NETWORK | VIDEO

[mrsklover]

[The message starts off with nothing but darkness for a few long seconds. It's quiet and still until, finally, a groan comes through. Another one follows behind it and the video shifts to show it apparently just pressed into the dirt.]

Fuck...

[The video turns again, whipping around as the person holding the comm seems to drop it a few times before finally righting it, camera facing the wrong way.]

How does...fucking... Shit...

[It falls again but then is lifted back up, turned around, and at long last the owner is shown: Richie Tozier squints at the device almost like he's in pain. Which...yeah. Sort of.]

Uh... Hey everyone... [He scratches his head.] You ever get the feeling like you missed something? Or a few somethings?

Comments

[text]

[buildingitsir]

<sub>[York looks at the device from where he's sitting in his warehouse, wondering who the fuck this was. How lame did you have to be to struggle with the communicator of all things?

Then it shows Richie's face and York freezes for a moment. Then fingers fly over the keyboard with that android precision.]</sub>

richie? where the fuck have you been? didn't think finding wallpaper would take that long, holy shit.

[mrsklover]

[York. Oh, God, he is glad to see a familiar face so fast. And just as snarky as ever. Gotta love this kid.]

All the stores were out! Then I tried going to art school so I could make my own but my vision just wasn't appreciated. Some people can splatter tomato soup on a canvas and be a genius but when I cut up a few museum paintings for a collage...

No, but for real. I have no idea where I was. How long have I been gone?

[buildingitsir]

richie, your vision is terrible. you have glasses for a reason. maybe stick to comedy instead of art, though i bet the mona lisa looks better in strips...

months really. almost a year? a long time. i thought you maybe got sent home to wherever you came from.

_{[He is not going to admit outright how much he actually missed Richie. The guy that helped him get into mischief when he first got here, who wouldn't want to keep around a friend like that?]}

[mrsklover]

Jesus Fuck. Sorry, kid. I guess you had to find all your shit on your own?

What else did I miss? Jon do anything shitty? I could use a distraction.

[buildingitsir]

i had a bit of help. figured out people i can add to the group you started of people i can trust. it was rough, can't lie about that, but it worked out.

_{[There's a pause before another text comes through.]}

look fucker, i'm just glad you decided to rejoin us. and no, jon hasn't been shitty. not anymore than usual from what i've seen. got one guy that that thinks i'm working for the agrii which hilarious

Audio

[plate_builder]

Well well well, look who's back from getting cigarettes.

[mrsklover]

The corner shop didn't have my brand. Had to try Siberia.

How many games of catch do I need to catch up on?

[plate_builder]

[Richie, what in Minerva's name is a 'Siberia'?]

I suppose I shall have to leave that answer to Richie and Mini. My own throwing arm is rather underwhelming.

[mrsklover]

Eh. Pass. I am getting to the age where any wrong move can probably fracture something. I'll just stay a deadbeat.

[He pauses and sobers up a little.]

So. It's been awhile?

[plate_builder]

Months, my friend. It's April near as we can tell.

Video

[crystalmaster]

... Hey, are you okay?

[mrsklover]

[He rubs at his head, wincing a little. ] My head hurts? And I kinda feel like someone hit me with a baseball bat a few dozen times. But I'm alive?

[crystalmaster]

What was going on before you ended up here?!

[Although he's doubtful it will be remembered, judging from the phrasing of that response.]

[mrsklover]

Uh...

[He tries to focus his memory. All that comes back is sludge.]

Any chance it was a big, black void? Like was that just...the weather today?

[crystalmaster]

... Well, it wasn't the weather here, anyway.

[Video]

[deal_me_in]

Must've been some party. And you didn't invite me?

[mrsklover]

Cayde!

Oh man. They say the best times are the ones you don't remember, right? I think my therapist argued about that but she's not here, so yeah! Hell of a party!

[deal_me_in]

Heh!

Well, good seeing you again. Some kid's trying to move in on your job at the bar.

[Cayde, you're the one who told Eddie to wash dishes if he was going to insist on taking up stage space.]

[mrsklover]

What?! I disappear for whatever time and you just replace me? I thought we had something special.

[He snorts a laugh.]

How about a welcome back round of drinks? Or five?

[deal_me_in]

I didn't replace you! He started making business pitches after shamelessly admitting he was using my bar for his one-man band so I figured he needed to do something if he wasn't even gonna bother asking my permission.

[He smirks.]

Don't worry, you're still number one in my book. You get your tail over here and I'll pour your favorites.

Video

[the_freak]

[It's an unfamiliar face that greats Richie, and he looks particularly curious.]

Hey, man. We're you...here before?

[Because Eddie has some questions about the whole going home thing that have yet to be answered.]

[mrsklover]

[Yeah, this guy doesn't look familiar. Probably means he's either new or Richie was gone longer than he thought.]

Yeah. I was here for awhile. Not... actually sure where I was for...

Uh. How long have you been here?

[the_freak]

[Eddie looks unsure, nose scrunching as he does a bit of mental math.]

A few months? There was snow when I got here, so...

[But- the more pressing question- in Eddie's mind at least-]

You went home?

[mrsklover]

[Months. Shit.]

Maybe? I'll be real, I don't remember much, man. But I know other people have gone home and come back. Or left and come back without memory of being here at all...

It's pretty fucked.

[the_freak]

[It's not the clear cut answer Eddie was hoping for, and he sighs, but nod.]

Fucked might be the understatement of the century, dude.
Welcome back, I guess? M'Eddie.

[He shrugs and offers a small wave at the camera.]