redshiftrp | 01 | video

Entry tags:

01 | video | @lazarus

[ Public speaking is far from Ben's forte, but the good thing about uploading a video like this is that he can do multiple takes. In the frame behind Ben are shelves full of books; he filmed this in that little anteroom of the library that he and Peter had unearthed from the rubble.

He gets right to it; no introductions, no small talk. ]

Can anyone with experience at interpreting maps, handling old and fragile documents, or just anybody who speaks multiple languages please get in contact with me? I found some interesting stuff in the library a while back but I'm not making much progress with it.

[ A pause, and he seems about to terminate the video. Then he adds as an afterthought: ]

Oh, and I guess if anybody is just looking for something good to read to pass the time, I can help out with that. I can check if a particular book is down here, or recommend something.

[ Ben's self-appointed himself as the de facto librarian of the Anchor, because he wants to contribute in some way, and he's always been a bit of a bookworm. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The boy on the screen looks a lot... calmer than the first time he appeared on the network. The black veins that were littering his skin don't look as pronounced, either. He's propped back against a wall, the phone held on the top of his knee.]

I didn't do interpreting, so much as making maps, once upon a time. Could take a look... if I ever get released from this chrome prison I've been stuck in.

You're the kid that's quarantined, right?

[ Ben had seen... a very little bit of that video. He'd done just enough snooping and lurking to see it wasn't a problem he was going to be able to fix and then he'd just... kept himself to himself. Maybe not the kindest choice but he's got other priorities right now. ]

I could try to take pictures and send them to you.

[ And then, after a beat, he adds: ]

You got anything to read in there? Help pass the time?

My reputation's preceded me, I see. [He smirks.] Yeah, that's me.

Yeah, that'd be great. I could give it a shot, anyway.

[He shakes his head, lips pursed a little as he waves the device in his hand around a bit, which makes the video blurry for a moment before he stops again.] Nah. Just got this little talk box, s'all.

Not like people are gossiping. I just saw a little bit of the video. Didn't actually catch your name in there. Mine's Ben, by the way.

[ He mentions the gossip in particular in case Newt is worried he's the subject of a lot of discussion that he doesn't know about, and it isn't like that at all. ]

If I brought a few books up there, is there a way to get them in to you? Or.. if that's out, you could pick a book and I could take pictures of all the pages and send them.

[ Yes that will be extremely time consuming but they've all got rather a lot of time here and Ben sympathizes here in particular. How many times had he begged Klaus to flip through books for him. Books he couldn't touch, when he was incorporeal and bored out of his mind. So if he can help lighten the tedium for this kid... of course he's going to offer. ]

Yeah, I guess everyone did, huh? [He shrugs a little. Nothing to be done about it now.] Newt, nice to meet ya.

Uh-- yeah, I mean, no need for you to go through that trouble, mate. There's a little opening where the robot things've slipped me food of questionable origins, but I'm sure if it's not too thick, a book could fit through.

Pretty much, yeah. [ What? He isn't going to lie. The video had been... perturbing, and very public, and everyone here is a little jittery and so he doesn't doubt just about everyone Newt meets is going to be aware of it. No point in pretending otherwise. ] Hey, Newt. Ben here.

[ He is glad to hear that the extra trouble won't be necessary; just because he'd been willing to do it doesn't mean he'd wanted to. ]

Not too thick, got it. What kind of books do you like? Or do you have any specific requests? I can at least take a look.

Figured. [He smiles a bit.] Hey, Ben.

Uh- I dunno... something....happy? [That may be the vaguest request ever, but he really doesn't know.] Didn't really have books where I was before.

[ Ben is already thinking maybe some YA or a classic adventure novel since Newt looked really young in his video, though it's hard to say whether he's an actual baby or just has one of those faces. ]

How do you feel about classics? There's a copy of Treasure Island here.

[ When Newt mentions there weren't books, Ben's gotta ask: ]

How come?

I dunno. I know I've read things, but I don't know what. Memories got erased, awhile ago. All the procedural stuff is there, but, specific things, personal memories-- [He waves one hand vaguely.] Don't have any of those. Sounds like it could be fun, though?

Um... because leisurely reading isn't something I've known for as long as I can remember? No books in the Glades and if there were any through any of the other places I've been since the lot of us left the Maze, I didn't have time to scope them out between all the nearly dying I was doing for the last... I dunno, handful of weeks, two months? Time was harder to keep once we got on the move.

[ Well damn, Ben definitely wasn't expecting an explanation that was a whole amnesia thing. But he takes it in stride. Weird shit is just the norm for him, lately. Actually, always. ]

I'm sorry to hear that. Do you mind if I ask - are you trying to get your memories back, or are you just kind of accepting the clean slate?

[ He really doesn't mean to be rude and nosy, but he can't help wondering... ]

Not really sure what any of those places are, but sure sounds like a pretty hectic life.

[ He's so curious but he already asked one intrusive question and he's trying not to be a total jerk, here. ]

Had an opportunity to, from the same arseholes that took 'em in the first place... Chose not to get 'em back, actually. Was already infected and... I knew I wouldn't live long from that point. No point suffering more than I already would just remembering my parents and the like, y'know?

[The justification had made sense at the time, at least. Now... well, he's not completely sure about it.]

It was really simple for the first three years I was there, and then this bloke came up in the Box and... [There's a soft huff of a noise that's somewhere between derisive and amused.] Everything changed.

[ So his memories hadn't just been erased, in some accident or fluke or space disease Ben's never heard of. This is something that was done to him. He feels an immediate pang of sympathy, even though it's not something he's been through, himself. Whatever the context, that had to be shitty and exploitative. There's just no excuse. ]

That logic makes sense to me.

[ But... here Newt is. Still alive. Which means he probably is going to have to adjust that kind of thinking. Ben's come at that from the other side. All the things he had stopped himself from wishing for, because he would never have them, because he was dead... well, a lot of them are possible, now. He doesn't know how to deal with that. ]

So would you get them back now, if you could? Or... does the same reasoning apply?

[ He is separated from his parents and whatever else it was he might have forgotten. Might just make himself miss them. ]

That's how it goes in my experience. You get lulled into a routine and then all at once, everything goes to shit all at the same time.

[ Then, because he can't help it. ]

They've got very ominous names for things in your world, you know. The Box, the Glades, the Maze...

I dunno. Maybe? I'm definitely way more alive than I should be now, and presumably I'm here for...some arbitrary amount of time... And it's not like I'd remember anything if I went back, because if I do, I just go back to...being dead? [This conversation is so weird, he's sorry, Ben.] I guess if I could have it, I'd take it now. It's sort of different here, I guess, yeah.

Right? It's awful.

Oh, well. Yeah, I guess. It's a lot to explain, but I can, if you really want to hear about it? But I mean, it was a bunch of teenagers trying to make a community, sort of? [That's still not right. Whatever.] The Box was really just a one-way lift. Or, at least, we couldn't do anything with it from our side. Someone-- we didn't know who for years, but now we know it was observers from WICKED-- would send up supplies sometimes, and after the first group of us, a new boy would come in the lift sometimes too. But... [he shakes his head.] Like I said, it's a lot and it's probably confusing if you weren't part of it, but I'd talk about it in detail sometime if you want. Or now. Whatever.

If it's any help, I'm way more alive than I should be, too. You're not the only one here who got rescued from something they thought was inescapable.

[ No he is not going to elaborate on that any further. He offered enough info for Newt to know he's not alone, but Ben is a bit tired of talking about being dead. Most days, he doesn't mind. Today isn't one of them. ]

I'd like to hear more about it, when that sometime comes around. And til then, I'll find some good books to keep you from losing your marbles in there.

[ Particularly he'd like to know who the hell 'WICKED' are, but this really does seem like a conversation best had in person, where if Newt says something that makes no sense Ben can stop him in that moment and ask for clarification. ]

Bloody weird thing to have in common with someone, that. [But he doesn't seem particularly inclined in talking any further on that point, either, as it turns out.]

Sure thing. [He nods a bit and smiles.] I appreciate it, mate.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

01 | video | @lazarus

a delayed response; video

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject