Ned § Video 01 § Day 57

[nedofpies]

[ The video feed switches on upon Ned's determined face. It's his first video communication; he hasn't been using the network much, but this is an important community matter. ]

Does anyone know who is responsible for these? [ Ned waves a copy of that mysterious flyer which has popped up around town so suddenly. He turns the camera back to his own face, talking directly to his fellow captives. ]

Whoever it is, it seems to me like they are trying to sow the seeds of doubt and turn us on one another. Make us so suspicious of one another so we can't work together. Which makes me think it might have come from the people who are keeping us here. And it makes me think that we're starting to worry them. [ There is an edge of anger to his voice, beneath the surface, if you listen closely enough. ]

But I think they're underestimating us. Gossip? Really? [ He half-laughs and shakes his head in amused disbelief. ] We're all grown-ups here. We aren't going to be- to be manipulated by some anonymous bullies. [ The spite in the way he delivers that last word makes it sound as if he's had some experience with bullies. ] We just need to trust one another, and not let this nonsense come between us. Part of that is... coming clean.

So. Me first. [ Ned swallows, takes a moment to collect his courage. It's a big thing to confess, even if plenty of people already know about it. For all his big talk, honesty is against Ned's very nature. But this isn't exactly a normal place, and at this point, owning up is just a part of damage control. ]

...It's true. I brought someone back to life. [ He exhales, half in relief. It's done, now. No going back. ] It's not like that was a secret. It happened in broad daylight and there were like, a dozen witnesses, so this- [ He brandishes the paper again ] is not exactly an exposé, is it? As for being 'mint-in-the-box', well, I don't even know what that means, so I can't say if I am one way or another.

Comments

[rigging]

[ Jesse's a little too cynical in that regard as well - he knows with almost a hundred percent certainty that most people (with exceptions, of course) will try to fuck him over if it comes down to survival. Which is fine with Jesse - he'll find his allies, and he'll stick to them. He snorts, though. ]

Ay, for what it's worth, I never believed in any of that stuff either for a real long time. Maybe ghosts, but not for serious. [ He also thinks Ned's probably onto something there. ] Nah, though, the common enemy thing? That's what it is. It's like the fuckin' mafia or something, like a gang? Where you might not like the other people 'round but you don't snitch on 'em to the cops. Kinda like that. Don't have t'like people to work together.

[ A beat. ] Which guy?

[nedofpies]

[ Well, Ned's got nothing against a gang mentality, so long as he's in the gang instead of outside it. It's a good argument: one that he's going to remember if anyone starts to give him trouble about his power. Bigger fish to fry, and all. Of course it probably wouldn't work, but still... ]

[ When Jesse asks which guy he meant, Ned looks away, pauses and swallows before he answers. ] The guy who shot Laura. [ In other words, the guy he'd killed ]

[rigging]

[ It's still worth a shot. And when Ned looks away, Jesse frowns. Oh right. That guy. ]

What was his problem? [ Jesse's actually not very sure how the dude died. He knows Ned brought Laura back to life, but past that, he couldn't get much sense out of the story. ]

[nedofpies]

What, other than being a paranoid murdering psychopath? [ There's a sharpness to Ned's words, an anger that clearly isn't meant for Jesse. He realizes a second later how snappish he must have sounded, bites his lip regretfully ]

Sorry. That wasn't called for. [Ned runs a hand through his hair and sighs heavily. Yeah, clearly he's coping perfectly. ] He got it into his head that Laura and I were trying to take control of the food. Or... steal the food, or something like that. I don't remember, it all happened so fast. He pretty much walked up and started shooting.

[rigging]

[ Jesse maybe looks a little indignant at the sharp tone, but the apology is enough to make Jesse settle down. He wrinkles his nose - he gets it, he guesses. ] S'fine.

... Shit, though. He died, right, though? I mean, he ain't gonna be a problem again - unless he comes back. [ D: ] People have died here, they come back sometimes. Y'think that's gonna happen?

[nedofpies]

[ Well there's a horrible option that Ned didn't even know was on the table. Here he thought he was going to be safe from any kind of reprisals, on account of the man who he killed being, well, dead. Ned's used to that being conclusive, unless he himself decides otherwise.]

[ But apparently resurrections are a common occurrence here, and now he has a whole new scenario to be afraid of. ]

You mean he could come back, w-without me touching him?

[rigging]

[ Aw, shit. Jesse didn't mean to freak him out. ]

Well - fuck, I dunno, there was just this guy, before. Party Poison? He uh. He died, and came back a day or so later, I guess? But I dunno if that's a thing that happens all the time. I dunno if it was a fluke, cause - he killed himself on accident, so.