[Video] [Shepherd's Haven]

[witnessme]

[Nux is very frequently shirtless, even when the weather's a little cold and nippy. Summer's coming in the Southern Hemisphere, so this is true even more often, but today, there's something really different about the familiar sight of his slender, well-muscled torso. It's also adorned with elaborate scarification that looks like car parts. He keeps touching and scratching at it, looking distracted and a little bit distraught.]

So, uh... people are remembering things, yeah? I was digging a hole for fenceposts and I was daydreaming, but... you know, during the day.

You... you know what I'm trying to say, right? I was there, but I wasn't there. I had this thing on my chest when I woke up, and I remembered the sort of... religion my Other had. He definitely wasn't Catholic. I think he worshiped cars, called it the Cult of the V8.

I mean, I like cars, but I don't think they're gods or anything like that.

Comments

Voice

[solvethepuzzle]

Yes, that has . . . been happening with some frequency recently. [Not everyone had wound off as badly on it as Nathan had been, at least.]

That is a very strange thing to worship.

Voice

[witnessme]

To you too, huh?

My mom would freak out if she saw this thing on my chest.

Voice

[solvethepuzzle]

Several days ago, yes. [At least there are some people in Shepherd's Haven that hadn't seen it. In retrospect, the whole scene had been embarrassing, even if justified.]

It would certainly speak to a great amount of devotion to have that done to him. [He inwardly cringes just thinking about how that must have been done.]

Voice

[witnessme]

Yeah! Uh... I mean I think that even getting a tattoo must be pretty painful. This is all scarification, looks like.

I hope what you got back isn't as bad.

Voice

[solvethepuzzle]

It . . . was not good, but I am fine.

Voice

[witnessme]

Do you think weightlifting would make you feel better? I'm heading to the rec lodge. I've been making an exercise room and... not to b-brag but it's pretty great.

Voice

[solvethepuzzle]

[... Oh no, something like this cannot happen again.]

It was days ago. I'm honestly okay now.

[Voice]

[oncedevil]

[Awkward but... he can't ignore this. Much as he wants to act like a raging douchebag he still loves his little family.]

Shit, Nux, are you alright? That looks uncomfortable...

[Voice]

[witnessme]

...where are you? Are you alright?

[Voice]

[oncedevil]

Don't worry about me. Little more worried about what you got going on there.

[Voice]

[witnessme]

B-bullshit. It's an echo and we all get them and I'll deal.

We haven't seen you in like a month.

[Voice]

[oncedevil]

And sometimes echoes hurt like hell but whatever if that's how it's gonna be.

I'm alive, that counts for something right?

[Voice]

[witnessme]

Every since you left things have been weird, and I don't think they're gonna stop being weird for a little while.

But it counts for a lot that you're alive.

[darkhourdear]

...At least that's probably not the worst thing ever to worship? [probably better than death goddesses]

[witnessme]

Wh-what do you think the worst thing to worship is?

[darkhourdear]

A death goddess who'll bring about the end of the world if you wake her up?

[witnessme]

...whoa, uh, what religion is that? Is that real? Or... I mean, was it to your Other?

Also, uh, hi. I'm Nux. I don't think we've talked before.

[darkhourdear]

In his world, yeah. He didn't worship her. [...he was just her harbinger. which is totally different.

also your name is distressing close to that of said death goddess's] Hi! I'm Phillip. it's nice to meet you.

[witnessme]

Wait, he didn't worship her but it sounds like he believed in her. I don't know if those are the same thing but it seems like they should be.

Nice to meet you Phillip. I'm really new to all this, and it's awesome when people are kind of friendly. Had some trouble with that for awhile.

Video

[switch_over]

I really had you pegged when I called you a crazy car guy, didn't I?

Video

[witnessme]

Hey! Uh, I may be a car guy, but I know I'm not crazy. Can't speak for my Other, but I'm definitely not.

Video

[switch_over]

I call it as I see it and you are a crazy car guy.

The first thing you asked me was whether my echoes were about cars for gods sake.

I'm pretty sure it's only going to get worse from here judging by the echoes you're getting.

Video

[witnessme]

I'm not crazy! Not that there's anything wrong with that. I've got a good friend who's... uh, mentally ill.

[Probably more than a few.]

Isn't it OK to just really like something? Like cars? Especially when you fix them?

Video

[switch_over]

I'm more surprised you have any friends at all, but at least his condition explains a lot.

There's nothing wrong with it, the way you do it is just creepy.

Video

[witnessme]

I have friends, and, uh, you don't even know who I'm talking about. Lay off.

[He could get in trouble for this.]

How is it creepy? It's not like I'm... I don't know, kissing the cars or anything.