001 ♦ Jesse Finch ♦ Audio

[rigging]

So I've got three guesses as to what this is right now. [ The voice that comes through the communicator is quiet and calm. The undertone to this voice, however, is not at all -- there's a hint of panic and a whole lot of anger underneath. ] One, I traveled back in time to land in some Twilight Zone-Silent Hill bullshit. Two, I've finally cracked and I've gone insane, which, y'know, could be worse, my brain coulda put me in somewhere much more terrifying than a room with a camera -- or three, I'm dreaming. [ Which is what he's afraid of. There's a beat, and then the sound of a lighter being flicked on, a cigarette being lit. ]

Watch, m'just talking to myself. I don't even know if anybody's out there. [ It's been an hour and he hasn't seen anybody yet, after all, though to be fair he hasn't gone very far. He's waiting. Come get him, nightmare. He's not scared of you. ]

Comments

[Audio]

[onteamdyson]

HEY! Hey, you. This is your conscience speaking. You're in a ... meditative state. And I'm here to guide you to an important self discovery and majestic inner truth.

[audio]

[rigging]

No thanks, already figured out the self-discovery thing when I was twelve. And a lotta times since.

[audio]

[onteamdyson]

Awh, come on! Minor realization? Inconsequential epiphany?! I'll throw in a surprise revelation for half price!

[audio]

[rigging]

Actually, I could use an inconsequential epiphany, not gonna lie. You wanna give me some deets, babygirl? [ Is flirting with your conscience weird? Probably. ] What've you got t'offer?

[audio]

[onteamdyson]

[Very probably. Good thing she isn't fazed by half the shit he's saying.]

Aha! Now we're talking. Meter's running as of right now. You can pay up after I fill you in. Also, just take a second to remember that I am your conscience and I'm not trying to freak you out, but if you DO freak out. Don't go near the woods. Or ... anywhere alone. Deal?

video;

[greenisnteasy]

Don't worry; you're in a dimension purely of sight and of sound.

I'm Bruce Banner.

[ audio ]

[gleans]

[ For a second, there's just silence. Jesse might hear the sound of someone swallowing quietly. ]

... Jess?

[audio]

[rigging]

Yeah, that's not fuckin' foreboding or anything. [ That's a mix of that pissy panic coming up, here. ] Wasn't planning on going in the creepy ass woods, so y'don't have to worry. What d'you mean, pay, you're my conscience.

[audio]

[rigging]

That'd be a relief if I weren't actually ninety-five percent I'm dreaming.

Name's Jesse, though, Jesse Finch. Are you part of my "conscience" too, or are we going another route?

[ audio ]

[rigging]

[ Now that gets a response.

There's silence, no reply, and then, grimly: ] So I was right. [ A beat. ] You gonna let me outta here, or do I gotta come beat your ass a second time?

[gleans]

I -- what? Jess, no, it's me. Where are you?

[rigging]

I know it's you, wh -- [ O... kay, something's wrong about this. ] What? M'not telling you, come find me yourself.

[gleans]

[ Pause. His voice is a little shaky. Don't be another clone. ] Galen. It's Galen.

[audio]

[onteamdyson]

... yeah, okay, good point. Think of it as investing in our future. I'm just a savings account!

[This is the part that always melts brains and makes people mad at her.] Soooo you're not dreaming. You've kind of landed in a totally effed up science experiment mystery kinda thing.

[rigging]

I know, lemme out of -- [ Pause. Jesse has no idea what the fuck is going on. ] Are... are we awake?

[gleans]

[ He sounds confused and a little nervous as he starts quickly putting on his boots. ] Of course we are, babe, just -- tell me where you are, okay, I'll explain everything. Are you alright?

[rigging]

Y'know, the fact that my conscience is apparently a money-grabbing chick says something about me. [ He actually sounds amused. At first, and then -- well slightly relieved, next: ] ... Actually, that's better. I'd rather have the effed up science experiment mystery tour.

So what kind of science? Frankenstein's monster science? Or Weird Science? [ Surprise! He's not brain-melted! Just really fucking weird. ]

[rigging]

[ nO he doesn't want Galen to come find him. He sounds confused and a little scared and something in Jesse twists, but he doesn't trust this. He couldn't possibly. Not when it could be a trick. ]

... M'fine. I don't... know where I am. I think m'in a park? Looks like a park. [ He'll just. Defend himself, if he has to. ]

[gleans]

Fuck, that's across town -- okay, just gimme a few minutes. Don't move. And -- stay on the line, okay?

[rigging]

Okay, okay, Galen, where the fuck are we, whose dream is this? What -- did it trap you too? Is that what this is?

[gleans]

[ Okay, he can forgive the initial confusion, but this is just weird. And upsetting. It almost makes him stop as he heads out the door, but he has to get to Jesse. ]

Jesse, baby, I -- fuck. I don't understand what you're talking about. We're not dreaming -- what do you mean, it?

[rigging]

[ ... Did Galen forget? ] What d'you think I mean -- did you hit your head or somethin'? Or are y'just fucking with me, cause lemme tell you, I ain't real happy t'hear it, if it actually is...

[ He trails off, and curls up on a park bench, frowning. ]

[gleans]

[ He sounds incredulous, not to mention a little hurt! ] Why the hell would I ever fuck with you, Jesse? What are you talking about?

[rigging]

I don't -- I don't fucking know! [ Jesse doesn't even know where to go with this, and everything is weird and there's some girl pretending to be his conscience and -- it's a lot, okay. ]

Just -- come find me.

[gleans]

I'm on my way. I'm gonna cut through the cemetery, if you want to head towards the church. [ He'll just -- speed up a little. Jesse's here. Jesse's actually, finally here. ] Fuck.