Case # 27: Video

[19centconstable]

[George is sitting at the table in his room. His helmet is in front of him, and he's scrubbing furiously at the badge mounted on it with a toothbrush. He pauses and peers at the badge through a magnifying glass.]

Oh, for the love of...

[Back to scrubbing. There are still small traces of tarnish. George eventually puts the toothbrush down with a frustrated sigh, and tells the viewers at home:]

I suppose I ought to be thankful at least that it hasn't grown a tree.

[Oh, did you think this was an accidental post? No, George's communicator has yet to act up, he was just distracted by the creeping rust.]

I had just wanted to say that the other day I happened to notice a suspicious damp bit on the floor of the fifth level common room, by the shark's tank, and I thought someone ought to check into that.

[Just in case, as George suspects, the shark has started piddling on the floor to get attention. Or, more realistically, the decay has made its way down to level five and has started eroding the tank. And nobody likes a loose shark. Particularly the shark, because they can't breathe air very well.]

Comments

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

Don't say that. It might.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

That would be impossible to wear.

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

A lot of things are impossible but they still happen.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

But what would its roots even live on?!?

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

I don't know. It would be interesting to find out.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

Only if it were on someone else's head.

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

That's not nice to say. I'm sure no one else would want it there.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

But I don't want one there either.

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

I don't think anyone does.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

I don't think most people here have got badges, in any case.

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

Or we might just have a lot more trees around.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

You haven't...grown or experienced anything today, have you?

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

No. Why? Have you?

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

Just the rusting. But some people seem to be unexperiencing unexpected death toll.

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

I've never died, though.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

I haven't either, thank goodness.

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

So it's just trees for you.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

The threat of trees.

I never thought I'd say that.

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

Trees are a threat where I'm from.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

How so?

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

Some trees eat people. In a way.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

Eat them with what?

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

They digest them! But only if you get too close. They'll pick you up with their branches.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

But. Trees haven't got...mouths...

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

These do. They have bulbs that their food goes in.