001 { video } un: PRONGS

[heorot]

[ thankfully enough, james somehow managed not to hit send on the impressively awful posts he had started to type up/has been typing up for the better portion of about three hours. something to also note: this typing and not sending has all been happening while nursing a couple of bottles of alcohol, all of which can kind of be seen floating a bit awkwardly in the background when the video finally comes to life.

in the foreground, though, is james, looking tired and a bit of a mess. his words are slurred when he speaks, his movements carrying that fluid weight that is telling (if the slurring already wasn’t) to just how much alcohol he’s been consuming. and while he’s not holding a bottle in the video, he does seem to look right off the screen for a longer moment than necessary, as if he’s trying to decide if it’s worth reaching, but decides against it. ]

We’re-all foockin’ cursed, ‘ren’t we? [ his words trip over themselves, stumbling and rolling to a stop. the worst part is that james seems to notice and pause. then he blinks, and then another, before he seems to focus back on the camera. ] Like- you ever think maybe we shouldn’ta been woken up in the first place? Mayb’ none of us shoulda been. ‘Cause have you noticed how many are gettin’ sent back? ‘hoo just are here an' then aren’t? I’ve had- [ his face drops for a second, out of the drunken anger/annoyance/general upset demeanor to something darker, something pained.

but then he takes a breath, and the look fades. ]

Doesn’ matter. But ‘as anyone noticed? That somethin’s off? There’s gotta be something, right? A show, clue, whatev’r? There ‘as the sic’ness an' all, an' the pilotin’ instead of the transport, but-

[ he stops, his eyes going a bit wide for half a moment as he looks off the screen. was that a burp? or...yeah, let’s not go there. he takes the second, but then reaches down next to where he’s sitting and pulls up his wand, reaching to grab one of the hovering bottles and tapping it with the end of his wand. in a matter of seconds, the bottle refills with a dark brown liquid.

james hiccups, then takes a swig from the bottle. ]

Oh, also- [ he sways a second where he sits, before turning back to the camera. ] 'nyone want whiskey? Rations are short an' all that but I’ve got. [ he grins, waving his wand and bottle to the camera. sorry olympia. should he have mentioned that before? ] Jus lemme know.

[ and then the feed cuts. ]

Comments

video | un: swan

[sheriffing]

[ the scene in front of her is exactly what's stopped Emma from spending too much time in the taverns. she can't say the possibility of drowning her sorrows hasn't tempted her since arrival, but she doesn't want to be as openly vulnerable or miserable as the guy on the screen. it's hard to hear him and not feel like she should say something, because he's right, it does feel like a curse.

and Emma's been through enough curses to know that this fits. what she hasn't suffered (at least not yet) is someone waking from stasis and going back under. she wonders what would be worse, getting back someone she cares about just to be separated from them again, or never seeing anyone she loves until they're ready to wake up and stay up.]

I don't think you're supposed to mix alcohol with magic.

[ since this is about the best it could probably go, and she'll give him credit for that.]

But if you're going to do it, at least you went with whiskey.

[heorot]

[ as much as he probably needs to hear it, that might be the actual last thing james wants to hear right now. not only has he lost people, he's lost important people. his wife, his two best friend, and even the only other person from his home work who he'd spoken to enough times. now there's just him. just him. and it's a a new kind of hell that he doesn't want to talk about.

so instead, he'll drink. and ask questions that he's honestly convinced people should have been asking since they got here, and he definitely. won't be thinking about how he feels three large, overwhelming holes start to fill his chest.

so instead, he snorts. takes another drink. a long swig that lasts for a second or two too long. ]

Don' think you're suppos'ta mix alcohol with anything, honestly. It's why I got it straight.

[ because he is a shit. that's really all there is to it. but then she'll comment on the whiskey and he'll laugh, too loud and a bit of a bark. ]

'course it's whiskey. What else would I get?

[sheriffing]

[ just him sounds like the same kind of hell that Emma's been living in since she arrived. her son, her parents, her friends; all of them are sleeping. she's the only one awake, so she doesn't get be as drunk as the poor guy on her screen. they'd expect better and that means she needs to be better, even if she doesn't like it.

maybe she wouldn't feel the same way if she was in his shoes, chasing some hollow comfort at the bottom of a glass. she's sober and painfully, personally aware of how he hurts. it means she can't really ignore what he's going through, no matter how close to home it hits.]

I don't know, I guess it depends on what sort of drunk you are.

[ Emma's always known how to hold her alcohol, but she knows she didn't get it from her mother because Mary Margaret is a one-drink wonder. any drink, not just the strong ones.]

Did anyone take you up on your offer yet?

[ translation: is anyone with you?]

video; un: beatrix

[fiendennor]

This video is a disgrace. You should have some self-respect.

video;

[heorot]

Respect for.....what?

[ his eyebrows are up, curious. ]

The 'gods'- [ cue a couple of air quotes. ] That came around an' saved us? From 'destruction'? Please.

video;

[fiendennor]

For yourself, for goodness' sake. You're in quite the sorry state to be broadcasting for the world to see.

video; un: sexXxyninja18

[exaomori]

They're pretty suspicious, nyaha~ Doing something for nothing ain't somethin' I've seen people do too often.

[A lifetime of working with the supernatural taught Shura that while humans might be charitable, demons and their ilk always had a catch to their generosity. But that seemed as obvious as anything else to her, and she's more focused on something else in the video.]

That's a pretty neat magic trick ya got there. Is whiskey all you can do with that thing?

[priorities

video;

[heorot]

Yeah! An' I dunno if I trus' it?

[ no one does anything without expecting something in return. and if the amount of things these orbitors have done is anything to go by...

he shouldn't be surprised they're all corrupted. it's just surprising to him that any of them are awake at all. ]

This? [ waving his wand to the camera bit. ] Nah- magic's got few limits.

[exaomori]

If you're trustin' them blindly, then you got some pretty big issues, I think~

[Was it rude to question the orbiters on their own channel? Probably. But Shura didn't see the point is being covert when it was so much easier being straightforward.]

Still, that's pretty good. I knew people who could create stuff like holy water, but not make something this useful.

video | un: LANCER

[playingfetch]

[Lancer isn't actually visible in this video, for the most part. It's his first time using this feature, and he sucks at it, and so mostly what's visible is about a third of his face (very wide-eyed with dubious interest, from what can be seen) and the backdrop of a bonfire and some wet, dark forest. Wherever he is, he's outside. He is outside and tragically lacking in whiskey.]

This is why this video stuff's no fun. Does it count as drinking alone when you're on video? That's a hell of a magic you've got there. You'll have half of us beating down your door at this rate! I'm one of them.

video |

[heorot]

[ the video is definitely....difficult to figure out. but james squints, and turns his head a little, and oh. okay. there he is. ]

If ya want some I'm here to share. [ he's a giver, after all. ] Just bring a bottle.

[playingfetch]

[Now he sways into the frame, though he's way too close to the camera, one red eye out of focus and blinking into the lens. Cheese! (And wine, potentially?!)]

I've got a feeling I'm far enough out that you'll be passed out cold by the time I make it to you, but just in case: you in Wyver?

text; un: theEND

[winddaughter]

[fffff what is this]

well you're right about a lot of people going back to sleep

[heorot]

[ shhhh it's fine he's just struggling. ]

doesn t it seem more? now? than before?
we re all corrrupted prolly

video | un: captaintrevor

[dianano]

[ It's Steve's first time looking at the network and the first thing he sees is a young man who looks more drunk than Charlie on a bad day, and that's saying something. And he's got his own unlimited supply of alcohol from the looks of it. This can't be good.

Steve knows how to look after drunks like this. He's had plenty of practice at it. And he's not one to watch someone wallow in their own misery and not do anything about it. Someone needs to check on this kid before he does some serious damage to himself. ]

How about you tell me where you are? [ And just in case he sounds like a concerned parent, he adds to try and trick James: ] I'm interested in your whiskey supply.

[ He really isn't. ]

video;

[heorot]

[ the thing is, james is definitely drunk. but not so drunk he can't recognize the face of someone in caretaker mode. especially like that. remus at least knows how to trick a drunk james and sirius into letting him take care of them. right now? james has no intention of being sober, or taken care of. ]

Yeah, mate? You wanna join?

[ no party poopers allowed. :p ]

video;

[dianano]

[ James, it's hardly a party to poop. You're literally by yourself. ]

If the offer's still there. [ James may be smarter than he looks, but Steve is a former spy. He's a pro at deceiving people. ] I mean, unless you're embarrassed about an American drinking you under the table.

[ Ah, a challenge. Surely James wouldn't say no to that?

(The only challenge they're going to actually have is a water drinking competition when Steve gets there.) ]

video; un: catalyst

[badgerlock]

I think you're soaked through enough, friend.

video;

[heorot]

Ya think so?

[ said sarcastically, and with the utmost 'yeah what the fuck ever' sort of tone. he might even actually roll his eyes. ]

video; un: R.Lutece

[originallutece]

And how many of your friends were sent back to sleep?

[heorot]

[ he pauses, counting out fingers. ]

Four? Dependin' on how you wanna count 'friends'.

[originallutece]

[Well. That renders his grief understandable, but--]

You might want to refrain from drinking any more. And from self-pitying. Just a suggestion.

voice | un: SKULL

[sakabroto]

[Well...shit. He feels like he's contributed to this somehow. He gave the guy a bottle (however small) of suspiciously brown liquid, and now here he is, acting like Ryuji's worst nightmare. He feels sick to his stomach, not just because of why James is like this, but also just the fact that he is like this.]

...Goddammit. You really think just drinkin' your problems away is a good idea?

late as fuck because apparently my gmail ate this??? i'm so sorry

[heorot]

[ if it makes ryuji feel any better, james would have been here with or without his help. ]

Righ' now? It's workin.

[ explain that!!!! ]

np np! december was horror for me until now anyway

[sakabroto]

[Also no, that doesn't make him feel any better.]

Yeah? And if it wears off? It ain't gonna solve anything. You'll still gonna be left with whatever your problem is.