Finale - Video
[ The communicator camera turns on. Roger is holding it, even if you can only see just about half his face on the left corner. The image shifts around sloppily as he tries to get himself fully into the frame.
He's wearing his red mask and jacket, as usual, blond hair spiking up and a smug-but-genuine smile on his face. He looks pretty proud of something, despite not looking directly into the camera to address you lovely viewers just yet.
He then looks to his side. ]
C'mon Abby, don't just leave me hangin'! You gotta be in this too.
[ From the background: ] I-I'm coming! Just gotta--
[ Footsteps, then the sound of something being switched on and humming for a moment before light illuminates the area. Abby finally appears in the camera's view, tugging at Roger's sleeve and grinning wide. ]
Come on! It's working!
[ The camera keeps shifting as Roger waits, his head turned away from it until the moment Abby finally places herself within the frame.
He turns his full attention to the communicator, putting on his best grin. He speaks with a mock-thicker-accent, pressing his lips together comically with an arched eyebrow ]
Ladies 'n gents, this'd be Cap'n Hardball and Commander C9 reportin' t'you live from [ he says this with a firm nod ] - you guessed it - the one 'n only Porter Buildin'.
[ A PAUSE FOR EMPHASIS; he lifts the camera to show said building. There now you've seen it get a load of Roger and Abby's faces again. ]
Now, I'm sure ya'll are wonderin' just what sorta program the Cap'n and the C9 are thinkin' up to put a spin in this joint.
[ He looks at Abby again ]
We ready to go?
[ Clearing her throat, then: ]
Presenting! One of the greatest artistic feats known to man. Masterful talent like you've never seen before! Drum roll please!
[ The sound of Abby mimicking a drum roll before the camera turns back on the porter building, and--
This appears on the side of the tower. ]
Ta-da!
[ There's the sound of Roger's small, half-contained laughter behind the camera with a 'Oh, man' - the image trembles distinctly for a lengthy moment because of this - before he adds: ]
You show 'em what ya got, C9.
[ Abby laughs in return, and her hands do a V-sign before pulling away from the light. ]
Next up, a ferocious beast from the faaaaar reaches of--
[ She stops abruptly. Something seems to have startled her. She inhales sharply and then a shadow of her hand pointing across at Roger appears on the side of the tower. ]
OhmyGod, Roger. You're--
[ Roger's silent for a moment, still off-camera, looking back at Abby with raised eyebrows. His first thought that comes to his mind when he sees the look on her face is the possibility that the Porter might be getting back at them for this little joke. ]
Wh--
[ The camera suddenly lowers when he finally realizes what surprised Abby. Still off-camera, Roger holds the communicator with one hand, staring at the other (suddenly glowing, now) completely perplexed. ]
What in the hell is going on? Is-- [ a pause, as he squints. ]
Is my hand... glowing?
[ There is a moment of silence on his part.
Then, a deafening burst of sound and light, followed by the crackling noise of the camera dropping to the ground. ]
[ Panicking sounds, and Abby's voice overlapping Roger's until she's drowned out by the burst of noise and light: ]
No. No, this isn't-- Roger. Rog, don't go--
[ There's a moment of nothing but Abby's frightening breathing, and then suddenly, she seems to be startled anew by something else. There's the sound of hurried footsteps, and her sneakers come into view before there's another burst of light--
And the rooftop is empty. ]
---
((ooc: Abby's first Port-Out begins, and Hardball's stay in the City comes to an end. Again. THANK YOU.))
He's wearing his red mask and jacket, as usual, blond hair spiking up and a smug-but-genuine smile on his face. He looks pretty proud of something, despite not looking directly into the camera to address you lovely viewers just yet.
He then looks to his side. ]
C'mon Abby, don't just leave me hangin'! You gotta be in this too.
[ From the background: ] I-I'm coming! Just gotta--
[ Footsteps, then the sound of something being switched on and humming for a moment before light illuminates the area. Abby finally appears in the camera's view, tugging at Roger's sleeve and grinning wide. ]
Come on! It's working!
[ The camera keeps shifting as Roger waits, his head turned away from it until the moment Abby finally places herself within the frame.
He turns his full attention to the communicator, putting on his best grin. He speaks with a mock-thicker-accent, pressing his lips together comically with an arched eyebrow ]
Ladies 'n gents, this'd be Cap'n Hardball and Commander C9 reportin' t'you live from [ he says this with a firm nod ] - you guessed it - the one 'n only Porter Buildin'.
[ A PAUSE FOR EMPHASIS; he lifts the camera to show said building. There now you've seen it get a load of Roger and Abby's faces again. ]
Now, I'm sure ya'll are wonderin' just what sorta program the Cap'n and the C9 are thinkin' up to put a spin in this joint.
[ He looks at Abby again ]
We ready to go?
[ Clearing her throat, then: ]
Presenting! One of the greatest artistic feats known to man. Masterful talent like you've never seen before! Drum roll please!
[ The sound of Abby mimicking a drum roll before the camera turns back on the porter building, and--
This appears on the side of the tower. ]
Ta-da!
[ There's the sound of Roger's small, half-contained laughter behind the camera with a 'Oh, man' - the image trembles distinctly for a lengthy moment because of this - before he adds: ]
You show 'em what ya got, C9.
[ Abby laughs in return, and her hands do a V-sign before pulling away from the light. ]
Next up, a ferocious beast from the faaaaar reaches of--
[ She stops abruptly. Something seems to have startled her. She inhales sharply and then a shadow of her hand pointing across at Roger appears on the side of the tower. ]
OhmyGod, Roger. You're--
[ Roger's silent for a moment, still off-camera, looking back at Abby with raised eyebrows. His first thought that comes to his mind when he sees the look on her face is the possibility that the Porter might be getting back at them for this little joke. ]
Wh--
[ The camera suddenly lowers when he finally realizes what surprised Abby. Still off-camera, Roger holds the communicator with one hand, staring at the other (suddenly glowing, now) completely perplexed. ]
What in the hell is going on? Is-- [ a pause, as he squints. ]
Is my hand... glowing?
[ There is a moment of silence on his part.
Then, a deafening burst of sound and light, followed by the crackling noise of the camera dropping to the ground. ]
[ Panicking sounds, and Abby's voice overlapping Roger's until she's drowned out by the burst of noise and light: ]
No. No, this isn't-- Roger. Rog, don't go--
[ There's a moment of nothing but Abby's frightening breathing, and then suddenly, she seems to be startled anew by something else. There's the sound of hurried footsteps, and her sneakers come into view before there's another burst of light--
And the rooftop is empty. ]
---
((ooc: Abby's first Port-Out begins, and Hardball's stay in the City comes to an end. Again. THANK YOU.))