video/ mid-afternoon

[scotch_egg]

[This was bullocks. This was absolute bullocks. He felt like he'd stepped into a rerun of the bloody Xfactor or whatever it was. Reincarnation, memories from another life, nonsense. Absolute rubbish. Yet he couldn't stop dreaming about it. Every night it had happened. The girl in the water, pulling her out, some agony tight in his chest-- and-- incredible loneliness. Incredible grief. More than once he'd woken up in tears and so was running on as little sleep as possible.

So when he appears on the feed, he's looking haggard and cross. He's never been much for technology. He's also wanted to avoid touching this... supernatural disaster-- but he's exhausted all other possibilities short of going to therapy and if it is connected to this-- organization, maybe someone can give him a clue]

My name is Crowley. I'm looking for a missing girl, about eleven to fourteen. Shoulder length dirty-blonde or brunette hair, wearing a locket. Heart shaped. If anyone's seen her, or knows anything about her, let me know.

Or if anyone can tell me about the Bureau. The truth about the Bureau. Not the interdimensional whatever it is. How prevalent are they? How prevalent are 'we'? Is anyone doing any sort of investigating at all?

[and while he knew it wasn't a good idea to question so openly on their own network, he needed information. And it would be interesting to see what they did with this threat, if anything.]

Comments

[temptationaccomplished]

[He frowned at him, puzzled by the stumbling request. Oh, Crowley, you awkward human being.]

Is this about the memories or are you going to try to give me the shovel talk?

[scotch_egg]

[that's why you use public transport in big cities, you big git, instead of riding around like you're too much of a tosser to fit into a motorcycle gang.

He wasn't even going to comment about the clown or he might say something that most of his acts of so-called rebellion were just embarrassments.

Anthony hadn't changed much, he noted as his cousin slid in opposite. He still looked irritating as ever with perpetual scowl and wearing sunglasses when he didn't even need to.]

How long have you been involved with this... memory thing.

[scotch_egg]

Shovel talk? [that's a new one. he wondered if he even wanted to know]

[temptationaccomplished]

I think that's what it's called, yes! [He was unduly pleased to explain a pop-culture reference to someone else for once.] That talk were you say something like: if you ever hurt him, I will break you.

I'm not entirely sure where the shovel comes in, to be honest.

[scotch_egg]

Hadn't occurred to me no. [though he would without a doubt break Fell if he actually hurt Anthony.]

It's-- He's not likely to be forthcoming about anything. And I'd like to-- [get to know you sounded like he was wanting to take him for dinner and a snog] --talk.

[serpentinthegarden]

[ Right to the point as always. No, hello... good to see you, love the hair, nope! Straight to the inquisition. ]

Little more than a month.

[scotch_egg]

[right. Because Anthony's hello, how are you, good to see you had already taken up a good chunk of time]

And you didn't think to tell anyone that you're two seconds from an extended holiday in the psych ward?

[temptationaccomplished]

Not forthcoming, yes. Well, I think being rather difficult seems to run in the family.

To...talk. Alright, I guess. Fine. When would be good for you?

[scotch_egg]

Why do people always say that? [they'd clearly never met any of his parents or even his Stepfather come to think of it.]

Sometime on the weekend unless you want to work around school hours.

[serpentinthegarden]

Now who's being over-dramatic. It's nothing like that!

You must have had one too? You were on the network and you couldn't have been if you didn't.

[ Unless he was working for the Bureau... Which didn't feel out of character for the snitch. ]

[temptationaccomplished]

Well, my friend's partner has a 'poetry' reading Saturday at 6 that I promised to attend ages ago. [There's definitely regret in there.]

...I don't suppose you're free around 6 on Saturday?

[scotch_egg]

Of course I had one. What kind of question is that?

It's something that shouldn't be happening. Not to more than one person. Not supposed government agencies saying it was bloody aliens or whatever. Something is going wrong and you didn't even think to question it?

[he shook his head]

What did you remember?

[scotch_egg]

[Oh God. Poetry. He hated poetry. So much. Especially the poetry of other people who thought they were clever when really they couldn't rhyme their way out of a paper bag on fire. Or put in little artistic flourishes that made him think of Shatner except that he'd lapsed into a coma every ten minutes]

I'll be there. [kill him now] Do I have to wear anything, or--?

[temptationaccomplished]

Well, you have to wear something. It's not that kind of gathering. But no, actually, I was hoping you could give me an excuse to get out of it.

Unless you'd like to go listen to pretentious drivel, but I've heard his poetry. He isn't very good. I don't know why they're dating.

[scotch_egg]

Of course I meant to wear something. [he flushed. Fell had known what he'd meant]

I try never to ask myself that question. [as he never really wants to know the answer]

Sure, let's do something else then. Dinner? Somewhere?

[serpentinthegarden]

How dumb do you think I am? Of course I questioned it! I've been questioning from the beginning and avoiding those meetings... The first time I appeared on the network was when you showed up.

[ That late night texting convo he had so didn't count. ]

What did you remember?

[scotch_egg]

Avoiding isn't questioning it's being bloody stupid. How can you find out anything if you're not there? But then assuming you would be where you should is always too much to bloody ask isn't it?

[he winced as his ulcer flared up. Not that he could do anything about it but hope it went away. Bloody American healthcare. He massaged the spot and leaned back against the booth]

You first.

[serpentinthegarden]

You wouldn't understand.

[ And he didn't want to talk about it. Oddly enough... he had only spoken of those memories to Mr. Fell and that seemed right some how. ]

You talk about it on the network?

[ He picked his phone out of his pocket and waved it in the air like a tease. ]

I could just go see what you said.

[scotch_egg]

Tell me anyway.

[he's not afraid of it being on the network. If he was he wouldn't have shared it. Anthony could read it and take his own thoughts on it]

I need to know.

[serpentinthegarden]

Missing girl and pulling her out of the water? So you saw this girl, you have no idea who she was, and you rescued her?

[ Sounded like a very simple sort of memory, not like the one he had ended up with... or the other one with Mr. Fell that some how seemed even more personal. ]

[scotch_egg]

No, she was dead. Three days dead in the water. And I went in the water to get her. [and he knew Anthony knew how he felt about water. He wouldn't even go out to wade normally.]

Tell me, Anthony.

[temptationaccomplished]

Can never be too sure, you know.

Dinner sounds wonderful. Where would be good for you? I'm located in Manhattan, but if you'd prefer somewhere closer to you...?

[scotch_egg]

[right. He knows when he's being mocked, but doesn't particularly care Fell's opinion of him]

Wherever. So long as I don't have to wear a bloody suit. [and preferably somewhere where the appetizer isn't the same price as a Mercedes]

[serpentinthegarden]

[ He did know how Alec felt about water... He vividly recalled the great wading pool freak out though there might have been other factors at play then.

There hadn't been a dead girl. That was an amazingly sobering thought. He was sorry that he had brought it up at all. He couldn't say he was sorry but, he could be a little more forthcoming. ]

It was probably just a remembered story that felt vivid... I was the serpent in the garden. I slithered over to Eve and got her to eat that apple.

[scotch_egg]

Fine. Don't tell me. [he couldn't even believe that. Couldn't even believe to begin that. It wasn't a memory it was a fairy tale. But fine. He never expected to get a straight answer out of him anyway]

I don't like it, this thing. It's too surreal. Too bizarre. Like I've stepped into Twilight or wherever that is. [he rubbed his stomach absently under the table, feeling the acid build up and knowing he wasn't likely to get any sleep tonight either]

I'm glad I came to watch your back. [because he didn't trust Anthony to watch his own.]