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01. Video | New Bark Town
[there's a face under the hat-produced shadow and long blond bangs on the screen. the face of a young man, to be precise--about 18 years old, malnourished-looking with eyes like he doesn't know what sleep is. he turns his head a couple of ways like he's trying to find the best angle to listen to the 'Gear from, concentrating.
finally, he shakes his head with a sadly disapproving look and talks to someone offscreen.]
No. I can't hear them the right way like this, either. The way that I think I hear you.
I hear them like people, but it's--like people talking. I see them, too. Does that mean it's working?
[his attention is still offscreen. beat. and then he smiles, a little.]
Thank you. I'm sorry. This is still interesting.
[now he looks at the 'Gear properly, expression cleared and voice somewhat louder and lighter.]
Er--my name is Cole. I don't know if I am supposed to say anything. [glances into a corner.] She--told me that if I used this, then I could hear more than I could without it.
How do you do?
[that's what you say when you're testing the waters, right? he doesn't have the means to do anything much more than that with whatever can hear him back.]
finally, he shakes his head with a sadly disapproving look and talks to someone offscreen.]
No. I can't hear them the right way like this, either. The way that I think I hear you.
I hear them like people, but it's--like people talking. I see them, too. Does that mean it's working?
[his attention is still offscreen. beat. and then he smiles, a little.]
Thank you. I'm sorry. This is still interesting.
[now he looks at the 'Gear properly, expression cleared and voice somewhat louder and lighter.]
Er--my name is Cole. I don't know if I am supposed to say anything. [glances into a corner.] She--told me that if I used this, then I could hear more than I could without it.
How do you do?
[that's what you say when you're testing the waters, right? he doesn't have the means to do anything much more than that with whatever can hear him back.]
[video]
[The little Snubbull takes a second to investigate the screen first. Though she knows scents don't travel through the Gear, it's hard to fight the instinct to sniff the young man. He looks lighter colored than humans usually are. She wonders if he's a Shiny one.]
You know what's depressing?
[He checks some measurements.]
I know exactly what you're talking about.
[Blake talks over his shoulder as he starts working in the screws.]
That little thing is your pet. Use it to beat the crap out of anything that gets in your way.
[video]
the word "depressing" yanks him back in by the ear, though why that would be a bad thing isn't... lining up for him.]
That seems like a strange thing for a pet to do. --A small one, anyway...
[his tone is a little softer because one, what would he know, and two, he's not sure how distracting it is to keep talking to the man who's...]
What's wrong with the wall?
[video]
[He taps on the drywall, checking that it's fit right.] This? Just a little repair work. I just bought this place. It was the only place around here big enough to do the job as headquarters that didn't cost a damn arm and a leg. I couldn't get a straight answer from the agent, but I have a feeling this here is where somebody's rhino took a shortcut.
[He scowls.] "Good condition" my ass.
[video]
[the apology is a little distant and experimental-sounding, since he doesn't know for a fact it was something he said.
he doesn't know what a rhino is, either, but he's familiar with the term "headquarters", a'ight.]
Are you in charge of something?
[He is trying--trying--to gauge his limits as he goes. "is it fixed?" came to mind, but that probably would have been just distracting.]
[video]
[Blake wipes his dusty hands on his pants and nods to himself. At that question, he squares his shoulders and puffs up.]
I'm in charge of everything. I'm the head honcho around here. You could call me the President.
That means I keep an eye on what goes on here, including new people showing up. [He gives the screen a level look.] What's your story? You got any priors?
[video]
Oh.
[but he is inclined to believe. what he can learn is what he can learn, in his position. that would explain why the man was the first to respond... he may as well cooperate, and be "helpful", but first, he lets his head fall to the side.]
Um, prior-- what?
[video]
Prior con-vic-tions.
[He gets the feeling that's not going to help much, so he clarifies.]
I mean, have you ever been arrested?