[ 01 ] Video; Possible Action for housemates?

[kingpawn]

[ The video starts rolling well before Walter's prepared to sit down and talk. What the viewer gets is about twenty minutes of a frail and sickly thin, older white man in his tighty whities, staring blankly into the screen. A bottle of wine is in one hand, continuously pouring the contents into a glass as he drinks them down only to refill it again. It's the alcoholic channel, with a few fascinatingly thoughtful jaw clenches and an unwavering staring competition with the lens. Finally, he clears his throat and speaks up. ]

So this is supposed to connect me to others 'like me?' These so-called imPorts...

[ He studies his empty glass, turning it in his hands. ]

There's one question that never got answered, and maybe you can give me some insight? Clue me in a little because I sure saw a lot of fire and brimstone a few days ago...

[ He looks up, dead eyes focusing on the screen. ]

Is this supposed to be hell?

Comments

[video]

[hot4engines]

[Kaylee's frowning back at him.]

Ain't hell unless you want it to be.

[video]

[kingpawn]

All of my experiences so far seem to say otherwise.

audio

[sunasuna]

This isn't hell. If someone's trying to make it seem that way, it's a pathetic imitation.

audio

[kingpawn]

Well, it certainly isn't heaven. But you sound certain -- like you speak from experience.

[ Can't rule anything out. Anything's possible, Walt has found. ]

[slightlyoffchilt]

To suggest hell is to imply death. [Which, given the image of the man presented, seems... Accurate. Chilton himself had been flipping through the Network, noticed the underwear-clad man, tried hard to unnotice that, and was nearly successful -- until Walt began to speak.]

And to imply death is to expect trauma.

sorry for the threadjack.

[girlwithout]

[CONFUSED TEENAGE GIRL IS CONFUSED.] ...Is that supposed to make sense?

[kingpawn]

[ It will be impossible to forget because this sure won't be the last time Walt and his underwear show themselves to the world~! ]

I suppose you could say I'm having a difficult time adjusting.

[ He smirks, very briefly. ]

And I suppose you could say I am dead. Was dead. It only makes sense, this being some private hell.

video

[bindsthedead]

It doesn't seem to be? Not that there's any sign that such a place exists.

video

[kingpawn]

But it is a possibility? A theory, if you will?

Video

[aggressiveapathy]

God, no. Hell better be way more original.

Video

[kingpawn]

What? Running around playing superhero for all eternity isn't original enough for you?

Audio

[restingstitchface]

That depends.

L'enfer, c'est les autres. Hell is subjective. [A pause.] Or an empty glass of wine.

[Do you read Satre, my clever friend?]

Audio

[kingpawn]

Hell is other people.

[ The dark amusement can be heard in his tone at the translation. ]

There's a truth to it. There's also truth to the empty glass of wine. Or bottle, in this case.

voice;

[lackey]

[It turns out twenty minutes of pasty white guy in his undies staring at a camera is actually kind of interesting. What's going on? What's the guy gonna do? How long can he sit there? How many glasses of wine can he drink?

Except in the end the guy just wants to talk about hell or whatever. Bit of a letdown after such a dramatic buildup. Oh well.]

Mm-hm. Yep. It's uh... Well, it's not like hell hell. Like the main hell. But it's definitely still part of hell. Like a level or somethin'. That's a thing, right? Levels in hell? Or is it floors?

... Anyway, instead of punishment by pitchfork here, it's spandex. Did you get your uniform in the mail yet? Hope you've already started savin' people. There's a quota you gotta meet every month. [A pause, strictly for effect.] Or else.

voice;

[kingpawn]

[ What? The briefs aren't enough? There has to be spandex, too? ]

Then when do you graduate to the next level of hell? I'd like to put in for a transfer. This one isn't doing it for me. The spandex especially won't do it for me.

[ Walt lets out a sigh. ]

I watched two kids get hit by a car when I first arrived here. Someone else stepped in and healed them, so they were fine in the end. But I'm fairly certain that counts as negative marks toward my quota, no?

[ahappyending]

[The girl's skin is bone-white, her makeup, hair and outfit fully black.] Is it the sort of Hell you'd expect?

[kingpawn]

[ He pauses, mulls over it for a second. Jesse's here. Hank's here. And to throw in a special dash of torture, Saul is also here. So, he answers honestly: ]

Yes.

video

[resipiscent]

[This guy looks sick as a dog, and he's not sure what to say to him. He can tell he's also drunk as shit, even if the bottle weren't there to give it away. Honestly, Riku had almost turned the video off and then Walt had started to talk. Once he does, though, he frowns a little.]

The other day seems like one out of a couple of out of the ordinary incidents. But it might be, even so. I haven't quite decided yet.

video

[kingpawn]

Well, it certainly does make a lasting impression -- going to a celebration and having to evacuate because houses are on fire. And the chaos spread even more rapidly than that.

[ Walt rubs at his tired face, trying to ease some unseen tension. ]

But maybe given time we'll have our answer.

[ Video ]

[onewiththewild]

[ head tilt ]

Why do you think it's hell?

[ Video ]

[kingpawn]

Because it's given me no reason to believe it could be anything else...

voice

[paintjobs]

There is an awful lot of whining that goes on upon showing up here. You don't think the new superpowers make it worth it, even a little?

voice

[kingpawn]

Whining? Is that what you think this is?

[ Walt makes a derisive sound. ]

No. It's a question. To die and then come back to life implies resurrection of some sort and when it comes to modern day Christianity -- there are only two places for those who were resurrected to end up. New superpowers or not, this isn't heaven.

voice;

[nightcrawl]

[ Lou would normally text since he's working on technopathy, and the thoughts to letters is an engaging challenge. However, if the drunk man in his underwear attempted to reciprocate, Lou predicts it'd be amusing for approximately one reply. ]

I prefer to think of it as an opportunity. To learn new things, reach out for some new goals. Not that I need to re-invent myself, but the opportunity is there, for all of us. I don't think Hell has any options.

[ Make no mistake, Lou was pissed when he first got here. In fact, he's still in a cycle of grief for having his recent triumphs taken from him by being ported here. But wallowing in self-pity and strapping himself to going nowhere? That just wasn't Louis Bloom, not lately.

Here's your ray of positivity, Walt. ]

voice;

[kingpawn]

[ Just the twinkling voice of optimism Walt needs~~

He takes a moment to mull over Lou's words. ]

You raise a good point. But then again, maybe hell is more deceptive than either of us think. For all of these new powers we've found ourselves with, maybe that just means there will be new and inventive ways to be tormented down the road.

audio;

[ballbutt]

[He sees a trolling opportunity and he's going to take it.]

Yeees sir, this is hell in all it's searingly painful glory! Welcome to our scorching, incandescent city, where heroics ignite the streets and the embers keep you nice and toasty. Forever. Kyahahahahaha!!

audio;

[kingpawn]

[ Oh god. It reminds him of his days as a high school teacher with the obnoxious students. ]

[ Deadpan: ] Yes, well. I might feel a little more welcome if they offered champagne.

video;

[cleveland]

[ Frank had done his best to stay away from all the recent commotion. To remain business as usual. He can now see that perhaps not everyone had the same plan? ]

Uh, Walter? Buddy? Everything alright over there?

video;

[kingpawn]

Hello, Frank.

[ Very nonchalant. This is completely normal behavior, ok. ]

I'd invite you over for a drink, but I seem to have run out...

video;

[bombshelled]

[ Jesus Christ, Mr. White, put your fucking pants on. Nobody wants to see that shit. ]

Uh. Are you gonna be OK to come into work tomorrow?

video;

[kingpawn]

[ The world loves it. Don't lie. ]

Yes, I'll be fine. This is nothing.

[ ....he's going to be so grumpy and hung over tomorrow, Lana, you have no idea. ]

video »

[agog]

I suppose it might be someone's version of hell.

video »

[kingpawn]

How do you feel about it personally?

video;

[starbuckaroobanzai]

[When the feed cuts in, Scully already has eyebrows raised and lips pressed together. It isn't quite a wince. Fundamentally, her expression is sympathetic, and she is sympathetic really. Fundamentally.]

Supposed to be? Probably not.

video;

[kingpawn]

But it does fit the description? Just a little?

[ video ]

[halfcow]

Kinda missin' fire and screams, don'tcha think?

[ video ]

[kingpawn]

Did you completely miss the fact that there were fires all over the place on Friday evening?

[ Walt raises his brow. ]

video;

[schrader]

[ Walt is drinking a lot, and he's doing a poor job of hiding it (by way of not even trying). Hank doesn't know what to do, but not handling it is a perfectly acceptable exchange for...handling it, right? He's sure Marie would have something to say to him about talking to Walt, and then he'd just hope Skyler would take care of it and everyone could shut up.

That moment one misses the nagging wife to force you to be an adult and seriously assess a depressing and poignant question. ]

Hey man, it's Florida. Close enough, huh?

[ Nailed it. ]

video;

[kingpawn]

[ Gold star, Hank. You tried. ]

I suppose that's a valid point. The only thing that might be worse is Los Angeles.

[ His lips quirk in faint amusement, but it fades quickly. ]

How was work?

[ Why don't you talk about your case with dear old Walt, Hank. Just like old times. Pls?? ]