels more depressed.]

Nngh, seriously? I have more in common with them on that point than you!

[This is an awful realization, she doesn't want to be lumped in with the smelly losers.]

[transmittable]

A- urk! N-no, it's fine, they- I like them too, they're really cute old phones?!

[ She's trying. ]

[heritrix]

Right?! That's why I thought you picked them out!

[transmittable]

If it helps I agreed with the choice?!

[heritrix]

Mm... That is a little better. [She plays with the dial a bit.] The Risen had a really ugly one lined up, I bet. Right?

[transmittable]

Absolutely. It was hideous.

[ ...if she's lying, at least it's a nice white lie. ]

[heritrix]

You're a peach, Transmitter.

—Oh! In more ways than one. I forgot to thank you for the second delivery on Sunday.

[transmittable]

Oh, the... Yeah! I mean- it's only fair to keep giving it to you, it did take a lot longer to get than I would've liked.

[heritrix]

Out of curiosity, are you acting on your own? I noticed the ingredients don't restock like everything else in the infirmary. Well, not until today anyways.

[She was getting a little worried there, Saturday night, but it worked out. That said, she remembers the Transmitter said upper management disagreed with allowing her the ingredients in the first place.]

[transmittable]

Mmm... It's 'cause they're harder to get. They have to be restocked once a week, unlike...well, everything else.

[heritrix]

[That's reasonable. She's not 100% sure she buys it, but it's reasonable.]

You'd think that much food and medical supplies would be trickier, for so many people. We must be sitting on a major supply warehouse.

[transmittable]

It's...something like that, I'll say.

[heritrix]

...Are you really prepared for us to live here forever? That's a lot of work on your end.

[transmittable]

...Yeah. We are. I am.

[heritrix]

...Are your goals different from theirs?

[transmittable]

They line up.

[heritrix]

A mutual alliance, then, until one you has outlived your usefulness.

[Sort of like alliances in the Holy Grail War. They're temporary things.]

[transmittable]

Yeah... Yeah, you could put it that way.

[heritrix]

Are you prepared for that?

[They can apparently bodyjack you at any time.]

[transmittable]

...I'm incredibly prepared for it.

[heritrix]

Good.

[There's the sound of a chair dragging, as Rin adjusts her position.]

I don't know yet if our goals align, but... Well I'm satisfied, I suppose, to be dealing with someone competent.

[transmittable]

[ It sounds like the Transmitter's shifting too. ]

Uh. ...Thanks, I guess. ...I wouldn't call me like...competent, though, that's an exaggeration.

[heritrix]

Why would you say that?

[transmittable]

...'Cause it feels weird to think of myself like that.