exsilium | 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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 ]

I think the bigger problem is to organize a concert that'll reach them...

Or organize a concert at all, for that matter.

That's true...maybe there's an easier way to find out if it works first.

... I think there are a couple of robots and AIs running around here...

I'm not one of them by the way. I think.

No, you're not! [ she sounds pretty sure on this actually. and kind of cheerful? ] You're a cyborg, right? I know someone like that from Fr - actually, he wasn't from Frontier at all! But he's been staying there with us.

Yeah I... guess that describes me pretty well.

[ They would have never used that term though. Transhuman or augmented human--that's more politically correct. ]

So you have augmentations, too? Where you're from, I mean.

Mm! Well, they're forbidden on Frontier, but in other places people can get them done.

... Frontier?

Macross Frontier! It's the name of the spaceship I live on.

... Oh. Well, of course. Where else would you live.

[ DUH ]

Earth is still there, but people wanted to go exploring for other planets to live on, so there are a lot of space convoys looking! Frontier is one of them.

You make it sound so easy. We hadn't really made it past the moon where I'm from... space exploration was kinda put on the backburner.

[ she makes a kind of thoughtful sound that's also...a bit awkward ]

Well, it used to be like that on earth too, but because of the Zentradi, I guess things got sped up.

Let me guess, aliens?

Mm, they are. But they're not the only aliens!

Edited 2012-11-16 07:02 (UTC)

How many different races are there, do you know?

[ She shakes her head. ]

There used to be the Protoculture, but now there's the Zentradi, Protodeviln, lots of different kinds of animals like hydra, [ she falters briefly ] the Vajra....

[ And a self-deprecating laugh. ]

I'm sorry, maybe Nanase or someone better in school could've given you a better answer.

Edited 2012-11-18 00:02 (UTC)

[ hmmm. ]

Something the matter?

[ She is the most obvious person in the universe sadly. So she shakes her head, then pauses. ]

It's nothing, just...you haven't heard of the Vajra before, right? If you haven't even heard of Frontier or Galaxy.

No. Should I have?

[ Another headshake. ]

I don't think they've ever come to earth, even in our history. But we've had a lot of problems with them recently. It may even be that we can't coexist at all.

Problems like what? Are you waging war with them?

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