exsilium | 06 △ VIDEO

06 △ VIDEO

[ Video--coming from Adam's tablet for once, and not his retinal enhancements. it shows him, obviously in his messy apartment, and obviously... different from what one might be used to. he's neither properly dressed nor his usual stoic, composed, monotone self.

but most notably, the lenses of his shades--which are mounted to his head--are retracted. his eyes are visibly artificial. here's the usual gravely voice: ]

...And they keep dragging more and more people here. Or is that the machine malfunctioning again? Can't be sure anymore.

Anyway, hello. My name's Adam Jensen and I'm -- [ insert vague, dismissive gesture here--his hand, too, is artificial and looks like it's made out of black metal. ] ... who the fuck even cares. I'm the local oversized can opener. Hi.

[ if it wasn't obvious before that he's drunk, it's sure as hell now. ]

Given the uh, premise under which you all arrived here as well as the popularity of thought-provoking surveys lately, let's talk about a topic each of you surely can contribute to with a story or two. Since I couldn't help but notice that we're quite a miserable bunch of misfits. Exceptions prove the rule by the way.

[ pause, during which he reaches off screen... for his smoke. ]

So, broken dreams. There's a pretty catchy song on them by Green Day which I can only recommend. But before you scurry off to find it, why don't we share with the class why we're all so damn bitter, and not only since we ended up in this shithole. Though I guess the shithole made it worse, in some cases. I don't know. Getting it off your chest might have a soothing effect, or something.

[ another pause, and he seems pensive for a moment. ~~he might be able to offer alternative treatment methods for your troubles which may involve punching~~ ahem. ]

Here, I'll start. I was planning to get married not too long ago, start a family. I had the perfect girl, a decent job I liked and paid well, and then--then science happened.

[ a dry, humorless chuckle. ]

Gotta love science. Your turn.

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Mm, I noticed that. Ah - [ she starts as if something has occurred to her ] - and I didn't expect music to be so hard to find, either! It really does get quiet without that...

Yeah, it's a real problem around these parts. Not even a good oldfashioned radio will produce anything worth listening to. Unless you enjoy the sound of static.

[ she shakes her head as if that was a real question. ]

I wish I could've at least brought some of my music from home! I'd even take my brother's collection over nothing.

You and me both. What kind of music do you listen to.

I like lots of kinds of music, but I guess my favorite is pop music. My most favorite is Miss Sheryl's music, but I know nobody here's heard of her. [ pout ] If she's ever here, she'll have to perform for everyone at least once! [ and then she catches herself ] But I shouldn't wish for her to come somewhere like here, huh?

Can't say the name rings any bells. And yeah, you shouldn't. It's not the most... pleasant place to be.

[ conversation, adam ]

... What is her music like?

Ah, it's like -

[ BUT WHY DESCRIBE IT WHEN YOU CAN JUST SING IT ]

Remember, on the day we decided to escape this despair,
What lay before us was nothing but the passing wind?

The more feelings I have to convey, the more my words fumble.
Unable to tell you anything, the truth is I live in uncertainty.

If humans could somehow see tomorrow,
Then we probably wouldn't have to live on our dreams.

Embrace that goodbye!
Embrace that affection!
I want to bury this entire world with my feelings for you.
I flew so nimbly, so lightly.
I cried so hard, so much.
I just want to see you once again, at our promised land.

[ whoa. whoa, girl. adam's actually impressed with that and he likes listening, even if he... might not show it. ]

... That's nice. You're a very good singer yourself.

[ beams! ]

Thank you. I'm a singer at home too - but not as famous as Miss Sheryl.

Pretty young for a professional singer, no?

[ she laughs a little. ]

Well, I was just starting out. In fact, it was just after my first concert that I got here.

Huh, well I wonder what they brought you here for. I can't imagine you to battle enemies by singing, unless you're some sort of Pokémon. A green one.

[ HAHAHAH WELL. she actually does look startled for a moment. ]

Well - that kind of thing...I guess it's not true in every world, but it's worked before in mine.

... What. How.

[ are you a green jigglypuff ]

Well, it depends! Some of the aliens that have tried to attack humans turned out to be able to understand us better because of song. It even ended the great first Interstellar War.

[ ... adam squints. ]

You ended a war... with a song.

I didn't! [ that'd just be silly. ] That was Lynn Minmay, and also Basara and the Firebombers, and Sara and Mao Nome!

Edited 2012-11-11 02:59 (UTC)

Doesn't matter who did it, you don't just solve all your problems with a song.

... Though if you're serious about it, why don't you propose something like that to the Initiative guys. Sing a song for the UE people. They make up. We get to go home.

Sounds like a plan.

I am serious!

[ for all of her indignant reprimanding, she sighs. ]

I don't think something like that would work here...and even if it did, it wouldn't be because of the song of someone like me, I don't think. But it doesn't make sense why they brought me here anyway.

Really? Well, I guess it would have been too easy.

I was thinking it was random which people they dragged here.

I don't think it works on other humans, either. But that would be nice, right?

What about AIs? Because that's apparently what we're up against, according to the rumor mill.

[ thinks that over. ]

I don't know. I don't think anyone's ever tried that.

Then wouldn't it be a good opportunity?

[ so desperate for progress right now HE'LL EVEN RUN WITH THAT ... ]

That's true....and if it's a chance to help, then someone should try it, right?

[ easily convinced little girls ]

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