eyemind | Video: pnwsalex

[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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He doesn't believe it's evidence normally.

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.]

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

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.]

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

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.

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

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.]

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

Consider it... room for improvement.

I always try to do so.

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

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.]

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.

[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.]

I know. It’s hard because I have to do a fair amount of babysitting with him back home too because he’s... well you know.

[An asshole. ]

But normally he’s not fighting me so much when I’m doing it.

Abrasive?

[He'll offer a nicer way of putting it but... yes. Richard Strand is absolutely an asshole.]

Has something changed?

Yes but I’m not sure how to explain it. I mean back at that point in time for him we were...fine I guess? We worked together well for sure and he showed up with a black tape from my own back yard like a peace offering. But he was keeping so many secrets then and they’re secrets I know the answers to now and it bothers him. I don’t blame him really.

So not only is it a matter of your timelines being out of sync, but secrets revealed inorganically. Without the groundwork of that time spent together It does make sense he would be hostile to the idea of you knowing more than he was prepared to divulge.

[He's still being an ass about it.]

Perhaps the recording from your show will help as evidence, at the very least, that things between you had changed.