first dissection. voice.

[corpsedoctor]

[experimental sniff]

Metallic. Too small and flat to be a container for food. Just what is it? It can't … words?… is this a letter? Can something like this really hold heart? … Just how …

Hm.

[ thoughtful silence before he decides to try it out. ]

Dear Whomever This May Concern.

Can you hear my heart? Can you answer the questions that it has?

Signed,
Doctor Thunderland Jr.

… did it really send without a Letter Bee? Or am I just fooling myself?

Comments

voice;

[scamp]

You're a bit mental, aren't ya?

voice;

[corpsedoctor]

No.

The state of my mind is well within acceptable perimeters for functioning in society and social settings.

[scamp]

Right, 'cause that's how normal people talk and everything.

[corpsedoctor]

That is why I said it was in acceptable perimeters and not that I was normal.

[scamp]

Sounds like the same thing to me, mate.

[corpsedoctor]

It really isn't.

[scamp]

So why do ya talk like that?

[corpsedoctor]

It is merely the manner which I speak.

[scamp]

You sound like a robot.

[corpsedoctor]

A what?

[scamp]

[He assumes he was just misheard.]

A robot.

[corpsedoctor]

Yes, I've heard you.

What is a robot? Could you define it?

[scamp]

[Pause.] You know - metals and wires instead of havin' a brain and stuff. [Yeah, that's. Probably not going anywhere.] Are you a real person, is what I'm askin'.

[corpsedoctor]

Fascinating... how does it work?

Hm? Well, I am a real person.

[scamp]

[With what sounds like a bored kind of snappiness,] I dunno. I'm not a scientist, am I?

[corpsedoctor]

Hm, no, I suppose not.

That much is indeed obvious.

[scamp]

You don't say.

[...]

What's a Letter Bee, anyway?

[corpsedoctor]

It's a person who delivers letters and fight the Gaichuu.

[scamp]

Oh. Yeah, don't think you'll be findin' them here.

[corpsedoctor]

This seems quite fortunate.

There do not seem to be any Bees available to fight them here.

[scamp]

Fight them? [a beat-] The - Gai-chuu or whatever?

[corpsedoctor]

That's right.

[scamp]

What are they fighting for?

[Not that there ever needs to be an excuse...]

[corpsedoctor]

The Gaichuu? They are souless and heartless creatures that exist only to eat the hearts of others.

[scamp]

[...]

Wicked.