asmywitness | IC Inbox

Tyler immediately cringes, but it's clearly in humour. I really hope you don't think blowjobs are a national symbol of friendship from Aussies.

Isis only projects the word - not that Tyler knows the correct pronunciation. He turns away again, watching the ground as he hops off the final step.

I get where you're coming from, but I'm not going to call you a cunt just because it makes you feel more like your ideal self. Because that's definitely how you framed that, it wasn't subtle. He looks back and signs at Steven again. I also don't like them as much. I have enough trouble with tone as is without you cursing at me.

"I wasn't just asking because of that," Steven says, his face heating up. "I mean, okay, it does, but also-- maybe I'd like to be able to get away with doing the same thing? I mean, it's really not an American thing, as you might have guessed, but it's sort of a me thing. I just know better than to say them out loud most of the time, because people would think I meant them in a non-affectionate way. But there's a reason I call my boyfriend an 'egotist' all the time in private."

But then he sighs. "But. Yeah, no, I get why it wouldn't work for you. It's got a lot to do with tone of voice, doesn't it, and I know that doesn't carry over to text and probably not sign either."

It's also something of a... He hesitates for a moment, before he spells out, cultural clash? It's not a thing you really ask for, it's just a thing that happens when an Australian adopts you. Like name signs.

He makes a face, but only a minor one. You know I'm not a standard Aussie by any means, and I'm going to be even less of one if I'm the only one around, because we know we're weird and I have to explain enough about my life as is. It's not a go at you.

"Right," Steven says, still a touch awkward. "No, no, I get it. I didn't mean to make it a big thing or anything. I just. I don't know. I thought it was nice when he did it, that's all. Even if it was about my future self and not this me. It was— just nice to know that some people do that. I guess. Fuck, I'm saying this all wrong."

After a moment he adds, "And it doesn't mean I liked my future self's best friend more than I like you. Because I don't. He was a cool guy, but you're my person and he wasn't yet." He frowns. "That sounded weirdly possessive, didn't it."

Tyler huffs and grins lightly. It did. But it was a better flavour of it than usual.

Teller moves past him, Mesmer sitting on his shoulders now, and opens the door. So which way is your office? Tyler adds, walking into the main building.

"Down the hall a bit, there's a big glass window for the whole newsroom and mine's one of the ones on the other side of the big main room," Steven says. "And, uh, technically it's not my office, it's one that I share. Most of us do unless we've got a lot of seniority, which I don't yet. But it's only with one person? There's a a cubical wall down the middle. I've got the side by the window. It stopped fucking with my officemate's equipment after the first day, so it knows the difference between us."

There's a large arc of electricity overhead as EVA goes from a light bulb to the mainlines again, and Tyler trots after the sparking wires towards Steven's desk with Teller and Mesmer in tow.

He seriously hopes EVA doesn't make anything explode, he thinks probably a little bit too late as the lightning arcs across the floor and up to Steven's computer.

Steven winces.

A moment later, the computer screen lights up to show... well, the image of a Rotom trying to shove another Rotom off the screen.

GET OUT GET OUT THIS IS MY JOB GET YOUR OWN

... said Rotom, however, looks a bit smaller than the one it's trying to shove away.

The pixel-art Rotoms on the screen are very cute actually. Even if the faintly larger one is slamming into the other from multiple directions in its efforts to force it out the front of the screen.

NOT ANY MORE MOTHER FUCK YOU NEED TO LEAVE

NO THE BOSS GAVE ME THIS JOB HE TRUSTED ME YOU AREN'T TAKING IT

The smaller one is doing its best to keep inside and even push back, even as the larger Rotom is slowly but surely getting its way.

I'M NOT TAKING IT YOU'RE BEING FIRED NOW BEAT IT

There's an absolutely cacophenous burst of static from the speakers - that even makes Tyler flinch in surprise - and the screen cracks with the force of what was apparently an Uproar, and the smaller Rotom gets fired out of the cracked screen in a burst of static as it reforms itself in the real world.

Another arc of blue electricity follows it, but before EVA can fully reform and go off again there's a flash of a Pokeball sucking it up as it exits the computer, and bounces back into Tyler's hand. He looks more than a bit shocked by the whole exchange.

"Fuck," Steven says under his breath. "I really hope that doesn't come from my wages."

The other Rotom is quivering with rage and is probably thisclose to diving back into the computer screen.

"I think you should probably have Teller do his thing now."

Isis isn't actually listening to Steven; she got more than a little stunned by the audio hell and is shaking herself out to try and unfluff herself.

Teller is a smart boy, though, and he doesn't need any prompting from Tyler. He gives Mesmer's foot a squeeze, encouraging him to pay attention, and lifts his pendulum towards the Rotom, swinging it with a very deliberate focus.

When Tyler notices that, he glances away, quick and deliberate, and turns bodily to look at Steven as he signs, to try not to catch the coin in his field of vision. Sorry. I'll cover you if that gets deducted from your next cheque.

Steven's doing much the same.

Ah, you don't have to really... but thanks for the offer. I'm more worried this will get me into shit with my supervisor--but he understood about the sabotage, so he might understand about this. I'm not sure.

A single monitor's easier to replace than the entire wiring system, at least. Your speakers might need to be, too, but I'm not a tech expert.

Teller is all business. Hypnotising the Rotom is easy, and he's lowering his pendulum soon enough. He lifts Mesmer over his shoulders, guides the baby's hand to point towards the ghost, and does the same with his own so he can focus on using Dream Eater. Time to get in there and mess with some memories.

We'll need to get me a Rotom of my own too, Steven signs thoughtfully. One to keep guard from now on. It's too bad EVA doesn't fuck and that you gave the Joestars your Ditto.

Mesmer pays close attention to his daddy. He's so pleased that they all get to have fun together!

Rotom don't have a gender, it seems more like can't than won't for EVA, he points out. Anyway, I caught it in Goldenrod near an electronics shop, if you don't mind staying up late it's really not hard.

Teaching Mesmer is the fun part for Teller; everything else is just business. It doesn't take him long, anyway, to replace the Solus-shaped hole he's making with Steven, and he lowers his hand to examine the Rotom carefully, before he nods with a satisfied little, "Hypno."

"Drowzee!" Mesmer agrees, excitedly.

Maybe I could do that tonight, Steven says thoughtfully. And then maybe send them to Armin to make more Rotoms with. I know he has a Ditto. He used it to get my 2000 Leagues.

So-- what should we do now with him, since I can't exactly catch him and make him truly my own?

Fuck if I know, Tyler signs neutrally. I played my part, it's still your problem. Get Charley to throw it out of the building or something.

Teller is just looking very pleased with how quickly his child seems to be catching on, and starts brushing his face with his long tapir-eqsue nose again.

Mesmer lets himself relax into Teller's grooming. His daddy is the best daddy. So what if he can't live with him like with Leo and Doom Boner? They have a lot of fun when they do see each other.

Yeah. Gimme a sec to get her pokeball.

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