First shot ; video

[hungover]

[There is the tell-tale sound of heaving in the background. The communicator is on its side, camera facing a cup of some clear alcohol on ice that's swirling in a tumbler. Where did this mysterious alcohol come from when Haymitch appears to be newly-arrived, you ask? We may never know.

His cheek is still stinging from where Katniss had gouged him, but it was a dull thrum that didn't seem so bad when he couldn't see straight. Eventually, he manages to get the camera upright and gives it a winning grin – or it would be winning, if there wasn't the telltale glisten of vomit on his lower lip. Some might not notice that.]

So, we're in for another Game. Different rules, sure, and a real 'battle', but – [and he waves his hand toward the camera,] – still. I should introduce myself, if that's the case.

[He makes a mostly-unsuccessful attempt to straighten himself up a little, leaning heavily on the outside wall of the nearest building before forcing himself to his feet and dipping himself in a sloppy bow.]

Haymitch Abernathy, victor of the second Quarter Quell. I come from District 12, home of coal and very little else.. This place is at least less of a violent assault on the senses than the Capitol – nobody's hair has made me shield my eyes yet. That's something.

[He produces a flask from his jacket pocket and places it to his lips, tipping it completely upside-down to suck the last few drops from it.]

Tell me, fellow captives -- how do you feel about the likelihood we'll be forced to kill people we know nearly nothing about in the name of this place's 'freedom'?

Comments

[hungover]

[The answer: extremely easy, so long as you knew where to get it. That was almost a built-in skill for him.]

Probably going to end up taking the latter option. I do appreciate your information though, madame.

[And it's true -- she hasn't been hostile, and they're all stuck here together. Might as well try to not go out of his way to mkae enemies.]

[whatsupcroc]

[ She gives him a small, two fingered salute. ]

You're welcome! And my name's Collette.

[hungover]

Collette. Where are you from>?

Or when.

[He sways on his side of the screen, tipping his head forward enough so that his cheek is pressed against the keyboard while he upchucks on what's probably the table next to him.]

[whatsupcroc]

Earth, since worlds seem to be different! I'm from the west coast, out in California. Uh... which probably doesn't mean so much, but that's where I'm from!

The when is the 1990's, AD.

[ She feels herself draw back from the laptop thing and wrinkling her nose oh god did he just... eeeeew. ]

[hungover]

[He pops back up from his position pretty quickly, all things considered.]

California.

[There's not a lot of documentation of what the world looked like before the great tragedies that made Panem the dominant (and possibly only) coherent nation in the world, but the name sounds familiar.]

North America?

[whatsupcroc]

Yep! The West Coast of North America, right under Washington and Oregon, and next to Nevada. You've heard of it?

[ Isn't that just weird. ]

[hungover]

Not specifically. Not too much known about life before Panem.

[He's positive the Capitol had a hand in that.]

[whatsupcroc]

Except you recognize California? There's... no way you're from a future Earth, is there?

[ Drunk vomity man. TELL HER YOUR STORIES? ]

[hungover]

Sounds familiar. I wouldn't be able to show it to you on a map, but Earth is definitely the planet.

[OH SO NOW SHE'S INTERESTED.]

[whatsupcroc]

[ WHEN HE STOPPED VOMITING HE SAID SOME INTERESTING THINGS... once relevant to her own world.

Shut up, it's not self interest, it's being a teenager!!! ]

Weird! Not that it should be with how places get renamed all through history. Like everything I'm hearing about this world. Similar places, totally different names.

[hungover]

[He's really quite used to dealing with teenagers, though.]

Yes, it makes you wonder what it was really like before.

[whatsupcroc]

We might see, with the whole time thing!

[hungover]

Very true. That bit ought to be interesting, at least.

[whatsupcroc]

That's what I've been saying! It's already changed how things are here, I've talked to some of the others who've been here for a while, and it's like it just erases out things that have happened. Like ripples in a pond hitting other ripples and changing how the water moves or something!

[hungover]

Then again, that also sounds like it could be extremely dangerous.

[whatsupcroc]

Yep! Which is why we're all here. Dangerous times call for desperate measures, or something like that.

[hungover]

Let's just hope they actually know what they're doing, deep down.

[whatsupcroc]

I didn't know to count you for an optimist!

[ She winks. ]

I already am.

[hungover]

Well, if they don't know what we're doing -- we're all screwed.