( 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

[darkholme]

[ you are a booger, mr caffrey, because she knows that tone all too well... but raven won't bug you about that anymore. because she doesn't wanna turn into charles. ]

[became]

[ AW RAVEN, YOU LIKE HIM. YOU REALLY LIKE HIM! ]

If I get myself hurt, you get rights to the first 'told you so'. Happy?

[darkholme]

I also reserve the right to seek vengeance against whoever hurt you, too. It will be terribly dramatic and you'll have to deal with all the secondhand embarrassment.

[became]

Do I get to call you my hero after-- that's the real question at hand.

[darkholme]

No, because you are a hero already, Virtuoso. Fight the good fight. With your ..dead languages and knack for downplaying potential crazy situations. [ trying to counter the cheesy with some snark. whatever, it worked. ]

[became]

Still love that name.

...I'll try and be careful, Raven. Really.

[darkholme]

It's a great name! [-- gawrsh, she's really glad you like the name. her smile turns stupid realfast. ]

Good.

[became]

Of course it is, you picked it. [ oh man, you are the literal cutest neal can't even. ]

Want me to check in later?

[darkholme]

[ she's about five seconds away from being all 'oh shut up' but even she can notice that she's acting like a middle school kid, omg ]

You don't have to.

[ but she won't hate it. ]

Hey I know, if you do get into any kinda trouble, send a text message to me with just the number two. That can be our hero code for SOS. ..Since it's quicker to type one number than three letters. [ just go with it. ] You send a two, and I'll come find you. And if I don't get the text, then I'll know you're alright.

[became]

[ truth, raven: if you didn't get so flustered, this wouldn't be as fun. neal can't help himself. ]

I've never been good at 'have to dos', anyway. Much, much more a fan of 'want to dos'.

[ ...not a bad idea, raven. ]

Deal, but on one condition: you do the same for me, and we extend it past tonight. If you're ever in more trouble than you can take alone, text me a two and I'll grab the Magnificent Metalhead and come see what's wrong.

[darkholme]

[ raven's just going to burst out laughing at that, omg, oh my god ]

--you can't ever call him that!

[ said between laughs though, so it'll be a wonder if it was understood. ]

[became]

What, that's not it? My mistake. I'm really embarrassed, I am.

[ :DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD ]

[darkholme]

It's Magneto.

[ but she sobers a bit, nods ]

I like that idea, though. For the future.

[became]

Easy mistake.

[ COME ON. IT WAS AWESOME. he'll sober enough to nod back, though. ]

It wouldn't be a bad idea to get that idea floating around quietly with the people you trust.

[darkholme]

Well, fortunately, with Charles I can just--

[ hm wait. ]

// ENCRYPTED//

With Charles, I can just think kinda loudly and he'll hear me, vice versa too. [... Back home he could. I wonder if his abilities are frazzled like mine are. Anyway, so. I'll tell Magneto and Jim too, sure. [ and that juuust about covers the people she really trusts on the ship. ]

FOREVER ENCRYPTED

[became]

Charles? [ neal hasn't met The Older Bro yet. fun. ]

[darkholme]

Charles, my brother? [...] Oh! I have to introduce you two! He's-- We're not related by blood or anything, but he's the only family I've had for ever, and he acts like an old fart sometimes but he's really smart, and he always finds the best in people, and he's a telepath.

Things are a little weird right now, just because I've been here for a while and a lot of stuff happened back home that I can't remember, but. You have to meet him.

[became]

...A telepath, huh? [ that... might worry neal a little, depending on the telepath. ]

No, yeah, I'd love to meet him. Any friend of yours, etc.

[darkholme]

Trust me, I totally get how freaky that is, but he's a good person. He's always respected the fact that I don't like him in my head, so I'm more than sure he would at the very least ask you first, if you're okay with it or not.

[ because she would tell him to ask first. :| ]

[became]

In that case, I'd love to meet him, and this time I'm less worried too.