How To Talk To Your Characters

Hudson - Reconcile?

Oi.

There's a little bit of a lilt in the Author's voice, but I ignore it just like I'm ignoring her.

Hey. Hey. Hudson.

I finish wrapping the bandage around my forearm, still remaining silent. I can't use too much of it, or else it'll be visible through my clothing.

You hurt you arm, I see. How'd that happen?

"Mr. Cox?" The young man who'd shown me into this room earlier opens the door again now. "Your presence is requested downstairs."

I roll down my sleeve. "I'll be right down."

Hudson, stop ignoring me.

I retrieve my jacket from the back of the chair beside of me and sling it over my good arm. I don't see why the Author should command my attention right now especially if she's just going to go back to her old actions afterwards.

I can do this for ages, you know. I've got eternal internal screaming already, throwing your name into the mix can't be that much harder.

I briefly consider taking some of my gear with me, but there's little chance that this will be a business meeting. It should be just dinner.

You asked for it. Or rather, didn't, but. Nevermind. Hudson. Hudson. Hudson. Hudson. Hudson. Hudson. Hudson.

The Author keeps on chanting my name in an attempt to get my attention as I make my way downstairs.

Ninety-nine bottles of Hudson on the wall, ninety-nine bottles of Cox. Take one down, pass it around, ninety-eight bottles of Hudson. Ninety-eight bottles of Hudson on the wall, ninety-eight bottles of Cox. Take one down, pass it around, ninety-sev -

She's eventually shut up when I start talking to others, so far now I bear with the terrible singsong voice until I reach the bottom step.

Being in a place like this only happens once or twice a year. The large tribes that often act as yearly sponsors gather all available Omega hunters to interact with them and choose which ones they'll support. It's one of the few times I stay in a building for more than a week, or see any of the other Omega hunters.

Omega hunter meetup, cool. Anyway. Ninety-five bottles of Hudson on the wall, ni -

Talking to someone else really is the only way to get her to shut up, isn't it? I'll have to find someone soon.

There are a pair of large wooden doors separating the stairwell from the dining area. When I go through those doors, I'll talk to other people, but I'll also have to contribute to conversation. Not exactly my strong point.

But the Author is still singing. I'll take conversation with actual meaning over that any day.

The singing increases in volume. Through the doors I go.

"Cox showed up," is the first thing I hear when I opened the door. "Finally. Got tired of your room, bud?"

Since I've joined this 'Guild' of sorts, there's only ever been six of us. I'm sure many people have tried to become Omega hunters on their own, but it's not a job that guarantees you'll live another day. That's the same deal with this crowd.

I avoid the man sprawled across the plush chair and sit in the wooden one near the wall. "I was told that I was being called."

"One of the attendants did us a favour, then." The man with curly hair cracks his neck and looks around the room. "We're all here now."