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]

It's Renee.

[cadmiums]

...that's a beautiful name. Renee. [ From the sound of it, he likes the way it feels on his tongue.]

Thank you for telling me, Renee.

[transmittable]

[ He's heard it a few times, that sharp intake of breath. A little surprised, but mostly happy. The static dies down a little. ]

I like hearing you say it.

[ A very girlish giggle. ]

What...do you want me to call you, Ryoji?

[cadmiums]

Renee! [ The simple name makes him very happy, and it's pleasant to say even if there's a definite accent when he does.]

Calling me Ryoji is special enough to me on it's own...when I hear you say it, it just sounds right, like it was meant to be all along. Ah, but if you had another idea I don't think I'd mind if it was from you.

[transmittable]

[ She takes a moment to soak it in. ]

I- ...If I think of something else later, I'll run it by you? But I kinda like this too.

[ ... ]

And lover-boy, of course, but that's more a descriptor.

[cadmiums]

[ He laughs.]

OK! I like that too, especially because I'm only one to you.

[transmittable]

Ha- you're like...the king of getting the "what's a girl to say to that" reaction, you know that?

...Thanks. This feels...good, like- really good.

[cadmiums]

I have to be, in order to sweep you off your feet. [ Punctuated with a wink.]

I'm really happy to hear that--it's mutual, you know.

[transmittable]

Of course you can, you're so tall.

[ She chuckles. ]

I know. I mean- I do. I can tell, just from...how relaxed you sound.

[cadmiums]

[ Oh, this is nice going back and forth like this. It makes him laugh, and he's too endeared to make a comeback for once.]

Ahh, I guess I can't help it. Even when I talk about you I can't help it.

[transmittable]

Oh, God, then we already are those grossly adorable people in the park, just- without the park. No one's...giving you a hard time over it, right?

[cadmiums]

Mm, yeah but I like it this way. Having the park would still be nice, though!

[ There's the slightest pause here.]

I don't think some people understand, but that's alright.

[transmittable]

As long as they aren't... I don't know, I don't want anyone to look at you like...you're conspiring with me, or something. You know?

[cadmiums]

I understand. [ A beat.]

It's mostly just... I guess they think I'm foolish for liking you and trusting you. But I can be really stubborn, so I won't let it get to me.

I wish they would be a little more open in how they view you.

[transmittable]

Well... I can't say I really blame them, on the...not-being-open part. I'm happy, that some of you...that you like me. But I can't say it's what I expected.

[cadmiums]

I didn't really know what to think when I woke up here, but I'm happy with what we have now.

...and I'm glad that you've let me know more about you, Renee.

[transmittable]

...It's been a long while since I've been able to let anyone even...a little bit in, so. I'm glad I have. If you remember more, um...Ryoji, I'd love to know, too. About you.

[cadmiums]

Me too.

I could tell you about my dream this weekend, if you want!

[transmittable]

Um... Okay, sure! I think that'd be nice.

[cadmiums]

Well they're memories, right? [ But he presses on and continues.]

I could tell you about the one I had a few days ago too, but it was kind of silly.

[transmittable]

Oh, I wouldn't mind! Silly or not, I'd just like to hear you talk about it.

[cadmiums]

OK! I've kind of told you about my friend Makoto, right? He's the one I work at the cafe with, he's really kind but hopelessly awkward. Even though we were making pretty good money at our part time job, it still wasn't enough for him to pay for a new suit for this salaryman, so he needed another source of income.

So we made a campus helpers club! ...or I did, and I forced him to help me. We went around school asking everyone if they needed help with something, in exchange for however much yen they wanted to pay us. Let's see we... helped organize the student council room, posed as models for an art class, and knitted some samples for the sewing room.

It ended pretty much after that but...I still don't think we had enough yen for the suit.

[transmittable]

A...helpers club, so you were just like- you'd go up to people and ask what they needed and do it? Oh my god, that is so you, I'm not surprised at all! You really didn't get enough, though? I'd think anyone'd want a...heh, a pair of strapping young men to give 'em a hand.

[cadmiums]

Exactly! We had a sign too and everything, even if we weren't an official club.

There were a lot of people who requested our help but a suit costs a lot and-- ah, I gave all the girls discounts. I'd give you the biggest discount, of course~.

[transmittable]

Wha- [ She laughs. ]

Ohhh, you goof, that's probably why you don't have enough for it! Lesson one, you can't give a discount to every pretty girl you see, okay? ...Even if you are dating her.