((hey everyone I know I’ve been rather inactive on here, and I apologize. Things have been a bit busy and I feel like I’m slipping from Scarlet again.))

“Yeah... I’ve never seen a real life undead person before, but I suppose there’s a first time for everything. And it’s perfectly fine with me Victor. I can see how a stormy evening would make a topic like this come about.”

“That would be nifty have those on hand! No pun intended there. And I see, there are a lot of living people that wouldn’t know how to switch off either, I guess the dead are just the same in that sense.”

“It’s fine – it’s only natural to be curious,” Victor assures her. “Especially when it’s not something you see every day…or at all…” He laughs awkwardly. “I – should apologize for just coming out with a topic like this, shouldn’t I? I really don’t know what’s ‘normal’ for most people anymore, I’m afraid.”

“Oh, he can stitch them back on – he carries needle and thread just for that very purpose,” he explains. “But yes, while he’s very enthusiastic, he’s not particularly talented. Most people either flee or suffer through with a smile as to not hurt his feelings. He’s not a bad sort at all, really – he does his job well, and he’s working for a good cause. He just doesn’t know when to – ‘switch off,’ I suppose the term would be.”

“Oh.. yes I suppose that would be rather rude, I apologize.” she shrugged back, it wasn’t a normal topic for her, not mention she has never seen an undead person before.

She giggled trying to picture a zombie struggling to play an instrument “Haha, well yes a lack of finger would certainly make it challenging to play anything. Ah now not being musical makes it a challenge for surrounding people to appreciate it.”

“It is, but – like I said, they’re as varied as people, and there’s plenty of dangerous people too,” Victor replies. He shrugs a little in response to her question. “I’ve never really asked – it seems rude. And it might depend on the state of the Reanimated too, honestly. Someone with most of their flesh still on is likely to feel differently than one who’s almost all bones.”

He chuckles. “Not at all, and not only because his fingers tend to fall off. Officer Shoe is very much into Reanimated Rights. Which is fine, but he likes to make up songs about, and – he’s not very musical. At all.”

“It does involve you, I try to support the family and.. it’s really not the easiest thing in the world.”

“Ruby, you know as well as I do that I am not busy with just cleaning.. I do have a life believe it or not.”

“Ruby, you know as well as I do that I am not busy with just cleaning.. I do have a life believe it or not.”

“I do feel awfully bad.. my little sister’s birthday slipped my mind.”

“Oh, so there are dangerous one out there after all? That sounds rather unpleasant. I wonder, do the feel any different coming back to life than they did when they were alive?” Scarlet questioned. The thought gave her a laugh, “Not a good instrument player?”

“There’s a lot of unfortunate misconceptions about them, yes,” Victor nods. “I’m not going to deny that there’s dangerous ones out there, but most are just as sane and likeable as they were when alive. Officer Shoe is very well-regarded. Though, ah, people tend to wince when he takes out the guitar.”

“I do feel awfully bad.. my little sister’s birthday slipped my mind.”

“I’ve never met an undead person before. I suppose the scary movies paint them has horrific creatures than people don’t they?” Scarlet wasn’t sure if she should grin or be very concerned for Victor. “Well I suppose the reanimated get things done on the police force..”

“It really depends on the undead. They’re as varied as ordinary people. I’ve met quite a few friendly ones during my stay in the city,” Victor says, then grins. “We even have a Reanimated on our local police force!”

“... I would hope for the latter. I think the undead would be most foul to deal with. I should be fortunate it doesn’t happen where I live.”

“Flash, boom, crackle.. thunder and lightning. It appears there is going to be a stormy night.. perfect for reading mystery novels and drinking tea.”

I really like this game alright

“Flash, boom, crackle.. thunder and lightning. It appears there is going to be a stormy night.. perfect for reading mystery novels and drinking tea.”

“Thank you Victor, it’s much appreciated!”

“I am sorry for the long disappearance, my birthday had passed on the 13th, for those wondering. I have returned.”

“I still can’t help it. Must be an elder sister instinct.” She shrugged it off, Ruby has changed and throughout  the years and it was clear that she could take care of herself. Ruby was a tough girl, yet.. Scarlet still worried about her constantly. “Yes, I trust that you wouldn’t let anything happen to her.”

She put her hand to her mouth in thought, “Yes.. right now wouldn’t be a good time anyway...” Scarlet tried to think for an opening, it seemed time was a luxury these days. “I suppose next week would work..”

“She’s more bark than bite,” Victor says. “Though she does like her gruesome jokes.” Not mentioning that he’s fed that love in the past. Or that he’s the one who gave her a mechanical spider once. His own expression turns concerned. “It — it can be hard to tell family, sometimes. You worry that you’ll hurt them somehow — or worse, that they won’t believe you. T-that’ll say it’s y-your fault.” That stutter and his tone should indicate he’s talking from personal experience there. “But you can rest assured that if she’s around me, she’s all right. I wouldn’t let anything happen to her.”

That gets another grin. “Wonderful! I — well, I don’t know if you could come visit now, but if you want to set up a time where I could bring you around…”

“It has been one whole year since I came to this website. Strange things have happened, sad things have happened, amusing things have happened. But nevertheless, it has been an amazing one year.”

“Yes, certainly.” her expression then faded from mellow to sad. “I know. She’s hanging in there and sure, she’s done concerning things. But I can’t help but worry. I don’t want to find her hurt and beat up one day, I know it happens sometimes and she just doesn’t tell me.”

“Well I’ll take your word for it. Despite the fish it sounds like a truly wonderful place!” she nodded, “Yes I think it would be worth going to!”

“Rude people live everywhere,” Victor says, in the downtrodden tones of someone who works in customer service. “I wish I could just ignore them…but I do try to keep a cheery face through it all,” he adds, perking up a bit. “You can’t let people like that ruin your life.” He nods understandingly. “I’d worry too. But, you know, for all her talk of death and such, Ruby really isn’t one to seek out harm. She���s got a good head on her shoulders.”

“No wolves from what I’ve seen — you’re in more danger from the fish,” Victor chuckles — then turns serious. “No, I mean that — there’s a kind of fish that lives in the ponds called a snark, and they can be vicious if hungry. They can’t kill you, but they have a nasty bite.” He smiles again. “But we needn’t go near the water if you’re worried. The rest of the park has enough flowers and trees to satisfy you, I’m sure.”

“I certainly suppose it depends on the man. A lot of rude people live in the city, but it’s best to ignore them and not let them get you down! And yes.. crime happens in some places, not near our apartment thankfully. It makes me worry about my younger sister when they go out. Especially Ruby.”

She gave it a thought, “Well if there is no wolves in the woods there then I suppose it will be alright. Botany is a small hobby of mine and the various plants sound gorgeous!” she smiled to herself, it sounded significantly more pleasant than the dreary woods she was used to going to.

“Fortunately they’re few and far between — the average mad scientist in Secundus seems to have a better hold on their creations than Touched elsewhere. Something I’m very happy about.” He nods, sighing. “It — depends on the man, I think. Is crime a problem in your city then? It’s not really in Secundus. Not many people think they can get away with stealing from or otherwise — er — ‘i-inconveniencing’ a Touched.”

“You should — she is your grandmother,” Victor says, before grinning bright as the sun. “I haven’t? Oh, let’s correct that right now! It’s an amazing, beautiful, wonderful place! It’s run by my friend Lewis, and it’s — oh, where to start? There’s a little forest, and rolling hills, and a stream with little ponds along the way, and a giant hedge maze filled with a rainbow of roses, and big mechanical towers with the difference engines that power it all! It even has its own weather! It’s a marvel of Touched Creativity and you really need to see it in person.”