☞ 034. (accidental video + text)

[wouldnotkindly]

[When the feed clicks on, it shows . . . a pair of jaws adamantly chewing at the camera lens. They retreat after a moment, revealing the owner to be a small black dragon, evidently one of those left over from the infestation a few weeks ago; it cocks its head, scratches at the camera lens, and then resumes chewing on it.

After about a minute of this, though, it's interrupted by a noise: a loud, low rumbling sound reminiscent of the bellow of a whale. The dragon's head jerks back at once, looking somewhere beyond the camera, and it makes a high-pitched trilling noise in response before it tries to chew on the camera again. Before it can do much more damage, however, the device is lifted up and away, and the feed clicks off.

A short time later, a text post follows:]

Sorry about that, if anyone saw
I dont know how he got a hold of this thing
Anyway

1 wrench, $25
4 first aid kits, $60
3 EVE hypos, $75
1 pistol, $100
36 pistol rounds, $150

This is all thats left of what i brought from home
I dont know what anything else here might be worth
In terms of money i mean
But thats all

Comments

Text

[rianofski]

Would it be too much to ask to hope that that noise wasn't exactly what it sounded like?

Text

[wouldnotkindly]

[Oops. Again.]

That depends on what you think it sounded like

Re: Text

[rianofski]

Let's not play coy, shall we? It's tiresome.

[wouldnotkindly]

[If Ryan could see him fume...]

No
Not exactly

[rianofski]

[He would probably love to see him fume.]

Good. Or perhaps not good, depending on what it actually was.

[wouldnotkindly]

Somehow i dont think you would actually care
If you did know what it was

[rianofski]

You might be surprised.

[wouldnotkindly]

Fine

[Part of him thinks that he ought to switch the conversation to a private setting before he actually tells him. Then again, a greater part of him is too annoyed to care.]

It was me

[rianofski]

Either you have a remarkably uncanny talent for impersonations, or you've been hiding a rather odd secret.

[wouldnotkindly]

A lot of things happened after you died
I had to make myself sound like one of them

[There's a pause.]

Its permanent

[rianofski]

[You know what his favorite thing is? Hint: It's not talking about how he died.]

I see. How unfortunate. I can't imagine why you'd need to make yourself sound like one of them, but I'm not sure I'd like to.

[wouldnotkindly]

[Too bad, because Jack doesn't particularly like talking about this either.]

No
I dont think you would

[rianofski]

Why did you keep the dragon?

[Changing subjects is a go.]

[wouldnotkindly]

[If only he knew how to copy and paste.]

Because i like him
And he likes me too
Hes my friend

[rianofski]

[Friends? What a strange concept.]

That's as good a reason as any, I suppose, assuming he won't grow any larger.

[wouldnotkindly]

He shouldnt
He did when all of them turned big but he turned small again
So it shouldn't happen again

[rianofski]

Good. I'd rather not have the entire City burn down on account of your 'friend.'

[wouldnotkindly]

He cant breathe fire in the first place
But thanks for the concern

[rianofski]

What kind of dragon can't breathe fire?

[wouldnotkindly]

He makes electricity instead

[rianofski]

I can't decide whether that's better or worse. I hope you'll be able to prevent him from electrocuting anyone.

[wouldnotkindly]

If he ever does it would only be because someone provoked him

[rianofski]

You sound so sure. Have your other physical alterations also conveyed upon you the ability to speak and understand dragon?

[wouldnotkindly]

[Wow Ryan watch out, he's gettin' mad.]

He understands me just fine

[rianofski]

Of course he does. Perhaps you can teach him to do tricks, as well.