sirenspull | Eighteenth Power

[Video of the boy sitting at a work space, somewhere at home. He is surrounded by... parts. Mechanical parts. And the body of what looks like a robotic dog that has been disassembled and being pieced back together. At the moment it is about the size of a Dalmatian...]

[The boy looks a little... flat. upset even, but not angry. He has a hind leg in his hand, all metal parts and wires. With his goggles on his head he talks down to the leg, but speaking to the video]

So...Birthday plans went well this week. Thanks guys. especially you, Trauma. And yes, that’s the best thanks you’ll get from me.

[there is a click of metal and the leg kicked twice, settled and he sat it down. Leaning on his knees now he looked to the video]

So, I’m looking for my mother. Cambria? Who saw her last? Anyone? Tried giving her a call today but it’s disconnected. [he rubbed his nose, glancing off to the side, clearly annoyed.] Not that it’s important or anything. Probably got sent home, but... thought I’d check.

Anyhow... So, who wants to go drinking tomorrow? I mean it. [he reached out to flick his device off, looking as if he’s trying not to be disappointed. Anyone who hacks (or is in the house) might find/hear a small attacked voice note, private to Cambria, simply saying “Mom? If you hear this... say something, huh?”]

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No problem. [Except he had no idea that Cambria had kids. Especially a teenager. He doesn't remember Cambria looking like she could've had a teenager at one point.]

I didn't really know her, either. I just met her a while back: she found me passed out, then she dragged me off the street, gave me shit for drinkin' so much, an' then made me eat soup.

[A beat.] She's kinda a weird lady.

[he just sits there a moment... frowning. --Well yes, She had four kids, man. Josie was a bit older then him too. Not mentioning family though, as it only makes him homesick and depressed.]

That... sounds like her. She was a nurse. [rolling his eyes too] Big on health and all that. Not fond of drinking. [Ironic that his post is about drinking too. Pfft]

And she's not weird, man, she's my mom.

Yeah, I can see that. I didn't even want her help--like I'm gonna be hungover in some strange lady's apartment. But she totally forced me to stay.

All moms are weird, kid. That's just a fact of life.

Wait! You were in her apartment!? [You are being stared at now... damn it. Don't tell her SON that you were in her PLACE.]

And my mom wasn't weird. She was... was... [Frowning now. Damn it, it was his father who was weird. Mom was amazing.] She was the best.

Jeez, kid. Yer actin' like I fucked yer mom or somethin'. S' not like that. I already told you I was drunk an' she made me sleep it off. There's nothin' more to tell you, so do you think you can calm down?

[That last thing you said just prompts Pickles to give you a weird look. That look he gets when he hears something really lame and he's trying to decide whether to give the person shit or not.] You really think she's flown outta here?

[Yeah yeah... over reactions. Damn it, he rubbed his face, scowling] i'm calm, I'm calm. I know she wouldn't do shit like that.

[frowning, all of it. He was just in a bad mood and having trouble hiding it. He's a mamas boy] Most likely. It's what happens to people, right? Makes it easier to assume that anyhow.

[Pickles is quiet for a while, scrubbing his beard with the heel of his hand as he digests this information.] ...Huh. Well that sucks.

[She was a nice lady: way cooler than his own mom, at least. Furthermore, thinking about Caster vanishing not long after he stayed in her place during the blizzard, and now Cambria being missing in action makes Pickles feel a little cursed. But that stupid notion doesn't linger too long.] But y'know, probably for the better. I mean, you won't have yer mom breathin' down yer neck now 'bout drinkin', right?

[That... made him smile a little bit, though it was a distant smile. He looked back down to tinkering on the dog]

Oh yeah. She doesn't need to know that.

My mom caught me drinkin' 'bout a hundred times when I was a kid. It ain't fun, trust me.

Yeah? Mine would have a fit if she found out. [Kind of wishing she was here to find out anyhow... mostly cus he wants her alive and shit...] Not that she will now, huh.

I dunno. [He shrugs to emphasize this point.] Seems like people come back sometimes, but sometimes they don't. I honestly can't tell ya.

Yeah. [A small shrug himself...] I've been around enough to see that happen. A lot. We'll see if she does or not. Might be best if she doesn't though.

Yeah, I can see that.

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