File #006 voice;

[unfringed]

Loki! Loki! We did it! HaHA! I knew we could do it. I only electrocuted myself once. Where are you? Come find me immediately!

Also whoever told me Loki wasn't real, you're a liar and liars never prosper. [Hrmph, so rude. It's almost enough to dampen his excitement at finishing one of his projects - almost. He's been working as apothecary, but it isn't the same as making something so new as an energy shield.]

...

There have been a lot of birthdays lately. I suppose it makes sense. Summer does tend to make people horny.

Happy birthday to all the May babies!

Comments

[unfringed]

Fascinating.... So you possess a method to warp the fabric of reality without using machinery? A born ability? Learned?

[complicatedliar]

I've always that the raw talent. It's a matter of figuring out how to craft the effect one wishes.

[unfringed]

Interesting... I will definitely need to quiz September on this.

It would certainly fall in line with the theory of godhood. A primitive people would have seen your abilities and attributed them to being beyond that of anything any mortal could possess.

[complicatedliar]

[He laughs.] My abilities are beyond what most people, mortal or immortal possess, really.

And really, Walter, humans of that age weren't at all difficult to impress.

[unfringed]

To be frank, humans of any age aren't that difficult to impress.

...

Although I do find myself very partial to the ass-warmers in car seats now. They didn't have those when I went into St. Clair's.

[complicatedliar]

[He laughs.] I was trying to be nice.

Oh, that does sound pleasant.

[unfringed]

To people you don't know?

[He can be nice, but on the whole, the population is too timid, too afraid of taking risks and making their own way for his liking. It makes him decidedly unhappy to see how the world went and lost its nerve after the 70s.]

But they did do that one thing right at least. It's too bad there are no cars here. I liked the seat warmers.

[complicatedliar]

When the mood strikes me.

I don't think there's really enough room here to warrant cars. But I've never liked them. [Well, he likes blowing them up. They explode so nicely.]

[unfringed]

I miss my car - she was a beauty. Although I can't drive her anymore.

[His busted up old station wagon. Perfect for hauling things.

He looks out over the mountainside and then steps back, pulling his hat down. He misses a lot of things, if he thinks about it.]

She didn't have seat warmers though. That was far after her time.

[complicatedliar]

Why can't you drive the car?

Ah, an older car, then.

[unfringed]

Out of practice. And some of my medications disqualify me.

[Like all the anti-psychotics he self-prescribes.]

I think I'm perfectly fine to drive, but for some reason my body doesn't quite listen.

[complicatedliar]

I had no idea that was how it works. Fascinating.

Hm. Curious. And that must be very annoying. Driving seems important to humans.

[unfringed]

I don't know why it does that either. It's very strange.

I've been getting better - hopefully soon I won't have as many problems as I had in the past. I've been-- I had been practicing. Driving myself places is about independence. It means I can do things by myself, the ability to no longer rely on those around me to have to clean up after me anymore. I may be old, but I'm hardly useless.

[complicatedliar]

I thought the point of medicine was to make one well and clear up all such problems. Your realm must want for a better sort of medicine.

Ah... yes, I think I understand that. Rather like how I feel about having my own horse. Such things are important. So many wish to control us by telling us where we can and cannot go. It's maddening.

[unfringed]

Oh, it does make things clearer for me. Much clearer.

[He folds his hands behind his back then changes his mind, wringing them in front of him, right hand holding the left.]

But yes, you are right, it's maddening... I have to take taxis everywhere unless my son drives me or I walk. And sometimes when I walk I get lost. Or rather, I discover new paths. Sometimes I would go and watch the fish tank in the cafeteria, help the person there who cleaned them, and wait until dawn. The early hours are more conducive to expanded thought...

[He's feeling homesick suddenly and frowns to himself, muttering numbers under his breath.]

[complicatedliar]

Night is always the best time for that.

[He looks at Walter curiously.] Walking one's own way is really the better policy.

[unfringed]

[He's still muttering to himself, wringing his right hand with his left, frowning. Peter would disapprove of all this. He'd be worried, wouldn't he? Even if they'd been through a rough patch, he'd still be worried... Or so Walter hoped. And what about Olivia? Her powers were... And then the world itself? September wasn't there anymore to protect them. If something were to go wrong...]

...I'd never forgive myself.

[Oh, did he say that out loud? He looks up, confused.]

But yes, no, I have to walk my own path. There's only one for me to take and I can't step off it now.

[complicatedliar]

For what?

Mmm. I know that feeling well. Though there are always other paths. They might just not be the ones you like best.

[unfringed]

[He jumps.] What? No, nothing. Nothing at all.

...and perhaps I should correct myself. There is only one feasible path.

[complicatedliar]

Ah, that is a much more accurate statement.

[He files the other thing away for later poking. No need to rush right now. He'll have all the secrets in the end.]

And this is a feeling I share. Some paths must be traversed completely if one wishes to survive.

[unfringed]

...If we wish to survive.

The entire world. Not just our world. All worlds. We have to survive.

[complicatedliar]

Ah. That sounds like a tricky situation.

[unfringed]

[It is. He's tried everything he can think of to stop the worlds from falling apart. He's almost killed himself trying to make himself smarter, nearly killed Peter doing it, and now the only hope they may have is for Walter to let Peter go, let him die to save the worlds.

How could anyone ask a father to do that?

Watler shook his head violently, pressing the heels of his hands against his temples. He couldn't think of this, not now. The worlds were still pulling each other apart and here he was gallivanting around with a Norse god? What was he doing? What was he thinking? He had to get back to the problem. He had to find a way to solve it. It was what he did - he solved problems. Even if he hadn't been able to solve Bell's problem, he could at least try to save the world. He had to get back. He had to--]

I have to go home!

[complicatedliar]

We all do, Walter.

Be calm. Be calm.

[unfringed]

No, you don't understand!

[He turned and tried to grab Loki by the collar, desperate.]

He'll die! I have to save him. I have to do something to save him and I'm here instead!