[Voice]
[There's a quiet crunching sound before Mulder speaks up, sounding thoughtful.]Show of metaphorical hands. Or antennae, whichever you're partial to: Who here has been kidnapped for a special one-on-one date with our captors? I'd like to arrange an off-journal meeting to speak about your personal experiences if anyone happens to have some free time
( Read more... )
... But I would be pleased to provide a direct account, should I ever be able to. [And he definitely will be able to, one day, because his mun is cruel.]
Would you need any assistance in obtaining those supplies? [Robert is a bit lonely/depressed still and is not against the idea of helping Mulder out.]
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[Mulder knows it's insane and he shouldn't WISH to be abducted. But he does kind of want to know all there is to know...]
If you want to head out and find me, I'm poking around the shops. [Laughs lightly.] Just promise not to think any less of me if it turns out that I'm not exactly on the hunt for any... serious supplies.
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Besides, I might find some supplies for something I was considering myself. A sort of... unofficial project to commemorate a special someone... [Specifically, supplies to set up a small but workable hydroponics garden.
... He's going to grow some small indoor flowers, in honour of Vivi.]
... Er, i-if you do not mind... perhaps I will see you there? [And Robert takes the journal with him - still open, mind you - down to the shops with him. Mulder's welcome to chat more on the way, because, as much as Robert's walking speed and ability has increased during his stay in Luceti, he's still kind of slow.]
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[He sets the book nearby as he goes through some items.]
They really do have almost everything here, I've found. Always almost. But maybe you'll find what you're after.
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... It'll just get worse soon, of course, but Robert doesn't know that.]
I hope so. I am simply looking for the components necessary to build a small hydroponics garden, for my apartment...
[Softly:] I wish to... grow some flowers... f-for, for my former foster daughter here in Luceti. Miss Vivi Aislinn. [It still stings to say this, but it cuts more shallowly; the pain isn't as intense as it was. Robert's voice only barely hitches.
... Mulder should see him arriving at the store pretty soon after that, by the way. He is carrying the simple white cloth bag he tends to have on shopping excursions.]
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[And Mulder does notice him coming, so he closes his journal, figuring this is something better said in person, anyway. He waves to catch his attention, then approaches. Already, he's found an aquarium decoration, but not much else.]
A garden sounds like a great idea to remember her, I'm sure she'd appreciate the gesture. That and it'll keep you busy, too.
[Mulder knows he finds it best to focus on doing something whenever things get bad.]
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Robert nods at the wave, trying to manage something like a weak, quick smile in greeting. It comes out a little strained due to the topic, but he manages.]
... It... it was something she had... e-expressed interest in, and so I thought it would be a... fitting tribute.
[Something small and soft. Something sweet. Pinks and yellows.
It'd be like having a little bit of Vivi around beyond that letter in her delicate handwriting and the replica of her beloved hat.]
... At any rate... what exactly are you looking for...?
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[Mulder glances around the area and shakes his head.]
I'd hoped to find a basketball here, but so far I'm out of luck. I got some fish food and something for my tank, though.
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... So it seems... quite permanent, to me.
And perhaps it is some... selfishness on my part. [Selfishness for wanting what felt like his foster daughter back.
Mulder's odd request distracts his attention, though.] ... A basketball? ... [He thinks he recognizes those, actually...]
What do you need one for?
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[Another glance to the stuff in the shop, but he's thinking no luck for today.]
Mostly, just for something to bounce around when things get tedious and dull. I also like to play, but I know better than to wish for a hoop and a ball both to pop up out of the blue together.
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Robert scans the shop's shelves for Mulder's sake, trying to locate what he vaguely thinks a basketball looks like, but... nothing. He sighs a little in defeat after a moment.]
Ah, a sport... I, er, was never particularly effective with th-those. [And by that Robert means he's hideously terrible at every sport ever, if it wasn't already blindingly obvious. To cover up his own awkwardness, he starts systemically searching the shelves for tubing and the like for his homemade hydroponics system.]
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[Mulder is one of the rare geeks who is also rather sporty. And man does he miss watching games, in addition.]
...Anyway, about the Malnosso and their abductions. That's what bothers me too, there appears to be no discernible pattern, no sense to it at all.
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I... I might be amicable... P-Provided that, er, the audience is disinclined to, er, make a mockery of me...
...
And, yes. There really does not seem to be any sort of pattern. It is random noise.
... Though several of their decisions appear to be motivated by deliberate cruelty and exploitation of our anxieties... [Like vivisecting Raphael.]
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Don't worry, there doesn't need to be an audience. We can just play one-on-one, or with a small group.
[Mulder winces at what Robert says, figuring what he's referring to.]
Yeah. That's one of the worst cases I've heard about so far. Have you come across other such... effects or tests they've run on anyone?
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I... actually have.
...
A friend of mine, a magician - Mr. Sprensonne - had one of his eyes blinded temporarily and had his magic modified to do harm to him when he used it, which forced him to not use it for awhile - something that caused him significant amounts of stress.
... Another friend of mine, Mr. Giles, was blinded by the Malnosso entirely.
[Robert exhales slowly.] Definitely... targeted attacks.
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