ONE | VIDEO.

[soldiarity]

[ The screen illuminates what is either a normal-sized man or a decently large teenage boy, his expression serious, brows knit low over his blue eyes. They are a bit shadowed in a way usually indicative of poor sleep, though he otherwise looks very healthy, if not a bit sun-ravaged if the red stripes of skin across his nose and forehead are any indication. ]

Hi.

[ He blinks, then lifts an arm to wave a little uncomfortably to the camera. He's very clearly unused to this kind of thing, and has to keep redirecting himself to look at the place where the camera is. ]

Listen, sorry if I ask any stupid questions, I'm still working this thing out. My name's Reiner, I know a bunch of you already, I think -- if I have it right about how this works. I still need more practice. [ Which draws out a sheepish but affable grin from him briefly, and an accompanying hand gesture that indicates that's part of what he's doing right now. ] So, I've been sort of curious about... ah. Motivation, I guess is what you'd call it. What's inspiring you? Everyone has something, like a person or a goal. What do you do, if it's not here?

You don't have to say it if it's personal or anything, I'm just wondering. It seems like it'd be harder.

[ He pauses, as if trying to remember if there was anything else -- then he snaps his fingers. ]

Oh yeah, one more thing. If a guy like this shows up-- [ He holds a hastily done drawing up. ] And if anyone runs into him before I do, can you make sure he doesn't dehydrate and pass out like an idiot?

Thanks. I'm done now.

Comments

oops, video

[hackitude]

Cute drawing! Question: is your friend really sweaty, or are you just taking artistic license?

[soldiarity]

[ With a faint smirk: ]

Not all the time he's not, but -- if he's nervous and hot at the same time, I thought it'd be more recognizable like this.

[hackitude]

Cool. I'll keep a look out for a skinny guy with dark hair who sweats a lot. Does he answer to anything?

[soldiarity]

He answers to Bertholdt, but "hey, you" might work just as well if you have a bottle of water to hand him.

[hackitude]

[That earns a small laugh out of her]

Cute. I'll remember that.

I'm Skye, by the way. I'm new here too. Guessing you're not so crash-hot with technology?

[soldiarity]

Nice to meet you. [ He smirks in a friendly way, nodding his head. ] You're right, we don't have this kind of thing where I'm from. A couple people have shown me some of the basics, though -- I think I'm starting to get it.

[hackitude]

Ugh, I can't even imagine living in a world without technology. That must suck.

Anyway, let me know if you ever need any help. I'm good with computers.

[soldiarity]

It sucks if you know what you're missing, I guess. If you don't you're just preoccupied enough with everything else that's going on.

[ But what a long story that would be. His expression briefly grows tense, but shortly thereafter he manages a smile. ]

Thanks. I've used one a couple of times at school, but everyone else has been using computers all their lives. I feel like a monkey or something, next to that.

[hackitude]

Guess so. Never really thought of it that way...

Wow-- yeah. That must be tough. They use computers for everything in school these days. I imagine for someone who can't touch-type it must be quicker to hand-write an essay than type it...

[soldiarity]

[ He smirks sheepishly, nodding his head. ]

Kind of a steep learning curve, yeah. I'm getting it, sort of, but I could write it faster on paper. [ He pauses, then adds more brightly: ] I only have another month of it before we get a break. That should be long enough to get the hang of it, right?

ahhh sorry i took so long to reply! busy weekend.

[hackitude]

A month is totally doable! I mean, for a teenager. It's harder for adults to learn this stuff, I've found.

Try to put a piece of paper over your hands when you type, so you can't look at them. That's how you learn to touch-type.

no worries at all!! LIKEWISE THOUGH whoops

[soldiarity]

Really? No way -- that's a relief. I'm a pretty fast learner, but I'm not super smart with this kind of technical stuff.

You could really be a teacher, this advice is already more helpful than anything they've said in class. They assume we know all this stuff already.

\o/

[hackitude]

Thanks but-- nooooo way. I had enough of school when I was in it. Trust me, I could not get out of there fast enough.

[soldiarity]

[ He laughs once. ]

I don't really blame you, I probably wouldn't be here if I didn't have to be. I guess it's interesting, but I'm not learning anything all that important.

[hackitude]

That's kind of how I felt about it too, to be honest. Still, you should stay in school. Speaking from personal experience as a drop-out.

[soldiarity]

Sure thing, it's not like it's that bad anyway. [ Mostly, he knows better than to make waves at this point. ] It'll come in handy eventually, I bet. I can be patient.

[hackitude]

Woo! That's the spirit.

[It's hard to tell if she's being sarcastic or genuine-- maybe she's being both. A small contradiction to consider.]

And hey, if nothing else, it's a good place to make friends.

[soldiarity]

That I can do, school or no school. I even have a few friends here already. [ ... Sort of. ] But it's even easier making friends when we're all stuck in the same predicament, you know?

[hackitude]

Pretty much. What's that saying? Misery looooves company.

[soldiarity]

What? Miserable already? You're not even trying!

[hackitude]

Who, me? No, I'm great. I was talking about your sorry ass in school.

[soldiarity]

It's okay, I got to see the ocean. I might join some sports teams next year, too -- see if that makes it more interesting.

[hackitude]

Yeah? You've never seen the ocean before?

And why wait 'til next year?

[soldiarity]

I hadn't... that was pretty great. If nothing else good happens, at least there was that one thing.

[ He pauses. ]

Do the teams meet after school ends for the year?

[hackitude]

Huh. And I guess if your world doesn't have computers, you probably hadn't even seen it on TV or anything either... God, that's so weird...

[Skye blinks for a second before Reiner's meaning catches up with her.]

--Oh. Right. It's nearly the end of the school year here, isn't it? Bummer. I'm honestly not sure. I moved around too much as a kid, so I never joined any school teams or clubs. You could always try asking?