maskormenace | 190① △ video

[ Wherever he is, Nelson isn't at home; the scenery the camera captures as it turns on illuminates that easily. He isn't at home or even in Heropa, but rather Cape Canaveral's Air Force Space & Missile Museum, sitting outside the blockhouse on a bench. He's dressed not in a suit and tie for once but a blue-and-white polo t-shirt with an American flag pin affixed where the polo decal would be, and though he looks tired (circles under his eyes) he speaks with the steady confidence and enthusiasm he can always manage when he's in his element. As always, his posture is impeccable. ]

According to the calendar, today is President's Day. [ He smiles even more for saying it, turning his head briefly to admire the sunshine -- it's a beautiful day, and (in his opinion) he's in a beautiful place -- before he turns back toward the camera. ] Which I bring to everyone's general attention because it's not only a day of remembrance. At least it shouldn't be. We also ought to use today to reflect upon ourselves and what we've done that we can be truly proud of -- not just for ourselves but for our country as well. "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

[ His brow furrows mildly then and he clears his throat, understanding he has to elaborate. Already his ears begin to go red, his body growing tense and flustered already even before his mind gets there. ]

... I know not all of us come from the same place, of course. B-but while not everyone here may be American, there's no reason we shouldn't all stand together as long as we're here. It's irresponsible to let ourselves grow divided when we have a real duty. Y-you know, what's happening here now is what was happening to the world I know... it's more important than you might think, unity. Having a united front can mean the difference between life or death, no matter what your contribution is.

[ And a breath. Good job, Nelson, very inspiring, for sure, totally. He rubs at his wrist where the tattoo would show were it not broad daylight, but it's not a long pause, because he doesn't want to lose his courage for the rest of it. After another breath he pushes onward: ]

It won't always be what you'd like it to be. Sometimes you will have to make compromises... or sacrifices to pursue what you really believe in. You might have to fight and you might have to hide. But at least you won't be alone.

[ Exhale. His fingers fidget nervously. ]

I-I hope you can all understand what I'm saying.

[ Straightening his shoulders he offers his audience a very somber salute, having very clearly depressed himself. ]

United we stand, divided we fall.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[pause]

No. But we do not have to work for them, either.

Maybe not. [ Though working against the government is a terrifying thought to him. ] But we might have a better chance at getting what we need sooner, in doing so.

They did not say they would take us back. If we help. How do you know they will give us what we need?

[As far as she's concerned, that's going back. Period.]

[ He hesitates before answering. He doesn't know, really, but it's what he's trying to be optimistic about. ]

I think that if we help, they may have more time and resources to figure out how to send us home. They-- those machines are incredible but unpredictable.

I do not understand what we need to help with.

[Cranky. But dimensional transport ordinarily means an immediate, world-ending problem. Not a week of nothing. It's a long time when you're sixteen and used to the universe blowing up twice a week, okay.]

If there's a war on that would affect what resources they can get their hands on, or-- at least what they can use them on. If we can't help our only other choice would be to be patient.

[Flat:]

They had enough resources to bring us here. If they needed us, we would already be fighting.

Edited 2014-02-19 05:20 (UTC)

I don't think they have much control over if we're here or if we aren't. That isn't their fault.

How do you know?

[ A long pause. ]

I-- I just-- well, I don't. Not for certain. That's what they said, I see no reason not to take it as the truth.

Then you are stupid.

[Her tone makes it clear that this a fact, not merely an insult. Sorry, Nelson.]

I am not stupid!

[ Super defensive!! ]

What good does it do to assume the worse when they've been nothing but hospitable so far?

All you know is that they have taken us here. Not why. You do not know what they want. Who they are. You do not know them, but you trust them to do what is good for you.

You are stupid.

Th-that isn't true, stop saying that. We don't know that they won't, do we? No, and-- and until we know one way or another, it's far more advantageous this way! I can't be the only one to see that.

[ Sulking into infinity. ]

[It is true is on the tip of her tongue, but she stops. She’s silent on the other end, almost long enough that it might seem as if she disconnected.]

You are afraid.

[ He does think she's disconnected at first, and he's caught off-guard when she speaks again. And by the fact she's right. ]

That's ridiculous. We-- er-- [ It's nearly a recitation: ] We need not fear our situation, only the unknown.

We do not know what will happen. That is our situation.

[Her tone is a shade gentler than before, but perhaps not enough so to be noticed.]

N-no, but there's at least one clear direction things could take if we're only willing to work for it. [ He exhales uneasily. ] No one can know everything.

No. They should know more.

[About the machine, about the selection process, about how they received the information in the files and who was chosen. How to send them back.]

We have to be a little patient. They must be learning as they go.

[Flatly:]

No.

[she disconnects]

190① △ video

audio

audio

audio

audio

audio

audio

audio

audio

audio

audio

audio

audio

audio

audio

audio

audio

audio

audio

audio

audio

audio