maskormenace | 001

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001 > video

[ 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.

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Fortunately.

We were on the streets when it happened.

That's good. I know a lot of people got hurt in that accident... Annie probably wouldn't have told me either way, even if she had.

Anyway... [ He pauses, considering a subject change. ] Right, we're from the same world. We all grew up around the same area.

[ But now she's curious. Annie has said a lot of interesting things to her in private. ]

She's a quiet girl.

Are you enlisted?

[ He says nothing for a moment, then nods slowly -- to both of the things Kate's said, but mostly the assessment of Annie she's made. ]

You mean here, or--? Back where we come from we all were.

I've heard a little about it from some from your world.

[ She still feels pity that the young are pitted against those monsters known as the titans. It's one thing for an eighteen or twenty-one year old to enlist, but another when twelve year olds are running off to join the military. ]

Survey Corps?

[ Well, that simplifies things somewhat -- he nods again. ]

Right. Then I take it you know about the titans, too?

I do.

I know that your world is at war with them.

[ What's left of it, apparently. ]

[ It's hard to know how to respond to that. Reiner's eyebrows knit together tensely. ]

If you can really call it a war.

[ She maintains a neutral expression.

After what Annie's said to her, she's curious where the other kids stand. ]

What would you call it?

[ He frowns, tilting his chin up in thought. ]

War is more two-sided than things are with the titans -- humanity's chance at survival is only going to keep getting smaller.

You don't think it's a battle you can win.

[ But that's so sad. Victory's always been important to her, no matter the odds. ]

Well, there's still a chance we might win it. But the reality of the situation is that we're too far outnumbered for the odds for a good future to mean much.

Would it not mean anything if you managed to accomplish that?

Depending on who else was still alive in the end.

An unfortunate consequence of war.

[ She frowns. ]

But if you can come back alive and keep others alive, then... you can prevail.

[ Her dad had useful, inspiring advice, that's for sure. ]

Most don't manage even that much. Hardly anyone has the luxury of looking further in the future than surviving that day.

I mean... I did used to think that way, but I was almost eaten myself. I don't really know what to think anymore.

[ There's pity laced in her voice. ]

That sounds horrible. [ It doesn't feel like the right word and she clearly hesitates before going with it. Still, it probably can't describe what Reiner's been through. ] I'm sorry.

[ He blinks, then turns his head down sheepishly. ]

It's all right, I got lucky and just had my arm broken. It wasn't really as bad as I made it sound.

Almost being eaten sounds pretty bad.

[ He repeats: ]

It wasn't that bad. Just freaked me out, I'd never come that close before.

[ Sensitive issue or not the type to draw attention to himself? ]

You're alive. That's good.

[ Bertholdt and Reiner are officially a duo to worry about. Along with Annie... that makes a trio. ]

You understand you don't have to fight here, don't you?

[ He nods in the affirmative, agreeing with the first point -- yes, he's alive. If that's good or not depends on the point of view. ]

I wasn't planning on fighting unless I do have to. We just... we don't know what there is to do, now that we have a choice.

I asked your friend if there's anything he likes to do.

What about you?

You mean like hobbies?

Mostly I exercise, although sometimes I'd like to play chess with my friends. [ In the past, anyway. ] I'm not very good at it, though.

[ She looks to the side, thinking. ]

Anything you've seen here you like?

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