four! | o8 Video
[ A sector nine apartment. The wallpaper is peeling in a few places, but the surfaces are free from clutter except for a kettle set to one side, spouting steam. Claire ducks into view, checking the shot is lining up. ]
It’s running. Oh, I mean, action! [ He seems to be running on an even higher octane fuel than usual. It’s not hard to discern why given how often he looks at his companion rather than the camera. Somehow the colours on this particular video feed affect the contrast of her tones less than her own NV does; either way, it’s unmistakeably Chane at the edge of the feed, writing quickly in her notebook as always. There’s a slow pause as she looks at the camera out the corner of her eye, gazes at Claire setting it up-- and, after meeting his eyes for a moment, shows him the open pages without batting an eyelid, only the book’s black leather cover facing away. ]
What’s that?
[ She pulls the notebook back briefly to write something else, seemingly quite earnest. ]
- Ah, like what Maya said way back. [ Her fingers tighten on the edges of the book and she seems to jolt, surprised at the directness of that reply. Perhaps it’s partially the self-awareness of being recorded by the camera next to her that makes her cheeks flush a little as she lowers the notebook and offers a nod. He drums his fingers on the table, suddenly full of enthusiasm for whatever her attention is on. ] Yeah, we coulda done. That meeting wasn’t really my scene but I wouldn’t’ve minded bringing it up for you. Can you imagine? Just like a regular upstanding citizen! [ The audio nearly picks up some static at the cold lack of reaction on her part. ] Just kiddin’.
[ Tearing his attention away from her to address the camera. ] So, Port, on behalf of my fiancée - [ - Her shoulders visibly twitch upon hearing that very new choice of words for the first time and she lifts her head to stare at him, wide-eyed, nearly agape-- whatever edge or silhouette of her cheeks that can be seen on the feed is turning deep pink ] - I’m asking if there’s any... [ He catches her reaction in his peripheral vision and looks over. There’s a confused second in which he just meets her gaze, before he realizes what he’s said and stumbles over his own train of thought. ] -- Oh. That just slipped out. My mouth ran ahead of me! Don’t get me wrong, we’re still just friends and I’m happy with that. [ He grins sheepishly, blush matching hers. ] But you don’t mind if I call you that, right?
[ Just knowing the attention of the camera is on her makes her all the more unprepared for this, despite how easily these two get sucked into their own world. Perhaps that is what makes this feel like another heartfelt proposal, although a verbal slip. Chane hesitantly holds his gaze, breaths quelled for the moment, and seems to duck her head in hiding (her embarrassment, maybe) or contemplation-- but he recognises it as a nod of acceptance, although her eyes won’t meet his, or the audience’s. For now. ]
[ He hadn’t been looking at the camera much before, but it’s now being completely ignored in favor of beaming at the top of Chane’s head and what he can see of her face. ] As I was saying, my perfect fiancée would like to know if anyone out there knows any sign language. Or maybe some of you are interested in gettin’ some sorta language classes set up at the Community Centre?
[ The quicker that’s said the sooner he can turn the camera off and get on with properly smothering her with verbal affection. She steals a glance back at the camera rather than at Claire, eyes less tinted with hostility towards whichever individuals had the fortune to see that, before attempting to compose herself for responses. ]
It’s running. Oh, I mean, action! [ He seems to be running on an even higher octane fuel than usual. It’s not hard to discern why given how often he looks at his companion rather than the camera. Somehow the colours on this particular video feed affect the contrast of her tones less than her own NV does; either way, it’s unmistakeably Chane at the edge of the feed, writing quickly in her notebook as always. There’s a slow pause as she looks at the camera out the corner of her eye, gazes at Claire setting it up-- and, after meeting his eyes for a moment, shows him the open pages without batting an eyelid, only the book’s black leather cover facing away. ]
What’s that?
[ She pulls the notebook back briefly to write something else, seemingly quite earnest. ]
- Ah, like what Maya said way back. [ Her fingers tighten on the edges of the book and she seems to jolt, surprised at the directness of that reply. Perhaps it’s partially the self-awareness of being recorded by the camera next to her that makes her cheeks flush a little as she lowers the notebook and offers a nod. He drums his fingers on the table, suddenly full of enthusiasm for whatever her attention is on. ] Yeah, we coulda done. That meeting wasn’t really my scene but I wouldn’t’ve minded bringing it up for you. Can you imagine? Just like a regular upstanding citizen! [ The audio nearly picks up some static at the cold lack of reaction on her part. ] Just kiddin’.
[ Tearing his attention away from her to address the camera. ] So, Port, on behalf of my fiancée - [ - Her shoulders visibly twitch upon hearing that very new choice of words for the first time and she lifts her head to stare at him, wide-eyed, nearly agape-- whatever edge or silhouette of her cheeks that can be seen on the feed is turning deep pink ] - I’m asking if there’s any... [ He catches her reaction in his peripheral vision and looks over. There’s a confused second in which he just meets her gaze, before he realizes what he’s said and stumbles over his own train of thought. ] -- Oh. That just slipped out. My mouth ran ahead of me! Don’t get me wrong, we’re still just friends and I’m happy with that. [ He grins sheepishly, blush matching hers. ] But you don’t mind if I call you that, right?
[ Just knowing the attention of the camera is on her makes her all the more unprepared for this, despite how easily these two get sucked into their own world. Perhaps that is what makes this feel like another heartfelt proposal, although a verbal slip. Chane hesitantly holds his gaze, breaths quelled for the moment, and seems to duck her head in hiding (her embarrassment, maybe) or contemplation-- but he recognises it as a nod of acceptance, although her eyes won’t meet his, or the audience’s. For now. ]
[ He hadn’t been looking at the camera much before, but it’s now being completely ignored in favor of beaming at the top of Chane’s head and what he can see of her face. ] As I was saying, my perfect fiancée would like to know if anyone out there knows any sign language. Or maybe some of you are interested in gettin’ some sorta language classes set up at the Community Centre?
[ The quicker that’s said the sooner he can turn the camera off and get on with properly smothering her with verbal affection. She steals a glance back at the camera rather than at Claire, eyes less tinted with hostility towards whichever individuals had the fortune to see that, before attempting to compose herself for responses. ]