oo1. // video

[sweetling]

[On screen is Halfpipe with a smile that lights up the whole of her blue-tattooed face. She's in what looks to be a seedier district of the city, but not many Exiles are around.]

This place gets more and more like my world every day.

[At which she shifts the camera to focus on a point behind her--what several people will recognize as one of Exsilium's brothels.]

I'm curious, guys. How different is it here, compared to your homes? And if it is different, is it in good ways or bad ones?

Oh, and I'm Halfpipe, by the way.

Comments

[sweetling]

...heh, it even kind of sounds the same. Platinum Jail... I like that.

[vocalizer]

Apparently so do most of the people that visit there, but I've never been inside it before.

[sweetling]

In my experience, places like that are basically well-polished authoritarian shit. I don't think you're missing much.

[vocalizer]

I don't think so either. I was pretty happy with where I was, even if it wasn't all that nice.

[sweetling]

Home's home, you know?

[vocalizer]

Exactly.

[ A pause. ]

I keep expecting to wake up and find myself back there too, but it hasn't happened yet.

[sweetling]

Hey, don't give up. From what I hear it happens eventually.

[vocalizer]

Not by anyone's choice though, right?

[sweetling]

Wouldn't you choose it anyway?

[vocalizer]

Of course I would! But that's the problem, isn't it? That I can't just choose to leave whenever I want?

[sweetling]

I guess, but that's not really the thing I'd be kicking up a fuss about.

[vocalizer]

I wouldn't either if I could just leave already.

[sweetling]

[A faint laugh.]

Y'know, I haven't caught your name.

[vocalizer]

Aoba Sergaki. Sorry I didn't mention it before.