[ 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

[kingpawn]

Point. If this were the product of a sixteen year old's imagination, it would definitely be in the hell spectrum, no questions asked.

[ He taught them for years. He knows. ]

[aggressiveapathy]

Ugh. We don't talk about the All Girls Are Secret Dominatrix...es plotlines.

But this is the world we're stuck in. Lemme guess. You came...hm. From one where beards reflected status. And dragons roamed free or whatever.

[kingpawn]

[ Walt is slightly uncomfortable with that topic because he was thinking of his students and that lovely mental image was put in his head. Thanks for that. ]

No dragons. And the only status my beard is reflecting is that I need to shave. I'm a former chemistry teacher from Albuquerque, New Mexico. But if, in your scenario, I am wealthy and powerful -- then I wouldn't mind changing my story around a bit.

[aggressiveapathy]

Everyone should. The past is way more interesting after editing.

[kingpawn]

So what's your edited past?

[aggressiveapathy]

Janet Snakehole was married to the world's richest man. Until my evil twin sister fed him to wolves and framed me, now I'm on the run and can never go to Indiana again. That kinda thing.

[kingpawn]

Janet...Snakehole?

[ Of all the things, that's what Walt is caught up on. ]

[aggressiveapathy]

Blame my history-revised father.

[kingpawn]

Who you can't see because you're not allowed in Indiana? Or did he tragically fall to the wolves as well?

[aggressiveapathy]

Oh, no. He died in a tragic house fire. Started under suspicious circumstances when my mother and the pool boy were away.

See? Way more fun than 'guy in another dimension who doesn't know his alternate daughter-version is awol.'

[kingpawn]

[ Faintly amused. ]

It is. And I imagine it's even more fun if you can get someone to believe you. Have you gone public with this evil win, wolf, tragic fire story?

[aggressiveapathy]

Mm, not that one.

[But others? Sure.]

But after hearing Disney's in Alabama, people are ready to believe pretty much anything.

[kingpawn]

[ Wait. What. ]

Disney's in Alabama? Why would it be there of all places?

[ He's skeptical, though. This is Janet Snakehole, after all. ]

[aggressiveapathy]

Disney was a racist or something. Or the government just wanted to make living in Florida suck more for us.

[kingpawn]

I guess Alabama could use a boost in visits. It's unlikely many people went there without reason before.

[ Shrug. ]

[aggressiveapathy]

Except to hunt the most dangerous game.

But, mm. Yeah, truth is pretty relative nowadays.

[kingpawn]

[ Faint amusement. ]

Not dangerous enough. They're not fighting dragons. Unless those are indigenous to the Alabama of this world.

[aggressiveapathy]

Or Godzilla. But the Semi-Dangerous When Compared to Catfish Game doesn't really have the same catchy title.

[kingpawn]

I'd like to hope Godzilla stays in Japan. I don't feel as though I was equipped with strong enough powers to go into close combat with him -- or even far combat.

[aggressiveapathy]

It's all in the creative thinking. Way more dangerous than fire hands and summoning bees.

What'd you get?

[kingpawn]

[ The truth? Or a lie. Truth or lie...truth or lie... Lie. ]

Oh, I can...

[ He looks around the room and then focuses on a book. ]

Look at a book...and flip through it really fast and memorize what's in it. I'm not so sure it's going to help me out when it comes to anything. What about you?

[aggressiveapathy]

[ Lucky for him, unlike certain people she knows determining if someone is lying is not her skill. And she has heard of worse powers.]

Wow. You angered the porter gods. I'm a Disney princess. Professionally speaking.

[kingpawn]

[ He laughs a bit at her comment about angering the porter gods, shrugging dismissively. ]

....you're a Disney princess? What is that supposed to mean? You burst into song in the middle of battle?

[aggressiveapathy]

I have adorable sweat shop animal companions. The singing thing is totally alcohol blood level dependent.

[kingpawn]

That sounds...

[ Like a surefire way to spread rabies. ]

...useful. It also sounds like a shame that dragons aren't indigenous to this world because then your power would be unstoppable in that case.