Rat | 001 | Video | Day 68

[bluesrat]

[It's pretty clear from the video that the device has been turned on by accident, since the first view is partly up someone's nose. It's not a small nose, but a squinting blue eye quickly replaces it as the central focus, before the video pulls out to show the whole, narrow, lined face. The owner of the face mutters, half to himself, but clearly audible over the sounds of the water on the shore nearby.]

Hunh. It didn't do that before.

[There's another startling moment of video while he taps the screen with one calloused finger.]

Calling Dick Tracy? I don't know where Cape Kore is or how I got here, but I'm pretty sure you don't want me. If anyone's listening, I'd be glad for directions to the train station, and I'll just be on my way.

Comments

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Well, yeah, I guess I'm pretty glad nobody calls me Rat.

[A pause.]

No offense, I mean.

Re: Voice

[bluesrat]

[He just laughs.]

None taken. It started out as an insult, but I adopted it.

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I'd've done the same. Gives people one less insult to use on you.

Re: Voice

[bluesrat]

Exactly. Anyway, it's my nickname, now, but you can call me Markus if that's easier.

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I'll probably switch back and forth between the two. Where're you from?

Re: Voice

[bluesrat]

Kalamazoo, Michigan. Nowhere glamorous, sorry.

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

You could've fooled me -- I've never been to Michigan; if you'd said it was the most exciting city in the US by 1949, I might've fallen for it.

Re: Voice

[bluesrat]

Nah, it hasn't changed all that much. I've played gigs down in Chicago, though, when I was younger. And over in Detroit.

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Chicago isn't bad.

[It's also not his favorite place, but that's neither here nor there.]

So you're a musician?

Re: Voice

[bluesrat]

[It's Rat's idea of a big city, anyway. It's more exciting than his hometown.]

I guess I am. I haven't been in a band in a few years, though.

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

What do you play?

Re: Voice

[bluesrat]

Mostly guitar, but I can fake it on a few different instruments.

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

You might be able to do that around here -- trade some music for some food, or something.

Re: Voice

[bluesrat]

That's about what I do these days, yeah. I mean, usually cash is a step in between.

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Yeah; sadly, there isn't any cash around here except for what we arrived with, and it doesn't do us any good, anyway.

Re: Voice

[bluesrat]

As long as I don't starve. I'm okay.

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Well, you won't starve, but I hope you don't mind eating a lot of canned food. And maybe learning how to hunt, if you don't already know.

Re: Voice

[bluesrat]

I'm not picky, but I'm afraid I'm a city boy...

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Yeah, me too. There're plenty of people around here who're willing to share, though.

[Which he finds strange and suspicious.]

Re: Voice

[bluesrat]

Sounds downright neighborly.

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Yeah, something like that. Anyway, my unsolicited advice is that you should probably find somewhere to stay, first. Then you can worry about the food situation.

Re: Voice

[bluesrat]

Guess so. I'll take a look around town. It seemed like a ghost town, the first go-around.

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

There're houses around, but you might have to make nice with someone and find a roommate.

Re: Voice

[bluesrat]

I try to be nice. I like people.

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Then you'll probably be fine. Liking people seems to be important around here.