[26] [Video] "I Don't Really Have Any Convictions"

[lieutenantantichrist]

Hey.

[There's not much preamble to this broadcast. Not a lot of middleamble, either. Blake looks tired, but sober.]

You've probably figured this out already, but might as well make it official. That whole President thing, it's over. Olly olly oxen free.

[Sky is visible in the background. The screen shifts with his steps.]

I'm gonna go think for a while.

[The feed cuts out.]

Comments

[video] 1/2

[rocketralph]

Hey, what about my pay?

2/2

[rocketralph]

_{[He lowers his voice suddenly.]}

Hey, and uh. Found the kid.

[lieutenantantichrist]

Your check's in the m-

[Blake's listless face comes alive. He grabs the phone and yanks it close.]

You found him!? Where the hell was he? Is he okay?! Tell me who the hell did it!

[rocketralph]

Turns out he was stayin' with some people from his own ga--I mean world. He's a kid, you know how they can let things get away from 'em...he's got all his arms and legs and everything.

[lieutenantantichrist]

[Blake's flash of relief stays for a few seconds before turning into anger.]

Then why the hell wasn't one of them picking up the damn phone?! Or answering any of the broadcasts trying to find him?

[You don't just let people think a kid's been kidnapped, dammit.]

Video

[the_pilgrim]

[Something seems off.] Are you...okay?

Video

[lieutenantantichrist]

[Oh, it's the kid with the orchestra instrument, the one who talked about a tree monster with faces trying to drown him. Blake's eyes wander off from the screen to the road.]

I'm fine.

Re: Video

[the_pilgrim]

You don't seem fine.

Video

[lieutenantantichrist]

[There's less bite in his voice than usual.] What's it to you?

Re: Video

[the_pilgrim]

I....don't know. I mean, I really shouldn't care, you're kind of a jerk most of the time. But, I mean, still...[shrugs.] you take the time to listen to what I say, which is a lot more than most adults.

Video

[a_sin_for_him]

Better to be a part of something for only an instant than live forever and be part of nothing.

[The tone suggests it's a quote.]

Don't get too lost in your thoughts.

Video

[lieutenantantichrist]

Hey, Lust.

[He's distracted enough he can even manage to say that like a name without feeling like a weirdo.]

You can't call yourself much of a part of something when you're the only one doing it.

Video

[a_sin_for_him]

Of course you can.

You did something. You tried something. It didn't work, but you still put forth the effort, which is more than most do. And you and your actions will be remembered. You've made an impression.

Video

[lieutenantantichrist]

[Blake's so used to opposition that being complimented disorients him for a second, like hitting the landing when you'd expected there to be another step.]

You really think so?

Video

[a_sin_for_him]

Yes, I do.

Perhaps it was a stupid idea, but so what? I've tried dozens of stupid things and failed at them miserably, but at least I tried. Trying's better than doing nothing. Life is to be lived, if nothing else you're actively living it.

You have passion. You have convictions. You're only trying to find some outlet for them. Being President of Pokemon didn't work, so now you know and can use the experience to better inform your next life choices.

You aren't defeated, you've simply come to the end of one road and the fork of another.

(Video)

[stonebird]

Are you alright...? (There is a sense of...defeat? Sansa feels a chill.)

(Video)

[lieutenantantichrist]

I'll be fine.

[It comes out more distracted than anything. There's none of the wild, violent energy he'd been stomping around the network with a while ago.]

Just gonna go camp for a while and clear my head.

[A bird in the bushes chirps its name. There's the steady tromp of his boots and silence. The explanation of his plans for the future doesn't feel like enough. He tries to fill it out.]

Look at some trees.

(Video)

[stonebird]

Forgive me for saying so, but you are not a good liar. (He seems...lost. That is a feeling she knows well.)

(Video)

[lieutenantantichrist]

[Blake looks at her for a second. Then he barks out laughter.]

Hell, now I have a teenage girl calling bullshit on me. When did I lose it?

(Video)

[stonebird]

(Well that's rude! ...sort of. She knows she isn't the best at detecting lies.)

You've only lost "it" if you give up.

text;

[ladywithnovoice]

Doing alright there, Blake?

text;

[lieutenantantichrist]

[He stops under a tree by the side of the road to answer the text. His Snubbull goes bounding off into the bushes after a purple rat.]

Hey, Red. Long time no see.

I'm okay. Just letting a bad idea go.

text;

[ladywithnovoice]

Sometimes for the best.

So where to now?

text;

[lieutenantantichrist]

I'll figure that out on the way. I'm just going to start walking and see if I run into anybody who wants to do an animal fight. It's been too long since Steve got to bite something.

What've you been up to?

text;

[ladywithnovoice]

Tell Steve I said hello.

I've been stuck in one place, for the most part. It's been nice spending time at a beach town, but it's no place to stay when things get cold. I'm trying to figure out where to go next. Who knows? Maybe we'll run into each other on the road.