001 > video

[worrior]

[ The feed goes live with Bertholdt looking absently at it. It's not his voice that comes through first. He's getting prompted with instructions, albeit bumbling ones, that he nods to and responds with equal confusion and uncertainty. ]

—right? How do I tell if it's on?

I told you-- [ The feed shakes a bit as a larger hand grasps it and adjusts it. ] You got it right already, stop worrying about it. See?

[ Reiner waves his hand in front of the camera as if to demonstrate. ]

If you say so...

[ He looks off to the side for a moment, apprehensive and another "are you sure" on the tip of his tongue; not that he doubts Reiner but this technology is still new to him and it's taking a while for him to adjust and trust it. He looks back to the camera and concentrates on it. ]

Hello, I'm Bertholdt Hoover. I have a few questions about this place… There are some laws and rules here that doesn't exist in our world. Just the other day, I was told you can't buy alcohol if you're not over twenty one years old, which is when you're considered an adult here. I wondered, what else aren't you allowed to do here if you're under adult age? Is this just in this world or is this the same where everyone is from? I hope it’s not a lot—

[ Reiner interjects, though at first his voice is quieter, directed more to Bert. ]

Hey, Bertholdt, don’t expect a good answer to that one! Around here it's normal to be treated like a child even if half your life has passed already. [ Then, louder, he continues tangentially: ] I'd be better off asking how to stop someone from moving in bed all night and keeping me awake -- it's harder to sleep through all that crap without something to drink first. A beer before bed would be great right now.

[ Bertholdt sighs and resigns himself to being the guy who moves around too much when he’s sleeping. ]

Reiner, thanks. We’ll… talk about that later.

[ He continues with the somewhat somber voice: ]

I just have one more question. [ He thinks about it for a moment and a frown shows he’s struggling with the phrasing. ] …What does everyone do here, now that their old lives are left behind in another world?

That's--

[ Reiner sounds mildly caught off-guard by the question -- awkward -- and shifts over on the bed they're sitting on so that he's more in view. He nudges Bertholdt a bit roughly with his elbow before effortlessly replacing the mask of enthusiastic confidence back over his expression. ]

Mm… uh, what he means is -- do we get to choose how to live our lives here now? Are we obligated to live a certain way because of how things were before, or is it really up to us? Is there anyone living a better life here? … If anyone has advice about that, we’d really appreciate hearing it.

[ Bertholdt watches Reiner speak and makes eye contact with him, holds it for a second more than necessary, before turning back to the camera. He shows a small smile. ]

Thanks for your time.

Comments

[private to both; video]

[attractedtodarkness]

[A sleepy-looking teenage girl is responding from the backdrop of her room]</small. There are ways to get alcohol and cigarettes if you're looking for it. As for your other question. You just live however you want. As long as you're not breaking the law too obviously, the government leaves you alone.

[private to violet & bertholdt; video]

[soldiarity]

"Too obviously?" What's too obviously? [ He laughs slightly, leaning back on his arms. ] We don't want to cause problems with the government. I don't even like cigarettes much, but buying beer from a store has been way too much trouble.

[private to both; video]

[worrior]

As much as we would like to live however we want, the laws and rules here makes that harder than it sounds. We don't want to go against what's set here. Especially since we don't even know what happens when we do get caught breaking a law.

video.

[darkspider]

I'm moving to Nonah soon.

[That's easier than answering all of these questions on the fly.]

I'll help you with this shit if you want. Let you get around all these limitations, too.

video.

[soldiarity]

[ He tilts his head. ]

Really? Uh-- [ He could say "thank you" or ask for specifics, but instead he asks: ] Why are you moving?

video.

[worrior]

[ Still skeptical about you Kaine ] You'll help us ...How? It sounds like it would mean you would be breaking some of the laws here. We don't want trouble.

video;

[genoshan]

The alcohol laws are just one of the charming aspects of American culture. [ he might sound a little bit sarcastic here ] They say you're old enough to die for your country at eighteen, but not to share a drink with your comrades.

But perhaps it's just as well. You don't want the swill they call "beer" around here anyway.

video;

[soldiarity]

You mean it's only a law over here? [ Dammit, America. You're supposed to be cool. Reiner sighs in mild irritation. ] That's just our luck...

But what do you mean? Don't you like beer?

[ Crappy beer is all he knows. ]

video;

[worrior]

That's what it was like back in our home. Our world, I suppose. They gave us beer after training, after missions. Our age was never a problem until we got here.

[ SHRUGS. ] The beer here isn't bad...

video;

[hoboagogo]

[There's a faintly amused expression at the bickering when the feed turns on, but Shinjiro doesn't comment on it. Still, it reminds him of himself and Aki (which is likely what prompts him to even consider speaking so openly). But-- anyway, that last question interests him the most, the the trace of a smirk fades away as he considers and answers.]

Pretty sure as long as you ain't going nuts? Yeah, you can do what you want. This place's pretty damn far from anything most've us had back home, after all.

[A shoulder rolls in a shrug, and his eyes flicker down for a moment, because words are hard- especially admittances like this:]

...I dunno about other people, but things're way better for me here than they were back home. I'm still mostly figuring it out, but- yeah. It's a whole lot damn easier to just get some distance from all the bullshit from before I got here.

video;

[soldiarity]

[ He smirks faintly, leaning awake from Bertholdt a bit so that he's sitting more on his side. ]

It sure is. Different, I mean... that's just it, we've never had a chance like this to choose what to do with our lives. I always thought-- [ His eyebrows furrow mildly and he pauses. ] That that part would come later, I guess. We're not where we're supposed to be when our normal life happens.

[ Another pause. ]

So things are better, for you?

video;

[worrior]

[ Bertholdt pulls his knees up towards his chest and nods, listening careful. ]

Doing what you want, it sounds easy. Saying it is easy. But we've only known that life. It's difficult to get out of it. and not think about what's left at home.

[ He hesitates in asking, but he does eventually. ]

Did you just ...forget about it and go on with life here?

video;

[smarterthandad]

There are cognitive risks related to drinking during adolescence, especially concerning attention span and memory.

[Val's holding off 'til she's 30, just in case.]

video;

[soldiarity]

Huh? What?

[ You were saying... ]

Why would that make any difference?

video;

[worrior]

... [ Maybe she's one of those "aliens". But she also looks a lot like a small blond child. ] I don't think I understood any of that.

What are the risks?

private to both | video

[gevurah]

[ She doesn't usually use this function, but the boy named Bertholdt looks a nervous wreck so having a face to go with a voice might help him. ]

You could grow dependent on alcohol that way.

[ It doesn't sound like she's talking from experience, just matter-of-factly. Quite the opposite, but she still locks the conversation to be safe. ]

There are certain obligations, but as long as you aren't hurting anyone or yourself, you're free to live as you want.

[ What a sad question from the two of them, she thinks. ]

private to both | video

[soldiarity]

[ Aw, Kate. So thoughtful. Reiner tilts his head slightly before shaking it. ]

It's not like that, we don't need it or anything. We just like it, you know? We're used to the taste, it helps us relax. [ He says that all fairly matter-of-fact, but when he pauses before responding to what she says next his eyes drop their gaze somewhere off-screen. ]

What obligations do you mean? We don't know what we want, er... yet, it's keeping stuff like that in mind that'll help, I think.

private to both | video

[worrior]

[ Talking to some faceless entity on the other side might freak him out, just a bit. ]

It just helps to sleep, sometimes. We don't drink as much as it sounds.

[ Sometimes, when he thinks about indirectly and brutally changing the lives of his so-called-friends. Those moments any excuse to drink a bit is nice. ]

A lot of people are saying that. Free to live as you want. It sounds a lot easier said than done.

not here

[huntergames]

[ She wants to say something, but she hasn't a clue on what.

And Reiner is around, so he'll probably shut down any conversation she tries to have with Bertholdt.

This is awkward. ]

not here

[soldiarity]

[ He's not overprotective you're overprotective ever think about that? 0_Ó ]

video;

[sacrificusdux]

It is my hope you both are able to lead a fulfilling life here. [Erwin's tone is sincere though there is a glint in his eyes as he keeps his gaze on the camera, intent.]

There are many opportunities here many back home could never imagine.

video;

[soldiarity]

[ Reiner doesn't say anything immediately, just staring back with a steady, drawn expression. Finally, he nods as if he'd been thinking Erwin's words over during that pause. ]

It would be a shame to let you down, Commander. I think we all want to do our best with all this... figuring out the right thing to do isn't usually this challenging. It's not as clear around here which of those opportunities we should choose.

[altercate]

If your roommate keeps you awake at night, get a better roommate.

[soldiarity]

He's a great roommate when he keeps his legs to himself. [ He's not bothering using text in return, if only because it takes him too long to type out. ] Would you kick out your best friend for something dumb like that?

Voice

[biotically]

[ How old are they even... ]

As far as I understand it, you're not supposed to drink alcohol before then because it's bad for you. [ But there's a bit of a pause. ]

I think...most people are here trying to do what they can, some of us seem to leave home behind, and some don't. It's kind of your choice, with how you want to live, but that's how it always is.

Voice

[soldiarity]

That doesn't make any sense to me. Ah, but I don't think they'd worry about things like that where we come from.

[ If it's bad for them... because hey, it's all short-lived anyway.

Matter-of-fact, he adds: ]

That's not how it always is. If it were that easy we wouldn't be wondering what's the right thing to do. [ The wording makes Reiner vaguely uncomfortable, "leaving home behind." That's not what he wants. ] Would you do that?

[darwinatrix]

Why are you obligated to live your life according to someone else's standards? Be a man and think for yourself.

[soldiarity]

It's not someone else's standard we're concerned about. We're just looking for some advice -- normally we would have duties to keep us busy, but none of those matter as long as we're here.

[notdaredevil]

I've had this conversation with one of you before.

[soldiarity]

That would be me. [ He lifts a hand, for emphasis. ] I told him what to expect, but he wanted to hear it for himself anyway. I can't explain it beyond "that's just how it is."