[ video ]

[hostage]

[Oh! He's back to broadcasting video! At least for this occasion. For anyone who saw him while he was detoxing: he looks much healthier now. More color to his skin, no sheen of cold sweat. His eyes are still ringed by dark circles, given his ongoing insomnia, but he no longer seems like he's on death's doorstep. His tremors are less pronounced, only occasionally noticeable. Slow improvement... which doesn't include his mood. He doesn't look much like he wants to be talking right now. He's grumpy and tired, damn it.]

Yo. I'm Jesse, for you guys that showed up this last time. Real quick just wanted to say: we do this thing every month, like... getting together to bake cookies for the new guys. It's pretty big, so we use a few different kitchens, but I got all the supplies and ingredients and everything...

Anyway. It's almost that time again. Collette's all on my ass so I guess I'm back to running things. I was thinking we'd get together - what is it? - uhh... 30th. Yeah, 30th. Room 409. You can come even if you don't know how to make cookies. It's real easy, I'll show you and we all kinda do it together.

Then, on the 1st, I set up a tent outside and give 'em away. You can help out there, too, if you want. It's pretty cold and wet, though, so that sucks. No pressure. Don't have to hang out the whole time or anything.

...Yeah. So.


((OOC note: this does overlap with the upcoming mission, which Jesse won't be going on.))

Comments

[perdre]

... I had no idea people did that around here. [beat.] It's a nice idea.

[hostage]

Yeah? It's just a little something. Ain't a big deal.

[perdre]

Someone gave me cookies when I first got here. It's a big deal.

[hostage]

They did? Ah, good.

[Nice job, little helpers.]

I was starving when I first showed up, so this just seemed like a good thing to do, since the Initiative don't exactly provide refreshments.

[perdre]

Now that you've mentioned it... [It's true. No refreshments, just a tutorial and a good old weapon to send you on your way to the rest of the city.] I guess they expect us to get our own with the money.

[hostage]

Yeah, they do. And the allowance is better than nothing, I guess. I don't think they really get it, though. Like... How you're pretty much in shock that whole first day.

[perdre]

[there's a little shaken exhale, not quite amused. a bit contradictory in that aspect, actually.]

Yeah. I know I was. I didn't even know which questions to ask.

[hostage]

I don't even know... I was so out of it, I was just standing there in the rain 'til somebody dragged me inside and fed me. Like, seriously? 30th century? I thought I was totally tripping.

[perdre]

Yes, I - [hm. How does he explain it.] I thought I'd feel like I was in the 30th century by now, but it hasn't quite settled in yet.

[hostage]

Just wait 'til you start going on missions. Then nothing feels like it makes sense ever.

[perdre]

What's that like?

[hostage]

Like somebody dropped you off on a movie set or something. Least, at first. Then it's just annoying, 'cause it's hot or you're in the middle of nowhere and there's nothing to do but wait to get shot at or whatever. Then half the time we come back and find out we screwed up and something else needs fixing.

[perdre]

Man. [the word dissolves into a whisper, somehow, silence taking its place for some thought. He can't really imagine how frustrating that must be.] How many have you been in?

[hostage]

Umm... Four or five. Or seven, if you count supply runs.

[perdre]

How do those work?

[hostage]

You get sent back, do what you gotta do, and that's it. Easy.

[perdre]

Easy. [he exhales, pausing to think to himself.] I'll keep that in mind.