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

[ex_bandai157]

On the contrary, I find that it's all the more important to maintain appearances around one's comrades-in-arms.

[ Lying through your teeth is also not attractive. ]

[moralperil]

Comrades-in-arms? But I'm not a soldier!

[ex_bandai157]

[ Surprisingly, he got that impression. ]

Ah, I was speaking generally, but if you spoke to the same woman that the rest of us did, it would seem that the Institute thinks of you as one regardless.

[moralperil]

[His voice raises in panic.] No way am I fighting anyone! When she told me to pick a weapon I picked a flashlight.

[ex_bandai157]

[ Okay, okay, enough teasing now. ]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to alarm you. I've been here for two weeks, and I can tell you we haven't been sent on any of their missions in that time, so there's likely nothing to worry about in the near future.

[ Aside from more hijinks like that training virtual reality they were shoved into very recently, but no need to mention that as of yet. ]

[moralperil]

...Have they told you what they plan to do with us? How many people are here?

[He sounds worried but not panicking.]

[ex_bandai157]

I've heard that there are over a hundred of us transports, plus the refugees living in this city. As for plans, they - encourage training with our chosen weapons, but for the most part, missions aside, we seem to be left to our own devices.

[moralperil]

But if they just wanted a big party for a bunch of people from different realms, there'd have been cake and a big welcome sign.

They must want us to do something. Whatever they're pulling off here can't be easy.

[ex_bandai157]

That's very perceptive of you.

[ Not that he's surpri - no he's totally surprised. ]

[moralperil]

That's me! Always perceiving things!

Thank you for filling me in on stuff, by the way. What's your name?

[ex_bandai157]

It's no trouble. I'm Barnaby - Barnaby Brooks jr.

[moralperil]

It's great to meet you, Barnaby! I like your name. Alliteration is awesome.

[ex_bandai157]

[ That's one of the weirder compliments he's gotten but hey. ]

Thank you - Mahdi, wasn't it?

[moralperil]

Yup, that's me! Great to meet you, Barnaby!