Kevin Tran | 001 | Accidental video

[vates]

[ Kevin's been working for a few days without sleep on the tablet, so when he wakes up, he figures he must've just passed out from exhaustion. He gets all the way to sitting up before he realizes that he isn't in the bunker.

When the feed switches on, it starts first staring up at the ceiling, while in the background, someone is very clearly laying waste to the bookshelf in their room. Kevin steps into the frame as he swings the shelf he'd ripped out to use as a weapon, and he decides it's acceptable before he sets it down. He has a bunch of papers, and as he puts them into an empty pillowcase, the cuneiform symbols can just be seen for what they are -- that is, ancient and unreadable.

He reaches for his shelf again, and now his face fully comes into frame. He looks like a guy who hasn't slept or eaten real food in a few days, with an added couple layers of complete panic. He has no clue where he is, who might've kidnapped him, what they want to use him for, but beneath the panic there's determination.

He made it this far; he won't let them win now.

Once he realizes the phone is broadcasting, he curses loudly and switches it off.

This plan would probably have gone a lot better if he hadn't been Skyping it. ]

Comments

[notrosesshadow]

We're not sure. When I first arrived, we were told there were scientists responsible for our abduction. Since we've been here though, I don't know what the story is.

[She'll let him ignore the questions for a little while, if it makes him feel better. She'll ask them again. She's patient.]

[vates]

Scientists? [ He frowns. That doesn't sound like demons to him. That almost sounds like Leviathans, but they took care of them. Does that mean there's something new going on? Oh, great. ]

Were they talking about food additives?

[notrosesshadow]

The scientists? Honestly, I don't think I ever heard from them. I only heard what people told me. Last time I was here I was dealing with other things. I don't know who took me this time.

[vates]

[ Well, he thought he'd try. If it's Leviathans, at least he knows how to fight them. ]

So have you made any progress on how to get out of here?

[notrosesshadow]

Last time I was here I was in no condition to work on getting out. I was dealing with PTSD from an apocalypse. This time, I only arrive a day or so ago.

So the answer is no.

[vates]

[ Oh, PTSD from an apocalypse? He guesses they have something in common, sort of. ]

Alright then. Um... [ He fidgets. ] What... happens. To people here. [ Are they tortured? Imprisoned? Because he'd rather not do those things again. ]

[notrosesshadow]

[Well, she wasn't expecting him to be more open after that. OK then.]

As far as I can tell, nothing. I mean, some of the other people stuck here aren't the nicest, but mostly we just have... nothing.

Look, why don't you meet me in the cafeteria. I'm starving and you look as though you could use something decent as well. We can talk there.

[vates]

[ Ugh, he doesn't really want to be pity-fed by anyone, though as soon as he thinks that, he remembers his mom and how he didn't have her around him because he didn't want to deal with her pity-worry either. And now she's dead, probably, or as good as, or he hopes she is.

He relents with a sigh. ]

Fine, okay. [ He hangs up and then goes looking for the cafeteria, pleased when he finds it relatively quickly. ]

[notrosesshadow]

[It's not pity. It's medical concern. Martha knows the look of hunger. She didn't bring any medical supplies with her other than those she could carry in a pocket. She didn't want to freak the kid out anymore than he already was.

She arrives shortly after he does and quietly goes to get her own food. Nothing here is great, but theres enough of it, and she elects for a very healthy, British meal. Lead by example right?]

[vates]

[ In many ways, Kevin isn't that different from your usual surly teenager. Before all this happened to him, it actually seemed somewhat unlikely that he'd even go through a surly phase. The prophet thing dragged it all out of him though, and mixed with a healthy dose of his underlying maturity, it's unlikely he'll grow out of being surly now.

He eyes her suspiciously at first, but he can't look through her to tell if she's a demon or not, just in case she's been lying to him all this time. ]

So are you voting for Abaddon or Crowley? [ He needs to screen her somehow, and he doesn't actually think a demon would really fall for that, but... He has to start somewhere. ]

[notrosesshadow]

[She feels him looking her over suspiciously. She's innocent of whatever he's thinking, but she knows what it's like to be suspicious of all. The question confuses her though.]

Who? I'm unfamiliar with the names. Are they new candidates for the US Presidency?

[vates]

[ He's staring at her hard now, trying to tell if her ignorance is fake or genuine.

He still hasn't answered her question, and then it dawns on him that he can test her another way. Quickly, he starts going through the cabinets, looking over the counters, until he finds the salt. He pours some out into his hand, and then holds out the other one. ]

Give me your arm.

[notrosesshadow]

[She's even more concerned for the kid than she had been before. His paranoia is severe and now he's doing something with salt. Martha almost says no. Almost. But he looks pretty serious and she really just wants to help him. It's not like the salt will do anything. She rolls up a sleeve and holds out her hand.]

And why do you need to sprinkle me with salt?

[It comes out sardonically. Part of her is wondering if she missed the tequila somehow.]

[vates]

To make sure you're not a demon. [ He doesn't even blink or look for her reaction as he rubs her arm.

She doesn't pull away in pain, so that's a good start. ]

You're clean. [ He brushes his hands off and steps away from her, leaning on the counter instead. ]

[notrosesshadow]

[Well that explains a lot. She tries not to act petulant when he tells her she's clean. She brushes her arm off and sits finally to eat her food.]

And conversely I should be making sure you're not an alien hellbent on destroying me. But there's no nifty test for that, so I'll have to take it on face value.

[She considers her next question carefully as she chews. She swallows and clears her throat.]

You wouldn't by any chance know either a Sam or a Dean Winchester would you?

[vates]

[ Kevin stops, considering that one, and he bites at the side of his lip. She's right, that's not really fair. Does Kevin care about being fair? She's not a demon, so maybe he should, but also life isn't fair.

She mentions Sam and Dean and it jars him out of his thoughts. ]

What makes you think I would?

[notrosesshadow]

[He must have been through something very bad to be this distrusting. Martha knew how he felt. She'd been through it herself.]

They've mentioned demons before. Didn't give me the salt test though. And if I remember correctly, there's another woman who was painting signs to keep demons out.

[Yes, she will give him information. If it'll calm him down she'll give him what she thinks he needs to know.]

[vates]

Sam and Dean are here? [ That doesn't always mean a lot, but Kevin's been alone, and he's been with Sam and Dean, and it's better when there are other people around. ]

[notrosesshadow]

At least the were when I was last here. And by all reports, I only missed two days.

[vates]

You were missing? Where'd you go?

[notrosesshadow]

[She laughs a bit.] Do I get to ask any questions here?

[She holds out a hand.] Hello, I'm Martha Jones. May I have the pleasure of your name?

[vates]

[ Kevin looks a little guilty, but no, he's not really in the habit of wanting to answer questions about himself.

He looks at her hand first, and then shakes it. ]

Kevin Tran. Sorry. I've been... in the desert for a while. [ He might've forgotten how to talk to people. Also, that's a metaphorical desert, which is why it sounds like it has airquotes around it. ]

[notrosesshadow]

Hello Kevin.

[She smiles kindly, and perhaps a little concerned.]

I've spent some time in the... desert as well.

[Yes she does hear the air quotes.]

I'm sorry you've had to deal with it as well.

[vates]

Hi. It's... yeah. [ He shrugs, his expression clouding. ]

I didn't have much choice, so. What about you?

[notrosesshadow]

[Martha shook her head.]

I was the only one able to stop it. I had to spend a year trying not to get caught while everyone I cared about was tortured and the world burned.