01 | video | @lazarus

[benhargreeves]

[ 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. ]

Comments

[treadswater]

I could... try?

[ Voice uncertain: it hadn't been what she intended to offer. Or fail to offer. She meant to actually offer but the thought of what could happen if she moved off the bed-

It's not a good day in her brain, apparently. ]

Um. Could. Could you maybe show them on the screen? Maybe I could help a little from here.

[benhargreeves]

[ Ben feels a flash of curiosity - is something keeping her from moving in general, or does she not want to be around him in particular? Maybe she'd heard rumors about him or his powers. That's the explanation his mind jumps to, but he doesn't question her request at all to confirm or deny. ]

Sure. I'll- just hang on.

[ And then he is fussing, setting the device to rest on a bookshelf at an angle with the camera facing out so he can then lift up one of the old maps, carefully. Only half Ben's face is visible on the screen beside it, along with the full map that he is holding as still as he can. ]

You need me to zoom in anywhere?

[treadswater]

[ Annie? Would be mortified to find out that her own awkwardness, her own attempts to mitigate her brain, would make anyone think that she thought badly of them. But he doesn't question her and so - for now - she doesn't know. ]

Um, just.... hang on.

[ She leans closer, biting her bottom lip thoughtfully as she looks over the screen. At first, her glance is random, trying to take in too much at once.

Then she settles into a pattern, taking in all the lines and markings. ]

Can, um. Can you zoom in going across the map slowly? Horizontal?

[benhargreeves]

Sure.

[ Ben takes a moment to adjust, clearly just eyeballing it to figure out how to make the map take up the full screen. Once he's got it as close as it'll go without getting out of focus, he moves it from side to side. His face is no longer visible but he still speaks as he's moving it. ]

If you've got any idea what some of these markings mean... I've been really curious. We know so little about this place and the people who were here before us. And I guessed these had to be important because they were kept in such a safe place, tucked away. People don't go to that much trouble to hide something that's nothing, you know?