the 002nd. || voice

[pike]

[ Much like Nigel's first post, there is only silence when the device first clicks on. Eventually, though, the young man on the other end of the connection clears his throat. His tone is politely curious. ]

I've been told that the dead do not stay dead here and in ways much more involved than the occasional curse. Which leaves me wondering, City: is there no need for undertakers here?

[ There's a pause and then Nigel adds: ]  I had hoped to make myself useful.

Comments

audio;

[pike]

[ An Amish serial killing sociopath. At least it'd be a first for everyone involved. ]

Seems a bit of a change of address, occupationally speaking.

audio;

[thenormalsquint]

[Oh yeah. He's certainly unique in that way.]

A little bit, but I did minor in computer science in college and I used computers for identification purposes at home too.

audio;

[pike]

So did you study art at university? Or medicine? You did call yourself an artist.

audio;

[thenormalsquint]

I have a bachelor's in fine art. The closest to medicine I've gone is getting my master's in biomedical illustration. That was enough medicine for me.

audio;

[pike]

Squeamish?

audio;

[thenormalsquint]

Beyond belief.

audio;

[pike]

[ He laughs. ]

Then I imagine getting your master's was a harrowing experience.

audio;

[thenormalsquint]

Very. Especially when I saw the tuition bill.

audio;

[pike]

Such is the case with education. American, is it? Or perhaps from some random planet unknown to myself where everyone just sounds American.

audio;

[thenormalsquint]

Nope, just regular old America on regular old planet Earth.

I take it you're not American?

audio;

[pike]

I'm hearing that answer less and less each day. Believe me, 'regular old' anything is quickly becoming sorely missed.

English. Leeds, in particular.

audio;

[thenormalsquint]

After a while, you get used to it. Hearing somebody tell you that they're an alien vampire dog from outer space doesn't even make me blink anymore.

Ah, I lived in London for a while. Two weeks a while. I'm Angela, by the way.

audio;

[pike]

Angela. I'm Nigel. Nigel Colbie. Hello.

[ He muses on what she's just told him. ] Did you not take to England? Or were you simply passing through?

audio;

[thenormalsquint]

No, I was just... looking. Searching, really. Nice place, but I didn't stick.

audio;

[pike]

[ Genuinely curious. ]

Searching for what?

audio;

[thenormalsquint]

Beauty. Life. Love. The muses.

[Welcome to Angela aka Queen Flighty aka Princess Secret Hippie, Nigel.]

audio;

[pike]

Inspiration can be found in the strangest of places.

[ So sayeth the boy who's given his life meaning by convincing himself he's one of the Knights Templar. ]

And what did you find?

audio;

[thenormalsquint]

Another ex and a plane ticket to Italy.

audio;

[pike]

[ Another passing laugh. ]

Should have made it France.

audio;

[thenormalsquint]

France was before London and then again after Italy and Australia.

audio;

[pike]

I spent my summers as a child in France. I had a great aunt that kept bees.

[ Nigel pauses, a strange distant quality in his voice, when he says: ] It's a lovely place.

audio;

[thenormalsquint]

What part?

audio;

[pike]

Les Baux-de-Provence. In the mountains.

audio;

[thenormalsquint]

Oh, I wanted to go there, but never got the chance.

audio;

[pike]

Provence is the only place I ever really been able to travel to. Beyond the various schools I've attended. [ Nigel pauses, considers. ] It must have been quite a luxury. Seeing that much of the world.