maskormenace | [ 01 ] Video; Possible Action for housemates?

Entry tags:

[ 01 ] Video; Possible Action for housemates?

[ 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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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

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

That Hell exists? Certainly. No one knows what lies beyond the Ninth Gate, though I personally doubt it.

That this is it? No. We're definitely all alive- well, most of us, anyway. Take it from a necromancer. [Sabriel seems to be deadly serious- despite the apparent absurdity of what she just said.]

[ Walt's jaw twitches. He doesn't really feel alive. He doesn't know how he feels. So instead of making a comment, he focuses on the other part of what she said. ]

Necromancer? I'm assuming this has to do with your...power. Care to elaborate?

I think it's rather obvious- I sense death, and have power over the dead. Being able to tell whether or not someone's alive is rather simple for me. Even when they're walking around.

[ This piques Walt's interest. ]

And what about here? What about the people who have died in their worlds and wound up here? Are we still alive? Or can you sense the death in us?

To my senses? You all seem to be alive, as far as I can tell. Granted, I haven't been here long enough to really investigate.

I'm not sure how I should feel about that. So I suppose I'll settle on elated to be....somewhat alive. At least here.

How long have you been here?

A little bit over a week. It's been eventful.

So right around the time I arrived as well...more or less. As a fellow newcomer, what do you make of this whole...

[ Walt waves his hand, looking for the right word. He can't find it, so he settles on: ]

...thing.

That I won't get very far sitting around feeling sorry for myself. I want to learn more about this world, and the people in it- to understand what's actually going on, and how I can help it. [Sabriel shrugs.]

I'd also like to return to my world, eventually, but that will take time.

[ Walt shrugs. ]

Apparently it can happen just like that.

[ He snaps his fingers. ]

Someone I know from back home informed me that just the very same way we were brought in, we can be sent back in the blink of an eye.

But that's something we have no control over- and until it does, I don't intend to sit around and wait. [For all her apparent seriousness, Sabriel is still a teenager in many ways.]

[ You teenagers and your impatience. Geesh. ]

So you're going to get involved in what this world is doing? Fighting crime and playing hero?

I don't intend to play at anything- and I think the police can deal with criminals easily enough. But things like the Hornets, and other Imports who cause trouble? Those things are happening because we're here- so yes, I'll do what I can to stop them. That doesn't make us heroes- just responsible.

Or perhaps a bit hasty and judgmental. Who are we to interfere in the things other people do -- imPorts or no? Who are we to decide actions speak louder than words? There may be a good reason why someone is going 'against the system' for lack of a better word. Why stop it before finding out the truth?

I'm not talking about 'going against the system'. I'm talking about making sure people don't die needlessly! There's no justification for what the Hornets did! We can get answers without sacrificing people who have nothing to do with any of this!

I haven't been paying much attention to what the Hornets did or who they are beyond what happened Friday, to be honest. So I really can't weigh in one way or the other. Not without knowing the whole story.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only