13∙00∙00 ☇ video.

[saidrepent]

It feels I've been here almost four months now... I don't know. [Raymond runs a hand through his hair and speaks without looking directly into the camera, almost as though he doesn't realize it's on.] I used to keep track of the time by my own clock, but obviously that doesn't work here... That's four months of it being stopped while the big one here just keeps ticking, and ticking, and ticking.

[He pauses.] Maybe that's why I keep checking it. Just in case whatever's keeping it stopped changes its mind.

[And again.] Maybe it's just a hard habit to break.

[His eyes lower for a moment, mouth hanging open as though he has something more to say, but he doesn't. He reaches to turn off the camera instead.]

Comments

[valentineluke]

Been over this, Sandman: The rules of your world don't apply here.

[saidrepent]

I'm well aware of that, thank you.

[valentineluke]

Then relax and enjoy the freedom from continuous counting of every second. There must be something you've always wanted to do, but never had the time for it.

[saidrepent]

[Raymond is in no mood for this today.]

What makes you think that's so easy to do?

[signatures]

What do you mean, that your own clock has stopped?

[saidrepent]

[Of course. He still shouldn't expect others to know what he means.]

The clock that measures how much time I have left to live.

[valentineluke]

Because I speak from experience.

Read a book from cover to back, go for a long walk, take up fishing, wander the zoo, nap, soak in the hot springs - it's not hard to while away a few hours doing pleasurable things.

video;

[dignity_misery]

There you are.

video;

[saidrepent]

Did you miss me?

[saidrepent]

I have other pursuits here that don't involve wasting my time.

video;

[dignity_misery]

[She actually barks a little laugh.]

Yeah, sure.

[valentineluke]

I suggest accompanying one or more of your acquaintances on their pleasant excursions.

video;

[saidrepent]

You made it sound like you were looking for me, at least.

video;

[dignity_misery]

I got tripped up over one of your twins.

[saidrepent]

[He snorts.] We'll see.

[valentineluke]

Am tempted to a friendly wager, but I have a feeling it'd be an easy win for me.

video;

[saidrepent]

One of?

video;

[dignity_misery]

He was a lot more shrill than you.

[video]

[sympathyforme]

Try smashing it.

video;

[saidrepent]

[Huh.]

Doesn't exactly sound like the one I ran into.

video;

[dignity_misery]

I didn't get his name, I didn't really care, but he wasn't the younger one.

[She saw Pig, but that... 'speech impediment' was not something she cared much for weathering through either.]

[video]

[saidrepent]

Not that kind of clock. [But if only.]

video;

[saidrepent]

You've seen him, too? [He couldn't blame her, really.]

video;

[dignity_misery]

[A tense little shrug.]

Wasn't much else to do that day, besides look at the network.

[Bubble day. She hadn't been enjoying herself.]

video;

[saidrepent]

[He pauses, then decides he has nothing to lose by asking her...]

What do you make of him?