@lazarus | video

[benhargreeves]

[ The video opens on Ben's face. He is looking particularly grim, filming in one of the rooms in the residential section. No greetings or build-up, he just cuts right to the chase, holding up a tiny device between forefinger and thumb. Visible is a tiny lens, and what looks like a small antennae to transmit. ]

PSA. There are surveillance cameras hidden in the lighting fixtures of the bedrooms. I found a creepy tunnel leading to a creepy lair where some fucking creep has been spying on us. Still trying to figure out who is behind it and what they want, but the feeds only show occupied rooms and no empty ones so it's not a coincidence, unfortunately.

[ Ben turns the frame to face the spot where the small camera had obviously been ripped out of an overhead light. From offscreen he says, voice clipped and angry: ]

Anyway. Wanted you guys to know. Hit me up if you need help ripping the suckers out. I'll post again when I know more.

Comments

[itsnotaonesie]

[Peter makes a mental note to check every single thing in his room that isn't bolted down and have Poison do the same, just in case there's any significance to these weird close ups.]

I'm slightly less weirded out knowing this isn't just some pervert.

[But only slightly. And too late, Ben, Peter's been worried about you this whole time. He pauses the recording so that they don't miss anything and watches Ben for a moment before reaching over and giving his shoulder a squeeze.]

This is pretty rough, for both of us. You wanna take a break for a while?

[benhargreeves]

[ Ben almost says no, insists for a third time that he is fine, even though it would be obvious to the world's most insensitivie and idiotic stranger that he is not, much less his observant and sympathetic friend. He gives a shaky sigh and, relenting, nods his head. Yes. He can't stand here and lecture Peter about not working too hard and acting like it's all on his shoulders, if he's modeling the same relentless behavior.

It is that thought that tips the scales and gets Ben to say: ]

Yeah. A... a break would be good, actually.

[ The footage isn't going anywhere. It'll still be awful later, but he will hopefully be feeling a little more numb, by then. ]

[itsnotaonesie]

[Good because Peter would have absolutely called him out on his bullshit. Lovingly.]

Sounds good. We can pick this up later. I'm thinking lunch. Then a nap. Then another lunch. In fact, let's just pick this up tomorrow. I feel like I need to let my whole brain relax for a while.