[Audio]

[justicereigns]

Nice of them to leave my jacket. [AWKWARD PAUSE. The voice coming from Smoker's journal account is not his usual. Or from a male at all.]

What's with my voice?! [That just squeaks there in high-pitched worry.]

Ah hell... I have boobs.

Fuck you Malnosso.

[He... she rather, clears her voice.]

S-Smoker is back... [That's a bit hesitant.] Ikki, he... he might need help. Jitte and kickboxing lessons will return to normal, sorry everyone about the delay. Could I have a headcount of everyone still wishing to take them? I might need to reorganize his schedules.

[The last part is muffled as he starts to shut the journal.]

Damn it! These jeans are way too big! Now what?!

Comments

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

[Guess who also has absolutely no reaction. As far as Robert is concerned, Smoker is Smoker is Smoker. His body means absolutely nothing.]

B-Besides the... unfortunate obvious... are you alright?

And d-do you... have a new p-preference of pronoun, for the moment...?

[... It might be telling that Robert sounds completely blasé about asking this question, as if it happens all the time.]

[Voice]

[justicereigns]

[He appreciates that, even if he's facepalming. It happens, but to other people. Like pirates. Or anyone foolish enough to have a run in with Ivankov.]

No preference. I'll try to get over my concerns about this as soon as I have pants.

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

[Meanwhile, Robert has no real concerns about something as intrinsically fluid as sex and gender. At least in the eyes of most Terrans...]

In that case... i-if you need anything, I would be g-glad to assist.

[He's not certain exactly how he could, though.]

[Voice]

[justicereigns]

[That offer just sounds weird. But okay, moving on.]

Bras are just for show, right?

[Because Robert is OBVIOUSLY the person to ask.]

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

[He doesn't understand how it's weird-sounding in the least! Totally oblivious to social implications...]

... Hrm. As... as f-far as I am aware, they... provide m-much-needed support, in the case of l-larger breasts...

... But, a-assuming you only have this b-body temporarily, the only issue it should c-cause is... minor pain, if you are accustomed to... v-vigorous exercise.

[In other words, he probably needs one to do any kind of exercise.]

[Voice]

[justicereigns]

What, really? [Exasperated sigh. All Smoker does is exercise.] I guess I'll have to talk to Keimi. But then I'll have to wear a shirt.

[Shirts are devil spawn. Clearly.]

Well, it's just a little bit of pain.

[Because what is pain compared to the discomfort of shirts?]

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

... Th-theoretically, you could... simply w-wear the bra without a shirt...

[Robert could care less about clothes, honestly.]

Regardless, i-it... is more up to your own l-level of comfort, Mr. Smoker...

[Voice]

[justicereigns]

I guess I'll just try jitte like this and then get a bra if it become cumbersome.

Thanks Robert.

How's everything been on the Home Front? [All the military terms forever.]

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

You are... w-welcome...

[... Oh, he was hoping he wouldn't get that question.]

... Admittedly, it... could s-stand to be... better.

[Voice]

[justicereigns]

What's wrong?

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

... The, er, s-season is... not a good one, for me...

[Shifts. Don being distant and unresponsive and not remembering him.

Helios.]

[Voice]

[justicereigns]

Winter? Or the holiday?

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

[The simplest answer...?]

... Both, I... s-suppose.

[Voice] gah need more femme icons so preeeetend

[justicereigns]

Need a friendly ear?

[Voice] /duitfully pretends!

[semper_cogitans]

[... It could help...]

... if... if you w-would not mind, I... I think s-so...

[But at the same time, he doesn't know how much he should say.]

[Voice] ty!

[justicereigns]

Want me to lock this?

[Which is his way of saying he doesn't mind at all.]

[Voice] Don't worry, it's no big deal anyway. <3 I have IMAGINATION!!! /rainbow in hands

[semper_cogitans]

...

It... m-might be... prudent, yes.

[There's no way he's dumping Don's biological "secrets" - as much as they are secret for anybody who's aware of turtle biology, that is - all over the network for everybody to see.

But he wonders if Smoker already knows...]

[Voice] [Locked 85%] Yaaaaayy

[justicereigns]

All right, go ahead. I'm all ears.

[Voice] [Locked 85%] ;w;

[semper_cogitans]

...

[Better start at the most relevant place.]

...

Don is... h-having difficulty... remembering anything... e-even that he is my partner...

[Voice] [Locked 85%] *pets him ;;*

[justicereigns]

But you remember differently. [Not a question, just an observation that requires confirmation of such.]

What happened? A shift? Was he kidnapped?

[Voice] [Locked 85%] ;;... all the sads...

[semper_cogitans]

...

... It is... i-inherent, to him.

[Essentially seasonal amnesia.]

... It sh-should pass soon, but... b-but it is saddening to deal with, in the interim...

[Voice] [Locked 85%] *MORE PETS*

[justicereigns]

What... why...

Oh.

[Hand to his forehead.] Because of winter? So it'll get uh... [Ears twitch.] Reversed in Spring?

[Voice] [Locked 85%] He needs all the pets he can get

[semper_cogitans]

Y-Yes.

Hopefully.

[With any luck, it'll go the other way and Don will be difficult to deal with in another way...]

I... j-just have to wait...

[Voice] [Locked 85%] That he does.

[justicereigns]

Try keeping him warm. Or maybe spend more time at the beach? I'm not a zoan expert, but I think they have less problems on summer islands, not just according to the calendar.

I didn't think he'd forget though. Are you sure that's not from the Malnosso?

[Voice] [Locked 85%] Luckily Smoker helps :'>

[semper_cogitans]

The b-beach is, er, j-just as cold at... at these times; a-arguably even worse because of... b-breezes from the colder ocean...

[Softly:] And... I am c-certain. He has not been taken; h-he just... cannot remember...

...

It v-varies, though. Some days he is... m-more lucid.

Other days he is... a-almost not there at all...