video.

[jokesonthem]

[It's been two weeks since Reim arrived, and he's sort of vaguely managed to settle in. Which means the opportunity has arisen to dive headfirst into Modern Technology that will confuse him greatly, of course. At least he knows which way to hold the NV, as he addresses it politely,]

Hello, [beat] city. I've recently arrived, and from a place very much unlike this one, so please excuse my ignorance of proper procedure when I ask-

How would one go about learning to drive a car? Could someone-- if it isn't too much, that is, lessons would be... appreciated. Although I'm afraid I don't have any experience whatsoever.

[Pause. He makes a face.]

Well. I've driven a tank, but...

[But we don't talk about Tank Day. Reim taps his fingers thoughtfully before adding, brightly,]

I am also interested in obtaining some work.

[He gives the NV a little smile, the perfect, practiced smile of a professional who knows when to be extra nice.]

Of course, any assistance will-- BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP [--be interrupted by the very sudden sound of an alarm going off on his NV (accidentally set without his knowledge, oops), which makes him shout and drop the thing--it lands on his toes, he yelps again, and it turns itself off when it hits the floor.

Flawless first impressions.]

Comments

[maddeninghatter]

[ There's no mistake. His new right eye is... ]

No, you spend time doing dull things.

[ ...definitely... ]

I'd rather get the boring stuff over with in a--ugh!

[ ...wiggling. ]

[jokesonthem]

Not that dull--

[Alright, now it's too much to ignore. He's already reaching for another of those bandages, as a clean bandage is... definitely the answer to everything? It could help.]

What? What is it?

[maddeninghatter]

[ The jig is up. Break grimaces-- ]

I don't know!

[ And then, he's way ahead of you. Changing the bandages is a capital idea, or at least taking this one off seems like a plan. He slides a finger beneath the tape and pulls--

Yep. That's a bright gold eye, definitely wiggling. But as soon as you come into its field of vision, Reim...

zzzzup!

...it stops wiggling and zooms over, training itself right on your face. Independent of the other eye, too. ]

[jokesonthem]

[Well, at least they're sort of on the same page--WHY]

Is it supposed to move like that-- [Oh no IT SEES HIM.

... Is that good? Reim is frozen in his chair, uselessly holding up a bandage, having apparently forgotten he took it out a moment ago.]

Xerxes, what exactly did you have put in your face?!

1/2

[maddeninghatter]

[ He can see--! ]

Ah!

[ --something. It's Reim's form, it's got to be, some sort of outline, except - it's bright. So bright. In fact, the brightest part of him is... ]

2/2

[maddeninghatter]

Ha! Haha! What an enormous shining brow you've got there, Mister Reim!

[jokesonthem]

[why this]



[It takes him a second.]

Shut up!

[And then he's finally on his feet, getting up close to Break, but instead of throwing things at him he holds his hand up and waves it in Break's face. Just like before, but for the opposite reason.]

Does it- does it work?

1/3

[maddeninghatter]

[ Hilarious! Reim's forehead! It's glowing, like the rest of him, but so much more brightly, so big and round and, as he draws near, it looks so-- ]

Hahahahaha!

[maddeninghatter]

[ DELICIOUS??? ]

3/3

[maddeninghatter]

[ Break squeezes his eye shut, claps his hand over it and recoils away from Reim! ]

I-- I think it still needs to heal!

[jokesonthem]

[This isn't hilarious at all, it's strange and troubling. Reim stops.]

Of course it needs to heal-!

[He's still holding the clean bandage, so, hesitantly, he approaches again.]

At least let me put the bandage on it.

[maddeninghatter]

Yes.

[ He draws his hand away, slowly; but keeping that eye still squeezed shut. ]

Y-yes, all right.

[jokesonthem]

[This eye thing was a terrible idea, Reim is increasingly convinced. He doesn't snap at Break to hold still; too jumpy, too reminiscent of the way he was after he fell out of the Rainsworth gate.

Reim is quiet, and his ministrations with the bandage, delicate. Gentle. He does, however, retain the sense to work quickly.]

... There. How long is it supposed to take?

[maddeninghatter]

I'm supposed to go back in a week. For a check-up.

[ He traces the outline of the bandage with his fingers; then twitches his heavy fringe back into place, covering it completely. ]

You can...

[ How gently Reim is taking care of him. He'd done this on purpose to stop people from fussing over him - but it seems to have had the opposite effect. He blushes, feeling for the first time, ashamed. ]

You can come with me, if you like.

[jokesonthem]

[A week. Well then, he'll have to find some reason to insist on coming along, and-- no, wait, Break is actually saying he's allowed? Without giggling and calling him naggy, even.]

Sure.

[He gives Break's sleeve a slight tug, back towards the chair he was in. Sit...!

There is a pause, in which Reim calculates the precise moment to change the subject (sort of)-]

This is why I ought to learn to drive.

[maddeninghatter]

[ He sits, without protest. ]

You think you'll learn to drive in a week? Haha!

[ It had taken him only a few minutes, but still. This is Reim. ]

HE'LL WANT TO MEMORIZE THE MANUAL FIRST!

[ Headless!Emily has to get a word in. ]

[jokesonthem]

Well, in the future...

[In the future when he takes it upon himself to drive everyone everywhere, despite how much he is also going to complain the whole time.

--Emily, no. She doesn't even have a head, she isn't allowed to "get a word in"... HUFF.]

I'm very good at memorizing, besides.

[maddeninghatter]

He's right Emily. He is. Very, very good. At memorizing. Of course, we know there's more to driving than memorizing things ha ha ha!

[ Reim, baby, no. You're making him feel so guilty! ]