002 ✴ video (slightly backdated to evening of the 31st)

[onlydoubts]

[ The feed, doesn't even start off with Bodhi. It starts off, pointed at a tv screen where a killer in a white mask and a large knife is stalking his prey. Teenagers. The loud breathing from behind the mask can be heard. A seasoned movie fan might recognize the movie as Halloween. ] 

What is she doing? 

[ The camera turns, and it's Bodhi -- you can tell, despite the room being lit only by the flickering tv screen. There's a bowl of candy in his lap, but he's a little too transfixed to the screen to pay it much mind (there is a small pile of wrappers sitting beside him, though), where he sets down the device beside him. ]

Didn't she notice the door was unlocked --? Oh, he's going to be in the car isn't he? 

[ The girl on screen doesn't seem to have the same thoughts as Bodhi. He gives the camera a quick, sidelong look, finally. ] 

It's like these people in the movie want to get kill -- oh, damn!

[ Bodhi, despite expecting it, gives a start as a loud noise fills the room, and the sounds of the girl being murdered are overheard, candy bowl falling to the floor. His hands are over his mouth, eyes wide and transfixed on the screen. When the scene is over, a few seconds later, he seems to relax a little, giving a nervous laugh and shaking his head. ] 

I don't think I get the appeal of these kinds of films. 

Comments

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[wouldificould]

That, right there.

[ Trish nods, a gesture that would have translated better if they were in the same place. She means him, his reaction. ]

It's the adrenaline rush from being frightened while getting to stay in a safe environment.

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[onlydoubts]

So basically, it's being afraid without being in any actual danger.

[ he seems to ponder this for a moment. ]

That makes sense, I guess. Fake people in danger and dying over real ones.

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[am_i_a_monster]

I don't get it either. There's enough violence without watching on tv.

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[onlydoubts]

You're telling me.

I think I'm gonna try something else, once this is over. Something not to do with killers, but... [ he picks up a dvd case and flips it over to skim the summary ] I don't know what a werewolf is exactly, but that might be more enjoyable.

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[am_i_a_monster]

A werewolf movie might have killing too.

Try a kids' movie.

[action]

[couldbebeautiful]

[Veronica steps into view, carrying a giant bowl of popcorn and wearing a shabby, homemade Wonder Woman costume.]

Oh, hey, what did I miss? [She's seen this movie twice over. She knows exactly what she missed, as evidenced by the fact that she only glances briefly at the screen before she makes a face.] Oh. That scene, huh? Scoot over, I have to make room for this bowl of popcorn.

[action]

[onlydoubts]

[ Bodhi glances up, and does a double take that giant popcorn bowl and scoots to make room for her and the bowl, moving the wrappers to the table. ]

It's only half way through. He just killed his first teenager.

[ He reaches over for some of the popcorn. ]

What's your costume?

[action]

[couldbebeautiful]

A legendary warrior from my world.

[Who runs around in primary colors and a tiara, apparently. Veronica more or less flops down onto the couch, popping kernels of popcorn into her mouth for a few minutes as the movie plays on.]

He's going to kill a lot more. Not just in this movie, they made about four more movies with Michael Myers murdering people. [She gestures to the movie currently playing.] They're not as good as the first one, though.

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[functusofficio]

They're not common on Naboo, but I've seen advertisements for similar types of movies on Coruscant. I'm afraid the reason for their popularity quite escapes me, but for some people they seem to be very entertaining.

Apparently it's also a custom at this time of year here.

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[onlydoubts]

Yeah for "Halloween", this kind of thing is tradition. One of my roommates is very big on the holiday and she's had a few of these on the last few weeks.

This one is pretty.... tame, compared to them.

[ At least so far. ]

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[functusofficio]

That's what I've been gathering, both from the general population and the various people on the network. I have to say it seems an odd tradition to me, but I suppose I can see its appeal?

[ Sort of. Not really.

Okay, but she remembers how the movie was going during the bits of it that showed, and she looks a little taken aback. ]

This is tame?

[action]

[candor1]

[The crack! of a real door slamming, feet pounding—and Cassian skidding to a halt, catching himself, just inside the room. Taking in the scene and feeling annoyed at himself for reacting to what he'd already, on one level, known was just a recording, as if it was real.]

Erm… sorry.

[He doesn't grimace at the TV—doesn't want Bodhi to stop on his account. On the other hand, one hand is fisted and his face is a little pale. Trying to shrug it off, he turns to back out of the room again. Maybe go for a walk until it's over.]

[action]

[onlydoubts]

[ Bodhi startles a little bit again, at the door slamming -- maybe it's because ... horror movie about a killer going into people's houses and killing them. But the movement stops and it's just Cassian so he relaxes just a little. ]

Don't worry about it.

[ He hit's pause on the remote, where the main character is talking with someone on the phone as two kids watch scary movies on tv, the murder scene over for now. Maybe he should have given a little more thought as to how a movie like this would effect the others, but it had come as a recommendation and he hadn't thought it'd be bad. ]

You wanna come and watch something else with me? I think I picked up a few comedies...

[action]

[candor1]

[Cassian looked simultaneously grateful and shamefaced.]

You don't have to stop just 'cause I'm…

[He actually gets the appeal of media like this, in theory. He's just never able to turn off his own danger reflexes for it, no matter that he consciously knows it's not real.

He knows the terms. He's helped others with it. Traumatized. Necessary adaptation put in new context becoming maladaptive.

But he's never as fair to himself as he is to others.]

…overreactive.

[video]

[majorlyugh]

Eyyyy, Bodhi Rook! [He corrects himself, remembering that he's watching a scary movie, and does it again, only this time in a more appropriate whisper.] Eyyyy, Bodhi Rook!

There's some science related to it. Watching scary movies, I mean. Something about the adrenaline high you get. Huh. Wait. I'm trying to remember. I'm not a science dude, obviously, but I remember reading an article about it somewhere, a long time ago. Lemme see if I can remember. [He closes his eyes, trying to recall the article.]

I remember there were categories? Like, gore watchers, thrill seekers. I think that gore watchers tend to be slightly sociopathic, thrill seekers tend to feel more empathy but like the sensation of fear - all that adrenaline I was talking about, another group really liked watching victims overcome their fears or odds and got a strong sense of like, victory? from watching that happen?, and then the fourth group .. uh. They couldn't really figure out why they watched, I think. Cause they didn't enjoy it, and didn't really like them.

But where I'm from, there's a saying that something's like a 'trainwreck,' where it's horrible and yet you can't look away. I think people have a weird, morbid curiosity about stuff.

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[onlydoubts]

[ Thank you for tempering your voice down because he'd nearly knocked over the recently picked up candy again. ]

So people who like really gross films are a little crazy, some people want to see the underdog win, others like the thrill and some are just... you can't look away -- even if it's not something that's not enjoyed, am I getting that right?

Can you really tell so much about a person by the kinds of films they like?

[majorlyugh]

Yeah, you got it. You did a better job of summarizing that than I did, though. [Major laughs a little bit.] I mean, I think you can tell some things about them, sure. People who really like comedies might be pretty funny themselves; people who really like foreign movies are probably pretty educated and intelligent; people who really like sci-fi or fantasy are prob into science or STEM or maybe a lil' nerdy, which is the way to be.

[kestreldawn]

[Jyn plops herself down on the sofa beside Bodhi, placing a bowl of popcorn between them. Veronica said that this was a common movie-watching treat, so Jyn thought it appropriate. Plus, it's rather delicious!]

What are -- oh. [Jyn has mostly been watching children's shows and cartoons, most of which aren't .. as violent as the life she'd led in her previous galaxy, but it seems .. Bodhi hasn't been.]

Is this what Veronica was watching the other night? On Halloween?

[onlydoubts]

Yep. [ When she sets the popcorn between them, he goes in for a handful, handing her over the candy he'd grabbed from the bowl earlier. ]

This is actually called Halloween. That guy in the mask is stalking that girl and her friends for some reason.

[kestreldawn]

[She has one hand full of popcorn, the other full of candy. She's alternating them, bringing each to her mouth in turn.] Huh. Do we know why he's doing that? Did they do something to wrong him or something?

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[knaval]

u dont talk during a film
human rule no1

[onlydoubts]

I know.

And I'd understand if I were watching it with someone else, but seeing as it's just me... it's not like it's bothering anyone?

[knaval]

o my b thought u were with someone
what move?

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[foralways]

[Her expression is perplexed, though it quickly shifts from confusion to horror as screams come through from the screen.]

Why would anyone find such a film entertaining?

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[onlydoubts]

[ Once the scene is over, he pauses it, shrugging. ]

I dunno, actually. Apparently these kinds of films -- called 'slashers' are very popular entertainment on Earth, though.

I think the appeal is a little lost on me.