( iv ) ( v i d e o )

[detriments]

[Hello hello. Have Christine looking like her usual self, except perhaps a little toned down on the make up. No cigarette in her fingers this time, either - just a piece of paper she's toying with, almost using it as a fan, swayed from one side to the other oh-so-softly.]

I guess even strange new worlds keep the usual celebratory seasons. I can't say I mind it all that much. [A light shrug.] It almost makes this place feel like home.

It's a little hard to answer any secret admirers directly, though, so I'm just going to do it here. To whoever asked me this ominous little question-?

[She lifts the paper to show it to the camera (check out the manicure, people), lettering impeccable, placed right in the middle of the composition. It reads: Are you satisfied?

There's a relaxed smile on Christine's face when the focus returns to her. Playfully:]

The answer is never.

Comments

[prearcadian]

Not hardly. Where I'm from, everyone's heard of the Deathshadow. Good number of everyone wants to take it out, me along with it, to pay the bills and then some.

[detriments]

The Deathshadow-? [Hm!] You'll have to count me as one of the ignorants.

[prearcadian]

Well, considering the circumstances... [implied shrug and a beat.] It's a battleship. My friend and I kept it after a particular war, which rankled a few people. But it's powerful enough to make that no issue at all; we travel star systems in it, with our friends.

[detriments]

[Oh my.]

I can't believe it. A space man?

[prearcadian]

You walk out of an apocalypse and you can't believe this? [girl stop playin]

[detriments]

I wouldn't call it walking out. [More like scraping by.]

It's a good thing I can still be surprised, don't you think.

[prearcadian]

[hrm.] Not entirely sure what I think's really what matters.

[detriments]

Oh? [Men and their low self-esteem these days...

She frowns.] Why is that?

[prearcadian]

[no stop] How's what I think going to matter? That's gotta be up to you, not me.

[detriments]

Oh, come on. You don't actually believe that.

[Does he? Because it's kind of pathetic if he does. He'd be right, but pathetic.]

Okay, then. I say it matters.

[prearcadian]

[how does he back out of this ho w.] Then what I think is about the same. It can save you from becoming yet another lazy, jaded slob down the road.

[detriments]

Me, lazy? Oh, no. I work very hard.

[prearcadian]

Already hard at work in your new home?

[detriments]

Always. I'm not used to mediocrity.

[prearcadian]

"Never satisfied."

[detriments]

[A quiet smile.]

Never satisfied.

Do you think I'm wrong?

[prearcadian]

[heh...alright:] Not at all.

[detriments]

[Hm.] Good to know I'm not alone.

[prearcadian]

Well, I'd think it's hardly a rare trait. Maybe here, but not from what I've seen.

[detriments]

Oh, I don't know. Most people seem to be happy settling into whatever life they're given.

[prearcadian]

Yeah? How long've you been here?

[detriments]

A month, maybe? [hm.] But I was in the other place for much longer. And others were there for an even longer time.

[prearcadian]

["others" again. it's more of a thing than he first thought.]

Should I be expecting "others" from my own place, then?

[detriments]

I don't see why not. You're here.

[prearcadian]

[hmmmmmm. a bit of silence.

then, pleasantly:] Well, that settles that.