video, the first | day #71

[rulebreaks]

[Buffy's face is close to her wrist band. A little too close. And she doesn't seem happy with this turn of events.] If this is a joke, can someone please relay to the joke-tellers how unfunny this is? It's like when peanut butter sticks to the roof of your mouth and it should be funny when really it's just full of the peanut-buttery goodness that could've been. ...Your mouth, that is. Is full of--

Metaphors are stupid. And so are... are robot bears! Bears of any kind, really, I don't think their IQs are that high and I don't have a high opinion of robots either. Call it a childhood trauma. Even if that was like, two years ago.

Alright, someone be spill guy. I'm running out of babble. [a beat] ...How do I turn this thing off?

Comments

[bluesrat]

There's a button on the side... but it's a useful way to connect with people. [The face that shows on her screen in narrow and a little haggard, but friendly.]

Also you should maybe take a few deep breaths. I'm not sure I know the answers, I've only been here a few days, but apparently people come and go at random here, and not of their own volition.

[rulebreaks]

Kind of got that part, smarmy guy. But... thank you. For the button thing.

[bluesrat]

[He looks a little taken aback, hurt, even, to be called smarmy. But he rallies, trying to be helpful anyway.]

...Sorry. I guess I'll let you know if I can figure out the why and how of our getting here, or a way out.

[rulebreaks]

...No, I'm sorry. That was me, being uncalled-for girl. This is all really, um. Sudden seems too gentle a phrase.

[bluesrat]

[The weary face manages a gentle smile.] It's okay, I think we all feel like the rug's been pulled out from under our feet.

The big advice I've gotten so far is not to go near the woods or the lighthouse, and money is meaningless here. People seem to mostly barter or scavenge.

[rulebreaks]

Yeah kind of got the woods part already. Remind me never to think to myself that bears are kind of cute, if a bit growly, ever ever again.

[bluesrat]

...Ouch. Sorry to hear it. You okay? [The face on the screen looks genuinely concerned, at that. He peers at the screen a little, looking her over for injuries as well as it allows.]

[rulebreaks]

[She takes off her wristband to show him the damage to her arm--and sweater!! ugh--it's not bad by her standard. But her standard is... high. After about enough time as it takes to change a lightbulb, she's refocusing the picture on her face.] I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that new clothes are hard to come by. Especially the in-season kind.

[bluesrat]

I think so. You need first aid or anything? I guess the supplies for that might be hard to come by, too, but... well, just offering.

[rulebreaks]

N-no... I'm just fine.

But, uhm. Thanks.

[bluesrat]

Okay, but you be careful? Find someplace safe to rest and heal. There;s a church, and I guess some of the houses are empty...

[rulebreaks]

I'll find somewhere to stay. First priority is more... you know, the getting out of here.

[bluesrat]

I wish I had some advice on that. I understand people better qualified than myself are researching it.

[rulebreaks]

That was kind of the drum circle I was hoping to get in on. The drums being dusty and book-shaped.

[bluesrat]

There is a library, and I've been working my way through it, but I haven't found anything useful just yet. I gather we're supposed to be careful how we talk about that kind of thing, though, because we're being monitored.

[rulebreaks]

Shouldn't we not say not to say things, then? So they won't know we know?

[bluesrat]

I'm not sure. Admitting we know we're trapped and observed seems safe enough. Everybody seems to talk about that much freely.

[rulebreaks]

Oh. Just checking.

[bluesrat]

If I were you, I'd find somebody who's been here longer than a few days, and discuss it with them in person. They might know more than I do.

[rulebreaks]

No, no! You're doing a great job. I just wish someone knew the where, or the when of this place. Any 'w' word, really.

[bluesrat]

Not sure on the where, and when... well... people here don't seem to all be from the same year, or place.

[rulebreaks]

But this place should have a when and a why, and a who. Whos. Mighty suspicious and creepy whos.

[bluesrat]

I've been told scientists, but I'm not sure if there's specific proof or just well-informed speculation.

[rulebreaks]

Then we'll just have to find their secret hideout and... convince them to tell us what's going on.

That's what civilized people would do.

[bluesrat]

Well, I'm afraid I don't know where that would be, but you can ask around. [He's a little amused by that response, but he's not about to stand in her way.]