text; @0988

[fratropathic]

I know you're here. I've felt your presence ever since I arrived. Don't you think it's rude, making me wait this long to hear from you?

[This was absolutely meant to be public, and absolutely meant to be too vague for anyone to guess the intended recipient. Riverview, meet Regene Regetta and his flair for the dramatic.]

Comments

[500gallontank]

technically

maybe

rules of the death race

not illegal

[In other words, assume away: murder made into mass entertainment!]

[fratropathic]

I'm also guessing "death race" isn't a new name or euphemism for war.

[500gallontank]

war's obsolete

if you believe the chairman

death race is exactly what you think it is

[fratropathic]

You're telling me that war has been eradicated, but replaced by killing one another for... what, sport? Entertainment? Both?

[500gallontank]

yes

[Oh, wait, was that enough?]

you get scored on time and also for kills

[Bad time to mention that he's really, really good at it? ]

[fratropathic]

What's the name of the person you mistook me for? Or if that's too much to share, what does he look like, aside from the taste for gold spandex?

[On one hand, Regene can't believe his own kind were involved - he can't, on a very deep and integral level - but on the other, these coincidences are stacking up much too quickly for him not to make sure.]

[500gallontank]

jed perfectus

[If it was possible, he'd put some sort of scowl or distaste in the words. Safe to say he's REALLY not a fan. ]

blond hair

shirtless whenever possible

[He's not TRYING to not be helpful. He just doesn't know what details are important outside a race.]

[fratropathic]

[He'd believe "Perfectus" as the name of a fellow Innovade, even if "Jed" isn't quite right, but blond hair completely breaks the mold. That thin amount of information is enough to ease his mind.]

Then the similarities in our stories probably are nothing but coincidence.

[500gallontank]

who the hell are you then
?

[One day he'll get the punctuation on the same line. Not today.]

[fratropathic]

[Well. He's probably earned the right to know something concrete.]

My name is Regene Regetta.

[500gallontank]

frankenstein

[Obviously. But a show of some kind of trust deserves another. ]

[fratropathic]

This started as a simple joke, at least on my part, because I didn't expect... well, I don't think either of us could have expected where it would go.

[Apologizing would be above and beyond levels of magnanimous for Regene, but he'll acknowledge that much, since both of them were taken in for at least a second or two.]

[500gallontank]

you have a weird sense of humor

[Nothing personal. ]

so what we're friends now
?

[fratropathic]

[No offense taken. Regene would say something about the world being in agreement, but - friends? Without tone, he can't tell if he's being mocked or asked in a genuine way.]

How did I give you that impression?

[500gallontank]

because we're not trying to kill each other


yet

?

[He has a loose definition of friendship.][ ]

[fratropathic]

Well, if that's your only condition, why not? We can be friends.

[500gallontank]

what

there's more to it

?

[The UCA is all about corporate synergy and profit. Not 'friendship'.]

[fratropathic]

As I understand it, friendship is about mutual trust, affection, support, understanding - the things most people attribute to close bonds like family, but with an element of choice in the recipient.

But I've never had a friend, or a family, so I'm not well qualified to answer.

[500gallontank]

[Long. Long. LONG pause. Because that's a lot of words and concepts for him to process. ]


ok

we don't have that where i'm from

[fratropathic]

Any of it?

[500gallontank]

no

not that i know

people just trying to survive don't have time for any of that stuff

[fratropathic]

In that case, we should probably stick to the original basis for our friendship: no reason to try and kill each other.

[500gallontank]

ok

let me know if that changes

[Friends: giving a heads up when they start killing each other? Sounds reasonable. ]

[fratropathic]

I will, if you'll do the same.

[And he can't think of any possible reason why it would, but if it did, he might actually keep his word. What a strange thought.]