radio static - signal not found

[hard_talker]

[one would think that Mark would have an awful lot of things to say after spending a whole weekend without his voice - first with a fish tail, and then stuck in a bad 80s prom dress.

one would think.

but then he learned he had a bachelor party to plan, and -- well, there were things he needed to check up on. so ... forgive him if he's a little preoccupied, this Monday evening. to be honest, he's completely forgotten what day it is, after all that time in the dream world. so he'll just put on some music to jam to and throw up a filter]



[Goku, Eleven, Ino, Sakura, Felix, & Maladict]

Hey, you guys notice anything change for the better, recently? Beyond some of us not being stuck in dresses anymore, I mean.

Comments

[Mark] placeholdaaa /goes to sleep ;;

[ino]

What do you mean?

Ino, forevah. SLEEP WELL BB.

[hard_talker]

I mean -- well.

You haven't gotten anything back, recently, have you?

<3!

[ino]

Gotten anything back? Like what?

[hard_talker]

[he groans, since if she has to ask, he already knows the answer]

Like your loss.

[ino]

... Mark, you know that's not possible.

[hard_talker]

This is where I know what I'm gonna say is gonna make me sound like a complete assclown, but I say it anyway, because really, what the fuck is my life anymore.

The witch said she could make it happen.

[ino]

You asked her to give us back our losses?

[hard_talker]

Yeah. She offered to give me mine if I went and got that stupid Egg for her, but ... honestly, I don't really give a shit about my modulator anymore. So I figured I might as well get something back that was worth the effort.

[ino]

... [mark ... that's so sweet. ;;]

I don't think there's anything in this world that could make that happen other than the castle itself.

That being said, I think I might be better off with one of my losses anyways.

[hard_talker]

... Let me guess, the one to do with your crazy ex-boyfriend?

[ino]

Yeah, that one.

I wouldn't mind getting my flower arranging back, though.

[hard_talker]

Yeah, that sucks. .... I keep waiting for this place to think it hasn't taken enough from me ....

[ino]

I don't think something has ever happened just randomly like that. You'd have to get killed, or knocked out first.

[a pause]

Don't worry, that won't happen to you. [she'll make sure of it!]

[hard_talker]

[he lets out a sigh of a laugh] Between you and Nora and Zelos, I'd say that's a pretty safe bet, going by what happened the last time I wigged out.

[ino]

I'd say Nora alone could probably beat up half the people here, anyways. [JOKING ...]

[hard_talker]

[and yet...]

Yeah, she probably could.

[ino]

[laughs] Well, I guess it's a good thing you're on the same side then, huh.

Mark

[hulloeverything]

Something changed for the better? Other than the obvious? No, not that I've noticed. why?

Doc, forever

[hard_talker]

[he sighs, swiping a stack of notebooks off the desk onto the floor]

Oh, that fucking BITCH.

[hulloeverything]

[Oh... ooooh now he gets it. He doesn't say anything. He heads right to Mark's room and knocks on the door]

[hard_talker]

[drained and angry as Mark is, he wasn't expecting that.... so he squints at the door, confused] It's open.

[he stopped locking it when he realized there were people locks didn't do a damn thing about. like oh, God, for one]

[hulloeverything]

[Eleven opens the door and steps in, closing it quietly behind him]

I thought I'd make a house call... so to speak.

[hard_talker]

Feels good to be back in the bow tie again, I bet.

[he'll just ... sort of kick back in his chair. someone he cares about is in the room, so that means his words automatically decided they had somewhere more important to be]

[hulloeverything]

It is, yes.

[He slips his hands into his pockets and looks around.]

Mark... Momoka told me about the deal.

Mark

[goldencirclet]

Whaddya mean, Mark?

Goku

[hard_talker]

[by now, he's figured it out ... so he just sighs, bottling up his anger for the kid's sake]

Nevermind, kiddo. False alarm. How ya been?

Mark

[goldencirclet]

I'm good... but I'm kinda worried about ya an' Nora.

Goku, to end

[hard_talker]

About us? ... Why? We're okay.

Mark forever

[goldencirclet]

Ya've been real unhappy lately. Both of ya. Is it 'cuz of that guy?

[hard_talker]

Oh, him. .... I told him to leave us alone, so he shouldn't be a problem anymore. If he is, I'll get the Doc to help us out. We'll be okay. Don't worry.

[goldencirclet]

If ya say so...

[hard_talker]

I do. We'll be okay, I promise. Don't worry 'bout us.

[goldencirclet]

...okay.

Mark

[mal_addict]

Define 'better'.

Sarge

[hard_talker]

I thought I'd done something that'd help you out. But surprise surprise, I just ended up getting used and fucked again, so. Never fuckin' mind.

Mark

[mal_addict]

...Okay, back up the teenage angst for a second. What are you talking about?

[hard_talker]

[you know him so well. sigh] That fucking witch, she lied to me.

[mal_addict]

Oh. That witch. What did she say?

[hard_talker]

She said she'd gimme my loss back if I helped her find that egg.... I could care less about my modulator now, so I told her she'd have to do better than that and help people I knew, instead.

[mal_addict]

And how did she propose to help the rest of us?

[hard_talker]

She ... she was gonna give you all your losses back.

[mal_addict]

Oh.

Well, if it makes you feel any better, mine was just a sword. It didn't hold any great emotional attachment, it was just a thing I used to make other people realise it was a really stupid idea to try to attack me.

Mark

[lord_wizard]

[Better...maybe not...but maybe not worse either]

There's been a lot of change lately, though I can't tell you if it's good.

Felix, to end

[hard_talker]

Arright, well, uh ... lemme be a little more specific. You get back anything you've been missing for a while?

Mark forever

[lord_wizard]

[A slight pause] I can't say that I have.

[hard_talker]

Dammit. So I went through all that shit for nothing.

[lord_wizard]

What are you talking about?

[hard_talker]

That witch ... did you see her, at all, while all that was goin' on?

[lord_wizard]

No, not until we got up to the tower.