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

[manofiron]

It is when there's no test because they don't make one capable of accurately defining said genius.

[everylittlegirl]

Then why aren't you rich already?

[manofiron]

I am. Back home. I've got more money than most small countries. And some of the larger ones.

[everylittlegirl]

But not here.

[manofiron]

Here's stupid. I'm not sure I really want to encourage it by investing in it.

[everylittlegirl]

So it's a personal choice?

[manofiron]

Partly. I also haven't been here very long. Genius needs materials no matter how great it is.

[everylittlegirl]

What kind of materials?

[manofiron]

A better setup than this thing, for starters. Not that I can't use it, but it's a dinosaur compared to what I have at home.

[everylittlegirl]

Yeah, well. This place isn't exactly up on technology. Maybe your genius will come in handy to make do.

[manofiron]

Possibly. It'll certainly give me something to do, rebuilding my setup from scratch.

[everylittlegirl]

..Do you need any help?

[manofiron]

You know something about computers? Don't say how to turn them on. Most people under ninety do.

[everylittlegirl]

I don't really know much about programming or whatever, but I'm not terrible with tracking software and I'm a fast learner.

[manofiron]

Tracking software? Spy in training? I can teach you, if you want to learn. There's no one better than me where I come from.

[everylittlegirl]

Uh.. Sure. We'll call it that.

I want to learn. I can come by the lab.. pretty much every day, after work, if that's alright with you.

[manofiron]

I don't really have a lab yet. It's more of my apartment in a permanent state of upgrade. Uh, but you're welcome to come here if you don't mind the mess. Fire 3A.

[everylittlegirl]

I don't mind. I'll see you soon.

[manofiron]

Great. See you then.