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

Voice;

[hungover]

I think that all depends on who you're supplying pancakes to, and why they want them.

[He'd seen his share of tributes get physically ill after stuffing themselves on the train to the Capitol -- but that was a different sort of emotional than what the boy was talking about, probably.

What's with the altruism though, seriously.]

video;

[moralperil]

Usually I'm supplying them pancakes because it's breakfast time. Or because it isn't breakfast time, but they're really drunk! [He says it with such enthusiasm.] Today's Monday, which means Mr. Porter is going to be in for breakfast. He and his wife used to go every Monday morning together until she passed away. Now he goes by himself. Sometimes my boss lets me take my break with him so we can chat! He's a really nice person.

Voice;

[hungover]

[Haymitch is more likely to be a part of that second group of people that he's mentioning as typical.]

Well, that's personable of you. You don't see much of that in the service industry.

[Then again -- at least in the Capitol -- the people serving the food didn't always have ... tongues.]

video;

[moralperil]

People keep saying that! My boss wanted to make me a server since the money's better with tips but I'm horrible with remembering orders and carrying things. One time this lady threw coffee at my head. [SIGH.] I didn't mean to get her order wrong!

Video;

[hungover]

See, that's the kind of thing that make people hate being servers.

So you're -- what, a cook right now?

video;

[moralperil]

Mm-hm! Standing over the grill 12 hours a day isn't easy, but I really like making people happy with my food. I hope I can keep doing something like that here.

I'm so sorry, I've been rude. What's your name?

Video;

[hungover]

Trust me, kid, you're pretty much the opposite of rude.

Haymitch. I'm sure you could find a kitchen to work at, here.

[moralperil]

Haymitch. That's a fun name to say. Haaaaymitch! If you didn't catch it before, I'm Mahdi. It's nice to meet you, Haaaaaymitch.

Have you been here very long?

[hungover]

[Oh my god what's going on]

Just a few weeks. And -- uh. Glad you could get such enjoyment from a name.

[moralperil]

It's just so fun! Haymitch. [He giggles.]

Do you have any advice for me as a newbie?

[hungover]

[He ... pauses.]

Well -- and I know this might go against your apparently trusting nature, kid, but -- don't go trusting these people without them giving you a reason. Think you can try that?

[He's really biting back his urge to say something smart about this.]

[moralperil]

Thanks for the advice, Haymitch. [Mahdi lifts his chin a little.] I really appreciate your honesty. The thing is, um. Two things.

I'm not a kid. I'm twenty-two. [And the most babyfaced, to be fair.]

Also... why do you think I shouldn't trust them? Have they hurt you? Betrayed you? [He asks this with genuine concern.]

[hungover]

[...okay, still less than half his age, still a kid]

They threw people into twisted versions of their memories and made them fight the people in them -- because their virtual reality machine was released prematurely.

[Doesn't exactly make him trust them.]

[moralperil]

Oh.

That's scary.

But everyone got through it alright?

[hungover]

Physically, sure.

Emotionally, I'm betting there's a handful of people who're having some problems.

[He knows a few for a fact, but he's not going to be naming his fellow victors to the network here and exposing their weaknesses.]

[moralperil]

[Mahdi looks deeply worried.]

--I'd be upset if something like that happened to me too. Maybe I should... I could... I could make cupcakes? That'd cheer everyone up.

[hungover]

[Whoops, unexpected side effect from the ultra-caring dude...good thing Haymitch has hard time feeling bad about things.]

I'm sure there would be people who'd like that, kid.

[moralperil]

How many people are here, anyway?

And what's your favorite type of cupcake, Haaaaaymitch?

[hungover]

[Truth be told, the majority of his experience with sweets come from their alcoholic equivalents. So...]

Let's go with -- rum raisin.

[That was a thing, right...]

[moralperil]

Rum raisin? Hmmm. I haven't really made any rum cakes before. The alcohol cooks out right? Should be fun!

[hungover]

Well, you can always put a glaze on top to put that alcohol right back in.

[moralperil]

I was thinking a cream cheese frosting. Something tangy and light, since rum raisin will be a pretty heavy cake. Glaze might take it too far. Besides, alcohol can cause no end of shenanigans!

[hungover]

Some of us have a need of those shenanigans.

[And also of the passing out that happens after too many shenanigans. Yep.]

[moralperil]

[Mahdi just wrinkles his nose.]

Not all shenanigans are good shenanigans. I'll experiment with some rum raisin recipes though, 'kay?

[hungover]

'ppreciate it, kid.

[Yeah, that nickname is sticking.]