[ video | backdated to the 27th because I am slow ]

[hostage]

[Jesse looks nervous. He keeps glancing off-screen, like he's looking for permission or approval from someone who's keeping an eye on him. It's the camera he addresses, though:]

H-Hey. So, um...

If you don't know who I am, you can ignore this whole thing, 'cause it ain't really relevant to you.

Ranka? Sorry I disappeared all of a sudden after Christmas. I hope you weren't worrying or anything. I dunno if... I mean, I probably won't be home for a while. So just... don't worry. About that.

Everybody else - I mean, like, anybody who knows me and could do me a favor, like... Could you come and talk to Mia Fey? 'cause I need - what's it? - character witnesses. Like, people who've known me for a while who would maybe...

[The next words are mumbled as he looks down at his hands:]

...come and testify at a trial.

That's all.


(( There's a plotting post if you want to know what this is all about. ))

Comments

video

[inthejunk]

Did you laugh at someone named Skye?

[Have a nosy set of nostrils. Nope, there-readjusted. The nostrils belong to a nosy kid. Hey, there's no TV. Your woes are other people's entertainment, dude.]

[hostage]

What?

[He's just confused.]

[inthejunk]

Hmm, guess not. I knew she was lying! You can't arrest people for that.

[Which probably doesn't clear much up. The kid tilts his head a bit, like a bird peering into a mirror. Someone obviously has PiP going. And gee, his hair looks awesome today...]

[hostage]

[Perplexed silence on this end.]

[inthejunk]

[Just a sec, his fringe isn't doing that cool thing it does when he combs his fingers through it backwards...okay, there. Have a grin. He feels accomplished, and apparently chattery.]

It's good news for me anyway. I guess not for you. What'd you do, rob a liquor store? You kinda look like the guys in movies who rob liquor stores.

['Nother head tilt, but this one aimed at Jesse. Considering.]

Mm...maybe for your sick uncle's cancer medicine, I guess. But now that I really look you have a baby face. Definitely not gangsta. You know? Maybe if you had a cool scar...

[hostage]

I didn't do shit.

[And he's just... going to ignore the rest of that. Because really?]

[inthejunk]

Really? Did you try telling the lawyer that?

[Hey, he understands. Once he got arrested for something totally bogus too! It happens.

...Wait, is that a zit? No! Damn it! Stupid climate change!]

[hostage]

Uh, yeah?

[inthejunk]

It should be fine then, right? Try not to worry. The future probably has good technology. That's how they prove these things.

[hostage]

Assuming they care about proof.

[inthejunk]

Why wouldn't they? There's no use arresting someone just for fun.

[hostage]

They think I'm their guy. It's easier for 'em to ignore what's true and just run with that.

[inthejunk]

So, you just need a way to prove them wrong?

[hostage]

Well if it works anything like my world, they're the ones who gotta try and prove I did it, and if they can't, they gotta let me off. But who knows how it works here.

[inthejunk]

Oh. You're American, right? From New York? Or Hollywood? Or um...Texas? I bet it's Texas, right?

[And have an appreciative glance over this time. 'Cause that's pretty cool.]

I know a lot of English. And I have a bunch of import CDs...uh. Well, most of them are at home actually. But I still have a few here. You can listen to them if you feel homesick. And if they don't hang you, I guess...

[hostage]

I'm from Albuquerque. And, uh, thanks. Actually, yeah, if I don't die...

[inthejunk]

...Say it again?

[Thats definitely a new and foreign word. And creaking long, too.]

Maybe someone can shoot you down with an arrow. Uh! Aimed at the rope, I mean. That would be a good method for a cowboy, right?

[hostage]

Cowboy..?

...creaking

[inthejunk]

Yeah. You know. Uh. Like in the movies?

...Wait, are cowboys not real? You've gotta be kidding me!

[hostage]

Well they're real, but all they do is like rodeo shows and shit. And I don't think we got any here. And I don't think they use arrows, anyway. That's more like... Indians.

[inthejunk]

[Blink. Either you're lying or TV is...]

There aren't saloons and gunfights and...dueling pianos?

[hostage]

Uh, not anymore, at least.

[inthejunk]

...Huh.

Maybe I really should try to pay attention in Geography.