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.

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[ you'd think she'd be better-prepared for a question like this, but her gaze kind of wanders to the side as she answers a little hesitantly ]

Well...that's kind of a secret right now.

[ ~military secrets ]

One you just happen to know about, huh? It's alright.

[ she straightens a bit, defensively ]

Well!

[ buuut deflates when he says it's alright ]

My brother and a lot of my friends are in SMS, so it's not that surprising...

[ not that she's being sulky but she's kind of being sulky. ]

And yet, despite it being classified, someone's told you about it.

What does SMS stand for, anyway?

[ maybe she was sneaky!!! ]

Ah, that's Strategic Military Services. They're a private provider for the military, but in war they basically join the military.

And your brother works for them?

Yeah, he's a - pilot for them.

[ she still disapproves yes she does but she understands it better now too ]

Piloting can be a stressful job. Did you still spend a lot of time together?

Sometimes he comes back late and misses dinner, or has to be out all day and won't tell me till the last minute! [ HUFFILY ] And then he'll say it like, "sorry, but these things are hard to say in person." But don't you think if he's an adult and telling me what I am or aren't allowed to do, he can at least say something instead of leaving a voicemail when he has to work?

[ her life is so hard!!!! ]

Edited 2012-11-23 15:57 (UTC)

But still, he's spent a lot of time at home and taking care of me, and he'd even cook sometimes even though his cooking's bad a lot of the time.

[ she says it fondly, really ]

[ whoa he can tell. ]

Cooking is pretty difficult.

It's not that hard if you pay attention to what you're doing! But he'd still do something like switch the salt and sugar - well, I've done that too, when I was trying to bake cookies - and then we have to end up getting takeout! It's lucky I get so much food from Nyan-Nyan anyway or it'd even be a waste of money.

[ its cute how she's getting all worked up. ]

He's trying, at least. Isn't that something?

06 △ VIDEO

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