Video (Fourth Wall Weekend)

[trenchknives]

So, um...

[He never knows what to expect when there're all these people around here. Should he get up his hopes and think that he'll know someone? Or should he just treat it like any other curse? It's perplexing. He scratches his head.]

For all of you that, y'know, just randomly arrived here, welcome. You'll only be here for the weekend, so don't get too concerned about it. Consider it, uh, a vacation, or somethin'. You can ask me questions, if you want, but I gotta say, a whole lot of this place don't make much sense.

[A long pause of indecision, and then finally...]

'n if I know you... I mean, if I know you from home, if there's any chance you're out there... just lemme know, okay?

Comments

[element_wizard]

Hey you!

[Oh. Hell. It's him.]

[trenchknives]

Um...

[A pause, and then.]

Hi.

[element_wizard]

How are you doing?

[trenchknives]

Well, y'know, these weekends're always kinda strange. How about you?

[element_wizard]

I'm doing all right. Glad to be allowed to come and visit. Haven't actually bothered Lar yet, but I'm sure she knows I'm here.

I guess they are kind of strange. Rather odd thing to have happen, I've always thought.

[trenchknives]

I'm sure she'll be happy to see you.

[That's not necessarily sarcasm, even.]

Yeah, it never makes a whole lotta sense -- how can people show up in the City if the rest of us can't get out, y'know?

[element_wizard]

It seems to happen on a fairly regular basis, doesn't it? Every four months or so. And people do show up in the city just more sporadically.

video;

[fivemonths]

Jimmy...

[ The recognition is more muttered to himself than directed at Jimmy. Yes, Wilson is a normal fixture in the City - though this Wilson is visibly a few years older, the slightest hint of grey at his temples and his face touched by a bit of untended stubble. From his perspective, it's been a long time since he's seen the City or anyone in it - it feels acutely like another lifetime. Of course, it nearly is. ]

So, what if we fall into another category altogether?

Re: video;

[trenchknives]

Doc...

[He frowns intently.]

You look... a little different.

Re: video;

[fivemonths]

It's been a while - well. It has been for me, at least.

Re: video;

[trenchknives]

How long? But you still remember me?

Re: video;

[fivemonths]

A little over five years, I think. It's hard to tell.

[ Definitely before things went really bad. He purses his lips and gives a small nod. ]

Some of it started to come back when I found myself here - the people more than the specifics.

Re: video;

[trenchknives]

Five years. Shit. What happened while you were gone? I mean, that's a damn long time.

<3

[stillinseason]

[ Gillian has no idea what's going on, but through some stroke of luck she's managed to view Jimmy's little transmission and figured out how to respond.

Of course she's going to let her baby know that she's here. ]

Darling! Are you going to give me the grand tour?

Re: I love you. Jimmy isn't so sure what he thinks.

[trenchknives]

I...

[Hold on a second. Why is this happening? Why is she here? He'd imagined millions of different people possibly arriving, but he hadn't even conceived of this possibility? They hadn't parted on good terms, the last time he'd talked to her. Fuck. Fuck.]

How... why... what the fuck?

[Eloquent as always, when confronted with his mother.]

Re: Mama loves you, Jimmy.

[stillinseason]

[ Now is that any way to greet your mother? She maintains her cheery public face, but her eyes harden a little. You've hurt her feelings just a little bit. ]

Well I was hoping you could tell me. You don't very pleased to see me, Jimmy.

Re: Jimmy can't deal with these feelings

[trenchknives]

[Sorry, mom, he's got some serious reservations about this whole conversation.]

I mean, the last time I saw you, we didn't exactly...

[A helpless gesture.]

I wouldn't call it partin' on good terms, y'know?

Re: Gillian thinks he needs to let go of his grudges

[stillinseason]

Now we can pick up on better terms.

[ She's not exactly filled with happy memories about that either, but she understands. Emotions sometimes get the better of all of us. ]

Aren't you even a little bit happy to see me?

Re: But Gillian he's been getting therapy in the City and now has even more grudges

[trenchknives]

I dunno.

[That's honest, at least.]

You ain't gonna be here for long, anyway. A weekend. Then you'll go back home 'n it'll be like you were never here, so don't get too comfortable.

[othersdie]

You're still here.

[trenchknives]

Yeah, sure, I'm still here. Don't think I'm gonna be leavin' anytime soon. You're...

[Hmm. This is a little awkward.]

I'd say welcome back, but...

[othersdie]

No, being here is an improvement over... not being.

[Which, in Justin's case, involves being conscious in a big old void of nothing. Death sucks, man.]

[trenchknives]

Okay, well then, welcome back. 'n I know what you mean. I mean, kinda. If I go home, that's what I'll be doin' pretty damn quick. Not bein'.

[othersdie]

What? Do you know that for a fact?

[trenchknives]

I know I was about two hours away from someone trynna kill me, at the very least. 'n I know that a whole hell of a lot of people who've showed up from my future're seemingly shocked to see me alive, so yeah, I'm pretty damn sure about it.