.04 // video

[yourshowface]

[the video cuts in to a room that vaguely resembles a cage, with ripped playbills, band posters, and the like plastered around the walls. It's fairly messy now, with some of the posters appearing to have been torn at, as though someone were trying to pull them off. The floor is littered with stuff - crinkled up old newspapers, a broken plate or two

Comments

[negative_five]

... Jesse? [she sounds genuinely concerned]

[yourshowface]

- Rachel. Are you okay?

[negative_five]

What, me? I'm fine, obviously. [she's brushing it off; she's really not]

Is he... [she looks at the other Jesse] I should come over there, shouldn't I?

[yourshowface]

[contemplates that for a brief moment, and then-]

It may be safer for you to stay where you are for now. I have it on good authority that the hallways are dangerous, and I don't want anything to happen to you. These events don't last for that long, thankfully.

[negative_five]

What's... with him? [she's not really sure what to do with all these doubles running around; she's currently locked hers in her closet]

I don't want anything bad to happen to you, and I don't want to be around that... that thing, either.

[yourshowface]

He is currently experimenting with new coping methods or something along those lines. I didn't question it much. And frankly, I'm not attached to the decor in this room, so he can continue to do whatever all he likes.

Believe me when I tell you that right now, you are in the safest place you could possibly be at this very moment. I want you to be safe, Rachel, above all else.

[negative_five]

Are you sure you're okay?

[she really doesn't feel good about this] I don't want deal with my... you know, issues. [she should have expected Jesse wouldn't have any]

[yourshowface]

I'm fine. I fully intend on distracting the- whatever it is with an iPod full of whatever things like that prefer to listen to. I'm thinking of a more mellow mix. I'll have to draw the line at including anything like Linkin Park or Evanescence on there, though. In any case, it should be quite alright.

Hmm?

[negative_five]

What's wrong with him? I mean-- I have one, too, you know.

[yourshowface]

I'm not a doctor, of course, but if I had to render a diagnosis, I would say ... "an excess of melancholia."

[negative_five]

Can I help? [oh god, Rachel, please don't help.]

[yourshowface]

It's fine, Rachel. Don't worry about it. Besides, this event will end shortly - they always do.

[negative_five]

You know you don't always have to be so strong, right?

[yourshowface]

I'm not trying to be strong, Rachel. This is how I am - and it's simply a statement of fact. Everything will be fine. This place has a certain . . . way of working, and once you figure that out, it's easy enough to work around it.

[negative_five]

Then why is he sad?

I just... I thought you'd want to talk to me about something like this.