( 03 ) video ♧ a long year and everyone around me is disappearing

[became]

[ neal generally doesn't do afraid and disheveled. he does arrogant, smirky, charming, smug, oddly adorable, and occasionally on special occasions and bank holidays pissed off and/or heartbroken. however, those are all normally done with every hair still in place.

this neal is considerably more ruffled, literally and in spirit. black smoke'll do that to a guy. ]

Can anyone explain exactly what the hell is going on?

[ messy hair and mild profanity: this is a red letter day for mr. smooth. (this is why you take your network device when you get lost exploring, neal.) ]

And once you're done with that, I-- [ he breaks off, stares down at his hands, then inhales and lifts his head, a forced smile stuck in place. ] Just the explanation will do, actually.

Comments

Anon Text.

[spider]

Aren't you a nice chap? But it's hardly a problem. You and I aren't very fit for this game, I'm afraid. And claret? That's rich.

[He tacks a vague mental note for that answer. Y. U. P.]

Of course. It's a lovely name. Irish.

T: Do you know who I am?

text.

[became]

No we aren't, are we? Not like our mutual friend. I've always had a weakness for double meanings.

[ it's a little disturbing, how well neal understands this language. ]

You know I've never been? England, plenty of times, but never Ireland. Maybe I have an excuse to do that, now.

I'm afraid you have one up on me, there. [ leaving that open enough for interpretation; perhaps neal means in names. maybe sherlock's never said anything at all, or maybe it's midway between the two. the art of vague yet acceptable confessions is a delicate one. ]

And now you get another one, don't you?

Anon Text.

[spider]

Do you like attention, Neal?

S

text.

[became]

Doesn't everyone? Truth, Mr. S: do you like attention?

Anon Text.

[spider]

Good. And doy.

T: Would you like my attention, specifically mine?

S

text.

[became]

That depends. Truth: what happens if I say yes, and what happens if I say no?

I.

Anon Text.

[spider]

No, you still get the attention. Yes, you get more than you could possibly ask for.

I?

S

text.

[became]

With that kind of incentive, it would be hard to say no.

[ but saying yes is a choice even neal caffrey can tell is horrible. doesn't mean he's not still tempted by the same kind of intense focus that drew him to sherlock in the first place, but he still knows. ]

You started the trend, I'm only picking it up where you left off.

Truth: tell me why you think I picked i.

Anon Text.

[spider]

Cute.

Favorite letter? It would be better coming from you.
•Illegal
•Ignite
•Information
•Illicit
•Imbibe

Again, I could go on forever.

S

text.

[became]

I pride myself on it.

Some of those work, but I was thinking...

Isagoge.
Incognito.
Intriguing.
Interesting.
Irresolute.
Instinctive.
Identify.

And a few other variations on a theme.

[ this is a horrible idea. ]

Feel free to jump in with an ice breaker of your own, anytime.

Anon Text.

[spider]

Oh. Clever, clever, clever. So clever.

T: Do you like presents, dear Neal? You must like presents.

S

text.

[became]

I pride myself on that, too.

That depends on the gift, and then on the gift giver.

Anon Text.

[spider]

Oh.

Hopefully I'm along that line of "depends." I don't believe I have the time to drop by and sweep up my delivery.

S

[HEL-LO, someone is prepared. Now be a good sport and play hide and seek with the packaged gift somewhere in your room.]

text.

[became]

I can't tell you for sure until after I find your present.

[ la la la, this is a bad idea. ]

But if I were a gambling man, I'd say there's a good chance you are.

[ BRB FINDING THE FUCK OUTTA THAT SHIT. ]

Anon Text.

[spider]

Hint: Where do the bedtime boogies usually hide, Neal?

S

text.

[became]

We already have a 'first thing you said to me', huh? The closet it is.

A

ACTIONNNN.

[spider]

[If you should make your way to the closet, there should be the deafening sound of ticking. Didn't hear that before? Now hurriedly peel away that wrapping like you suspect it's the game console you always wanted. And of course, every Christmas holiday is welcomed with plenty of disappointments.

—A bright and pretty explosive from Daddy. It's like a doll: The wires, bright and colorful hair. The clock, a round face that you admit makes too much noise. The explosive itself, a red (or maybe even claret, you could say) and slender dress for a sexy figure.

Not even a return receipt, but there's a loosely attached note on the bottom. Not that there's much time to give it a good read, look at the timer.

3

2

1









Confetti. Goddamn. Confetti. Everywhere. Does this ship have vacuums? Nevermind that, gain your composure and read the note:]

I bet he makes you smile. ☺

S

picture message spam ; 1/like 3

[became]

[ neal gets the sense that like he leaves a signature on everything he's ever forged, his mysterious mr. s likes to see the aftermath of his carnage. so neal doesn't shake off the confetti, clean up his floor. instead he snaps a picture of himself, just off-center-- half his face cut off at a slant that somehow manages to look intentional and off kilter rather than sloppy.

attached is the following message, lifted from yevgeny zamyatin, because neal's version of a confetti bomb is a lot more wordy. ]

Explosions are not comfortable.

STILL PICTURE MESSAGES two of three for def.

[became]

[ now, neal takes a moment to clean; then he notices a picture on his bed, tilted just a breath off from where he left it. he takes another picture of that, and this time the pretentious quote is sun tzu, because why not. ]

It is only the enlightened ruler and the wise general who will use the highest intelligence of the army for the purposes of spying, and thereby they achieve great results.

and DONE

[became]

[ a longer gap here, because neal has to take a moment to sketch a life preserver. (not world war ii style, that's just insultingly easy. mr. s shouldn't have too much trouble working up to the clue.) he draws a chickadee, as well, for the connection. ]

Ihc zsf'm koy ysex gp wkqwmumi wrv lqe qa?

( ooc | using the vigenére cipher, with the passphrase mae west: why don't you come up sometime and see me. )

Anon Text.

[spider]

[Congratulations, Neal Caffrey. You just made his day.]

Tlevp.

Jbh I lvkupge. Derm woteijkl.

S

(ooc: "Flirt.

But I promise. Patience.")

text.

[became]

[ and mozzie thought keller was bad news. ]

I'm good at the first, but horrible with the second.

Anon Text.

[spider]

Then we would make an awful pair. Be good and there's plenty more gifts to come.

S

text.

[became]

Are they all going to be that exciting? I don't know if my heart can take it.

Anon Text.

[spider]

Yes. But not all of them are filled with birthday confetti, can your heart bear with that?

S