Video #1 UN: Waltz

[enveloped]

[Unlike some people whose biggest concerns are their inappropriate footwear, Cam is all business.

Speaking to you live from a crumbling room within the colony is a tall, bearded man wearing a suit. Or half of one. He has his sleeves rolled up, Prada jacket slung over an overturned desk. His face isn't unfriendly, but there are well-worn lines speaking to a serious nature.

This man does not wear flip-flops.]

Hello, my name is Cameron Waltz. Like you I am a recent arrival, and have more questions than answers regarding this place, and why we're here. Back home I was a humanitarian interpreter and cultural mediator specializing in foreign aid and disaster relief. Experience I hope will be useful, considering the conditions, as it appears we've found ourselves in something of a disaster.

In my brief exploration of the colony, it appears many of the necessary facilities are damaged and in disarray. Those few blocks that aren't already compromised will be well on their way if the problems regarding utilities and structural decay aren't addressed.

Especially since we appear to be activating potentially hazardous technology left and right. All it takes is one spark to set an electrical fire, or worse.

If we're going to survive here, it's important we work together to increase our chances. There are far too many repairs to complete alone. We need to survive before we can return home.

I don't know how many of you are out there, but if you can read this I would appreciate a response. A rough headcount would be helpful in terms of rationing supplies. People with engineering skills and knowledge relevant to repairing or securing the colony, please name yourself and what you can do.

A directory of skills could be incredibly helpful in terms of creating working teams to get things done.

To everyone who may be out there, you are not alone. If you are hurt, or simply don't know what to do, I and many others will be here to help.

[A man can hope.]

Comments

[writtendestiny]

Wasn't doing it for anyone else. I just wanted to make it work. [It hadn't really occurred to her at the time that what she and Peter were doing could make things better for anyone else here. At the time, it had been a mystery, something to do, something to solve.]

And I'm used to not getting comfortable, but a change would be nice. I might like to not have to worry about dying for a while.

[enveloped]

[Cam is trying so hard not to judge.]

Bought?

I know it's none of my business, but that sounds like... a story.

[substances]

[Oh feel free to judge Reginald Hargreeves. Klaus does all the time.]

ya officially its adopted but
its a long story but none of our moms were expecting babies the morning we were born?
then they got like spontaneously preggers & had us
there were 43 total
& reggie hargreeves wanted as many of us as he culd
managed the 7 of us mostly because hes a billionaire or something

was a billionaire
hes dead now
yay

[enveloped]

[Poe doesn't need to say he's fine, because Cam would never believe him. Everything in his voice and face is the opposite of fine.]

I don't think you're crazy. I think you've been through a lot, and it must be very frustrating to be unsure of who you have relationships with. I know that would bother me.

This is my first time enduring anything so strange and unpredictable, and I'm shaken to my core. I can't imagine going through this twice, or more.

[enveloped]

[A not unfriendly smile. Peter does remind Cam of his own daughter, who is very bright, albeit less... polite.]

There's nothing wrong with being proud of your accomplishments, or unique skills and talents. If you've got it, flaunt it.

Or more importantly, share it. Not everyone is as gifted as you are in those areas, and you could be of great help to many people.

[enveloped]

Ah. Yes. Structural integrity. Very useful.

[Cam nods twice. To affirm he understood and was listening. He is a professional. This is very relevant information.

If his eyes flick down to Nate's chest for a moment and back up again, he's simply appraising *Nate's* structural integrity.]

It's a good thing you're not afraid of heights. With all the repairs that need to be done outside the colony, I imagine you'll be very busy.

I've done some climbing in my day. I had a job out in Gilgit-Baltistan. We spent a lot of time tied up.

[A brief pause, because that was some awkward wording. And exactly where his head is at right now.]

To the mountain. With alpine equipment. Ropes. Pulleys. Etcetera. You know what I mean.

[itsnotaonesie]

[The supportive old dude thing is pretty much exactly what Peter needs right now, he's been in kind of a weird mental funk for a couple of months. Well, for like a year. It's been a while.]

Oh, dude, we are so on the same page right now. I'm gonna be setting up shop down in the R&D area, and I figured I could... I dunno, give lessons to anyone interested. I definitely don't want to be the only person here who knows how to keep this place running, y'know? I can get around pretty fast, but I can't be everywhere at once.

I just uh... don't have any experience teaching? So I'm not sure how it'll actually go.

[enveloped]

I love a good informational packet. There's nothing more satisfying than a meticulously detailed bullet point list or diagram.

[Cam may be an incorrigible nerd, but he's socially graceful and knows better than to keep pushing.

He can find out what he needs to know his own way. He always does.]

May I have your name for my records?

[enveloped]

The majority of people here are more inclined towards helping one another and survival, and I doubt they would take kindly to someone who doesn't have their best interests in mind.

That said, if you feel you need to prove a point by being a tough guy, to give yourself 'street cred', why don't you go bring back something useful from the outside. I've heard there are a variety of resources and dangerous creatures out there, and you could play with dynamite, or whatever it is you're so intent on blowing up, away from where it may cause damage to the colony.

Surely that would be more entertaining than picking fights with civilians.

[benhargreeves]

I'm more of a graph guy, myself.

If people mention potential dangers to you ( for ex. I know radiation is one ) if you pass that information along to me, I'll have a better idea of what to include, if it's something I know a little about.

Ben Hargreeves

[ Yep, same as that guy with a bajillion siblings. ]

[volitaunt]

Third time lucky, right?

[ He tries for bright and lands on bitterly ironic. After a moment, and without the bitterness: ]

But hey, you did get lucky. You've got Jeff here.

[fishermansweater]

[ The happiness of being together, being openly together, has been a long time coming for them, and when the guy on the other end of the video feed smiles, so does Finnick, making his face brighten, his eyes shine. ]

Finnick Odair and Annie Cresta.

[ He doesn't even pause to consider the question of surnames; everyone in Panem knows both of them by sight, and if anyone else is here from there, then ... then things could get difficult depending on their allegiances, but hiding their surnames won't stop that. ]

[kaballin]

Have you ever met a person before? Because they are not like that at all. You've probably got three genuinely good people here, if that, and everyone else would shove someones face into a meat grinder if it got them out of this place.

And I don't gotta prove anything.

video; un: acri

[deadlycurves]

[Diego likes this guy already, on sheer principle of being a cool and calm presence in the middle of a crisis. He can appreciate that. He can also appreciate what he's trying to do. Headcounts and skill lists? A good start in the middle of a dilapidated colony.] Diego Hargreeves. I'll help with what I can, but I'm shit with the tech. We didn't have stuff like this much where I'm from. I guess you could say most of my skills lie in the combat and tactical areas? Not military, exactly, but... close.

[nonscriptum]

[ Nate actually huffs a laugh at the suggestion, afraid of heights, as if he's ever suffered from something so preposterous. Sure, gravity isn't exactly a friend of his, but he imagines it's probably less of an issue outside their bubble, and it might be nice to do a space version of the salvage he did back home. Restore some sense of normalcy to his flagging spirit.

He doesn't catch the brief fumble because he isn't looking for it, but his interest is immediately piqued by the suggestion that the man over the line is a more active globetrotter than diplomacy might suggest. ]

No shit, north Pakistan, right? I haven't climbed there myself, but I've spent a lot of time in the Himalayas, mostly Tibet and Nepal.

[enveloped]

I'm assuming he wasn't the ideal father figure.

Are all of you Gifted?

[enveloped]

[That earns a brow raise, the mask of diplomacy slipping for a split second to reveal something between disbelief and disdain.]

Yes, I suppose I am. We are from the same world, at the very least.

You've met both of us in a previous world? At the same time?

The selection process is beginning to look less coincidental than I first assumed.

[enveloped]

Thank you very much, Finnick. For your outlook, as well as your cooperation.

I don't have a partner here, well, I don't have a partner back home either, but I am fortunate enough to have found two people I know and that's something.

It's very easy to be a glass left half empty, but you've reminded me that it's far more tolerable to be half full.

[enveloped]

Lessons are a great idea! We're all from such different times and places, and would do well to learn as much as we can from each other. Many heads are better than one.

Twenty or so heads, by my count. From those who volunteered information as well as those who haven't that I've spotted on the network, or in physical passing.

Teaching is a skill that can be learned like any other. I do know we have a teacher in our midst, whether he is the man to teach you how to teach... Well, it can't hurt to try.

Worst case scenario, you'll learn on the job, and as a very bright, friendly boy I'm sure you'll do just fine either way.

[enveloped]

[The piquing of interest is mutual. Even if Nate weren't devastatingly handsome, Cam loves to talk travel with anyone who will listen.]

That's right. I've also spent a decent amount of time in the Himalayas. Nepal is one of my favourite places. The people are delightful, and food there is like nothing else.

I have to be careful around momo. Last time I was there on business, I must've gained ten pounds. I had to unbutton my suit when I sat down. It doesn't help that they're the first thing people offer you the second you step into their home, and of course to refuse would be rude...

[That, and he's a (literal) fat-ass (seriously why does he gain weight nowhere else?) who loves his momos.

Cam clears his throat. Back to business and away from his waistline.]

Were you there for recreational purposes, or do you perform salvage and structural integrity services internationally?

[itsnotaonesie]

For sure. I'm sure there's a ton of stuff I can learn from other people, too. Like, I can't cook to save my life. It's kind of pathetic.

I'm not really the best at like, talking in front of people? So if this teacher guy has any pointers for that, it would be pretty awesome. I'll make it work either way, though. Don't really have a choice not to.

[enveloped]

Do you have a preference? I've always been partial to pies.

I'll be sure to let you know my findings. I'm glad to have someone who appreciates the important of data.

[A pause before this next message, because he has to squint at that name and read it a second time.]

Any relation to... I'm so sorry to have to type this out, gosuckadick?

[enveloped]

I have met many people. Hundreds. Thousands. Of all those people, only a handful have been truly evil. The rest are simply products of their environment, and can be taught to live in harmony with others through patience and understanding.

You may be ready to shove someone's face into a meat grinder, but I would say you're the exception to being decent.

Not the rule.

[enveloped]

I should like to think so.

For all that this place isn't in the best of shape, and in some ways derelict, it's a haven in comparison to the world outside these walls, and we should treat it as such.

That, and I've found a remarkably comfortable lounge on the third floor. It has bean bag chairs. There are worse places to survive.

[enveloped]

[So many handsome young men in this place, does the portal selection process involve looks?]

We have plenty of people well-versed in tech, it's a relief to know we have others experienced in combat and strategy, in case we have more physical problems than power outages.

[A quirk of the corner of his mouth,]

Another Hargreeves? I believe I've been in contact with two of your siblings. Have you already touched base? How wonderful for you to have family here. That must be a relief.