☞ 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

[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.

[wouldnotkindly]

[That touches a nerve. (It doesn't fully occur to him that this Ryan has no true understanding of exactly what Fontaine put him through.)]

Why the hell should i do that

[rianofski]

I thought that was generally what one did with a pet: took them for walks, taught them tricks, spent time with them...

[Yeah, he's really confused as to why Jack seems to find that offensive.]

[wouldnotkindly]

[He stops, takes a breath, and remembers just how far behind the times this Ryan is. It doesn't make him any less angry, but it does make him think about his next response.]

No tricks
Im not going to deal with that again

[rianofski]

Again? Is this another oblique reference to things that happened around the time of my unfortunate demise?

[wouldnotkindly]

[Well, if he wants the truth...]

Yes

[rianofski]

[As always, his incessant curiosity is fighting against his urge not to hear more bad things about his future.]

Is it the kind of thing you prefer not to discuss?

[wouldnotkindly]

Well
Not where other people can see

[Because somehow, for some reason, some part of him wants Ryan to understand just what he's been through — without being able to use it against him.]

But its not like i can talk otherwise

[rianofski]

Can't you make these private?

private;

[wouldnotkindly]

[Oh. Whoops. Give him a moment to do that.

Still—]

Are you sure you want to know

Re: private;

[rianofski]

Not at all.

[That's the most honest he's ever been with you ever, Jack. A few moments later:]

But I feel as though I should, for the sake of understanding the whole story, at the very least.