maskormenace | 001

[ 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That's right -- we didn't have much of a choice. We couldn't go back home.

Desertion is a serious offense.

[ She misunderstands. ]

We wouldn't abandon our duty.

Most soldiers don't.

Duty, honor, country.

[ He adds: ]

Survival.

[ Normally she doesn't like to encourage it in teenagers, but she says softly: ]

You're a good soldier.

Not like that matters now.

Why wouldn't it?

A good soldier is always a good soldier, unless you choose not to be anymore.

I'm not a solider anymore. Especially not here.

[ She stares straight at him, as if she's staring into his core. ]

And you don't know what to do with yourself.

[ He hesitates, then nods. ]

We have the choice to fall in line with what we're used to or to do something different altogether, but we've never had an opportunity to make a choice like that before.

I understand.

Freedom is surprisingly overwhelming sometimes.

No kidding. We've never had the privilege before -- I always imagined it would start when we got back to our home village and lived out the rest of our lives.

[ Assuming they lived and avoided execution long enough to make it back, which is a big "if." Anyway, the struggle of duty over free will always weighed on Bertholdt much heavier. ]

But otherwise I never really thought about it much.

So start with the small things. Keep playing chess and play sports with your friends.

That... is that really enough?

I can't tell you that.

You have to figure it out for yourself.

Well, I don't know either. I never had much of a future planned out for myself.

It's your future. Anyone can give you advice and point you in a direction, but the rest you need to do on your own.

I wouldn't know where to start. [ He huffs. ] What are you doing with yours?

I'm working and planning to move out of shared housing with a friend.

Oh -- well, I've already done that. [ He smiles faintly to himself. ] It's a good enough start, I have to admit.

[ Kate nods. ]

Other than that, I help take care of the dog, we go out, or I go out on my own or with other friends.

[ Usually when she's not avoiding said friends because she's being cagey about her feelings. ]

Do you ever plan further into the future? Years from now? I worry that there's no point to that, but... at the same time, a plan could be nice.

[ If he had been raised in a world like this, he'd be one of those people who deep down craves the nice house with the picket fence. ]

[ A contemplative look. ]

It's safer, especially if you have others to look out for. You never know how long or short you'll be here.

[ His brows knit, but he nods. Jokingly, he says: ]

Well, that rules out anything like retirement or marriage, but I think I can live with that.

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