Episode 7

A Friendship of Fate... Alter Realm Revelation... Final Piece in Place... 

Voice Actors: CJ Cinco, Tara Kempton, Melissa Jones, and Matthew Abergel. 

Written, Narrated, and Produced by Mark Johnston
www.constellationaudio.biz 

Photo Credit: Seth Steward 

Music by Mark Johnston

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:18

Constellation Audio proudly presents. Brevity by Mark Johnston. Episode seven. Coral takes a sip of her tea. Her head is on a swivel, wondering which direction the obscure artist will arrive from. Perhaps she should be expecting another meager messenger. It already feels like she is a character enveloped into some secret cloak and dagger spy cinema. Just as she begins to wonder if they'll ever show, a tall figure approaches from behind her and walks into view. Care to take a walk? I promise, you're safe.

SPEAKER_04 1:19

So, Dioptes is a man after all. Sure, love to.

SPEAKER_03 1:25

The mysterious man is wearing a zipped-up hoodie with the lid pulled over an all-black baseball cap. Along with large aviator sunglasses, the entire top half of his head is concealed. With his hands tucked into his pants pockets, the only semblance of skin to be seen is the lower portion of his face.

SPEAKER_04 1:44

That nose. It looks awfully familiar.

SPEAKER_03 1:48

Dioptes leads them toward the park's outer jogging path to begin their stroll.

SPEAKER_02 1:53

Thanks for meeting me. I know that it's only been a day, but the fact that the painting is still in your hands tells me that I can probably trust you. Are you planning on selling it?

SPEAKER_04 2:04

Everyone is saying that I should, but I haven't decided yet. I'm an artist too. Dollar signs aren't necessarily the way that I put value on something that speaks to me. I bought the piece because I liked it. Something I wanted to spend time with.

SPEAKER_02 2:20

Now I know which one from the elevator she is. The tattooist. It sounds like my painting fell into the hands of exactly the person it was meant for. To be honest, I was certain it was gonna be a lottery ticket for some lucky bloke.

SPEAKER_04 2:34

I know. I see what your angle was. I must admit it's a very clever expose of contradiction. Do you want me to sell it?

SPEAKER_02 2:43

No, no. I want you to have it. You can do whatever you please with the painting. There are just certain hands I would like it to avoid. But perhaps I'm just being delusional. It seems like all streams tend to trickle in the same direction anyway. Once it's out in the open, he'll find a way.

SPEAKER_03 3:00

Coral takes the lid off of her cup to move the teabag aside. She takes the last sip of her drink, folds the plastic lid, and sticks it inside the small empty vessel.

SPEAKER_02 3:10

Here, let me throw that away for you.

SPEAKER_03 3:12

Christian removes his hands from his pockets to take Coral's cup as they pass by a large public trash barrel. She instantly notices the small cartoon bird on his lower left hand.

SPEAKER_04 3:23

Holy hell! It's the guy from the elevator!

SPEAKER_03 3:27

Coral's head is racing. She can't believe the coincidence. Then she begins to put the pieces together.

SPEAKER_04 3:34

Are you talking about Reuben Archimboh? What? How did she know? What makes you say that? You were at the Opal Tower today. We saw you in the elevator. What's the name of your tattoo? Mickey Woodpecker or something? You said you were there to see your dad, but I'm thinking now that it had something to do with the Archimbow family. Don't worry, I'll never sell to that motherfucker.

SPEAKER_03 3:58

Christian takes a deep breath, then slowly removes his hood and sunglasses.

SPEAKER_02 4:05

I guess I need to fully trust you now. It's Marty Magpie, by the way. My tattoo. I forgot you guys noticed it today. I had no idea that we ran into each other earlier until I saw you in the park. Was that your sister with you in the elevator?

SPEAKER_04 4:20

No. Well, basically, that's my best friend Jim. I'm Coral. Coral Seguaro.

SPEAKER_02 4:28

It's a pleasure, Coral. I'm Christian. When I tell you my last name, you're probably gonna freak out. I was talking about Ruben Archimbo. He's my father.

SPEAKER_04 4:40

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Holy shit, back up. Your dad is collecting your art and he doesn't even know it's from you?

SPEAKER_02 4:48

When you say it out loud, it sounds even crazier. But yeah.

SPEAKER_04 4:54

This is freaking unreal. The news is already having a field day over this story. If they got the whole picture.

SPEAKER_02 5:01

I know, I know.

SPEAKER_04 5:03

I suppose that makes the other lady your dad's business enforcer or whatever. He said it was his daughter, so she must be your That's right. I see. She was definitely hard-nosed. And no offense, but your dad is kind of a dick, by the way. And from what I hear, pretty corrupt, too.

SPEAKER_02 5:23

He's certainly not the city's finest. In fact, probably the city's worst.

SPEAKER_04 5:30

They offered us a million dollars for the painting. I got a weird vibe and we said no.

SPEAKER_02 5:36

That's a very hard thing to do. Thank you for holding out. I'm sure he won't give up easily.

SPEAKER_04 5:43

If I ever sell, I promise it won't be to them.

SPEAKER_02 5:49

He was never supposed to get that first painting. I was too slow to erase it. Won't make that mistake again. I'm working on a plan to rectify that particular error now.

SPEAKER_04 6:00

I have to admit, covering up the painting afterward is pretty badass. I'm usually pretty jaded about the Dioptees thing because it feels like manufactured performance art promotion bullshit, but that's just the jealous artist talking.

SPEAKER_02 6:14

I get it. There are tons of artists more talented than me, yourself included. There's no way in hell that my stupid painting should be selling for small fortunes. I never thought it would blow up like this. I was just trying to make a small satire on the way people live their lives. Constantly numbed by perpetual pleasure? Never stopping to value the moment? To actually feel alive?

SPEAKER_04 6:37

You mean like going to a concert to watch and record through the lens of a cell phone instead of experiencing the performance?

SPEAKER_02 6:43

Exactly. We've lost the plot. No one zooms out anymore to appreciate the rare phenomenon that we are. That human life is an eye blink in the span of the universe. I don't know why I let strangers' habits irk me. I just want the world to remember the magic of the experience, the beauty, and the brevity.

SPEAKER_04 7:02

I hear you. It's why dangerous things are fun. They remind us of our delicate existence. Or why sad and scary stories make us feel human. Negative feelings bring emotional balance. We're not supposed to be satisfied all the time.

SPEAKER_02 7:18

Couldn't have said it better myself.

SPEAKER_04 7:20

But art can be a long-term experience. One of the greatest aspects of good art is the multitude of meanings and emotion that it emits over time, right?

SPEAKER_02 7:30

Absolutely. Yes. And most art should be enjoyed that way. I guess that's why I thought that erasing it would be so impactful. It's just my version of a different art experience, I suppose. It sure feels like you were meant to pick that painting off the cafe wall. I'm very glad you did.

SPEAKER_04 7:47

Yeah, me too. Except now I've got the whole city, whole world even, looking for me in that damn thing. Did you know that I had to fight off a couple of clumsy gangsters in the subway today who were trying to get their hands on it?

SPEAKER_02 8:01

Seriously? Shit, I'm sorry. I should have known what kind of mess this could make. We can just destroy it like all the others. That should cool everything off.

SPEAKER_04 8:11

We could. I don't care about the money. Honestly, I'm perfectly happy with my life. But if I'm not gonna sell it for myself, I want to try and do something impactful with it. It's too powerful to dispose of, if you know what I mean.

SPEAKER_02 8:26

For sure. Can you keep it safe? I'm certain we could come up with something once inspiration strikes.

SPEAKER_04 8:32

Yeah, I think so. Only Jim and my other best friend know where it is.

SPEAKER_02 8:37

Good. Let's keep it that way for as long as we can do it.

SPEAKER_00 9:15

This just keeps getting crazier and crazier.

SPEAKER_01 9:18

Let me get this straight. You met the real Dioptes last night in the park, and it's the same guy that you both shared an elevator with yesterday?

SPEAKER_04 9:27

Yeah, but here's the kicker. He was there at the tower because he is Reuben Archambo's son.

SPEAKER_00 9:35

What in the world? This is too much. So is Dioptase a mobster too, or can I just say he definitely didn't get his good looks from his dad?

SPEAKER_04 9:45

Guys, I know this is crazy. And no, he's not like his dad at all. And we have to keep this quiet. You're the only people I can trust. Of course.

SPEAKER_00 9:56

Well, you guys want to hear something else that'll blow you away? Coral. You remember that creepy, beefy security dude from the tower? The one in charge?

SPEAKER_04 10:06

I wish I could forget.

SPEAKER_00 10:07

I told you that his voice sounded familiar. Well, I found him.

SPEAKER_01 10:11

Like on a dating app or No!

SPEAKER_00 10:14

He's Captain Left Hook.

SPEAKER_04 10:17

What the heck are you talking about?

SPEAKER_00 10:19

You guys know that I'm like a VR junkie, right? Virtual reality.

SPEAKER_03 10:23

Coral and Gage stare blankly as Jim points toward her entertainment center. Resting below the oversized TV screen is a small video game console with two headset goggles and controllers.

SPEAKER_00 10:35

It's a metaverse gaming complex called Crimson Castle. It started out as a medieval ages multiplayer role-playing game. Then it expanded into a handful of different worlds where players can complete missions or just hang out. For some, it's just an escape from the real world. Kind of like a digital renaissance fair. Personally, I spend most of my time in Shanghai Shadow. Samurais and ninjas, you know. But occasionally, I wander into Buccaneer's Barrel, the Pirate World.

SPEAKER_03 11:04

Jem's audience of two remains stonefaced, both sets of eyes slowly starting to squint with confusion.

SPEAKER_00 11:10

I know it sounds crazy. Just hear me out. In the pirate world, you can basically do anything a pirate would do plunder, battle, sell the open sea, whatever. So there's this powerful ship with a crew and a captain. He's notorious for being the brute of the ocean. Captain Left Hook. My player rank is pretty high, and I've been maneuvering my way onto his crew. Just last night, they finally accepted me aboard. And it's him. There's no doubt in my mind. Same voice exactly. Just with a pirate accent.

SPEAKER_01 11:42

Still sounds like a dating app to me.

SPEAKER_00 11:45

He even made a Shirley Temple joke. Just like the other day. Right. Didn't you hear one of the security guards call him lefty? I swear I heard that.

SPEAKER_04 11:56

Actually, yeah. You might be on to something.

SPEAKER_00 12:00

Yeah, I know it's silly, but I'm gonna follow it up. Who knows? Exploiting the head of security for the city's biggest mob boss could come in handy somehow.

SPEAKER_01 12:09

Or get ya killed. Please be careful, Jem.

SPEAKER_00 12:13

Oh, don't worry about me. This rowdy raider can hold her own on the seas of the vast virtual vortex.

SPEAKER_03 12:43

Fresh off his morning reconnaissance mission by the harbor, Christian removes his helmet in the basement garage and heads for the upward stairs. He pulls out his phone to check his email. One last thing to be sure of. To Christian's delight, he opens his mailbox and sees that he has finally received the food menu for this evening's gala. He carefully scans the digital document, looking for something that he needs to be there. When his eye spots the dish, a smile stretches across his face and he puts the phone back into his pocket.