Video;

[manofiron]

[ The video begins with a dark-haired man centered in the middle of the frame. He’s got dark eyes, a precisely cut goatee, and hair that’s a little too styled to be naturally that neat. There isn’t a lot to see beyond his chin, he’s sitting too close to the camera, but what can be seen looks vaguely like a shirt of shiny red metal.

His brow knits almost immediately after the feed starts recording, his expression edging toward disbelief as his lips twist into a mild frown. ]

Look. I get it. In a time of crisis, rationing’s necessary to keep resources moving in the right direction. Perfectly understandable. You guys needed to save your turtle. What responsible citizen wouldn’t do their part for that noble cause?

[ There’s a slight hint f sarcasm creeping into his voice, as though he’s heard the whole turtle spiel already and not only hasn’t been impressed, but also doesn’t really buy it either. Not even after having spent half a day scouring the network for information about what’s really going on here before making this video. ]

But really? Twenty bucks?

[ The low, indistinct murmur of another voice can be heard, though what it’s saying and who it belongs to is anyone’s guess. Whatever it says, it’s enough to make the man roll his eyes. ]

Juulan. Whatever. Doesn’t matter. The point — [ Whether he’s talking to the camera or the unidentified voice is unclear. ] — is that it isn’t enough for a day, let alone the entire bogus adventure.

[ It isn’t so much the way he looks at the camera – his eyes have never left it – but the change of his tone, less querulous and more curious, that indicates that he’s talking to whoever’s on the other end of the console. ]

So really. Turtle propaganda aside. What’s a guy gotta do to get some decent money around here? Sell his organs? Hit the street corners? Scrub barnacles off the bottom of the turtle? What?

Comments

[knewtoomuch]

I haven't really been here long enough to find a good hangout. To be honest, I'm waiting for a bar to open pretty soon by one of the residents here.

[Moderation is just what people say when they want to keep others from having fun. He chuckles.]

Name a time and place and I'll be there. We have some decent ones around here in the Fire Sector. Nothing to rave about, but the location never really matters when you want to drink the night away.

[manofiron]

Really? You've got the inside scoop on a place? When's that happening?

[ Probably not soon enough for Tony's tastes, considering the mindfuck that this place is turning out to be. ]

How about this time next week? It'll give me time to scope out which is the best of the lot. Unless you just want to start at the one on the corner and work our way through the sector.

[knewtoomuch]

Well, as inside of a scoop as I can. I tend to listen a lot more than I actually do at first. Tell you what though. When it opens, I'll give you a ring.

[He may not even have to. If they are alike in how he is seeing them now, the call of alcohol and entertainment will be like an internal calling. Balthazar smiles.]

This time next week. I'll pencil that into my calendar. I'd be up for anything. A little adventuring in trying them all out might be the ticket though we may be too smashed to realize what's good and what is not.

Not too bad if you ask me.

[manofiron]

Sounds like the perfect night to me.

[ The place can't be all bad if there are guys like Balthazar around. ]

I will see you then. We'll have a great time. I guarantee it.

[knewtoomuch]

If only there were more around that enjoyed a good time. Getting a little sloshed every now and then is hardly something to avoid at all costs. This is almost a celebration really.

I have no doubt that we will. I hope that the bars are prepared for us.

[manofiron]

I don't think that's possible.

[ He grins, big and wide. ]

Nowhere's ever prepared for me.