[the last voyages] ic inbox

[onlyhearmusic]

[a lyrical hum cuts in, almost as if someone didn't know what they were doing]

"Leave yer message."

[oh. no, he knew. he just didn't care. the beep comes after another brief humming stops.]

Comments

[abrightboy]

I guess that depends whether you have anything interesting to say. Piano wire is a unique choice. Do you always carry some with you or did you have to find some?

[onlyhearmusic]

Use yer head, lad.

[abrightboy]

Well, my assumption is that you got it from a piano. Maybe the one in the art gazebo?

[onlyhearmusic]

[That does not deserve validation in his mind.]

What draws you to tha 'fatal arts,' boyo? Did ya see a dead body when ya were young? Did ya Mommy or Daddy die in front of ya? Just morbidly curious? A bit of a freak?

[abrightboy]

It's sort of the family business. It's not hard to find piano here, it's true, but there are easier materials to acquire that would make perfectly serviceable garrottes. The piano wire has some sort of special meaning to you.

[onlyhearmusic]

And does that matter in the grand scheme of things? I'm already in a prison, boyo, ya don't have ta find evidence fer a jury.

[abrightboy]

We don't have juries. ...Or trials. This is just a hobby of mine. Well. It's my job, normally. Let's call it a jobby. It's more about satisfying my curiosity. I'm interested in what makes you tick. Or. Garrotte, as the case may be. So. Piano wire. What's that about?

[onlyhearmusic]

[He sounds so disappointed.]

My point exactly, lad. [There's a long enough pause that it's almost safe to assume he's ended the call without hanging up. Except he finally speaks again.] And what do I get out of it if I amuse ya with this little interview?

[abrightboy]

What do you want out of it?

[onlyhearmusic]

A good night's rest would be nice, but I don't think ya can guarantee that.

[Is he joking? Maybe, maybe not.]

[abrightboy]

Depends what you mean by good night's rest. I have some xanax. I'd be willing to part with a couple.

[onlyhearmusic]

I have no idea what that is, lad. Though I doubt it would help with my...particular problem.

[abrightboy]

It’s a heavy sedative I take in the mornings to calm me down. What sort of problem do you have? I’m… intimately acquainted with sleep disorders.

[onlyhearmusic]

That sounds like a problem waiting to happen, lad. [He takes moment to inhale deeply and exhale in a controlled sigh.] I ain't lookin' fer medicine, boyo. It ain't about that. It's about what yer warden pal did ta me hearin'.

[abrightboy]

My ‘pal’?

[onlyhearmusic]

Don't be so obtuse. One of ya damn wardens.

Ulla, her name was.

[abrightboy]

Right, well, if you’re talking about whatever she decided was the appropriate penalty for what you did… I don’t know her well, but I know this: you don’t want to cross her. What did she do?

[onlyhearmusic]

A right good punishment, truly. I commend her fer her cleverness. It works perhaps a bit more than she expected though...

Tha noise makes it quite hard ta get any sleep.

[abrightboy]

Noise inside your head or outside your head?

[onlyhearmusic]

[He hadn't anticipated that question. He huffs as if offended.]

What tha hell is that supposed ta mean? What does that matter?

[abrightboy]

The techniques for dealing with it are different depending on which one it is.

[onlyhearmusic]

No. Her curse gone fer yer interview. No substitutions.

[abrightboy]

Okay. I have decades of experience with psychosis and disrupted sleep, but you want what you want. FYI, there is nothing you have or know that anyone will be willing to cross Ulla for. Call me if you change your mind. Sleep tight!

[He disconnects.]

[onlyhearmusic]

[He won't. Music > sleep.]