[ video ]

[hostage]

[Here's a guy who looks like shit. Not like he's been beaten up or injured or anything like that. The kind of "looks like shit" that comes with recovering from a meth bender curled up on the floor of some catacombs while there's a war raging outside. His body needs sleep desperately but the chaos has kind of prevented that, so he looks pale and sick with dark circles around his eyes and he's subtly shaking - which means the camera is shaking as he holds it.]

Hey, so... Hey. I know we're busy cleaning up and all, but I need, um... I'm just wondering if anybody could bring me some cigarettes. Or, like, anything else to smoke.

[Vague because he's not sure what's legal here.]

I'll pay you back or, you know, whatever. I'll owe you.

And, um, Nananea? You're probably busy with all them hurt people, but - that thing we talked about? I'm ready when you are.

[Despite looking like he should spend the next two weeks in bed.]

Anyway, yeah. Thanks in advance.

Comments

[livinuptothename]

That's different.

[hostage]

'cause it was on our turf?

[livinuptothename]

Something like that, yeah.

Some assholes with masks and guns start marching around and killing people, it's not like you can just sit around and do nothin' about it.

[hostage]

Nah, yeah, I get it.

I mean, I don't really, seeing as I sat there and shat my pants the whole time, but I kinda get it.

[livinuptothename]

Just means you got more sense than me.

[hostage]

You're just a hero is all.

[livinuptothename]

[ AHAHA..]

I dunno about that.

[hostage]

I used to be kinda like that. Believing I could save people from the men with the guns, I mean.

[livinuptothename]

Oh yeah? What happened?

[hostage]

I got shot in the face.

[livinuptothename]

...Yeah, I can see how that would change things up for ya.

[hostage]

Yep. So much for heroes.

[livinuptothename]

So what, you got better?

[hostage]

I got here.

[livinuptothename]

So what, you got shot in the face and wound up here?

[hostage]

I think so, yeah.

[livinuptothename]

What the fuck. Is this the afterlife or something?

[hostage]

I thought it was at first, but people keep saying it ain't.

[livinuptothename]

Maybe it's that inbetween place. Purgatory, I think? I mean, I'm pretty sure I wasn't doing anything where I'd end up dead before I cam here.

[hostage]

Ain't no inbetween when it comes to me. If that whole thing existed, I'd be on the express train to Hell.

[livinuptothename]

...Oh yeah?

[hostage]

I wasn't such a great person.

[livinuptothename]

Yeah, well. You and half the rest of the world.

Don't really buy into that whole religion thing anyway.

[hostage]

Yeah. My family was pretty into it, but me... Well, I put about as much stock in it as any other shit they tried to get through my head.

I guess I thought about it a lot, though, towards the end there. But I guess that's what people do at the end.

[livinuptothename]

Wouldn't know anything about that...

[ Damn, this got dark. Something to say, something to say.]

So. Your place still all in one piece?