Video; un: will_solace

[arrowtotheheal]

WHO: Will Solace and anyone else
WHERE: Network
WHEN: Probably some time in the morning on 9/18
WHAT: WHERE AM I and other small matters
WARNINGS: Probably language from other people, in as far as the language filter will allow

[Will looks mildly exasperated when he finally gets the app to work. The instruction book only helps so much when you're ADHD and dyslexic, and the child-friendly... theme of the app isn't helping in the slightest.]

Hi... I'm Will, and I think I feel more lost out of that labyrinth than when I was in it.

[He can't help looking behind his shoulder for a moment. Just... making sure Bull Man didn't follow him out. If the Minotaur is even in there in the first place.]

So, I've got a lotta questions, but two are more pressing to me. First, has anyone seen a guy around 15, really dark hair that's kinda unkempt, dark eyes, goth aesthetic, and generally looks grumpy at the entire concept of life?

Second, is there a way to make this app less... busy? Like a greyscale mode or a way to change the font? I mean, I like colors, but this is a lot.

[Hello, world! Here's another teenager.]

Comments

[droptheious]

Yeah, sorry, I know it's...pretty bad. But speaking as someone who had someone I know from home end up having lived a whole life here and saw me as a stranger, it's definitely a forewarned is forearmed kinda deal.

[He snorts in light amusement.]

No. People didn't take it well at all, especially seen as the people who told us followed it up by asking us what our favourite pumpkin spice flavour was. Whatever that is, still not clear.

[The problems of coming from the early 19th century means you have no idea what half of the pop culture references people make mean.]

Likewise. Sorry you uh...got stuck here.

[arrowtotheheal]

Yeah... no kidding. Sorry you had to go through that. I can't imagine how that felt.

[Will looks confused.]

Uh... I thought pumpkin spice was a flavor. Like pumpkin pie, but without the pie part.

[Varian, no]

Not your fault. Besides, if I'm here, then I'm maybe here for a reason. I'd rather help out where I can.

[droptheious]

It's... well, it's not fine. You just learn to roll with it, I guess.

[Varian raises his shoulders in a shrug.]

I think it was like...do you like it in a drink or a foodstuff kinda deal? I don't really get it, pumpkins are just a vegetable to me.

[Varian, yes.]

That's...actually a pretty nice way of looking at it. Being here for a reason. I haven't heard that sentiment before.

[arrowtotheheal]

[Will nods sympathetically at that. Truthfully, there's not much else one could do in that situation. At least when it comes to taking the healthy response.

He looks amused by the pumpkin comment.]

Clearly, that means we need to introduce you to some of the best desserts you can make with pumpkins: pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread.

[Will smiles a bit.]

Optimism kinda runs in the family on my Dad's side. And I've not yet run across a real coincidence for as long as I've been alive.

[droptheious]

You put...pumpkin...into bread? How does that work? And while we're at it, how do you put it into coffee? Wouldn't it be lumpy?

[Will has marked himself as someone who Knows These Things so now he has someone who is basically a stranger demanding an explanation of pumpkin spice. This is his life now. ]

Yeah, I'm not usually so good with the optimism myself. I leave that to other people.

[arrowtotheheal]

[This is maybe the most tame thing Will has ever had to explain. It's better than him going into weird, gross doctor stories and medical history.]

So, with the bread, you basically use a pumpkin puree to get the pumpkin flavor and color. Then, you mix it up with, you know, everything else to make a spiced bread. I can only guess with the coffee that they either make the pumpkin into a powder through dehydration, or they make it a pumpkin syrup, and then add in the spices.

[He can't help laughing, though.]

I get the feeling you and Nico would get along like a house on fire.

[droptheious]

[Lucky Will! Free from gross stories this one time!]

Ohhhhh, okay, I think I get it? It still seems a bit of a strange ingredient to put into anything- but I've started to realise that the future is full of things I really don't understand at all. This is just one of them to add to the pile.

Hah, really? He's got the pessimism down to a fine art too then, huh?

[arrowtotheheal]

[He's free from the stereotype this one time! Up until he starts talking about it over lunch/dinner.]

I'd probably say the same thing about some foods in the past, honestly. [Will tilts his head slightly.] Given how you said that, you're not from this time period, right?

[He asks that about as casually as someone asking how their day went.]

Gods yes. He can definitely be a Debbie Downer. [There's a look in his eye like there's an in-joke hidden in that statement.] He's also got dry humor down to a science. It can be hard to tell when he's joking sometimes.

[droptheious]

[Then truly, he will be doomed.]

Pffft, definitely not. I'm from 1820. Being here is very strange, I honestly might as well be on another planet sometimes.

[At least he's well used to answering this question. When you honestly couldn't tell someone what a toaster is if they asked you, it becomes obvious pretty quickly how time displaced you are.]

Oh...yeah, I get that a lot too. We probably would get along. Or snark each other into the sun, I guess. Whichever happens first.

[arrowtotheheal]

Hah! I know someone like that. Though, he's not as far back as you are. I think he's from somewhere around the late 1920s, early 1930s.

[JUST... Takes it in stride like it's totally normal. That's the Will Solace way.]

I hope not. I like him, and I've got a sneaking suspicion I'm going to like you, too.

[droptheious]

Still a century ahead then, but yeah. I'm used to being waaaaay behind pretty much...everyone else.

[Bless Will for being so unshakeable. But aw, that gets a little smile out of Varian.]

Hah, you might regret saying that a couple months down the line once you've got to know me and I've excidentally set fire to your house.

[arrowtotheheal]

Well, I'm happy to help with any questions you have on how... weird our culture got over the years. Oh! And medicine-related questions are good for me to answer.

[It takes a lot to shake him, at least. He smiles brightly at Varian.]

No joke, that wouldn't be the first time. You'd have to do a lot more than that to get rid of me.

[droptheious]

Thanks, honestly the more people willing to explain...pretty much the entirety of pop culture to me the better. [He needs so much help with that.] And sure! I know plenty about potions and poisons- not so much about the actual...healing process, though.

[But he knows about a hundred ways to poison someone :D]

That almost sounds like a challenge!

[arrowtotheheal]

I can definitely help with both. Uh, also, if you get hurt, I don't ask questions. I just treat injuries.

[And most likely scold Varian for getting himself injured if it was his own damn fault.

He smiles.]

I hope it's not a challenge, but you can certainly try.

[droptheious]

...Okay I am definitely taking you up on that last one.

[When Varian shows up on fire one day, Will brought this on himself.]

Sorry, the words have been spoken now. It's clearly a challenge.

[arrowtotheheal]

Good!

[That's fine. Varian will be treated as a son of Hermes from that point forward.]

Oh, no. Whatever will I do?

[droptheious]

[That gets a little snort of amusement out of him.]

Guess you're just doomed.

[arrowtotheheal]

[Will grins.]

I always knew doomsday would come for me eventually. Just didn't expect it to be in the form of a goth chemist.

[It's strangely fitting, though.]

Anyway, I suppose I should try to find out where I'm staying. You wouldn't happen to know where I need to go to figure that out, would you?

[droptheious]

It's always the people you least expect, right?

[Is he going to mention he once genuinely tried to Do A Big Murder? Nah. That's an afterwards sort of conversation.]

Oh! If you're not from this world, you can stay in the Zodiac Apartments. They're...kind of a dice roll how nice they are and the elevator like...never works, but you get free rent so long as you're willing to do a couple jobs for Zodiac once in a while. Me and my boyfriend live here and it's pretty okay.

[arrowtotheheal]

Well, if it wasn't Nico, then I guess it had to be a different goth kid.

[Listen, talking about trauma, death, the success or unsuccess of different murders, and things like that are always best to have on the second meeting or later. Or never, if you're feeling particularly squirrely!]

Convenient. I won't turn my nose up to free board, even if it means doing some jobs for them.

[He can think of worse things in trade for rent.]

Do they allow roommates?

[droptheious]

At least you're aware of your fate, huh? Not willing to fight it?

[Who wants to talk about trauma when they can talk shit like regular teenagers without boatloads of trauma!]

It's not so bad. Most of it is "go fetch this thing" or "go look at something over there". It's never anything...that difficult.

And yeah! Me and my boyfriend were roommates before we...weren't just roommates. Lots of people share apartments.

[It's tragic that Varian doesn't yet know the they were roommates meme. So sad. ]

[arrowtotheheal]

Nah, I'd rather make sure you two don't get yourselves killed. Or seriously injured. And if I can't, then I'll patch you up and scold you.

[The scolding is such a hidden threat coming from Will....]

Then, it's a fair enough trade in my books.

[He has to do it in his head, Oh my gods they were roommates. Will does NOT want to be the one to explain memes this time. Not today, Satan!!!]

Definitely good to know! In that case, I'm gonna head out to get my living situation sorted. Catch you later?

[droptheious]

See, that sounds like a legitimate threat. Spooky.

[He might be teasing, but the fool does not yet know what he brings upon himself.

Will had dodged a meme-shaped bullet this time.]

Sure thing. Good luck! Hope you get a not-terrible place to stay.

[arrowtotheheal]

[Oh, Varian... you sweet summer murderer.]

Thanks! Try not to blow yourself up, Varian.

[And he'll end the call there. He's got an apartment to grab!!]