Ted's IC Inbox

[youfool]

These are necessary, I discovered! Any private message to Ted's communicator will go here, if you please, so I may treasure it forever.

Comments

Re: [Video]

[youfool]

[Why are they allies, again?]

I understand it perfectly you base demi-souled creature, and so I'll put a stop to it whenever it arises! But I gave you my word. No, that wasn't me. I'm reasonably certain that wasn't anyone. Don't go telling anyone, now, I'm still not sure if it should be exposed or not.

[Video]

[om_nom_namur]

[Because Namur is a hell of a lot more tolerant than Ted.]

[He facepalms with a groan.]

Ted, y' schoolie idiot! An' someone put out a flippin' three star bounty on y' at the same time that damn thing come out! Didja wanna get thrown in the slammer?

Re: [Video]

[youfool]

[Yeah, Namur will tolerate all kinds of evil. Not on this vigilante's watch!]

No. [He answers the rhetorical question with perfect innocence.] At least not for these reasons. Three, eh? That's not bad. That's the worst the Beacon Board gets, certainly. Ha, goodness Namur, if I didn't know better I'd say you cared for my well-being.

[Video]

[om_nom_namur]

Write me a love poem later, dumbass. The hell y' gonna do?

Re: [Video]

[youfool]

All right. [Careful with that sarcasm, Namur, he's read a love poem or two.] Hmm, good question. Well, bounty hunting would comprise the majority of "the vigilante"s activity. What's to stop me, or rather, someone I know, from collecting it?

[Video]

[om_nom_namur]

[Make it dirty as hell, Ted!]

[Namur narrows his eyes, then laughs.]

Too bad some other asshole already claimed it. Know this Joseph guy?

Re: [Video]

[youfool]

[Uh, no, he'll make it lovely as heaven!]

Heh, I wasn't aware you could reserve such things! Yes, I've spoken with him once. Odd person; I've seen his network post too. I didn't think he cared for any crime besides the numinous. He might believe me to be a spirit. Well, whatever his pretensions, he can't lay claim to anything if, say, you get to me first.

[Video]

[om_nom_namur]

Gets posted on the board y' can. Maybe the ones in the papers work a li'l differnt since they ain't Beacon or what the hell ever.

[He shrugs.]

Want me t' rough y' up some, make it look good?

Re: [Video]

[youfool]

Eheh, no I'm sure I can prove authenticity in other ways...

I'm sure this Joseph person means well. Let's find him and end his goose chase as swiftly and sanely as possible, then simply drop me off at the police station. Once the money--whose source must be from some scoundrel--changes hands, all that need happen is for me to quietly make my escape. Shouldn't be too much trouble. Thus, my name will be cleared, Joseph will leave Everglade in one piece, and we'll be a star-and-a-half richer. The extra notoriety of being an escaped convict, or something like it...that wouldn't be too terrible, eh?

Oh, and before I forget: you owe me an apology.

[Video]

[om_nom_namur]

For what?

Re: [Video]

[youfool]

For even thinking that'd I'd ever do something like what the paper described. It's impossible, both physically: Invisible blades, snapping bones clean off, disappearing acts with bloodied corpses, and so on. But also spiritually. Do you truly think so little of me that you didn't write it straight off as an evil I could never commit? You know me better than that, I hope. You ought to have had more faith.

[Video]

[om_nom_namur]

[Namur raises his eyebrows, but otherwise his expression is flat as a windless sea.]

Let's jus' say I seen some shit in my day, an' there's reasons I thought that ol' story coulda held water.

Re: [Video]

[youfool]

[Was that why the story gained traction? It seemed ridiculous and utterly convenient to him. Anonymously submitted, left without any evidence or persons to follow up on. Suppose when one believes in marvels, as Genessia will persuade, they'll believe anything, no matter how insane.]

Even so, I'm terribly wounded that you think I'd stoop so low. Come on, say it. [He didn't sound too wounded, but it's the principle of the matter.]

Also, forget what I said about keeping the truth of the matter to yourself. If conscience compels you to try your hand at debunking, by all means. But for a lie, it seems a singularly helpful one, drawing all sorts of altruists to the city itself. Tactically speaking, it seems like a blessing.

[Video]

[om_nom_namur]

Sometimes a man's ideals'll make 'im do some pretty nasty shit if he ain't flexible 'bout 'em when it comes t' others. Somethin' 'bout y' smells funny, Schoolie Boy, an' the last time I overlooked someone smellin' a li'l off, my family an' all our allies got drug int' a war we didn't win.

[It's clear those last three words are hard for him to spit out. There's desolation in them, grief to fill an ocean. Namur swallows before his voice can get any thicker, and changes the subject.]

Yer gonna make shit worse, y' know that, right?

Re: [Video]

[youfool]

[He couldn't help but smile a little for every uttered "Schoolie". But it was only a little; he's still hurt Namur doesn't trust him. He's being pretty darn difficult over something as simple as 'I'm sorry.']

You're prepared to condemn me over smells and "sometimes"? Last I checked you were none too fond of prejudice. I'd think a hostis humani generis, or pirate, would at least extend the benefit of the doubt.

[Ted does catch the sorrow behind those words.] Is that...something you'd like to talk about? [That made Ted feel better 90% of the time.]

Not particularly; I do wish people would be more particular about their vague omens. By all means, tell me your predictions and why, in as much detail as you can.

[Video]

[om_nom_namur]

Ain't condemnin'. Jus' don't know what yer capable a doin', how far yer willin' t' go t' see yer dream made reality. 'S why I asked y', private like.

[Namur gives him a pointed look, then rubs his fingers over the modified 8 tattoo on his neck, thoughtful.]

Ehhh how t' put it. Right now, Everglade's a place where people that hunt other people ain't gotta hide it. Can walk 'round with their teeth out, cuz everbody understands that when y' go t' Everglade, there's probly someone there's gonna try t' eatcha. Anyone walkin' in goes in knowin' they could be prey- even me, a'ight? An' that ain't a thing I say lightly. 'S out in the open in Everglade, an' it stays in Everglade. People in Nova ain't worried 'bout werewolves startin' a pack war. Attleton ain't worried 'bout poltergeists. Genessia ain't flippin' its collective shit 'bout vampires. Sure, they all got problems. But most a the time the hardest question someone's gotta ask theirselves is am I gonna give up my wallet t' some punk tryna mug me? It ain't am I gonna be someone's lunch if I take the late train home? Put too much pressure on the hunters in Everglade, though, an' they'll look for better currents- uh. Greener pastures, think humans like t' say? An' they'll get craftier. Start havin' hauntin's in Fayren. Vampires sneakin' 'round the back doors in Attleton, shit like that. Suddenly, it ain't jus' Everglade where folk're scared t' go out after sundown, 's everywhere. Though probly there's some folk that'd like that, so I'unno. Depends on what yer goin' for, I guess.

Re: [Video]

[youfool]

[He groaned.] Well you can cross 'poetic torture' off the list.

[He considers Namur's theory. Honestly he's more surprised that Namur theorized at all. He thought he'd be match the brutish thug stereotype, but this level of forethought comes as a bit of a shock. Must be that big fish head of his.]

You know, Everglade wasn't always this bad. It used to be somewhat civilized, like everywhere else. Goodness, I doubt it's as bad as you're describing now; assaults like that are still rare. And I've never known any city's problems to...cross-pollinate like that, though if they did it wouldn't be all bad. At least if it happened elsewhere, there'd be some justice. Who knows, maybe if they leaked a little, the other cities might rebuke their wayward sibling. Nonetheless, I'm flattered you think I could achieve something that profound. And to think I was worried about doing too little! Does it ever seem as if this vigilante character is a boogieman for everyone to project their fears on? Everglade couldn't ask for a better symbol, superstitious saps that they are.

Well, I'm afraid we'll have to make the boogieman a little more definite. Let's thwart Joseph at evening and meet at the Rusty Nail, all right?

[Video]

[om_nom_namur]

Yeah... pretty sure it ain't shitty sonnets that first come t' people's minds when they read that story.

[Namur chuckles, darkly.]

Smell y' then!

[voice]

[hyuuga]

[She saw the bounty, that it had been taken. And she also saw that network post where Ted outed himself. She doesn't entirely know how to feel about the vigilante part, but from what she knows of him... Some of the horrid things people have been saying are things she can't believe of him. Not with how genuinely nice he was toward her, a stranger with even stranger eyes.]

Ted..? It's Hinata... [She pauses. Wow, checking up on him to make sure he wasn't in dire trouble sounded so much better in her head.]

Um, I was just curious as to how you've been doing. Since... well, everything. You're not in any real trouble, right? A bounty for what you were doing... It's wrong.

Re: [voice]

[youfool]

[His heart melted to hear her. Most people he met for the first time were content to leave it at that, if not disappear altogether. To have one check up on him purely out of concern was an utter novelty. He was clearly smiling by his tone.]

Ah, Hinata! How are you? Are you making out all right? Did you visit those women I recommended?

Heh, your worry is duly appreciated, if a bit unnecessary. You're really too kind. While trouble regularly finds me--or I find it--this bout of it is something I've already worked out. We'll get the better of that bounty, mark my words.

But thank you for the support, just the same. It's such a pleasant surprise.

[voice]

[hyuuga]

[She smiles back, even though Ted can't see it. She's clearly relieved that he at least sounded all right and in good spirits.]

I've been fine, I'm doing all right... And, um, I met a couple of them.

And while I have no doubt you and trouble can find each other... And are likely to be more than able to take care of yourself... I still worry. The bounty and things being said... They're wrong. None of that was warranted for what you did.

Re: [voice]

[youfool]

Wonderful! Suppose you've only got two more to go before you've made all the rounds.

Hah, suppose it's vain, but truthfully I don't mind much being made of me; there's something charming about the universe giving its full attention, even wildly disproportionate attention. I sometimes wonder if that isn't the reason for our arrival in this strange, motley gathering.

[He chuckled warmly for her continued worry.]
You truly are a woman after my own heart; so about righteousness, so sensitive to its lack! I can't speak to my own injustices, of course. Maybe divulging my counter-scheme will put you at ease. I will simply give that fool what they want. They'll have their 'vigilante', if only for a short while. Then the payment will part. "A fool and his money are soon parted."

Goodness, I feel as though I could take you out to condemn and convict the world of sin, and be perfectly happy getting rocks thrown at us for the trouble. You, perhaps, could deal with them, knowing their trajectories exactly.

[voice]

[hyuuga]

[She blushes, even though it can't be seen.]

It's just... Being a vigilante and doing good, it's not all that different from those of us taking bounties. Simply because you were more...vocal, and said what you thought doesn't mean it was bad. Or wrong. Or anything of the sort.

If anything, people should be glad. From what I've gathered, um, it seems like the Everglades are already a lot safer. Well, compared to where they were earlier.

[She sighs.] But I also know a lot of people... They don't usually look at it that way. But I still think they over-reacted.

Re: [voice]

[youfool]

I confess that act was a naughty one; I meant to frighten, owing to the nature of Everglade's barrier. Seems to have done the trick, with the hysteria the 'vigilante' got.

I also confess that I'm rather pleased with the result the false article got. Drawing attention was another one of my goals, and that worked out marvelously. So many altruists are gathering there, and it really needs them. I know ends don't justify means, but if they ever did, it would be now.

Goodness, I'm so happy and you agree with me so much, if I told about you they'd probably think I was making you up. Well! I should be glad to meet the girl I'm making up face-to-face sometime; I'm sure she's very agreeable.

[voice]

[hyuuga]

The nature of Everglade's barrier..? [This is new information she hadn't heard before.] So... It's fueled by fear?

Um, anyway... No, the ends don't justify the means. But your means... They weren't bad, either. Just scaring and needling people, it's not bad. Plus, you didn't actually hurt anyone that wasn't a bounty, right? [Right??

And then she realizes that they actually haven't met in person yet. An overlook on her part, especially given the amount of people she's met recently.]

And, um.. Yes. We should definitely meet sometime. I just realized we haven't yet.