Diane ... fever still high.

[Oh hi there Coop - been pretty quiet on the network lately, haven't you? And go figure that this time, it's a mistake to adress it anyway. But he's feverish enough not to question the fact that he's speaking into his Gear, not his usual audio recorder. He sounds tired and weak and somewhat scratchy, and like he has minor trouble articulating the words.]

Persistant pain and soreness in my back and ... [Lengthy, troubled pause.] ... I have to say, Diane, whatever these things are, they're causing me a lot of trouble.

Skin still turning rusty, although thankfully not in a literal sense. The patterns are similar to Lichtenberg figures, but I can't ...

[Trails off. Sighs.]

I find it difficult to think like this, much less speculate. Buddha once said that the mind can't be strong and clear if the body isn't kept in good health, but this is an illness I don't know how to fight.

I believe perhaps some air would do me good.


[ACTION for Ecruteak; He's out in the rain. For once, he's dressed very casually - t-shirt and jeans, actually - but that's not the most eye-catching thing right now. Like many others, he's got Symptoms. And his are of the Level 5 Fire variety. Skin is a mottled brown-red hue down his back and shoulders and upper arms, that are also lined with darker, feathery lines. Entei's influence is clear in the broken mask on his face and spikes down his back. He's not particularly happy ... but at least he's not the only one looking abnormal.]

[It's probably been a while since the network heard from this guy. It's safe to say he's been preoccupied - between being lightly obsessed with Tetris, the Halloween possession thing happening (which actually affected him more than he cares to admit), the train hijacking and those three days ... he's had a lot to think about. And, in truth, still has.]

[But Christmas perked him up and with the new year just around the proverbial corner he's feeling like things just might get better, and you know what else never fails to lift his spirits?]

[Local wildlife.]

[That's right. So today the network is treated to a video of a group of trees. It's pretty early so the sunlight is warm and yellow and sparkles just so in the snow, and as the video sloooowly zooms in on one tree in particular ... you can see there's a Hoothoot snugly nestled in a hollow of the trunk, looking asleep and kind of ruffled up.]

[It's actually a very beautiful image, because Cooper has a tendency to catch them like that.]

[And then he zooms out. ...no, wait, he's zooming in again - a little closer this time, really focusing on that sleepy little owl. Despite his thing with birds, he can always appreciate them from a distance. And this little fellow is admittedly very cute.]

Look at that.

The spitting image of comfort. Right there.

[He sounds sort of breathless and utterly wistful, then zooms out again just for a pan of the scenery - snowy tree trunks and the little lake behind him. The water isn't all frozen yet so the sunlight gets to show off in the surface there, too, before Coop aims the gear back towards the bird and zooms in on it again.]

Almost makes you jealous, doesn't it?

[Action for anyone in Ecruteak! He's hanging out just on the edge of the forest, stalking the wildlife.]

[Dale Cooper is normally a kind, polite man, but if you catch him around Ecruteak late on Halloween ... he's gleefully disturbing people he comes across by either threatening them or being a total creep. That cane he's got might as well be a weapon. And if you give him reason, he just might use it as one.]

[When you think you're Mr Hyde, there are no morals to hold you back, after all. And he's looking pretty pleased with this, strolling about, perhaps even whistling -- with an off smile in place.]



(ooc: late cause of timezones, but feel free to pick a fight with evil!Coop here. he's going to have a blast. also warning for possible triggery-ness - BOB mr Hyde is a creeper, and thus, this will be a creeper entry.)

Does anyone else play Tetris?

_{[Guess who finally discovered the game apps on his 'gear! And guess who's been playing the games ever since! Spoiler: this guy. Cooper sounds pretty excited, actually, in that almost kid-like way that the ones who know him will probably recognise. He speaks fast and chipper.]}

Damn good game. Very engaging, very challenging. I've yet to get past the 100 lines mark, but I'd very much like to believe I'm getting there.

_{[Beat. You know, sometimes he really doesn't want to be here, but this games-in-the-gears-thing certainly picked him up.]}

Falling puzzle pieces _[:D] ... that Minesweeper game isn't half bad, either. And if I've got my facts right there are more games available for purchase at the PokéMarts. So, Network: any recommendations?

_{[You should be able to HEAR the grin in his voice, seriously.]} Nothing like a good game to keep you occupied.


_[Action _{for anyone in Ecruteak! You're likely to find him somewhere in the middle of town on a park bench or something, cross-legged with an Eevee asleep in his lap, playing Tetris on his 'gear like a boss.]}

( Diane ... )

[Private audio to France:] France, it's Cooper. Are you still in Ecruteak?
_{[He sounds sort of tired, but otherwise carefully neutral.]}

[Action:] _{[You can run into him anywhere in Ecruteak, where he'll be spending time walking practically every street, looking a little closed off. Unless you find him by night - he'll be near the lake, looking at the half moon.]}

[Audio, broadcasted to the network; nighttime:] All things considered, it wasn't too long ago people believed you would go crazy if the moon shone on you while you slept.
<sub>[Enjoy that little bit of information, Johto.]



(ooc: BACKDATED to thursday the 18th.)</sub>