Video/Audio | Day 82

[superskelton]

[Video]

[Someone isn't exactly used to the wrist communicator just yet. As is probably pretty evident when the video kicks in mid sentence.]

--oody thing. [He looks pretty pleased at succeeding in making it do something. Unfortunately that wasn't quite what he was intending and that look is quickly replaced by confusion.] Wait, is that a video?

[He taps it, interest momentarily overriding his annoyance with it. He spends a few moments turning the video off and on again, obviously impressed despite his situation. This is repeated about five times before the video is turned off and stays off completely. Instead he switches it to audio.]

[Audio]

This is DC Skelton. I dunno if you can hear this, or I'm just standing here looking like a tosser. Just to let you know I got your message. I don't really want to stay here. If you could sort something out to get me home... proper home... that'd be a good idea. The charges for kidnapping a police officer are probably pretty high, so it's in your best interests to let me go now so's you won't be in so much trouble. I mean, you'll still be arrested, but if you let me go sooner they might be a bit more lenient with you. Possibly. If you get a judge that's soft enough.

[There's an awkward, drawn out pause.]

...so, I'll leave you to think about it. Ta.

Comments

audio.

[intelligently]

It could be both. [ She can hear you but you're also possibly standing there like a tosser. Whatever that is ] But that's probably the only thing you've said that's right.

audio.

[superskelton]

[Well. She doesn't sound like the voice from the first message, but she could still be involved.]

Then perhaps you should try telling me. You haven't exactly explained anything.

audio.

[intelligently]

Explain what? Why you're here? I don't know. I don't even know why I'm here.

audio.

[superskelton]

So... [Hold on, give him a minute. He hasn't exactly got much to go on here.] This wasn't you, then?

audio.

[intelligently]

No, it wasn't. I wouldn't still be here if I had a choice.

voice;

[bornofdeath]

Neanderthal navigating technology. Is there anything more annoying?

[There's a somewhat annoyed sigh. This thing needed a manual for newbies.]

Also bringing up punishments for kidnapping while being kidnapped usually does nothing but promote fear. And fear leads to recklessness, it's an idiotic tactic at best. Unless you're hoping to be swiftly offed? In which case, have at it.

voice;

[superskelton]

I'm actually from Manchester.

[There's something familiar about that voice that bothers him. It's off, but it's enough to give him pause if only for a moment.]

You'd think that, but actually it makes it so it's less likely you're going to off me. It's psychiatry. Like let's say that you get kidnapped, then you start lying. The kidnapper's going to get angry, see. You've got to be honest so the kidnapper thinks you're on his side.

voice;

[bornofdeath]

I never said you weren't but congratulations of being able to successfully name where you live. You'd be shocked but some can't.

[It's been a while since he's really spoken to anyone so he can't help the sarcastic barbs falling from his mouth. It's just pent up snark he can no longer unleash on the Doctor.]

You mean psychology. [Le sigh.] And that doesn't actually work, they know you're not on their side. That's why they've kidnapped you. If they wanted you on their side, they'd ask you to come. Did you, perchance, receive a nice little invite here?

voice;

[superskelton]

[He almost goes to correct him, but stops himself. Where he's from and where he lives isn't exactly the most important thing here.]

Not as such, no. But, you know. Maybe they didn't know I was approachable. And now they do. If they heard this. They might change their mind.

[He doesn't sound especially convinced.]

[hung_garian]

Sure you have jurisdiction out here, officer? We're a little ways outside of your home turf right now, in case you hadn't noticed.

[superskelton]

Yeah. I sort of noticed that.

[hung_garian]

Very astute of you, constable. Your precint must be proud.

[superskelton]

It wasn't exactly difficult to notice. Stuff carries over, though. Just because you commit a crime in one area, it don't mean they can't do nothing about it in another. Otherwise you'd just get people committing crimes all over the place, then fleeing over to the next county.

[ voice ]

[noblexcompanion]

I'm sure plenty of people have told you already but I'm pretty sure the people who bring us here don't much care for the law. You're not alone though. There's plenty of us that have been kidnapped. Unfortunately shouting at the world does absolutely nothing other than give you a sore throat.

[ voice ]

[superskelton]

Well, I wasn't really planning on shouting... [He's not entirely sure what he was planning on doing, really.]

How many of you are there?

[ voice ]

[noblexcompanion]

Well~ we haven't done an exact headcount or anything - it's something we're working on. But I dunno, about fifty or us or so give or take a few.

So, you from up north then?

[ voice ]

[superskelton]

Fifty people and no one's caught who's doing it yet? I'm surprised they haven't slipped up yet.

Manchester. I haven't been up for a bit, but yeah.

[audio]

[burnburnburn]

[A snort, then an unpleasant chuckle]

What sort of world do you come from where that works on a criminal?

[audio]

[superskelton]

This one?

[Because there's only one world, right? He's suspecting his tactic may not be working at this point, though.]

[audio]

[burnburnburn]

Unless you work for our kidnappers this isn't your world any more.

Where are you from?

[audio]

[superskelton]

What, you mean metamorphically? [Metaphorically, Chris. Metaphorically.]

Manchester. [Wait.] London. I mean, I live in London.

VIDEO; FOR BRITISH EYES ONLY; AND SO IT BEGINS

[rulebreaks]

I never understood that turn of phrase. What are you tossing? What's being tossed? Your noodles, I guess, but it's still weird.

Not that I expect any less from you Britishy types.

VIDEO;

[superskelton]

It just means... [...oh...

Actually. British slang is awkward to explain sometimes. Or pretty much always. He clears his throat, straightening his posture. He may be avoiding looking at the camera.]

It's an unsavoury act I wouldn't recommend doing in a public place. [...] I suppose noodles might one way to put it. [It's a euphemism. Get it? Not that he knows what a euphemism is.]

VIDEO;

[rulebreaks]

Riiiight. [Then there's a beat, and a nose-wrinkle.] Gross.

Also that was a nice try with the cop angle, but I don't think they care who we are. [Otherwise she definitely wouldn't have been on that list, thank you very much.]

permavid. (SORRY I WAS ON HIATUS, BUT THIS WAS IN MY BOOKMARK BAR!!)

[hexappeal]

The only people that are going to respond to you are other people who are being held here against their will.

[How grim! Maybe she should try to be friendly! Her eyebrows raise and a soft smile spreads across her features. She swipes a hand through the air in a clumsy greeting.]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.