[Mingle] Don't walk across a graveyard at night (you'll trip and fall)

[ourearth]

Date: 18.9.19
Characters: OPEN

---

The local radio station is the first to spread it widely, but of course the news have already made the rounds around Moss Manor itself by the time they become official. Village gossip and all that.

And quite some news they are: The graveyard has been closed! Fences and tape have gone up, and if you stand on tiptoes and know where to stand and where to look, you can see the most visible reason for why that is: A sinkhole has opened near the centre of the graveyard, taking down two graves with a third tombstone balancing precariously at the rim of the sunk area. Luckily it hit the more historic part of the graveyard that has no recent burials in it, so it will be less emotionally impactful than what happened at Halloween last year, but it is still a dangerous development and has the vicar in a very unhappy situation.

Partly because there's press in the house yet again.

Press that is also bouncing around the whole Mossgate area trying to interview people in hopes of finding someone who will be hysteric about the situation. Or at least dramatically worried.

Most of Moss Manor's residents are unhelpfully calm, at least towards outsiders... but many are secretly treading very carefully and eyeing the ground closely wherever they walk. What, after all, if more sinkholes show up?

Comments

Encounter: Right outside Walter + Russell's flat.

[iamnotgod]

((Specifically, on Walter's bike))

Re: Encounter: Right outside Walter + Russell's flat.

[saveournpcs]

The problem with following people on bicycle rides is that there are very few places to hide. Cars are the opposite of a problem that way, as is public transport or walking. But bicycles? Well. A dormouse has to be inventive.

So it went for the only possible place. Under the saddle.

Which has worked fine so far, but today Walter's bicycle tips over when he reaches for it, having been leaning awkwardly even before that, and the mouse squeaks in fright when it starts falling.

[iamnotgod]

Walter picks up on two stimuli at the same time - my bike was not where I left it, and is that a mouse? - and it's only thanks to his lightning-quick reflexes that he steadies his bike with one hand and foot, and catches the mouse with his other hand.

Steadying himself, keeping that hand holding the mouse level, he does his best to keep calm.

"Are you alright there?" he asks, feeling slightly less silly than he would have if (A) he wasn't Numbered, (B) if he didn't know Chad, and (C) he hadn't met that dormouse woman during Pride week.

"You're safe now; I'm not going to drop you."

With one last check to make sure his bike isn't going to fall over now (and that there aren't MORE mice in there), he walks on to some nearby bushes.

"This might be a better place for you; here."

[saveournpcs]

The mouse freezes when it lands in his hand, just. Waiting.

Watching him proceed.

It stays still even as Walter walks and speaks, and only when he stops at the bushes turns around and squeaks at him, once.

And then it jumps off his hand, and at that moment Walter is hit with an echo. The resounding heartbeat this time will, deep down, remind him of listening to his mother's heartbeat in the womb, and make a feeling of safety and warmth flow through him.

And whatever he echoes, it will be something good that made his preincarnation happy.

[iamnotgod]

Briefly, Walter wonders if Sadie would have better luck understanding the mouse-

Then it jumps away, and the Echo hits, and it's a very good thing the heartbeat is heavy on the reassuring and warm feelings, because otherwise he would have fallen right to ground in a moment of 'fight, flight, or freeze'.

As a result, he has no idea where the dormouse goes, as his mind is completely preoccupied with both the sensation and the content of the Echo.

____

And once he's parsed it, he sends out a text to everyone he'd told about Nick.

Had another Echo. Good news this time, though I'm not entirely certain how to feel about it.

Text, old man handwriting

[scarsolderthanyou]

Yeah? What happened?

[Text]

[iamnotgod]

Apparently Nick, the boy Webmind tried to talk out of suicide, survived.

The boy didn't say much, but he did say thank you.

[Another text, quickly thereafter:]

There's more to it, though. Webmind violated someone else's privacy to try and convince Nick someone cared about him - and that person found out.

And given how I've changed, after January... I'm worried.

[scarsolderthanyou]

Worried you'll do that, again? Do you want to do that? Violate people's privacy?

[iamnotgod]

[Aaand THAT'S the kicker. Even though it's just writing, Walter winces.]

I don't know. I couldn't say. Not... unprovoked? But I know that definition of provocation has been skewed, for me.

[scarsolderthanyou]

Looks like if you want to not do it again, you'll have to just keep an eye on yourself. Or get someone or something else to keep an eye on you, for you, if you don't trust yourself. You could text one of us whenever you get the urge and we'll talk you down. Or tell you it's okay to do, if it is.

[iamnotgod]

I know. And I have been, but I still worry it's not enough.

[That there's no one who can intervene fast enough.]

[scarsolderthanyou]

[Sam thinks on that a minute.]

What about those programs that turn the internet off after a certain time? Maybe you could use one of those, change it so that it turns the internet off if you're doing something you shouldn't.

[iamnotgod]

I'll have to warn Russell about that one.

[Because, even if it works and he doesn't just find himself working to subvert it in the moment, the pessimistic assumption is that it's going to end in a lot of Wi-Fi flickerings...]

But I'll look into it, yeah.

[scarsolderthanyou]

In the meantime, you know you can call me whenever.

[He knows that's not necessarily going to help, but he's always gonna remind him. They aren't exactly friends, but he likes the kid, and they all gotta stick together here, right?]

I like this CR. ;;

[iamnotgod]

Thanks.

[Both for the reminder, and what it symbolizes.]

Text

[faimommy]

Glad it's good news this time! Want to meet at the usual place? Or I can make tea and snacks if you want to come here. If you're not tied up that is. ^-^

Re: Text

[iamnotgod]

I can come over to your place, that's fine.

[At least there are no more mice on his bike...]

I think I can afford to finish the errand later, for once.

Re: Text

[faimommy]

Yay! I'll get everything ready, then!

Herbal or fruit tea? And any preference on snacks?

Text -> Action in a fairly short amount of time. XD

[iamnotgod]

Fruit is fine. No preference on snacks.

See you soon!

[And, though Walter does go at a 'normal' speed to give Rune time to prepare, it will in fact be a short amount of time before he's at the door, knocking politely.]

Action

[faimommy]

[Rune goes out of his ways to make some simple cucumber sandwiches with blackberry tea. He's just pouring the water on the tea when he hears the knock on his door. He heads over and answers it with a smile.]

'Ay! Yuu gaht'ere quick!

[Hey! You got here quick!

He steps aside to let Walter in.]

Mek yerself comfurt'ble; Ah'll beh done suun.

[Make yourself comfortable; I'll be done soon.

He heads back to the kitchen to bring the teapot, cups, plates, and sandwiches out, along with honey, sugar, and cream.]

Re: Action

[iamnotgod]

[Once he's inside, he steps out of the way of the door with a grateful smile.]

I'll wait.

[He deliberately makes himself not look at anything online while the seconds pass, choosing instead to focus on what he's about to bring up. It's sobering enough, in any case, though he does bring back a smile for the offered treats.

The only thing he adds to the tea is honey.]

Thank you, Rune. This is lovely.

[faimommy]

Iis mah plehzhur. Eneethin fer ah fren~.

[It's my pleasure. Anything for a friend~.

Rune settles himself into a seat, sorting himself out with tea and cream, and then turns all his attention to Walter to listen. He won't push, though; he knows Walter will speak when he's ready.]

[iamnotgod]

[In the end, Walter doesn't pay all that much attention to the food. He hasn't exactly needed much of it, lately, as much as he tries to play the matter down.]

That time I asked for help. It- I was talking someone out of killing themselves, and had an Echo of Webmind's first time doing the same.

[Clearing his throat a little, he continues.]

Only, I didn't see, back in that memory, whether his efforts were as successful as mine in the here-and-now.

Today, however, I found out for sure that it had taken. That he - Nick - had survived.

[faimommy]

AH!

[Rune jumps up, almost dropping his tea. He catches himself, though not without spilling a few drops, and he breaks into a huge smile.]

Tha's greht t'hear! Ahm so happeh fir yuu n yer fren!

[That's great to hear! I'm so happy for you and your friend!

A pause as he realizes how... different that probably sounds. As if they are still currently friends.]

Bahck thn, ah mean. Ahm glad ii ahl werked aht.

[Back then, I mean. I'm glad it all worked out.]

... Derp, forgot the CW for suicide mention/discussion. -_-;

[iamnotgod]

[Walter has the presence of mind to look appropriately apologetic for spilling all that on Rune at once.]

I don't know if he was close enough to count as a friend, precisely... but it's good news, regardless.

[He sips more of his tea.]

Of course, that was only one of the two occasions I'd Echoed back, after that incident when I asked for help; I don't have a resolution for the other, and I don't know if I'll ever get it.

[Or if he deserved to, the darker corners of his mind whispered.]