001 - shenanigans

[citharede]

[ It's three in the morning when she posts this video.

Here is Athena, hanging her head and part of her torso off the edge of her apartment building's roof and filming herself upside-down, the dark streets below outlined in streetlights and marked by the occasional pedestrian. ]

How do you do, fellow kids. [ She dangles one arm alongside her head, hanging on to her device one-handed. ] I'm super fucking bored which I didn't think would actually be physically possible on a moon in another universe, but anyway.

Who wants to go on a firefly hunt? Catch a bunch of the fuckers, turn them loose in a department store. Or an office building. Or a coffee shop. Anywhere we can get in easy and run away fast. [ She rolls over so she's filming herself against the backdrop of the night sky now, instead of the street. ]

Whoever catches the most wins something, whoever gets bit loses automatically and has to go jump in the river.

Comments

video; un: d.pavus

[tevinteraltus]

[ The dark-complected man with the impressive 'stache looks quietly amused, and arches an eyebrow at the feed, taking a sip from his glass of wine before he actually says anything. ]

The Quarantine can be a bit boring, I'll give you that, but...fireflies?

[citharede]

Not regular fireflies, those rainbow bitey ones that make you feel shit.

[tevinteraltus]

...marginally more entertaining, it's true, but I don't believe they'll be much of a use released in any of those locations at this hour, and come dawn, they'll have retired for the day.

[ He taps his chin thoughtfully. ]

They are nocturnal, aren't they?

[citharede]

These ones seem everyurnal. At least I've seen them all over during the day, too. Harder to see but definitely there. I just figure hunting them at night makes them easier to spot.

[tevinteraltus]

Ah, so it's that you plan on capturing them for use at some later point.

[ He nods. "Everyurnal"? Alright, then. ]

The term you're looking for is "cathemeral", though I wouldn't expect you, or many, to know that. Perhaps you can win a bit of trivia in the future with that kernel of knowledge.

[ But he waves a hand dismissively. So not the point. ]

Might I request a forward warning before the deployment of your wrangled insects? They really could ruin a perfectly languid day, after all.

[citharede]

Cathemeral. [ She tests the word out, expression thoughtful. ] You know you talk like a diction--

[ WAIT. ]

Are you the guy who took the end table?

[ A slow grin. ]

I am definitely not warning you.

[tevinteraltus]

I am, yes, and I here I thought we'd made up.

[ He smiles. ]

What if I told you I could design you a vessel that would contain your fireflies indefinitely?

[citharede]

...Seriously? For real? They wouldn't die?

[tevinteraltus]

Well, it may require a bit of testing, but the theory is sound. It's carefully applied ice magic, after all.

[citharede]

That's badass.

Okay, you're definitely forgiven, and I'll even warn you when we unleash the horde.

[tevinteraltus]

Yes, quite. Magic is rather "bad ass".

[ He chuckles slightly. ]

Splendid. I knew you weren't completely unreasonable.

[citharede]

[ She laughs. ] Say it with me, dude: badass. All one word. You sound like a grandpa when you say it the other way.

[tevinteraltus]

I'm well aware. [And he says it with a smile.] I was making a joke at my own expense. I realize that may come as a surprise.

[citharede]

[ !!! She grins. ]

Oh my god, there's a sense of humor in there. I can still be surprised.

[ Athena ur eighteen. ]

[tevinteraltus]

Trust me, I've been educated by my fair share of stuffy old men who wouldn't know a joke if it latched itself firmly to their backside.

[citharede]

Now I'm imagining a joke-leech and it's kind of gross but also I want to make it happen. You don't know how to laugh, you get a leech on your ass.

[tevinteraltus]

[He laughs at that.]

Those without the ability to laugh are the joke leeches, dear...or the...what shall we call them? The Mummer-phobic?

[He pauses, looking thoughtful.]

...Shinanican'ts? Oh, Maker. Pretend I didn't suggest that.

[citharede]

Shenanican'ts. Too late! It's in the world and it's mine!

[tevinteraltus]

You're welcome to it, Athena. I need no credit.