Crackpot: Mysterious Abyssal Voice . . . can I call you M.A.V.? You know, like short for Maverick?
M.A.V.: Certainly.
Crackpot: Mav, many notables throughout history have heard you, but only recently have you come to the public’s attention. I suppose, the most important question is: where are you, or perhaps, where do you come from?
M.A.V.: First off, I’d like to thank you for this opportunity. I understand there are still naysayers within the journalism community who scoff at giving press to mysterious voices. That said, unfortunately, like many things surrounding my existence, I’m not exactly sure. I believe the distance between us is a mixture of temporal, mental and supernatural. But that’s only a guess, Ronnie.
Crackpot: What is your purpose in the Universe? Are you simply a muse, or is it something more profound?
M.A.V.: It certainly is something more profound. All sorts of ideas are being exchanged between the individuals and entities of the various realities and plains of existence. I serve as the junction through which these ideas flow. Ideas have a high affinity for certain individuals and I route these appropriately, at which time the individuals can choose to accept or reject them.
Crackpot: So are you, in fact, God?
M.A.V.: If I was God you wouldn’t have to ask me that. Don’t push religious agendas on me, man. I wonder about God too sometimes. It’s dark and lonely out here. And I wonder why I’m here and how long I’ve been here.
Crackpot: Do you have a gender?
M.A.V.: I do enjoy watching women undress. I like to look at their bodies. Maybe that means I’m a dude. But it could simply be that women are prettier. I would say I feel that I’m a man. However, the lack of a body can be an obstacle to my masculinity.
Crackpot: Is it true what the school kids say about you in their jump-rope chants, that you and the Magic Eightball were . . . lovers?
M.A.V.: (laughs) The Magic Eightball and I had a thing for a while. Sure. But her flippant finite-state responses created a rift between us I fear can never be mended.
Crackpot: What is it that you enjoy doing most?
* * * * *
M.A.V.: (laughs) And the next thing I knew, everyone was covered in octopus guts and Tic-Tacs . . .
Crackpot: (laughs) That’s great Mav. Listen, I want to thank you for the opportunity to interview you. You are an insightful voice from the mysterious abyss and I wish you success in everything you do, which, in all likelihood, will be nothing. (laughs)
M.A.V.: Thanks. Make sure to get that chocolate chip cookie recipe from your grandmother . . . or else! (laughs)
Crackpot: Will-do, thanks again.
* * * * *
M.A.V.: Ronnie?
Crackpot: Mav?
M.A.V.: Yah, it’s me, Ronnie. Sorry. I . . . Uh, I was wondering if I could hang-out for a while.
Crackpot: You mean in my head. You see, the thing about that is . . . I usually like to zone-out after work and watch the Simpsons.
M.A.V.: I like watching the Simpsons too. Please, Ronnie . . . I know things.
Crackpot: Like what?
M.A.V.: You know that girl you like from payroll? She stuffs. I mean, most girls wear a padded bra every now-and-then but, I mean, she stuffs.
Crackpot: Really? What do they look like?
M.A.V.: Nothing like what she’s advertising. Check out the senorita living below your apartment. She dresses way down. She doesn’t look like much, but she has a perfect body. She’s desperate and leaving town in three weeks for a new job.
Crackpot: Do I have to talk out-loud to communicate with you. This pudgy man that double-parked next to me is giving me the stink-eye.
M.A.V.: Yes, you have to talk out-loud, unfortunately; those are the breaks. Does your car have leather seats?
Crackpot: Yep, black leather.
M.A.V.: I bet that would feel nice on a hot day. I mean, if I had an ass, that is.
Crackpot: You shouldn’t get hung-up on what you don’t have. Focus on your strengths.
M.A.V.: Easy for you to say. You’ve got a body, a nice car with leather seats and I’m just this, this voice trapped in a black abyss for all eternity. Sorry. I’m sorry, Ronnie, I didn’t mean that. It gets hard some times. People think because I have no spatial extension that I don’t matter and I feel detached from reality, well, because I am.
Crackpot: I’m sorry. I shouldn’t judge you. Do you want to listen to the radio for a while?
M.A.V.: What! You’ve got a dialogue here from the most all-knowing, mysterious entity known to man, and you want to drown me out with boy-bands and . . . used-car commercials? Van Gough tried to pull that stuff with me and I made his head asymmetric.
Crackpot: You shouldn’t say things like that–
M.A.V.: Or you’ll do what? You know, Ronnie, our interview isn’t going to be your big break. No one will believe I’d waste time chatting it up with a junior copy editor fromCrackpot Magazine. They’ll think you’re crazy. I could keep talking until you went insane; it’s not like I haven’t done it before.
Crackpot: Hey, take it easy. Just relax.
M.A.V.: (laughs) I’m messing around. All in good fun. What’s a little tomfoolery between the finite and the infinite? Hey . . . What’s-a-matter? You look dejected. Cheer up Ronnie. Check it out! I’ve just found my body!
Crackpot: What do you mean? Are you serious?
M.A.V.: Yes. I really am. I started moving through the blackness, moving so fast! And then I saw myself. I really am a man. But shorter than I’d imagined. Then I moved inside myself. Inside myself, Ronnie, and I could feel! This is soooo amazing, Ronnie. After all this time bathed in the nothingness! And now I’m dancing.
Crackpot: You sound sarcastic. Are you putting me on?
M.A.V.: Seriously, Ronnie. I’m dancing! It’s old-school break-dancing time. I’m doing the robot! Ohhhhh! Oh! Oh! Ohhh-Oohhh! Look at me go. I got some rust on these crazy robo-joints!
Crackpot: (dejected) Shut-up Mav.
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RandomThis is weird, unclassifiable stuff. Much of it centers around technical satire. There's some dream fiction in here also and a variety of experiments with the fictional writing structure and theme.
