0100101110 → {video/action} violet city [4th Wall Post!]

[triptoprofiling]

[There seated behind the worktable is Norman who is wearing a pair of sunglasses and a leather glove on his right-hand.

I know what you're thinking. Who the hell wears sunglasses inside the house (let alone an unlit workroom with only a few rays of sunlight peeking through the blinds)? You would think he's swatting flies away from the way he is throwing his hands in the air like he just doesn't care.]

It's always the same thing.

[He continues to throw around his right arm.]

Sames files, same data...same everything. It can't even tell me if chicken's chicken anymore.

[Norman's hand dance comes to a stop as he takes off his glasses.]

I need water.

Comments

[nostabbing]

[And when he takes off his glasses, he will discover that seated cross-legged on his worktable (approximately THREE INCHES FROM HIS FACE) is Parker, peering at him in silent curiosity as she attempts to figure out what he is doing.

HI THERE, NAHMAN.]

[triptoprofiling]

[A split second feels like an eternity as Norman feels his body loose control as he falls back on his chair. The wheels of his desk chair pick up enough altitude to send the FBI agent crashing down on his ass. No QTE could salvage that disaster.

It's okay, folks. He's gonna' be okay. Nahman is a pro at this.]

[nostabbing]

[Wow, that was elegant. You know, normal people would probably gasp and rush to help this poor bastard up off the floor, but nobody ever said Parker was normal, so she's just gonna sit there peering at him, sprawled on the carpet in all his charming dork glory.]

Hey, you should be careful, you can get hurt doing that.

[triptoprofiling]

[Of course it would be right after he takes off his ARI. It's always something. Unlike most people who would bounce back from their tumble, Norman decides to not pick himself up.

No help? Yeah. Of course. Story of his goddamn life.]

Don't worry.

[He stares at the ceiling with a bewildered look.]

I'm used to it.

[nostabbing]

You fall out of chairs a lot?

[That seems painful. Also she's still not getting up to help him or anything, so apparently they will just conduct this conversation from their respective perches on desk and floor.]

Or you mean you get hurt a lot?

[triptoprofiling]

Let's just say a little bit from column A and a little from column B.

[In conclusion teacher, yes.

Norman does not mind one bit from where he's positioned. The view is kinda nice from here.]

Why can't I remember inviting anyone over?

[nostabbing]

Who were you inviting over?

[Listen to the soothing whooshing sound as that particular remark goes right over her head.]

And what's with the glasses?

[triptoprofiling]

That's the thing; I didn't.

[Oh that sound. How many times have his remarks blown over people's heads? Over 9000? Yeah.]

It's my ARI.

[Yeah, y'know. Everyone hates loves ARI.]

[nostabbing]

Can I see?

[And now at last she'll hop down and put out a hand to help pull him up to his feet. For a relatively petite girl, she's surprisingly strong. It comes with hanging off of buildings by your fingertips.]

[triptoprofiling]

[What? Oh. Norman was going to pick himself up.

Eventually...


Soonish...


WHATEVER- He grabs Parker's hand and lifts himself up off from the floor.]

I ah- I don't think that's a good idea.

[nostabbing]

How come? Come on, I just want to see 'em for a minute.

[Also she is sort of ignoring the fact that sometimes people maintain a small area of personal body space at this point, HELLO JAYDEN.]

[triptoprofiling]

[Heyheyhey-- hey! Whoa there miss. This is federal edition first class equipment from the FBI. You can't be breathing your hot air over these puppies.]

It's real delicate equipment. You need at least a month of training before you can use them, trust me on this one.

[nostabbing]

[...Son, you're kidding, right.]

It's a pair of sunglasses. I think I can figure it out.

[NOW GIVE IT.]

[triptoprofiling]

[No joke son. Now if you'll excuse him, he will proceed to grip onto his precious even tighter.]

They're more than sunglasses.

[Not by the hairs of his chinny, chin-chin, Pahkuh.]

[nostabbing]

Just put them on my face.

[Like she couldn't steal them out of his hands if she actually wanted to. Considering she can apparently steal the first round out of the chamber of a loaded pistol while someone is wearing it in his shoulder holster...skillz, basically.]

[triptoprofiling]

I'm not gonna' put anything on your face.

[Try him, Wannabe-Carmen Sandiego.]

[nostabbing]

[Wow, excuse you, Wannabe-Special Agent— actually wait no that's getting kind of creepy, then, isn't it.]

Then give them to me and I'll put them on my face.

[triptoprofiling]

[...Yeaaaahhhhhhh. :la]

It's complicated. I can't just let you use these.

[A beat.]

Believe me, it's for the best.

[nostabbing]

Then you should at least explain why it's such a big deal that I can't put on a pair of glasses.

[Obviously.]

[triptoprofiling]

They give you a nasty headache after you use them. You can't just slip them on like they're a pair of 3D-glasses.

[You can't handle the Power Glove, Parker. They're bad.]

[nostabbing]

...So then why are you using them? What, you do a month's training and you can train yourself out of the susceptibility to a nasty headache?

[triptoprofiling]

I...

[Damn. Got him.]

It's complicated, besides--

[He proceeds to stuff his future glasses in his jacket pocket. Safe and sound.]

No offense here but you just showed up in my house. You're making a tall order already.

[nostabbing]

Oh.

[Right. That's a good point. She just kind of took the break-in part for granted, the way that some people take, y'know, breathing for granted.]

You're Norman, right? I'm Alice.

[triptoprofiling]

Yeah, that's me.

[A beat.]

Make yourself at home.

[Norman is going to excuse himself from this up'n'close encounter by walking away from Parker and towards the kitchen area.]

Can I get you something?

[nostabbing]

[HAHA NICE TRY, she's totally following him. Albeit at a slightly more normal distance, but hey.]

So what does an ARI do?

[That's probably an implicit "I'm fine, thanks" in there somewhere.]