voice

[la_matrona]

[she has been here a day or so now and had calmed a bit from her first panicked reaction of waking up somewhere completely unfamiliar. At first she had thought she'd gone to the Final Death somehow, which simply wasn't possible, but then she'd seen other people. Living people. Fleshy people. And more importantly they'd seen her and hadn't had much to say about it. And then she'd found the... the young woman... that strange ghost who had repeated over and over where she was and how she had come. It had seemed more like some bright television sort of thing, because Imelda had tried to converse with her and then waved her hand right through.

But she had finally decided that this was entirely real, and that she was somehow physical in the Land of the Living while still being very dead. Not a situation she was in usually. Now she was ready so she fiddles with the...the teléfono thing that was nothing like any teléfono she'd ever seen.Still, somehow she manages it, or she thinks she does--]

H-Hello. I am Imelda Rivera and I would like to speak to an operator, por favor. [she's not entirely sure who she should connect to or call in order to find her familia... but an operator seems a step in the right direction]

Comments

[fierybluebird]

Sorry, eh. All our operators are busy right now. Please hang up and dial again.

If you have birdseed to offer the pigeons, press 3.

If you would like to listen to some muzac, press 6.

If you would like to speak to our resident fish, press 8.

If you would like to see about menu items, press 2.

To get this menu offered in avian, press [Whistles unintelligibly.]

Thank you for dialing Whitebeard mushi mushi, how can I take your call?

[la_matrona]

What? I didn't order takeout. [what in the world?] Sorry, mi error. I don't need food, but was wondering if you could help me?

[fierybluebird]

Ten-4 little lady, what's the hiz-zap?

[la_matrona]

.... Ah...pardon?

[fierybluebird]

What are you in need of, and how is it worth my time?

[He was just going to leave it at the first part, because clearly she's one of Everglade's, but fuck it. He's in a salty mood. DWI.]

[la_matrona]

Well! [how rude. But she is looking for her familia though, so] All I need is to find out how to reach an operator. I'm sure it's not too difficult for you.

[fierybluebird]

There aren't any.

I told you, they're all busy. It's just me.

[la_matrona]

I am not getting takeout, I've just said. Madre mio

[she pinches the bridge of her nose]

Listen, I'm looking for mi familia. Esqueleto who look like they're getting ready for Dia de los Muertos. [because, in fact, they are... and running on a tight schedule. They might even go on without her which annoys her further. She doesn't even know how much longer Coco will be alive!]

Have you seen any or do you know how I could possibly find them?

[Voice]

[micancion]

[Yes, it's only voice...because he is a coward for many reasons. None having to do with saving his metaphorical skin.]

Wait! Before you yell!

[Because he knows she'll recognize his voice, but he wants to try to help her...just a little.]

That phone...thingy, connects to a network. Like, like yelling out in the middle of a plaza. Everyone that has been brought to the city can hear you, and even see you. These thingies can use video.

Ah...that's all. Adios.

[And he's going to go yell about his luck down by the swamp.]

[fierybluebird]

[Oh.]

[The ONE, the ONLY, MAGIC WORD, that just pulls at his feathery heart strings.]

There's a directory listing the people here with pendants like ours, eh? [Holds up his... ankle. Yeah that's where his pendant is. DWI.]

There's no time consistency between here and your dimension, however, wherever you're from. If you want me to try and isolate your threads of destiny, I'll have to know you in person and the ones you're looking for, and I can't guarantee keeping you together, my own family gets pretty torn apart, and holding onto those I can is difficult, eh?

If you're lucky, and they're already here, they'll find you. If not, there is a pull like magnets through the universe, but it's no guarantee. The trip through time and space is not an easy journey for anyone.

[Voice]

[la_matrona]

He...Hector?

[oh of course]

Hector. I should have know--

Don't--

[did he just hang up on her?! Did he have the nerve to just--! Oh that--! She slams the device on the ground, folding her arms and pacing. Of course he would just hang up. Naturally! And this was his fault she just knew it was!

So she picks it back up again, shaking and not even knowing a number but demanding that he hear]

You get back here este instante, Hector! [with great effort she pulls herself back from outright yelling]

Have the gall to hang up on me? Hello? Hello?! If you don't undo whatever it is you've done I will come to see you myself and you don't want that!

Do you hear me?

[la_matrona]

Que? [she was follow him until he got to the dimension part. Dimension. Destiny. What was he even talking about. ...and then she understood, sort of]

Are... you an alebrije? [that would make the most sense but she had never heard of one that could talk so openly]

I don't... I just want to either find mi familia or go back. It's very important I return to the Land of the Dead. It might be the last time... [she takes a breath] The last time... I see mi hija in the Land of the Living.

Por favor... If you can help at all....

Re: [Voice]

[micancion]

[Of course he can hear her. Her voice echoes through the swamp he is currently living in and he winces. Ay...he wants to jump to his defense but.

Nah. If that blond haired guy can help her, then, he doesn't need to get involved. Better for Imelda in the long run.

Even if it was wonderful to hear her say his voice in confusion for once, instead of anger.]

[fierybluebird]

[Rubs the back of his ear with his foot.] A what? [He assumes she means a demon of some kind, but it's not going to be any good to explain about devil fruit and phoenix curses, and it might just frighten her. Yeesh.]

[Frowns and his expression softens even more.] I can't help you get back. But I promise whatever is back there waiting for you will still be there. And you might have more time here.

How do I explain this?

It's like a pocket. It's a metaphor, a simile, not exact, so use your imagination, eh? While here, you're separated from... things back home. But your family can still come here and be in the pocket too, with you. Even whether they're dead or not.

My father was able to marry me to my wife, even though he died, he was alive and with us in one of these pockets, see? And even though some of my brothers are dead, I can find them sometimes. Not always. Just... sometimes. But I am not dead, I-- it's complicated. But one of my brothers Namur hasn't died either, but he can still be with our dead brothers here.

It has to do with time. Imagine time is like a bolt of cloth, eh? Well, we're in a giant fold of it, like I said, a pocket: hidden away and stealing more time. Enjoy it, make the most of it, sometimes it can seem tedious, but it's not as urgent as you think, I promise. If your family is here, -- here turn your device to look at it, it has a visual component not just audio, eh? I'll give you a link, you push it with your finger and it'll take you to a list of the people here. You'll have to finagle your way back to me, I'm pretty terrible with these myself, eh? My wife has to handle almost all of it. But it'll let you know who's here you might know.

Keep in mind however, while like pulls to like, the universe is vast and complicated. People here do not always know each other and there is a lot of time and places for people to fall into the pocket from, eh? But do not give up hope. Just being here makes it more likely you'll see your family again soon.

[la_matrona]

[what is the point.

She sighs and puts the telefono back in her apron pocket and rubs her arm. He was never there when she needed him. Not like he used to be. And, you would think, almost a century later, it would stop hurting. But, ay, it never does.

Fine. Let him hide.

Only....

She hesitates, reaches for the device, holds it in her hand... Then shakes her head and puts it back. No. She will ask for no help from him. She will look after this herself just as always. Though Santa Maria help him if he shows up anywhere near her.]

[video]

[fierybluebird]

Good, you know her.

I don't know what you did before, but man up. Family has to be together. Always.

And you're wasting time. Five cities is never enough to outrun an angry woman. They'll chase you through all of time and space just so you'll stop beating yourself up and let them do it for you, so get it over with, mate.

[video because he has to make faces always]

[spacepeterpan]

Hello, sorry, not an operator, well, I have operated things before, quite a lot of things actually, and I've operated, so yeah, sure, bit of an operator I s'pose, why not, call me the Operator.

[He pauses just a second, his expression faltering as he catches up to his own fast-talking.]

...no, that's rubbish, forget the Operator, I'm the Doctor, hello Imelda, lovely name, newly arrived, I take it? If you've got questions, don't hesitate, I'm here to help, and possibly operate.

[la_matrona]

[he... has completely lost her. But she gets the gist that they are here and time doesn't exist and her familia may show up, dead or alive and the rest of it]

Hst. Be quiet, a moment! I need to figure out this cursed thing. [and he might hear annoyed grunts and virulent Spanish curses as she tries to do what he told her, cutting him off more than a few times and the video flicking on and off before she finally throws it in the sand]

Madre mio! It would be easier to go door to door! Convenience? Hah! There's nothing convenient about you! Qué cagada! [she kicks sand over it in frustration and so she won't be tempted to stomp it to pieces since she is fairly sure she needs it]

Re: [video/voice]

[micancion]

[Soft curse and hang on...]

[Private]

I think that's right? Well, find out soon.

[He doesn't have to explain anything to a stranger, but Hector is far more open than Imelda is. Even if his trust issues have magnified over the century.]

Not familia, amigo. She's talking about the ones back at her shoe shop in the Land of the Dead, not a never-was like me.

[that's fine she's holding the thing to her...'ear' so good luck]

[la_matrona]

[he sounds like a doctor. He talks so much without saying much of anything.]

Will you charge a consulting fee?

[she's dealt with doctors before and is only (mostly) being dryly sarcastic about it]

[video/voice]

[fierybluebird]

Clarify?

How do you know her then? Or vice versa at least?

[fierybluebird]

Hello.

Did you find it?

[Deadpan as always.]

[la_matrona]

[she hears his voice from the sand and has to almost dig it up again]

No. [she rubs her forehead] It's fine. I will-- figure it out. [somehow]

So...have you seen... many come to this... bolsillo? This...pocket?

[spacepeterpan]

[The Doctor squints, peering into his screen. What a strange view...]

Sorry, whot? Fee? Oh, ha, no, not that sort of doctor, well, not on a good day.

Re: [video/voice]

[micancion]

She.

[He sighs.]

She is my wife. Or was? When I was alive but that was...almost a hundred years ago.

And now? Well!

[And in an instant he's perked up again.]

You saw, that was actually. Tame. She must be worried.

[And now he is too but.]