103.1 - holding my hand in the pale gloom

[hard_talker]

[when Mark speaks up this week, he sounds pretty quiet, in comparison to his usual broadcasts, more thoughtful. this is partly because he's not having a lovely week, and partly because Nora's curled up in their room, reading, and he doesn't really want to disturb her. it's not a week for being loud and crude... it's a week for life kind of sucking, and he just can't pull together enough vitriol to do more than the usual]

Well, true to form, the castle decided to make up for its shitty resident intake last week and hauled in seven new arrivals, making me glad yet again that I decided to never bet against Hermione on any of this shit. Say hi to Phil, Jennifer, Todd, Ted, Leonardo, Kyoko, Shatterstar, and Mabel. Unfortunately, it also sent a shitton of other folks home, so ... I think we're still breaking even.

In the news department, looks like there's a job fair going on, for those of you lookin' for work. And there's been a call-out for anyone who can sing or play instruments.

I, uh - I'd dispense with the usual words of wisdom, but I'm fresh out of fucks to give, tonight, folks. There's something a little more important that needs my attention.

[and with that, he'll flip the journal shut. yep. not even any extra music tonight]

[Room Filter]

Hey. ... You almost done with that chapter?

Comments

room filter forever

[eat_me_beat_me]

[Nora had been staring blankly at the page, half listening to Mark's broadcast and half lost in her own thoughts. It was the first broadcast that she hadn't hung on his every word, absorbed every syllable he uttered, letting every pause flow through her like a cleansing breath. Tonight her mind's elsewhere.

She doesn't realize he'd asked her a question until he stops talking. She looks up to see him looking at her.]

What?

[hard_talker]

[she hadn't heard him, on a Monday? oh, shit. now he -knew- it was bad. frowning, he put a Concrete Blonde CD on - both for her, and to hopefully cover up their voices if the journal came open again.]

I said, you almost done with your chapter?

[eat_me_beat_me]

[She gives him a sheepish smile, slipping her bookmark in place and shutting the book. She shrugs, trying to seem like she -wasn't- just completely zoning out.]

Yeah. It's pretty good.

[hard_talker]

[he rubs at the back of his neck, looking around. this is bad. they're both in a slump, here. and where one of them can usually help the other out... it won't be pretty if they don't do something about it. he can't get angry enough for a proper Monday rant, no, but he is angry, and he sighs, looking out the window].....I wish I coulda seen it when they tore this place down.

[eat_me_beat_me]

[She follows his gaze out the window.] Yeah. It must've been really something. Everyone rallying together against this place, showing it what we really think of it.

[She pulls her legs up on the chair, resting her chin on her knees as she imagines it.]

[hard_talker]

[he puts a hand on her shoulder, quiet for a moment. when he speaks again, it sounds like a bridge between disgust and resolve]

Makes me wonder what it'd take to get 'em to do it again.

[eat_me_beat_me]

[The tone in his voice makes her shiver. It's a tone that promises greater things and stirs hearts towards rebellion. It's the one she fell in love with listening to the faceless voice denouncing guidance counselors and the so-called order in their sleepy little school.

She looks up at him with a mixture of awe and confusion in her eyes.]

What are you thinking? Talking hasn't done anything. Think we should do something?

HH

[youfallback]

[A long pause, before.] Hey.

C, to end

[hard_talker]

Hey, C. How's it goin'?

HH to end

[youfallback]

[Time to cut to the chase.] Look, if this 'more important' thing is bad, I can help.

[hard_talker]

[he appreciates that - both the offer, and the cutting the bull] ... It is, but ... it's nothin' that can be helped with. Lot of people Nora and I know have gone, lately, and ...

... It's getting rough, let's put it that way.

[youfallback]

[There's a silent nod from her end.]

Anything you need me to do? [Or want, but she's using 'need' for now.]

[hard_talker]

I dunno, yet. I'll keep you posted.

[a pause. well. there IS something, even though it's futile to ask. but he'll ask anyway]

Don't go.

[cantacquityou]

I suppose this leaves no other choice than to offer the option of a music group.

On the other hand, you seem significantly more apathetic today, my good man.

[hard_talker]

Hey, you asked who played what! What did you think was gonna happen, man?

[cantacquityou]

Contrary to what it may seem, your efforts are appreciated, albeit unexpected. I'm rather curious to see what a convergence of Paradisa's finest musicians would result in.

[hard_talker]

Oh. Well, why didn't you just say so, then?

[cantacquityou]

My apologies. I been told many a time that I tend to give a much harsher impression than intended.

[hard_talker]

Sometimes that ain't a bad thing, though. If you come across too soft, people can think you're a pushover.

[mal_addict]

Sounds serious. You okay?

Sarge, written

[hard_talker]

Worried about Nora. Our friends keep leaving, and she's not doing so good. She just keeps reading or sitting around...

Mark forever

[mal_addict]

That is one of the downsides of living here...

[Give her a minute, she's thinking] Would it maybe make her feel better if we put a giant penis sculpture somewhere? She likes those.

[hard_talker]

[he chuckles, remembering the one Nora erected - hurr hurr - on the roof when Sister left]

It'd be a start, at least. I dunno, usually she gets it out of her system by painting the lobby, but she hasn't even touched a can of spray paint.

[THIS IS SERIOUS, MAL.]

[mal_addict]

[...Oh]

No paint at all? That is bad.

There's an expedition coming up, do you think getting outside, seeing the world and probably getting attacked by something nasty might help?

[hard_talker]

... We're not usually "out past the border" types. I mean - I went to Mineas Well a few weeks ago, and she flipped her shit about that. So ... I don't really think it'd help much, no.