001 ♦ Jesse Finch ♦ Audio

[rigging]

So I've got three guesses as to what this is right now. [ The voice that comes through the communicator is quiet and calm. The undertone to this voice, however, is not at all -- there's a hint of panic and a whole lot of anger underneath. ] One, I traveled back in time to land in some Twilight Zone-Silent Hill bullshit. Two, I've finally cracked and I've gone insane, which, y'know, could be worse, my brain coulda put me in somewhere much more terrifying than a room with a camera -- or three, I'm dreaming. [ Which is what he's afraid of. There's a beat, and then the sound of a lighter being flicked on, a cigarette being lit. ]

Watch, m'just talking to myself. I don't even know if anybody's out there. [ It's been an hour and he hasn't seen anybody yet, after all, though to be fair he hasn't gone very far. He's waiting. Come get him, nightmare. He's not scared of you. ]

Comments

[audio]

[hung_garian]

Make sure you get it on the right camera. I'm sure some people here wouldn't mind seeing your mudwrestling or your shower shenanigans or what have you, but then again, I don't think they're the majority. Sorry bucko, nothing personal.

[And his favourite question. Which name should he pick this time? Oh, screw it.]

Britney Spears. Pleasure's all mine, kid.

[It's easier than trying to explain that he's not the evil Loki, after all, and it's a lot less potentially awkward than giving out his real name.]

[gleans]

[ What, no. Galen's hands come up to wrap around Jesse's wrists. ] Yeah, but -- Jess. The first thing you said to me was about kicking my ass. You don't think I'm gonna want to fucking know?

I'M ASSUMING HE CAN'T SEE PARTY

[rigging]

[ Snort. Okay, whatever. ] Well, you'd be a figment of my imagination, f'one.

ye ye ye ye

[gloryisbullshit]

Or you of mine. Right? Amirite? I'm right.

[audio]

[rigging]

[ Okay, that makes him laugh. But he doesn't question it. If people don't want to give out their names, he's not going to force it. ]

Aw fuck, I didn't know I was talkin' to someone so famous. I'd tip my hat t'you if I had one. [ He takes a moment to get back to his forgotten cigarette, and then: ] So, Britney, are we feeling like giving the dumb newbie some answers to very important questions? Or is this strictly a hazing?

[rigging]

That don't even make sense. If I was dreaming, why would I be the fake one? Unless y'wanna get all fuckin' -- Descartes on me, but to be honest I ain't nearly drunk enough to start philosophizing.

[rigging]

It's nothing. [ Jesse says sharply. ] Don't ask me again. [ And he never does this, he's pretty open with Galen when Galen wants to know things, but not this. If Jesse can somehow prevent it from happening... ]

[gleans]

[ Hurt and confusion flash across his face, and Galen takes a step back, pulling Jesse's hands down as he does. ] What the fuck, Jesse?

[greenisnteasy]

[Here he hesitates a second, just a brief one, before he plunges ahead.] Almost a month. Some people have disappeared, but it's hard to say if they've gone home. We... have some proof that when people go missing, they might have been abducted by the scientists.

[rigging]

[ Jesse sees that hurt and confusion, and he's split down the middle. Half of him wants to comfort and the other half is screaming that none of this can be trusted. Maybe he should just try to get his bearings first. His shoulders sort of slump, and he brings the heels of his palms to knead at his eyes. ]

I -- sorry. M'sorry, m'freaking out, Galen, it's a fucking lot to take in, alright? [ Deep breath. ] It -- November's a shitty month. I don't wanna talk about it right now, alright, drop it. [ A beat. ] Please.

[gloryisbullshit]

You could be, if you wanted.

Y'know.

Drunk enough.

[rigging]

[ Wow, that's not very reassuring, Bruce. ] They get what?

... Please tell me y'got weapons somewhere.

[rigging]

Now that sounds like an offer. Unless you're an axe murderer. Then I'll just pretend it wasn't.

[gloryisbullshit]

Well, you threaten to voodooize me, so maybe you can leave your inner shaman at the door and I'll leave my scarred psyche at home. Sound fair?

[VIDEO]

[afallenstar]

[ Super helpful Anna is super helpful! There's some clicking of fingers and tapping of the communicator to bring Jesse's attention to it, and all that is displayed on the screen is a piece of paper some words messily scrawled onto it. ]

I know it sounds crazy, but you're not dreaming. There's a lot of us here who have all appeared and no one knows how or why. We're trying to work out how to escape.

[ She pulls it away long enough to write something new, which will give Jesse a thirty second view of red hair and concerned expressions, then the paper is back up again. ]

Do you need help??

[gleans]

[ Galen falters. ] Fine. [ For now. Until he's settled. He steps closer again, and just -- kisses Jesse. ] Look -- it's fucking freezing, I'll take you back to the house.

[audio]

[solidrighthook]

I'm not quite sure what a Twilight Zone or a Silent Hill is, but I can tell you that it's not any of those three options, unfortunately.

[rigging]

Aw, I can't just voodooize you a little? C'mon. Just one needle poke. [ He jokes, he jokes! Timey wimey shenanigans are a go. ] But fine. Where m'I going, then?

[audio]

[rigging]

[ Jesse's been told it's probably a good idea to keep his face hidden, so he will until he figures out how to not broadcast to the entire universe. He watches the video, amused, and thinks a moment before replying. ]

That's a relief. [ He takes a drag off his cigarette, squinting at the paper. ] ... I dunno, maybe. You trying to not wake someone up from a nap or something? Why you writing? [ Wow, insensitive, Jesse. ]

[audio]

[rigging]

S'what I've been hearing, yeah. Yer better off not knowing what Silent Hill is, but you never heard of Twilight Zone? [ Here, let him hum the theme song. ]

[VIDEO]

[afallenstar]

[ Well it's nice for some who have the option to remain on audio, but some of them don't have that choice. Her response is scribbled down faster, which of course means her writing is even worse than before. Have fun translating that, Jesse. ]

It's a long story. Where are you?

[ Just because she can't speak at the moment doesn't mean she's not going to try to help, after all. ]

[audio]

[solidrighthook]

[ There's a long silence where she doesn't respond, and if anyone could see her they would know that the eyebrow being raised is very unimpressed.

As it is she's just on audio, and she has to clear her throat rather pointedly instead. ]

No, I haven't heard of 'Twilight Zone'. Is that relevant?

TIME SHENANS, YEAH [->action]

[gloryisbullshit]

Well, witchdoc, let's start where you are...

[Party gives some easy instructions (he's getting a little too comfortable with the layout, it's starting to feel small), and he'll be waiting at the bar, watching the door. See, he's done some reasonable snooping, so he won't be completely shocked to see a familiar face, but that doesn't mean he's not nervous. He watches the door like a predator.]

[rigging]

Yeah. Yeah, al -- alright. [ Jesse sighs, but he returns the kiss, soft and tired. He should sleep, but he knows he's not going to be able to, now. ] ... House?

[rigging]

[ Squint. ] ... I dunno I should tell you. Ain't you ever heard of stranger danger? [ Jesse, quit it. ]