03 | Video

[blahblahblah]

[The feed clicks on to a very somber-looking Rita. She opens her mouth to say something, but shakes her head, remaining silent for several more seconds. Eventually, she sighs and starts:]

I'm... not that good with stuff like this. I've been avoiding people for the last few weeks because I didn't want to deal with it, and I know now's not really a good time, what with all the new people. But... there's no way around it now.

[She looks right at the camera, and if you're looking closely, it's like her eyes are... out of focus. Is something wrong?]

I can't really see anymore, after I got too close to a bomb few weeks back. Anything really close, I can work with - I can still use this thing, at least. But anything much further than that, it gets blurry real quick, and at distances it's like nothing stands still. So... I'm pretty much useless for what I'm good at, right now. I'm not really... coping with it very well, and I'm trying to figure out what the hell I'll be good for like this. Maybe research, I guess, or spellwork. But I don't think I can fight like this. Before anyone asks, I tried glasses; they almost worked for a minute or three, until I got a horrible headache I couldn't function through. So that's a thing. Uh... so, I guess I'm looking for work that doesn't require me to actually be able to function.

[A long moment passes, the girl having a look of being totally lost for a second, before Rita throws up her hands, reaching to stop the video feed.]

I don't even know why I did this. Dammit.

Comments

[maddeninghatter]

[ He gets that a lot. Amazingly. ]

Is that sooooooo? But you sounded so very despairing just now.

[blahblahblah]

I am in despair! But that doesn't mean I'm just going to stand here and take that kind of comment, dammit! You are dead! Do you hear me!?

[maddeninghatter]

Ha! Ha! Ha! What can you do, like this? A girl like yoooooou. I'm sure you haven't got anyone here who could possibly help you, right?

[blahblahblah]

I don't need help! If I have to tear through every damned building on this island to find you, I'll do it!

[maddeninghatter]

Come now, don't be ridiculous. Do you really think you can take me on in your current condition? You're useless, admit it.

[blahblahblah]

I... I...! [They're empty threats, and she knows it. She'd never find him, let alone hurt him.]

Damn it all...! Damn you!

[And she's dissolving into tears.]

[maddeninghatter]

[ NOT AS PLANNED ]

Ah--

[ Kids. Crying kids. Urk. ]

You weren't - haha - supposed to do that.

[ Helplessly: ]

You were supposed to tell me to shove off. You were supposed to say that you were useful and could do things. Or that even if you can't, it's all right. Cos it's the sort of thing I could tell you, but it's better if you realize it yourself.

[blahblahblah]

Normally, that's exactly what I'd be doing, jerk. But I'm just a little off right now. And shooting things at a distance - my forte - is a little hard when I can't see the other side of my bedroom, let alone an enemy fifty feet away. So maybe that wasn't the best way to goad me into self-worth.