Video: pnwsalex

[11calls]

[Alex really doesn't normally do video posts; her medium is audio. She's still on the planet obviously, sitting with an extremely large cup of what is obviously coffee in front of her, especially if anyone has met her before. But there's something unsettled about her right now and obviously so as she fidgets. In front of her is a small electronic device similar to a phone, and clearly there's something familiar to her on it, indeed it's embossed with a familiar image and an equally familiar back inside of the logo.]

Uh, so two things. One, does anyone else think that maybe we should be worried if Navi doesn't come back soon? I mean it's weird right?

[Alex fidgets harder and bites her lip before she asks softly:]

Has anyone else found anything from their own world on one of the planets? I mean not necessarily our own worlds because I've never seen anything like whatever this recorder is, but the stuff on it? I mean, that's...

[Alex pauses and then continues.]

This is my show, my podcast. It's weird that it's here in outer freaking space.

Comments

Private Audio

[albatrossomen]

How is he adjusting to all of this?

[Yes, he knows. They spoke, had tea even. But Alex would know his heart the best here.]

And how are you adjusting?

[Given her mention here there's an implication of difficulties.]

Re: Private Audio

[11calls]

He’s from way earlier than I am. We’ve gone through a lot in that time and we’ve learned a lot. But it’s not things that he wants to know and things he doesn’t want me to know. It’s hard.

[There’s a frustrated groan.]

And for someone so damned smart he can be so stupid!

[albatrossomen]

I can see how that would complicate things. I imagine it's very jarring for him, not only has his location altered drastically into the surreal but he is faced with the complexities of wildly altered space-time.

[In short, he understands. Even if he doesn't think Strand should be taking it out on is one reminder of home. Her final comment earns a chuckle.]

Unfortunately intelligence does not always beget wisdom. At times, the opposite is more true.

[11calls]

Yeah. Especially in his case. I may strangle him. He's being an asshole on purpose. I mean, I definitely get it. None of this is easy but also how is being obnoxious to me gonna make it easier? Like I can't control it. If I could have controlled it, I definitely wouldn't had brought him from then you know?

[albatrossomen]

I cannot say I have ever understood the logic in lashing out at those closest to you, yet it seems to be a common pattern. How does the saying go, cutting of one's nose to spite your face?

I am sorry he's putting you through this. Is there anything I can do?

[11calls]

No. He's going to be very much himself and it's just difficult when I'd thought we'd finally moved past all this stuff. Now it's like being in the middle of a very confusing artic winter thing.

['Confusing' is definitely an understatement here with everything else. She still doesn't know what to make of the night that he arrived and everything that had happened in it. Not that she's going to be explaining that of course. Alex has no idea how to do that.]

[albatrossomen]

Frustrating sounds like the word I would use to describe your situation. Do you think the recordings will help?

[If she ever needs a hand, or a wing boxing, he is available and on call. He might not be great at advice for human relationships but he can certainly knock someone off their footing when they need it.]

[11calls]

I hope so? I don’t know for sure. But at least it might help convince him that I’m telling the truth about everything.

[Including how much he’d been flirting with her. ]

[albatrossomen]

A shame he doesn't believe you on your word, but surely he cannot ignore this kind of evidence?

[He is perhaps too optimistic here.]

[11calls]

He’s an evangelical skeptic. He wants real evidence.

[Forgive her if that sounds bitter. It is.]

[albatrossomen]

And when he gets that evidence?

[He feels like the answer is probably "reasons it away" in some manner or another, just given how Strand was when they first spoke.]

[11calls]

He doesn't believe it's evidence normally.

[albatrossomen]

Convenient explanations without providing thorough testing of his own, I suspect?

[He might not work closely with humans normally, but he's been around the block a time or two. Hell he relies on them acting like this, honestly. It's not hard to guess.]

[11calls]

That sounds about right for him honestly. Even when he can’t automatically disprove something yet it’s not enough.

[albatrossomen]

Ever has man been reliable in that regard.

[Which is to say without even actively doing anything, they can stay hidden. Because of people just like Strand.]

[11calls]

I guess I hadn’t thought about it like that. For your side anyway. I’ve been thinking about demons like that for ages.

[albatrossomen]

For all our differences, we share many similarities, though my brethren on both sides of the fence would likely be quick to disagree. We enjoy patterns, there is comfort in predictability.

[11calls]

And humans are normally nothing if not predictable sometimes, I think. Or maybe even most times.

[albatrossomen]

They certainly can be. [Often, sometimes.] That isn't to say I haven't been pleasantly surprised. Those pulled aboard on this impromptu adventure, for example.

[They've all handled it remarkably well.]

[11calls]

I mean I guess we could be doing worse on it but it’s still not great.

[albatrossomen]

Consider it... room for improvement.

[11calls]

I always try to do so.

[Alex is someone who is very aware of her own flaws.]

[albatrossomen]

All of that aside, is there anything I can do? Dangle him from a building perhaps? I would, of course, never drop him. But he doesn't need to know that.

[You know, if she's feeling a bit vengeful.]

[11calls]

Nah, I don't want him to start thinking that everyone is out to get him here or something. He's difficult enough at times.

[Which is an understatement, honestly.

But there's amusement in her voice.]

Thank you. Really, though.

[albatrossomen]

[It's audio, so the faint smile will be missed, but the approval will still come through in his tone.]

A well-reasoned response. You're correct, we should not aim to intentionally make him an enemy.

[He'll do that on his own quickly enough.]

Of course. I do hope he begins to acclimate soon, and to stop taking his frustrations out on you.

[Humans like to do that. Admittedly... so do Celestials, so he can't talk there.]