2020-03-02 - Can You Hear Me Now?
Vyv takes advantage of being across an ocean to test just how far a mental message can go. But texting's really easier.
IC Date: 2020-03-02
OOC Date: 2019-11-02
Location: London, UK/In the Ether
Related Scenes: 2020-03-04 - It's Not a Bug, It's a Feature
Plot: None
Scene Number: 4378
It's gotten to be quite late in the evening. Everything's all settled in the hotel; dinner's been deliciously had and everything's broadly arranged for the next few days. Nothing particular left for this evening but relaxation and sleep, but time zones mean Vyv isn't particularly tired just yet. They also mean people in Gray Harbor are likely to be up and about, bar the actually nocturnal few. It is, in short, a perfect time for a little experiment.
Specifically, to see just how far he can think to another mentalist. Unlike... well, anything else he's managed to test back there, it's seemed to work even when the person being contacted turned out to be well across town. A few miles is one thing; how about a few thousand?
He settles cross-legged on the bed, closes his eyes, takes a breath, and focuses. It feels... odd. It always feels odd, now, being outside of Gray Harbor. Like driving with the top up after a summer of having it down. Quieter. Less connected. Decidedly less dangerous to one's hairstyle. He can feel the world pushing back as he reaches out, the extra effort it takes to find and direct that inner spark, and it makes his head start to ache a little almost instantly. No one's ever claimed he lacked determination, however, and he sticks with it, pushing back against the pushback until it feels nearly right. Right enough, at least, to try.
Bax, I'm trying an experiment. Can you hear me?
Bax, half asleep reaches back with his mind to the source out of reflex, though it might leave one to wonder what he was in the middle of.
Baby, you sound like you're in a box. Did you get kidnapped? Lemme get up and text you back.
Well, the message got through. That's at least something . Not too long later the text comes through as promised.
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: That was weird. I thought you took off to re-discover Europe. You back?
Well, that's unexpected. ...not so much the getting a response, which was at least actively hoped for and gives him a triumphant little thrill despite the headache, but the vague sense of half-asleepness. Okay, and the greeting. Vyv hasn't been called that in a while. He makes a note to decide quite how he feels about it when his head hurts less.
It helps a little to let go of the attempt, and he flops backward to stretch out on the bed in... well, a way he probably wouldn't if there were anyone watching. It's not the most elegant move of which he's capable. But the bed is very comfortable, and it makes it easy to reach out and snag his phone from the nightstand when it gives its subtle little ding.
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: Not the least bit kidnapped, I promise. Have re-discovered London, and specifically our hotel, as planned. Just curious whether it would work from here. Still a good few days yet before we return.
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: Did I wake you?
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: Oh cool. Want pics. I was out late with my homeis. Rave last night. Got a little tore up but it was pretty worth it.
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: you see family? Were they cool?
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: (Includes gratuitous selfie in a state of undress and unawakedness that he is not bothering climbing out of bed for. It is still afternoon there.)
Oh, hello. Vyv tilts his head slightly as he takes a good look at the picture, giving the actual reply an extra few seconds delay. It does make it strangely easier to ignore the word 'homies'.
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: Not yet... tonight's just settling in. My grandmother wants us by around tea tomorrow. She's only ever been described as 'cool' if someone's decided 'chilly' was too harsh.
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: Pics, mm?
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: 
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: 
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: [IMG: Vyv lying on that bed, looking what has to be intentionally unconvincingly innocent. He's not really started getting ready for bed yet, so he's still in shirt and tie and vest. Jacket's off, at least. Hair's a bit tousled.]
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: Looks like someone had a good day
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: Pretty certain that's me now. On a scale of Julie Andres to Dolores Umbridge-Harry Potter how bad we talking on the grand-mama front?
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: A long day, mostly. Quite good dinner, though. Might avail myself of that tub. I'd say the evening's been generally improving.
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: You look lovely half-awake.
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: As for grandmama... mn. Dowager Countess of Grantham, perhaps.
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: Do we know one another well enough for your Grandmother to be naming things after me? I dunno how I feel about that. Having a whole ham is a lot of responsibility
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: Here. in case the visit runs overly long with your grandmum
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: [Img: A decidedly more deliberate picture to leave Grandmama clutching some pearls. Well... those aren't technically- really what is technically included is less important here rather than it is and he's cordial enough to wink. Isn't that pleasant?]
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: And thank you. I'm happy you're pleased. I slept for all of three hours and need to decide sleep or food, but since Im up. That tub looks killer, won't lie. If you don't abuse it by the powers of privilege that you can I'm gonna be a little mad by proxy.
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: If anyone I know could take care of a whole ham, I have faith in you.
Though if it's raw, do take it to Corey first.
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: ...yes. Quite pleased. I'd apologise for waking you but I'm not actually sorry in the least.
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: You know. The salesgirl assured me this phone is waterproof in up to 5ft of water for up to half an hour. I'm quite sure that bath's no more than 3. Care to come with me?
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: The salesgirl is in your bathtub? I dunno weather to ask what she's doing or how big that tub is but man suddenly I feel like I'm on the wrong continent
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: If the salesgirl were in my bathtub, I would almost certainly be in the wrong half of the suite. Or she would. Either way I wouldn't be lending her my phone.
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: I'm not lending you my phone either, for that matter. But you're welcome in the tub if you can get there.
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: Why not me?
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: And yes I wanna go with you. A- awesome. B- I rarely get to go someplace cool.
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: also it'll be good to catch up when you get back. I like creative solutions though. I also cannot believe I can spell that but I spelled my own name wrong on two tries.
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: Why would I lend anyone my phone? You have your own phone. And I can't believe the misspelling your own name twice portion on its own. Which name? Why were you needing to write it down in the first place?
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: You haven't taken up referring to yourself in the third person, have you? Because I absolutely veto this except perhaps when convincing tiresome people one doesn't wish to speak to that one is in Bermuda or possibly dead.
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: Heh look just because my egg is a little scrambled doesn't mean I've lost my fucking mind. No, I'm neither plural or 3rd person. And I'm on like 3 hours of sleep here. I get free typos. It was tested.
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: textiles
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: TEXTED OMG
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: 
Textiles.
(I think you'd like touching this wall. It's silk.)
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: So: why did you have to text someone your name? And I still want to know which one. 'Crotchbiter' is at least a good few letters. If you're getting it wrong two out of three times on 'Bax'... ๐คจ
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: I'm not the one that introduces myself by my battle name. Also my auto cotton kind of hates me. And it was one of my roomie's clients. Not important.
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: autocorrect. See? hates me.
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: And truthfully yeah I can think of getting up to trouble in four ways starting to get in trouble and that wallpaper and your bathroom.
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: Why the fuck you in Europe again and why you ain't in the tub yet. It's been a long damn day.
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: I'm not in the tub because I keep using my hands to talk to you rather than-- wait, hold that thought.
There is a delay of about a minute.
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: There, the footman is running the bath. Remind me to consider getting a footman.
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: I'm in Europe for my suit fittings, to see Grandmama, and because I missed it and I can be. Also I thought it would be fun to wander about the city with Hyacinth a while. The V&A's got an impressive furniture collection, and an interesting-looking exhibition on the kimono at the moment.
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: You got someone to rub your feet? I'm lucky if my hotel gives me a cookie.
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: Well serious. Send pics. I love it when you get excited about stuff. Also of the stuff you see on your trip. ๐ The kimono art sounds pretty bitchin.
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: I think he might rub my feet if I asked sweetly. Not technically part of the duties, though; one's expected to go to the spa upstairs for that sort of thing. ...but I do suspect I could talk them into sending someone down. Hm.
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: Serious, mm? Feel free to send me stuff to get excited about. ...but yes. I'll send you things I see. Though you will probably be asleep a fair bit of the time I'm off seeing them. Although if you're making it a habit to sleep shortly before lunch, the overlap might not actually be that bad. I'm 8 hours ahead, here.
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: [A short video: better view of the room, which is reasonably large and very nicely appointed; what looks like the clothing he was wearing in the earlier image is lying neatly on one of the chairs. Movement into the bathroom, where the bath is indeed now filled; feet and lower legs climbing in to settle there comfortably; the phone turned to selfie mode to show Vyv looking quite comfortable and a tad mischievous there, just short of likely pearl-clutching territory. Free hand lifts to sign 'hello', the slight smile threatening to expand, and after a couple seconds, the clip ends.]
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: Better?
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: (...bouncing dots...)
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: Shit, well it's damn worth waking up for. Missed you too. You feel like catching up when you get back lemme know. Until then I miiiiight have a surprise for you when you get here if that's any incentive.
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: Might you? I am intrigued. And will be back on the 8th.
(TXT to Grant) Vyv: But right now I have a phone and a bath and you, and not nearly as much tired as one would hope. What I don't have is enough hands to wash and type. I do theoretically have enough to call, though... if you're not in such a hurry on the sleep or food.
(TXT to Vyv) Grant: You know, I suddenly find myself with a lot of free time. ๐
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