01 // Video

[pale_blue_arrow]

[Brendan took the explanation he got when he arrived about as well as could be expected, all things considered. It wasn’t the Promised Land, but it was a step up from home – not a big accomplishment, there – and much as he wasn’t keen on playing social butterfly, it was best to get the lay of the land when it came to the people. And hey, at least the powers that be were nice enough to patch up his glasses. Other than looking tired and deadpan, he’s practically good as new; at the very least, he’s composed as he looks into the camera and sets it up, though it takes him a moment to get the angle right.]

Sorry ‘bout the lack of technical skills. Not used to these things just yet. My name’s Brendan Frye. I’m a sophomore, though I somehow lucked my way into some AP classes, back home at least. I don’t bring a lot of skills to the table, here. Thought I was done with other people’s home-brewed chaos and frankly I don’t see myself getting too involved if I can’t figure out a way to not be one more burden for the people with real powers. All I got’s some healing and just enough strength to be useful, maybe.

I know nobody here owes me answers and I’m not looking to get in with anyone’s cliques; got no need to make waves and zero interest in that. Basically I’ve got some questions about school here, I wanna know what laws are different from back in California and if the cops around here are worth a damn – ‘cause they were crooks back in San Clemente – and if anyone can offer any bits of advice, that's all I'm after.

[With very little fanfare and no goodbye, he snaps the camera feed off. Whatever his feelings are on this superhero business, and he himself isn’t a hundred percent sure on what he feels, he’s playing it close to his chest for now.]

Comments

[pale_blue_arrow]

I will. Might swing by just to look at the trains. There aren't any back home.

[siriusly]

[WHAT. TRAGIC.] What, really? That's a shame... I mean, the ones here aren't the coolest I've ever seen, but still...

[these ones don't go into space...]

[pale_blue_arrow]

Meh. Used to be trains before my time connecting San Altos and San Clemente but after the highway system got more thorough in the 60's, they shut it down. The tracks are still there; some criminals and homeless people use 'em as bridges at spots.

[The glamorous life of a dead-end California city where the only growing industry was heorin: lots of closed down buildings and empty train tracks.]

[siriusly]

[a thoughtful huh.]

So... Those highways were just cars? Or did your home finally get off-planet?

[pale_blue_arrow]

Just cars. Other than the moon landings, nobody's been off planet, yet.

[siriusly]

Mm, so...not too different from here as far as that's concerned. Maybe things will be familiar enough that it won't bother you too much.

[pale_blue_arrow]

Maybe. It's all still sinking in at this point, really.

[siriusly]

A-ahh... [how did that weird capslock guy put it?

oh, yeah:] Well. Well, you'll find familiar things! And comfortable things to reach for...And, ah, well. I hear we're on the better end of some bad times?

[beat.

'hem.] Anyway. Sorry, ha. For being so chatty, I mean! I was just kind of taking my time beforwOUFF- [THUD.

clatter.

a far off-speaker female voice crying OH GOD ARE YOU OKAY?!]

[pale_blue_arrow]

[He was going to say this is not the worst thing when it comes to being chatty - and then there's the clatter.] Shit. You okay? Can you hear me?

[What is his life.]

[siriusly]

[there's a loud scrape on concrete-- a shoe, probably? and some distant coughing behind the high-pitched voice repeating Are you really okay?! over and over.]

Hha, haha...ye-yeah, IIOHPLEASENONOT-- [THWACK.]

Aaaowwwwwh-hh-hhh!

[after a brief series of colorful curses, one can hear OH MY GOD I SWEAR I'M NOT INSANE I DID NOT MEAN TO HIT YOU before a really thick muffle overtakes the speakers, then one long scratching sound before some relative silence.

this lasts for a moment before Manabu speaks up:]

...Uh...Hhello?

[pale_blue_arrow]

What happened? Are you alright? Do I need to come over? [He can't have the closest thing he's got to a contact dying on him during the first day, after all.]

[siriusly]

No, no, it's-- [a turn and spit off-speaker.] It's okay. I'm alright. That-- [happens a lot? is that really something to say?

no. definitely not.]

Was an accident. I just...bumped into somebody. Hehh...

[pale_blue_arrow]

[He knows a bullshit lie when he hears it. But. He's gotta let it lie, for now at least. The pickings are too slim to do anything but play along for now.

That doesn't mean he isn't concerned. When he's got spare time, Brendan might investigate this himself, make sure something isn't really, truly wrong. It's only right to do his first real useful source here a solid.]

'Kay then. As long as you're not hurt. Sounded like you got knocked over. Try to be more careful.

[siriusly]

[this is humiliating.

hastily, demoralized:] Yeah, it's fine! No worries! I gotta go now, though, so-- It was nice talking to you, bye! [CLICK.]