001 || Video

[neverleftharlan]

[On comes the video. A handsome man in his early forties, wearing a Stetson, staring the screen down with the kind of suspicion typically reserved for interrogations.

And for about ten seconds that is all he does. When he speaks, it's with a thick Kentucky accent.]

I suppose, now I'm thinking about it, using this means of communication is an acknowledgement that this is in fact happening and I am not higher than a summer kite or having a trauma-induced hallucination of some kind. S'funny, I didn't figure myself as the type, but I suppose one never does.

I'm going to find a drink. Somewhere in this… [A pause that stretches long enough to indicate he's at a loss for words.] Extremely creative venture into the deep recesses of my apparently disturbed psyche. Because god knows if I'm in my head, there's got to be a puddle around here somewheres.

Comments

[neverleftharlan]

Your civic duty is accomplished then. You are?

[grimreaping]

Death the Kid. And yours?

[neverleftharlan]

Beg your pardon. To clarify for my own sake, you did just say "Death the Kid".

[grimreaping]

[ oh this is going to be a sticking point ]

That's correct.

[neverleftharlan]

Are you a contributor to or a victim of our current circumstances?

[grimreaping]

I was brought here against my will just as everyone else was.

[neverleftharlan]

'Everyone' seems to be overstating, given the native presence. [He's still eyeing DtK with skepticism, though it's from a variety of sources.] You pick that name?

[grimreaping]

[ a deadpan look get it ]

When I said everyone, I assumed you would infer that I meant the foreigners given your line of questioning. If I overestimated your reasoning, I apologize and will be more clear in the future.

[ now he's just linefacing at you ]

No, I was named by my father and may I say that for someone with a hierarchy of addressable concerns, you're getting quite off topic.

[neverleftharlan]

I figured someone so focused on the slant of my hat would appreciate specificity, and be less preoccupied with my hierarchy of addressable concerns. [Said with all bland innocence.] Just thinking a suspicious man might wonder if Death were involved with --

[With.] --all this, seeing as it's supposed to be between life, death, dreaming, et cetera.

[grimreaping]

That is a fair assessment, but in this case it has no validity. I have nothing to do with mine or any foreigners' placement here.