citynet | video | un: NAILS

[ the video begins with badou wearing one of his usual tees, carefully setting his phone down so the camera angle can spot him sitting on his living room floor surrounded by an array of dresses. affixed to his wrist is a little cloth pumpkin, stuck full of needles and pins. he's without his usual cigarette, instead sucking on a lollipop that stains his lips bright red. last time he made a post on the network his neck was bruised and bandaged — this time it's the same thing, but the bruise is angrier, spreading across his neck and shoulder, disappearing under a bandage and gauze that looks about ready to get changed in an hour or two. ]

Evenin'.

[ he picks up the skirt of one of the dresses, flipping it inside-out to access the pocket he'd been working on attaching. ]

So I'm sittin' here, mendin' dresses — as you do — and I nicked myself pretty good and I'm thinkin', well, shit, that's another one I gotta wait on, y'know?

[ he lifts a forefinger, displaying a bandage that looks an awful like like dora the explorer, and wiggles it in the direction of the camera. ]

It got me thinkin'—

How many of us here are just regular ol' humans? Or whatever. I'm talkin' no magic, no special augmentations, no fancy shamcy abilities that got you doin' better than the average guy.

[ he pauses to finish off a stitch, making a knot with his thread and cutting the excess with his teeth. ]

See, where I'm from, that ain't the norm. But that doesn't seem to be the case around here.

[ oh, one more thing— ]

And if you are one of the special ones, go ahead and tell us what you can do. Why not, right? What else do any of us got to hide at this point?

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A girl, younger than me.

Before my mentorship, I had a shitty little office in the alleys of the city. When I had that spell at my disposal, a broke mother came to me with her kid. I healed her. Not perfectly, mind you; Sylvian is not the most dependable Goddess. But it was enough, and more than the mother could have expected.

...I've never been very good at ignoring people who need help, I suppose. Since I never got a damned thing handed to me, it's easier to empathize when you know someone needs help without knowing who to turn to.

Hm. [ he crunches on the lollipop finally. ] It takes a good heart to be a good doc. Even bigger one to keep going. Glad to know we've got one on hand around here, even if we get flung right back when we're not supposed to.

[ but let's back up a little. ]

Don't know much about gods and goddesses. The only church I ever knew had a big ol' phony in charge anyway. I take it they're more around where you're from?

Some doctors might disagree with you. My mentor told me getting emotionally invested is a horrible idea. ...But I've never been good at doing what I'm told anyway.

Unfortunately, they're extremely prominent where I'm from. But, it's how I have my abilities, so... what can you do.

Dunno about you, but I don't think I'd wanna trust someone to save me if they weren't a little invested in makin' sure I made it out okay.

So what's it like? You make some kinda offerin' to a god and see if they like you?

A lot of them see it as a job and only that. I'm not saying they're right, of course.

...Depends on the god, honestly. Not really something I want to get into. Suffice it to say, people are better off not doing anything to appease them.

And you, doc? You see it as a callin'?

Take it a blessin' can be a curse too? [ hm hmmm hm ] You mentioned a price.

...I don't know. I used to tell myself that it'd be nicer to open a bar, since being a doctor is a lot of work, but I'd probably just regret it if I did that. So I guess I'm stuck as one.

Mm. There's always a price when you call upon the gods for prayer and aid. For their blessings. So yes, there are... curses, we'll say. Each one has their own demands in order to hold affinity with them, and eventually their gifts.

You're doin' a fair bit of bartendin' here anyway. Doc that moonlights as a sympathetic ear who can also hook you up with a decent Blowjob. [ :) ] Nothin' says you can't chase two dreams, eh?

These gods of yours — they can still hear you? Even here?

My hands are a bit too full to really do much bartending unless it's a special event, like Don's party or something. It's all right, I can still make drinks in my apartment.

...They seem to. At least enough to lend their power. Beyond that, well, I'm sure they don't give a fuck.

S'that an open invitation?

[ but. hm. ]

They ever answer back?

Sure, if you want a good cocktail.

[anyway. god talk. bummer.]

Not with words. Not usually.

Never don't.

[ especially here, when even his regular vices aren't enough anymore. ]

I'm not a prayin' kinda man, so this is pretty interestin' for me. Anyone can get 'em listenin'?

My door's open. Any preferences?

[There's a pause, then darkly Daan answers:]

If you pay the right price. Which I wouldn't recommend, as someone who has.

[ it's audio, so badou can't see, but he remembers the eyepatch. he wonder if he's just projecting.

he hums thoughtfully, finishing off a stitch. ]

I like 'em sweet, and fruity, and hard.

[ ah. ]

I got two more skirts to go. What's your door situation lookin' like in an hour?

Can do. Tequila Sunrise it is.

Available for a visitor. I'll see you later, Badou.

( continued here )

video | un: NAILS

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