01 / Video

[judgementscalling]

[The first few seconds of the video feed are of someones torn and paint covered jeans and scuffed sneakers. There's a muffled voice, then more fumbling before the video is turned around. It's of a very irritated young man, his scowl very present despite the purple and black bandanna covering the lower half of his face. He's standing outside one of the dorm rooms.]

You've all got ten seconds to explain to me what the hell is going on.

[Rhyleigh always found it better to get straight to the point. Which is exactly why after a moments pause he starts counting.

... He's not exactly sure what he's going to do once he reaches ten, but it always seemed to work when Sojourner didn't want to tell him something.]

Comments

[commandertoolbelt]

Pretty sure.

And if I knew that, I wouldn't be here right now. Trying to figure that out already lost me my sense of touch.

[judgementscalling]

How the hell can you lose your sense of touch?

[It's not in his mocking tone, he's actually curious about that.

With a small groan he yanks his bandanna down properly, dragging a frustrated hand through his mohawk.]

Alright, I'll play along. Where is this computer so I can beat the shit out of it until it sends me home?

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Leo throws his hands in the air. Apparently he's found a stand for the phone, or it would've gone flying. ] Got me! Everyone says it's the machine's "punishment" for me trying to mess with it, though, so I dunno, maybe you should rethink that.

[judgementscalling]

[The action would have made him snort, if not for the circumstances.]

I'll take whatever the stupid thing's got to dish out. I need to go home.

[commandertoolbelt]

Yeah, welcome to the club. I'm kind of supposed to be helping to stop the apocalypse, but that's basically a no-go as long as I'm stuck here.

[judgementscalling]

And I've got an seven year old who is gonna wonder where the fuck I am in the morning!

[His tone alone should make it clear that the idea of that is far worse then any apocalypse.

That and he didn't actually mean to say that.]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ And up go his eyebrows. ]

Oh. Well, maybe you'll have better luck and get back in time to make the kid a PB&J for lunch.

I am so, so sorry for him.

[judgementscalling]

You think that's funny?

[Because that sounds like a joke to him, then again he's already on edge so most things would sound like a joke.]

[commandertoolbelt]

...I think you’re a little stressed out. Maybe you should look into getting a massage, or one of those little stress balls with the bulgy eyes.

[judgementscalling]

Geeze I wonder what gave you that idea!

[But the observation does make him take a deep breath, and then he starts sorting through his pockets.]

Too bad I left my stress ball in my other pair of pants. Didn't expect to be abducted in my sleep.

[The tone may still be prickly but he's actually telling the truth on that one. The guys had work had given him a stress ball last week after he threw a wrench at the wall.

He does however find a pack of cigarettes and shakes one out, putting it between his lips.]

[commandertoolbelt]

You never do, but apparently it's more common than you'd think.

...Do you actually have a stress ball?

[judgementscalling]

You got cotton in you ears kid?

[A pointed 'are you dumb' look is sent at Leo while Rhyleigh ruffles through his pockets for his lighter.]

[commandertoolbelt]

Yeah, well, that could easily be mistaken for sarcasm. My bad.

[ This guy must have more issues than Leo realizes. Jeez. ]

Maybe the machine could cough one up if you ask nicely.

[judgementscalling]

[There's an irritated look and Rhyleigh once again debates making a 'I'm being serious' sign to go along with his 'I'm joking' sign.

Not that he has any of them here.]

Think you've talked to me long enough to know I'm not gonna be asking nicely.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Snort. ] Can’t deny that. But hey, there could be one around somewhere, in the labs or whatever.