Day 94 | Video | 001

[ofwolfandman]

[ The video comes on at a rather awkward angle, namely a slightly out-of-focus close-up of the small of someone's back, white t-shirt rucked up to show blurry tattooed skin. This is accompanied by audio, of course, which currently consists of a lot of cursing in both English and a language that might sound Slavic to anyone familiar with such things, while the person struggles with their position. Then the video shuts off again.

When it comes back, the position is really no less awkward, looking upward from somewhere near hip level, but there's finally a face to go with the voice - a face with a split lip, a black eye, and a scowl - before there's a growl and another minute of darkness and-- ]

Take me out to the middle of nowhere. Leave me in the tíživý handcuffs. Very funny, vy kusy dreka.

[ The camera is finally in front of him, taking in a glare and an angry show of just slighty too-sharp teeth. ]

What is this, then? Exile? Prison camp? One joke about animal control, Sheriff, and I swear. I will rip your ničvredenný face off. Give you a legitimate reason for this-- [ He sways a little, expression going a bit unfocused, tired even, and he pauses to collect himself before the rest comes out quieter, more matter-of-fact than energetically enraged. ] The Senate still votes tomorrow, with or without me. Branka can stand in my place. She's good, fierce... [ He trails off as his free hand gingerly touches the back of his head and he winces, the process of sitting himself down on the ground a bit too heavy. ] Úprimně? Just once, if I could be taken into custody without being concussed.

Comments

[aucella]

[It's a little unnerving to hear what sounds like the same language that Vladimir spoke. Or at least something similar in root. Lara won't take it to heart but it spurs her to respond, just to figure out what kind of person he might be.]

I'm sorry, but I'm afraid we're not in any kind of cap.

[Prison? Well that was debatable.]

We're sort of...stuck here you see. I barely understand it myself but I've been assured that leaving isn't an option as of yet.

[ofwolfandman]

Stuck. [ The word twists his lips like it leaves a nasty taste in his mouth, which it essentially does. Anything to do with captivity is vile. He spits the next one, though not at her. ] Drek.

So who is this we?

[aucella]

[The impulse to make a joke rises but Lara quickly squashes it, thinking better of what is actually happening here. She was in his shoes a short week ago.]

Everyone else who's been exactly where you're standing right now. I know it's...a lot to process but if you'd like to learn more maybe I could meet you somewhere and...try to help?

[She'd be bringing her climbing axe, just in case.]

[video]

[thelittlestbub]

You need help outta those cuffs, dude?

[Because, yeah, she's good at that part.]

[video]

[ofwolfandman]

[ Blinks, a little blearily, then gives her a lopsided smile. ] I've got one end. The other's a bit trickier with this wrist thing in the way.

[video]

[thelittlestbub]

I have lock picks.

[Yep, she's just a locksmith, that's all.]

[hung_garian]

Not an exile or a prison camp, actually. It's a nature reserve. Welcome to the collection, champ, and congratulations - it's an honour not a lot of people get, y'know.

[Not that he has any idea what Raum's thing about 'animal control' was supposed to mean, but it sounds like it might be a touchy topic. And that's Gabriel's favourite kind of topic. Even if it isn't, well, it still makes a decent stupid answer.]

[ofwolfandman]

[ Arches his eyebrows, doing his best to look ambivalent. He's got a long history with smart-ass officials and a headache the size of the Atlantic. ] Nature reserve is just a fancy way of saying free range zoo. So which exhibit are you, moj přítel?

[hung_garian]

Giraffe, obviously.

[The joke might make more sense if he had met Gabriel... all five foot eight of him, in a world inhabited by giants like the Winchesters.]

Whatever I am, I'm great entertainment. Always draw a crowd... slightly different demographics depending on the time of day - or night - but hey, let the record state that flexibility is a virtue. But that's enough about me, for now at least: what about you?

[zen_navigator]

[Dirk knows a little bit of Croatian? Yeah, probably not helpful here.]

Have the others already told you where you are?

[ofwolfandman]

[ Croatia's not in Raum's territory, though Croatian is full of familiar-but-still-foreign words. ]

Not exile and not a prison camp. That's about the extent of what I've learned.

[zen_navigator]

More like a fishbowl. I'm not really one for conspiracy theories, but they tell me this is all a massive plot to keep people from disparate universes as lab rats and I am inclined to agree.

( video )

[plagiary]

And I was beginning to think this place might be boring. [ Handsome man in handcuffs? Hello, nurse. ]

Interesting insults you're throwing about.

( video )

[ofwolfandman]

[ Snort. ] Moj přítel, if I'm to be abducted, I refuse to be bored.

English insults just sound better in translation.

( video )

[plagiary]

Well, it's not something we're famed for when every curse word sounds like a pudding.

[ Video ]

[packpapa]

[ Derek doesn't really make much of an effort as far as going around introducing himself is concerned, but there's something about the way the new comer comments on animal control and threats of a somewhat familiar nature that force his hand; if there's a new werewolf in town, he wants to know, needs to, if it's going to become a threat to his survival. ]

Nice accessorising. [ The disgruntled look is from frustration; he really hates talking over these things, without scent and being able to hear clearly for the smaller sounds the technology doesn't pick up. ] What language is that?

[ Video ]

[ofwolfandman]

[ Raum will find himself feeling a similar sort of frustration once he settles in a bit and begins scenting out the town and its residents. For now, he's content with just about anything that doesn't require moving from his current spot. ]

Děkuji. [ Waves the handcuffs in front of the camera, his own expression one of growing resignation. ] I think it's all been Vlkodlak. Can't quite remember every word I've said but... [ He shrugs. ] It's a Slavic patois, if that helps.

[ Video ]

[packpapa]

[ He makes a non-committal grunt to acknowledge that he's listening, and although fleeting, a look of interest that goes beyond casual curiosity crosses his features.

But a question for a question sounds fair. ] You can't leave. No one knows how or why, but we're stuck here.

[all replies audio]

[unsanguine]

[OMG a werewolf, Hal would ....never say. The advantage he holds over other more lupine predators trying to identify Raum without the olfactory advantage a face to face meeting would provide, comes from how his own kind senses--well. The names they've tended to give to wolves are unkind. Hal dislikes them. :|

It's small tics in the movement, certain cues in the posture and set of the shoulders. He can't be completely sure, but he's sure enough that a crisp English accent warbles its way up through Raum's communicator. ]

I've little to offer in the way of concrete answers. [ Because he never leaves his attic and barely knows what's going on himself. ] Though good sense prompts me to suggest you seek medical attention.

[still video on this end]

[ofwolfandman]

[ And Raum just staaaaares at the communicator. Not at the voice. You can't stare at voices. Although, sometimes he does feel like he can see sounds but that's more an extra-sensory sort of thi-- Ježíš Kristus. ]

Two sentences and I think this is already one of the most sensible conversations I've had in this place. [ The fact that Raum himself makes any sense right now is possibly a little astounding, given the fact that a larger change in position just nearly turned into fall over. Oh. Vertigo. He is decidedly not going to vomit. ]

So! Where, exactly, would one find said medical attention?

[lol hal wouldn't show up on it anyway]

[unsanguine]

[ Please don't vomit, then Hal would be distracted by having to clean it up. He goes a vague shade of green, as if in sympathy. ]

A medical facility is available, although--to be honest I'm uncertain as to whether or not it's currently staffed in any way. In any event I believe I've been able to ascertain your location, however--

[ A beat, and then a small throat clearing whilst Hal attempts - successfully! the gods have favored him this day - to make their communique private. ]

You--ah. You are a werewolf, are you not?

[ If Raum isn't he'll just ...look insane, and Hal will have to find someone else to take him to the clinic. ] I assure you I mean no harm.

[ He is getting no better at making that question less clunky, by the way. ]

Video

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[He recognizes the language as Slavic in origin, though it doesn't sound like anything he speaks. There's a pause, for a moment, as he tries to place it, and then a slight smile.]

I assume that, by now, you've been informed that this is neither exile nor prison camp.

Video

[ofwolfandman]

[ Snorts but smiles. ]

I've been told once or twice. [ He ticks off on his fingers. ] Not exile. Not prison. Not sure how we got in. Not sure how we get out. General consensus on the last: we don't. I believe that covers it, yes?

video;

[enchangement]

This is...

Under glass and under observation, possibly with the intent of learning what makes you different, probably with the attempt to use that information for the furthering of someone else's goal and nothing good for you and us or anyone else. This is not where you began and this is not where you'll return, and the definition of tomorrow is still a very loose one from where we stand staring into unknown distances between ourselves, now, and where we've come from.

Will you teach me the language?

video;

[ofwolfandman]

[ Headtilt. ]

You're a tough one to follow, mládě, but I think that all made sense. We're someone's science experiment. Everyone's ultimate goal in life, to be kept under lock and key behind one-way mirrors.

[ Smiles with a quiet laugh. ] I'll teach you what I can, ja?