06 △ VIDEO

[neveraskedforthis]

[ 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.

Comments

[audio; private]

[neveraskedforthis]

I've been wondering about that... First it's my augs, then my diet, now my drinking habits--what's next?

[audio; private]

[raisedbybirds]

Your attitude.

Though your augs are a bit more tangible. And feasible.

[audio; private]

[neveraskedforthis]

[ frown. okay, Meg often critisized him in a joking manner too, but he's pretty sure she found his devilmaycare wild dog attitude endearing and sexy. which is why he never completely dropped it. ]

... There's nothing wrong with them right now, mom. You just want to steal from my stash, don't you.

[audio; private]

[raisedbybirds]

[It's coming from the same place, really.]

It's not stealing if you owe me anyway, Jensen.

[audio; private]

[neveraskedforthis]

Still stealing as far as I am concerned. Aren't you lucky that I stocked up the fridge before. [ it... really is full of beer right now, and little else. ]

Might wanna hurry though before it's all gone, because then you'll have to wait.

[audio; private]

[raisedbybirds]

You're inviting me over again. Drunkenly, I might add.

[This sort of has bad idea written all over it, and in his position she'd want nothing more than to be left alone with her liquor.

She wasn't in his position, however.]

Just so you're aware.

[audio; private]

[neveraskedforthis]

[ he's been alone for days. so this post was asking for some kind of.

interaction. any kind. ]

I'm aware. Does it bother you.

[audio; private] → [action]

[raisedbybirds]

I'll let you figure that one out.

[By CEASING CONVERSATION, rude.



...and then knocking on his door some time later. Oh look, she found some civilian clothes this time.]

[action]

[neveraskedforthis]

[ and Adam takes his time padding over to the door. when he opens it--after a minute or two!--he looks even more of a mess than he did on the video feed (and half naked). with a can of beer in the other hand.

its funny because he cared a little more about how he and this place looked when she first came over. now he doesn't find it in himself to care. ]

... Hi.

[raisedbybirds]

[A fact she'll kindly point out then let herself in.]

You look like a mess.

[neveraskedforthis]

News at eleven.

[ he shrugs that comment off nonchalantly, kicking the door shut before wandering back into the kitchen. guess who hasn't done the dishes in what looks like weeks?

He opens the fridge and takes out whatever there's still left. Two bottles and four cans. ]

[raisedbybirds]

[She'll take a can for herself, she's being generous. Then she'll take the other, then the bottle, then the other bottle.

You've had enough.]

[neveraskedforthis]

[ that still leaves two cans of beer for him. that'll be okay... for now. until he can steal back one of those bottles. ]

Geez, talk about greedy.

[ he empties his current can and takes the two fresh ones to make his way back into the living room. ]

[raisedbybirds]

It's collateral for good behavior. [Which indeed she sets them aside, out of sight and out of mind. Samus pops open the top of her can and takes a swig, drifting after him into the living room. Much like her first visit, she is easily attracted to his workbench, and studies it once again.]

[neveraskedforthis]

[ there's not much on his workbench. something that looks like a dismantled, nonfunctional radio he had tried to put back together, but either didn't get farther or lost motivation.

while adam situates himself, he sneaks a glance at samus' very shapely backside. ]

I'm behaving.

[ before he sits, though, he's looking for something... the pill bottle on the couchtable seems to be empty as he shakes it, so he walks over to the workbench to pick up the one there.

then he flops down on the couch. to stare at nothing in particular. ]

[raisedbybirds]

[She pays him more mind as he approaches the workbench to take his pill bottle, which she promptly frowns at. She'll follow him over to that couch, get up in his face and snatch the bottle out of his hand.]

No. You're not.

[The bottle gets set down on the couchtable with A LOUD CLACK.]

It's easy enough to repair a machine but flesh and blood is a different story. Don't destroy what you have left.

[neveraskedforthis]

[ whoa, mom. Adam just. Grunts at that and is seriously speechless for a moment. ]

I'm not... it's just painkillers. Not drugs or anything.

[ he took a lot more of them months ago, when everything hurt ]

Besides even if I wanted, my augmentations counteract any damage others or... I, might inflict on myself. I appreciate your concern but it's pointless, [ tilts his head at her, ] Miss Aran.

[raisedbybirds]

[She opens her mouth to retort but suddenly finds herself not willing to argue his point, as it does seem rather pointless, like he said. All that he gets is a pointed exhalation through her nose as she backs off.]

Isn't that convenient.

[It's muttered, clear defeat. Samus clears off enough of a spot on the table behind her and turns it into a improvised chair.]

[neveraskedforthis]

Maybe a little too much.

[ he even feels it when he smokes--he can smoke as much as he wants and never damage his lungs, it's just not possible. ]

Makes it easy to forget that you can still die. Still hurts, too.

[ it's sort of an ambiguous answer, and adam sinks deeper into his seat. looking up at her. ]

Why are you here. A straightforward answer, for once.

[raisedbybirds]

[Or so that he couldn't even enjoy the simple pleasure of stargazing--a reminder of that was probably what drained most of the argument out of her, and that probably says a lot for someone as stubborn as she is.

Stubborn, but not incapable of compassion.

Compassion she's not very willing to directly explain, either.]

You invited me here and I'm programmed to berate you.

[neveraskedforthis]

A nagbot, then. I get it.

[ Or not. ]

That's one thing I don't miss about having a girlfriend. They always treat us guys like little kids too dumb to even tie their own shoelaces properly.

[ he leans forward, hands in his lap. ]

And maybe that's true. But even if I trip over my own two feet, I'll pick myself up. Eventually.

[ he's fleetingly touching one of her hands, now. not grasping it or anything, just metal brushing against skin. ]

Just offering a hand then is good enough.

[ unfortunately, the tender moment will be disrupted by adam grimacing and reaching for his shoulder, rolling the joint forwards and backwards. ]

[raisedbybirds]

You must have had some shitty girlfriends, then.

[Blunt as it is, it is in earnest. Samus spent most of her younger life in the company of men/male species, with females being oddly uncommon in her experiences. And as Adam well knew, Samus didn't care if she was mistaken for the wrong gender, or a robot, or whatever.

Gender shouldn't define your ability to care about someone, enough to pick them up or even offer a hand.

Her eyes dart down to his hand as it touches hers; not flinching, permitting its presence, but inviting it any closer. At least not until he rolls his shoulder. Samus leans back and sips her drink.]

Maybe I actually came here to offer mine.

How much is it bothering you?

[neveraskedforthis]

...

[ Adam doesn't respond to the first part, just hangs his head. The sour aftertaste of his relationship with Megan is still fresh in his mouth, and he finds himself imagining how nice it would be to have her around, in silence, maybe for an embrace or something similar, despite everything.

He idly massages the joint of his shoulder, fully aware there's no point to it but it's a common habit he hasn't dropped yet. It happens, that he does things he really doesn't need to do anymore, unconsciously, only realizing so later and it's best described as disheartening. ]

Not as much as before. The first few weeks were hell. Aside from the pain everything felt so... foreign, like oversized parasites that had attached themselves to me, and I could barely move. Much less walk. Tried to rip them off, once or twice.

[ Should have probably gotten himself some help, back then, but of course he would rather deal with all this manpain like a manly man. Alone. ]

[raisedbybirds]

[Oversized parasites attaching themselves to someone admittedly conjures up a very different mental image for her, though she won't comment on that one.]

...You never asked for them. Your boss just outfitted you with them after whatever happened to you on the job.

[Augmentations that extensive though must have meant he would have otherwise been dead...]

[neveraskedforthis]

Yeah. Because he could.

[ Clause in his contract, and all, Adam's aware of it, so he has no right to be mad at Sarif, though he does feel a little e bitter, admittedly. Then again, he wouldn't have been able to do what he did without the augs.... a well calculated move on his boss's part. ]

Take this arm here, for example--

[ He presents his right arm. ]

Wasn't necessary. [ And now he puts his hands on his knees. ] Neither were the legs. It wasn't an operation table. It was a chopping block. I know that now.

[ One of them curls into a fist. ]

And I--wasn't prepared. To go on, beyond what I've done and proven to myself. I guess I should be grateful to be alive in a world where my knowledge means nothing. But I don't feel like I can achieve anything for myself or for others, it's all so fickle.

I never wanted much out of life, you know. But if you take that bit away, all that's left is...

[ He makes a brief gesture, at himself an the room. ] This.

[ Hopelessness, basically, and someone who has completely given up on himself, even though he'd always tried to salvage at least his morals. Every scathing, discriminating, derogatory comment and glance thrown his way--it had hurt, every time. Even if he'd liked to pretend otherwise. Adam had never been a particularly social creature, but at least he'd been accepted. ]

...Sorry. [ He just now realizes how much he's actually talked without being asked. It's awkward, and he reaches for his can of beer to get properly drunk again. ]