1st Mistake; video

[moralperil]

[Two lavender eyes stare deeply into the camera, leaning in too close.]

Testing, 1, 2, 3! Um, hi? Oh good, it's working...

[Mahdi slides backward. He's in the dining area of one of the assigned apartments. The guy looks about fifteen, and was clearly plucked right from his job: he's wearing a clean but old and stained black apron over khakis and a polo that have seen better days. There's a hairnet crumpled up on one side of the table, next to a glittery purple flashlight.]

Is there any way for me to contact my boss on this thing? You'd think a simple inter-realm transmission wouldn't be that hard considering how much other crazy stuff they have out here. [More to himself than to the netbook:] I really just want to tell her I won't be coming in. I'm supposed to be there for the breakfast crowd and she's gonna be up a creek without me. Probably can't get out of getting fired for not showing up... even if technically I was there. Early, even!

[He seems to remember himself, and addresses the camera once again.] Anyway, hi! I'm Mahdi. I'm new. They set me up with a place to stay, so I guess I'm gonna be a prisoner for awhile here, huh? [He doesn't exactly seem upset about it, though at least it's clear he's not enthusiastic.] I hope we can makes friends! That's what people do on the internet, right?

Comments

[stonefaith]

Let me know if you need help. [ he doesn't mean to sound sarcastic -- he's actually very genuine about this -- but this one's not that great at texting. ]

Since the start, I believe. About six and a half months now.

[moralperil]

Thank you, that is very, very sweet of you to offer. I'm so sorry you've been stuck here away from home for so long. If there's any way for me to help make this whole mess easier for you, please tell me! Do you have a favorite dessert? I'm great with desserts.

[stonefaith]

[ LONG DELAY before the next text. ]

I'm sorry. I don't eat. But thank you for the offer.

[moralperil]

You don't eat??! [GASP.]

Are you a robot?

[stonefaith]

No. Undead. So I've no need to.

[moralperil]

...But vampires eat brains, and zombies eat blood - wait - um - something like that! Not that I suggest you do that! Um... still, if there's anything I can do to help make everything easier - it can't be easy to be undead - I still want to extend my offer of help!

[stonefaith]

[ ACTUALLY CRACKING A SMILE NOW ]

Rest assured, I've no need for blood or brains. Alcohol gets me by just fine.

Just watch out for yourself, boy. Keep safe. That's all I ask of you.

[moralperil]

I really appreciate how people wish well of me, but I'm 22 years old [even if he does look about 15] and I can take care of myself! I'm not going to stumble into an open manhole or something...! Probably.

[stonefaith]

Twenty-two years is nothing. And open manholes are hardly going to be your greatest concern here.

[moralperil]

--Is my greatest concern vampires? I have to admit I'm unprepared for that contingency!

[stonefaith]

No. There are no vampires here, as far as I know. I'll be sure to inform you if that changes.

[ oh man, mahdi is not inspiring confidence in bariyan right now. maybe open manholes are going to be one of this kid's top concerns.... ]

[moralperil]

Well, I don't mind if they're vampires, really, as long as they don't bite people. I mean maybe they could get their food at the blood bank!

Zombies, on the other hand... they might be kind of a problem, what with needing to eat brains. [This is suddenly something he is thinking over quite seriously.

Yeah he might be kinda

doomed.]

[stonefaith]

There are two zombies here and neither of us eat brains. I do not think it will be a problem.

[ ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE TWENTY-TWO, KID.... ]

[moralperil]

Oh - you're a - I'm so sorry! I've never met a zombie before, I thought they were just on TV. Please forgive me. I didn't mean to be rude.

[stonefaith]

No offense taken. Though I did say that I was undead further up, didn't I?

[moralperil]

Sorry. I guess you did.

Just... I didn't realize zombies could talk. It's a terrible stereotype.