(I refuse your merry making and offer annoyance instead) Voice: TheStrandInstitute

[nobasisinfact]

It seems someone felt it appropriate to put some sort of concoction in my tea. While not completely debilitating I find the results, irritating.

I'd appreciate it if someone happened to know exactly what idiotic concoction of the month is supposed to cause color blindness. Complete color blindness.

[There's a grumble after a few seconds.]

Because of course, this place would do something this stupid.

Comments

[nobasisinfact]

Agreed.

[He'd like to not think that Coralee was his soulmate.]

I'm surprised you don't believe in such sapy stupidity.

[bardish]

Thank you, that was only a little bit insulting!

[ Said with good humor, since Jeff knows that Richard's gonna Richard! ]

I think divorce tends to color one's perspective on this. But I assure you, my feelings on the nonexistence of soulmates come from a purely stupid, sappy place.

[nobasisinfact]

Divorce could be considered a blessing in some cases.

[Like in the case of you being married to a legally dead woman who you can't request a divorce from after she abandoned you and your daughter for 20 years.

You know, normal run of the mill cases like that.]

And what are you stupidly sappy reasons?

[bardish]

[ Totally normal stuff! ]

It's just... Your whole life, you make choices to go this way or that, and they can take you to such different places. Each point that branches off, you could've been a different person.

Who you are at one point in your life, and who you become later... your needs could be totally different! Who's to say both versions of you would have the same soulmate?

If anything, we've got soul... harems? Different people who we match best with at different points in our lives.

The person I loved at 21 wouldn't be my soulmate at 44, but that doesn't make that love any less special.

[ TOLD YOU IT WAS FOR SAPPY HIPPIE REASONS. ]

[nobasisinfact]

[That is TOTALLY a sappy hippie reason, but Richard gets it. Who he was when Coralee was in his life is drastically different than the man he is now, and she's the reason why.

He and Alex probably would have never met had he been a quiet professor and single father or if Coralee had never disappeared.

But let it not be said that he would actually agree with Jeff. At least not verbally.]

That sounds more like you dislike commitment.

[bardish]

Nooo... I like commitment! I'm super into it! And I realize that phrasing it like that makes it sound like I'm not, but I am!

[nobasisinfact]

It does seem suspicious.

1/2

[bardish]

You seem suspicious!

2/2

[bardish]

[ Siiiigh. ]

I spend too much time around teenagers.

[ Occupational hazard. ]

[nobasisinfact]

When we first met you asked me where to buy marijuana. I think this sums your personality up perfectly.

[bardish]

No, that was, like, hypothetically! As a thought exercise! And anyway, I've got my own totally legit hookup now.

[nobasisinfact]

Was your hunting down the horticultural club because you thought you could learn to grow some also a thought exercise?

[bardish]

Actually, I was hunting it down because I was looking for a dealer, not because I wanted to grow-- [ JEFF STOP. ]

Anyway, it turns out it's totally legal here anyway.

[nobasisinfact]

It doesn't change the fact that it rots your brain. Case in point.

[You Jeff, he means you.]

Come help us test a theory.

[bardish]

Okaaaay, Nancy Reagan. [Well, Jeff WAS an 80s kid, after all. ]

...what theory?

[nobasisinfact]

A theory about the affliction I was given.

[bardish]

[ Pauuuuse. ]

You want to use me as a guinea pig.

[nobasisinfact]

At worst, you'll see everything in black and white for a few days.

[bardish]

Ah... No, thank you.

[nobasisinfact]

It's hardly dangerous, and with your penchant for altering your body chemicals ...

[You're doing this one way or another ... maybe. Probably not. Alex is sticking up for you.]

[bardish]

[ THANK YOU, ALEX. ]

What, exactly, is the hypothesis you're hoping to test on me?

[ Pause. ]

Am I using 'hypothesis' right, here?

[nobasisinfact]

If the, potion's effects are negated due to an attraction to a specific person.

[bardish]

You know... I do work at a fine institution for magical research. I'm sure somebody here can help you out-- without magic-drugging me!

[nobasisinfact]

This is preferable.

[bardish]

Says you! I disagree! I like my vision just as it is!