(SPEECH TO TEXT) FROM: @OBJECTION | TO: @ALL

[murdocksboy]

I've been advised against using my real name, so I suppose for now you can call me Jack. As a relatively recent addition to COST, I'm curious to learn more about my fellow recruits. What led to your decision to join up? What has your experience been like?

And maybe most pressing at this moment: do any of you have advice on how you dealt with your near-death experience and the recovery following it?


@OSCARBAIT | @SPIRITFINGERS | @APPLEDIE

I hope you've had better success than I have.

Comments

@SPIRITFINGERS; private

[inconstantly]

well

i have more money than i know what to do with, i'm mostly recovered from my injury sustained in spectacular victory, i have almost as much wine as i do money, and i never want for a warm bed

so i'd say yes, considerably better than you

[murdocksboy]

you're nothing if not candid. i'll give you that.

any chance of talking you into sharing a little of that excess wine

[inconstantly]

what's the occasion

celebrating the land of the living?

[murdocksboy]

sure let's call it that

[inconstantly]

if you didn't ask for the wine i'd insist on pouring some down your throat after an answer like that

are you currently at the our temporary residence

[murdocksboy]

won't be necessary

if you mean the cost quarters on jhasch then yes

[inconstantly]

i see your location is public, let me bring the wine to you

how many bottles do you anticipate you will need

[murdocksboy]

depends on whether you expect me to share

[inconstantly]

i wouldn't be so inhospitable

be there shortly

[John arrives a few minutes later, not bothering with a knock and helping himself in to Matt's room. Was it locked? Oops, sorry about that.

He holds a rucksack over his shoulders, heavy glass bottles clanking against each other. Matt's easy to find, sitting on the floor, legs crossed. John soon joins him with a heavy plop to the ground, taking the bag with him. After pulling the bag off his shoulders John sways in Matt's direction to give him a nudge.]

Are you a sweet or dry man?

[murdocksboy]

[ Mediation helps more than anything right now, both in keeping Matt centered in general and in helping him rein in his thoughts when he starts to obsess over recent experiences. So he's been doing a whole lot of meditating lately.

He hears the rattle of glass and the slosh of liquid along with footsteps approaching the door, smells fermented fruit and an odd odor vaguely reminiscent of tobacco. It's enough to identify his visitor, so he doesn't move from his position on the floor, instead finishing the set of breathing exercises before responding.

When he does, it's with a thin smile for the nudge and the question. ]

Sweet, although there are people who'd argue that point. Thanks.

[inconstantly]

Well I'd call you more of a mix myself. Sweet and sour as opposed to sweet and dry, though that application seems to work best with food. [John begins unzipping the sack, placing one bottle in front of Matt and one in front of himself.] Never let anyone tell you you aren't unique.

[Without wasting time John gets to work opening his own bottle with a popping sound.] No need for a bottle opener on these things. Just pull the cork straight off. Didn't bring glasses so if you want to be fancy you'll have to get your arse up and get your own.

[murdocksboy]

Sour, huh? At least it's not bitter. [ Call him what you want -- angst-ridden, mopey, self-pitying -- but at least he's managed to avoid sliding into bitterness.

Appreciating the casual way John handles explaining the cork situation without making a big deal over it, Matt reaches for the bottle and follows suit. The scent that wafts from it isn't like any wine he's ever encountered, but that's no surprise. He expresses his feelings on the necessity of glasses by taking a long swallow straight from the bottle.

There are times for savoring, and then there are times for getting the alcohol into your system in the most expedient manner. ]

I'm not unique.

[inconstantly]

Oh come now, Battle, everyone's a snowflake. Blind man who easily catches things thrown his way? A man who takes being compared to Chinese food in stride? Unique as an eight-legged horse.

[John shakes his head, popping his own cork off the bottle and taking a deep swig.]

Must still have spiders on the brain. I'll throw in an extra leg to avoid the unfortunate comparison.

[murdocksboy]

Maybe I like Chinese food. [ John's remarks coax a little grin out of him, though, so that's some progress. ]

I'll make you a deal, though. You can keep your extra legs and I'll refrain from starting another lecture.

[ You're a nice guy, Constantine, but you have some very questionable habits.

Matt supposes that the point to this visit probably includes some kind of friendly conversation, but he'll need to get a little further into the bottle in his hand before he starts discussing his feelings. ]

[inconstantly]

You can't lecture me over a metaphor, good sir. Well. I suppose you could but it would have very little point.

[He's not talking about actual legs, no need for any of that. The limb collection stays in John's room like a civilized heathen.]

But if you're looking for actual food, Chinese or otherwise, I'm afraid I didn't bring any.

[murdocksboy]

I'm Catholic, I can lecture you about absolutely anything.

[ The wine is good, but more importantly it's strong, and Matt takes a few swallows on the first pull, closing his eyes to feel the alcohol start to seep into his bloodstream. ]

Not really interested in food right at the minute. [ Food just slows the absorption. ] And where does a guy who can conjure fire get off labeling other people 'unique', anyway?

[ What a ridiculous thing to argue about, yes. But it's better than wallowing, and John seems like a guy who enjoys locking horns. ]

[inconstantly]

A guy who can conjure fire is the perfect kind of authority to label someone as unique.

[He takes another drink from his own bottle, turning over Matt's words in his head.]

Lecturing doesn't mean I have to listen. Wasn't raised in the church, never got used to sermons.