♔ 01 | video

[prophetize]

[ The screen snaps on, revealing one magnified blue eye. It snaps off for a minute, then turns on once again to reveal a dirt-stained face at a far enough distance to catch his whole expression. He looks annoyed to say the least, brow furrowed and lip curled in mild frustration.

The screen shuts off again.

But the blank screen is suddenly accompanied by a harsh SCREECH, followed by the loud two-beat thump of someone hitting the side of the device. There's another loud screech, as the device is pushed away in frustration, accidentally turning on once more to reveal a clear picture of Ben Hawkins, looking down at the device. ]

—— Future ain't nothing but a goddamn piece of shit.

The picture shifts in a blurry streak of colors, and another two-beat thump roars through the speakers.. ]

Comments

video;

[lacksgrace]

It's not that bad once you get used to it.

video;

[prophetize]

Too many goddamn buttons.

[ Talking way to loudly into this thing. ]

video;

[lacksgrace]

I can hear you just fine, you know. Talk normal. [ But he's grinning because he remembers how much trouble he had with it at first--and still does. ] Maybe you could try asking someone how to use it.

[Video]

[soyed]

[The blue eye may have just startled Dave, until he realizes that it belongs to someone resembling a human. A human in need of a shower, but still, a human.] That's because newer technology is a piece of shit. There's a reason why everything breaks easier these days.

video | so sorry i forgot to press enter!

[prophetize]

This kinda junk common where you come from?

video | stupid computer functions

[soyed]

Kind of.

Everything looks the same and pretty much has a lot of the basic options. You know, the texting and calls that a lot of phones already come with. But these have choices that no phone back home has even come close to featuring yet, like this video feed.

But they do share the same shitty warranty.

video

[slipperysoul]

Just wait until you have to try typing on it.

[Video]

[prophetize]

Well, it ain't a typewriter, that's for sure.

Takes too damn long.

[slipperysoul]

It does get easier. Sort of.

Video

[servant]

I know it's confusing at first, but it's not all bad. Have you seen the machines that wash your laundry for you?

Video

[prophetize]

Don't see why you gotta have a machine for that.

[ His family survived on the money made from washing the neighborhood laundry. The idea that a machine could make a job like that obsolete, it touches a sore point. ]

Video

[servant]

Oh, you definitely don't have to. I didn't have one before I came here. But it helped make up for all the other, less pleasant things.

[And made more time for his other chores. There aren't enough machines on the ship to make all his jobs obsolete.]

You just need a little practice with it, that's all.

video;

[redhotsummers]

Ben--

Ben?

[Sorry, Sorry. Alex is having a minor freak out.

It's going to get sad but hey let him get all happy for a moment.]

video;

[prophetize]

[ He's staring at Alex like he's got something awfully strange on his face. ]

We've met?

video;

[redhotsummers]

[And there is reality. Smashing hard into his face.

Alex immediately schools his face into something a lot more serious.]

...kind of. It's complicated. My name is Alex...and I should have realized you wouldn't remember me.

video;

[ploughing]

Eloquent. You get used to it. [ homeslice, if the dude from 1271 can get the hang of it, so can you. ]

video;

[prophetize]

Don't matter. Still a piece of shit.

[willpunchfaces]

...yeah, actually. It's pretty bad.

[prophetize]

Seems easier, talkin' face to face.

[willpunchfaces]

It's definitely easier. Less chance for others to listen in, too.

video

[unparental]

Maybe stop hitting it?

video

[prophetize]

The picture's stuck. You gotta better idea?

[ F R O Z E N... ]

video

[unparental]

...try rebooting it?

[ jenna why would you EVER use that word ]

[killarevolution]

[Haymitch barks a laugh.] Present wasn't much good for anything either.

[prophetize]

'least it made more sense.

[ Is that almost a smile? No, it can't be. It must be a twitch. ]