video, @chronicler

[scholiast]

(The feed flicks on facing a large tank, propped up on a desk. There's a slight shuffling; a hand appears on the side of it, and then Lucretia pops into view, peering through the glass. Those who already know her might be surprised by her altered appearance: she is noticeably older, and looks around fifty instead of her previous late twenties.)

Where did it go?

(She makes a face, then reaches out to her camera as if to end the feed: thankfully, what she had lost comes swimming into view at that exact moment in a blur of purple and electric blue, pressing against her cheek. It's a small jellyfish, hovering in the air. Lucretia chuckles, cupping her hand about it as she faces the camera.)

I thought I'd take a moment to introduce everybody to Junior. It's a voidfish– a kind of... (she pauses, gesturing vaguely with one hand as Junior curls a little tendril around her ear,) fish-esque alien, I suppose. From space? (It's complicated.)

It enjoys consuming memories, and specifically enjoys art, so I thought I would extend a request to the network for any kind of media they might like to share with it. Usually, giving it something to eat would erase whatever is given from the minds of everybody who has not drunk of its ichor, but I think the climate here doesn't agree with Junior's powers. Not according to some tests I've been doing; the memory loss is very temporary.

But I digress: it loves all things creative: paintings, music, poetry... So if you'd like your work to be judged by a fish, there's always that option available.

(She makes to turn the feed off, then pauses.) Oh, and if anybody knows where I could find an optometrist in this place, I'd be really grateful. My prescription has... changed some what.

Comments

[spellslots]

Be nice.

[That shouldn't be hard!!!]

[scholiast]

No.

(She's an adult and she'll do what she wants.)

[spellslots]

Can you at least not threaten to feed dudes I like to Junior?

[wait shit this is public.]

[scholiast]

Why, are you going to come fight me again if I say no?

(it sure is.)

[spellslots]

So we're just doing this thing, huh?

[In front of the children network?]

[scholiast]

Apparently. I'm in a petty mood.

(no, still children. junior is here :( )

[spellslots]

Sure, okay, awesome. Let's fucking do this then, do you have any particular shit you wanna say to me?

[Nevermind that he started this, that's not the point.]

[scholiast]

(Lucretia reaches up to shield Junior from the screen when he swears.)

Nothing in particular. I'm just angry about how everything has shaken out.

[spellslots]

[Let Junior say fuck.]

You're angry?

[He can't help but scoff, because - really.]

What did you expect, Lucretia?

[scholiast]

I didn't expect that I would hate myself this much.

(Sure, complaining about this to Taako isn't the greatest move, but it's too late now.)

It's hard.

[spellslots]

[Oh.

That isn't a response he was prepared for and a lot of the sharpness falls away.]

Yeah, well, that's what happens when you ruin someone's life, I guess.

-> audio

[scholiast]

(She glances away, then reaches out and promptly switches the video off so he can't see her react to that.)

So I've been told.

Anyway, this has been great, but I'm– I've got a lot of stuff– (fuck it.) Is it possible to fix my glasses with transmutation magic?

[spellslots]

[He should feel some kind of satisfaction here, but it's a hollow victory. He's not angry enough anymore to enjoy hurting her.]

If I knew what your prescription was, maybe, but otherwise it's real finicky guess work.

[There's not a whole lot of emotion in his voice, now. As if he's talking to a stranger.]

[scholiast]

Okay. Don't worry about it.

(She's sure that he won't.)

Talk to you later.

(aaaand killing the audio before he can respond, because she's a grown-up)