exsilium | 1st Mistake; video

[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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Isn't it? I don't really use the internet, but it seems like what people say the internet is like.

And I am a cook! Food is one of the best ways to express your feelings to others.

You'd be able to talk to more people. This thing's just a comm device. The only people who it is us "transports" and those guys that brought us here.

Huh. That so? [She doesn't know about all that feeling talk, but knowing a cook seems like it'd be useful.] You're really worried about your job in a place like this?

Well, yeah! [Why does everyone think this is so strange?] It's bad to put people in a tough spot at their work. No one wants to be stuck during a rush when someone didn't show up. Even if it isn't my fault, I wish I could at least tell my boss I wasn't coming so she could try and get one of the other cooks to come in.

Eh? [This whole lack of fear or anger (or even mild irritation) is completely foreign to her.]

What's with you new people not bein' mad about getting kidnapped? Are they giving you info we don't have?

Nope! At least, I don't think so.

I'm not happy about being kidnapped, but I can't do anything about it right now, so what's the point in stomping my feet about it?

[Optimistic people...how to deal with this.]

Guess there's no point to it. [This is said reluctantly.] Can you even fight? Didja get a weapon?

No, I can't fight at all. When I get into a fight I usually hide behind something and cover my head. And possibly get beat up.

I didn't get a weapon, I picked out a flash light. [He indicates the sparkly purple flashlight sitting on the table.]

Damn, you didn't even pick anything useful. [So rude, Kyouko.] What are you gonna do with that thing?

It'll be useful if the power goes out! [He insists.] I'll hold onto it. You never know when a situation needs a little more light. I mean what if I end up in a crawlspace?