ONE video.

[elderyouth]

- the on button? And this is... for video...?

[at the trail off, a grainy feed slowly slides into focus. or, more specifically, a single golden-brown eye peers in. there's footsteps on pavement and a bit of a sway to the video, so whoever's using it is obviously moving.]And that all connects to a network, which connects to other people, who can--

Comments

[distortsify]

This is definitely not paradise, but I think you need some help unless you like to play with paint.

[elderyouth]

[jumping a bit, looking around-- oh, du'h. he'd been expecting replies.]

[still, renewed curious look.]

I can clean it up, really! They didn't all open... Er, do you know if there's a mop anywhere? That's what I need help from.

[distortsify]

Have you checked the storage closet? I don't really know.

[elderyouth]

There's a storage closet? ... That sounds like it'd work.

[sigh. getting up. bit of an aimless wander toward the wall. storage closet, storage closet-- no, those were the stairs. hrm.]

It's... Siren's Port, right? [out of the blue.]

[ACTION Hello puppy but not]

[modestmusume]

Ah, are you alright? [She's got a bag of groceries but it's small, as she stares at the boy curiously.] Do you need help?

[ACTION why hello kind boy. but not.]

[elderyouth]

[minute start, at the sudden question, but he's looking over with a blink and then a smile.] Oh, I'm fine. Thanks. Uh--

[looking at the mess.]

[and back at her.]

... I've got it! Do you know where these are supposed to go, though? I mean, they were just sitting here...

[ACTION ;u;.]

[modestmusume]

I think that's where they're supposed to stay for now...Someone will probably come to collect them.

[She pauses for a moment quietly before surveying the mess again. A second later she holds out her bag of groceries to him.]

Hold this for a moment, please?

[ACTION.]

[elderyouth]

Oh.

[frowning back at the cans, before blinking back again. balking,] Ah, wait, I'm going to get your bags all dirty!

[paint hands. yeah. though he's holding out his arms to take them, anyway.]

[video]

[madeinoblivion]

[Laughin' at you just a little there, rainbow hands!]

Nah, the paint's- ...they said something about it on the news, I think.

Fresh meat's just what the nastier people call us. I'm Joe. There's a lot of us. More than a hundred, I think, but not everyone lives in the towers anymore.

[video]

[elderyouth]

[just a blink and slightly curious look at the 'news,' finally settling on wiping his hands on his pants. hrng.]

Where does everyone go? I heard we were supposed to be out in a month, but... [deflating.]

Re: [video]

[madeinoblivion]

To other apartments, stuff like that.

[video]

[elderyouth]

Is it easy to find work?

[be_gentlexx]

Ah! Well, I met a hungry wolf who wanted meat, but...

[Oh look! It's... It's someone who's a lot like him.]

Other than that, people are very nice here!

[elderyouth]

... You did? [short, sharp pause.] Here?

The city seems really nice... it's kind of surprising. But in a good way.

[be_gentlexx]

It's alright, actually, and... There are so many interesting things!

[elderyouth]

Like wolves-- asking for food?

[audio]

[vulturesnamedme]

Never got called 'fresh meat.' But some people still do. Natives aren't fond of the pulled. Hate us for being different, for being foreign, for being not them.

[video.]

[elderyouth]

[a pause.]

That's not very different from other places. Though it seems like the majority of people here are nice.

[audio]

[vulturesnamedme]

True. People are people. Nice, mean, they all act how they do because it helps them survive. If it works for them, it works for them.

The pulled are nice to each other, mostly. Not all, but most. Surprising to see, sometimes.

[video]

[elderyouth]

It is really surprising. In... a lot of cases, I think, if it happens as much as people here say. It must, if people can say it.

But when it comes to survival, it should be like that. The city must be nice, too, just like the people.