touchscreens | 001 ✗ video + action.

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001 ✗ video + action.

Oh, hey - I bet it's working, this time!

[ To the technologically impaired, these terminals are a little daunting - who knew you had to take your gloves off to work a touchscreen? Not to mention the thought of hooking up to some nebulous and well-populated network. He may or may not have spent the last ten to fifteen minutes talking to nobody, slowly realizing he was talking to nobody, and then trying again to figure out how to get to the Help tab.

Anyway, it's definitely broadcasting, now. Maybe. Probably. He's not trying again if it isn't. (He might.) ]

Am I really talking to all the other, uh, visitors out there? I guess that's pretty handy. Though... It feels like I've been doing a lot of talking, lately, and not a whole lot of actually getting to know the people I'm stuck with. [ Which more or less translates out of polite doublespeak to: he's tired himself out trying to figure this place out one way, how about FAQ round #2? ] So I thought, why not just ask? A little old-fashioned, I admit, but... I've got nothing to lose.

[ He shrugs, smiling thinly. ] So tell me about yourselves, okay? Or your 'worlds,' or whatever. And just 'cause it's no fair if I don't start, I'm Zack. I used to wanna travel, when I was a little younger. [ A pause, and a little more genuine humor leaks into that smile. ] I guess I sure got my wish, huh?

[ There's only so much aimlessly (but alertly) wandering around a foreign city a guy can do, so Zack's taking a break from that to ...aimlessly wander around the common floor of building #1 (having significantly more luck with the video games than with the terminals) and along the walkways between buildings (for the view, naturally).

He's not in great shape - it's actually a lot harder to remember to maintain contact with total strangers than he would've expected it to be - but he isn't exactly falling on his face, either (not that he'll be turning down any free hugs, regardless). And, of course, anybody who crosses his path - and doesn't make themselves too busy for him to accost, post haste - will most likely be finding themselves in a conversation. However one-sided. (He's not picky.) ]

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... Not by volunteering. I've never heard of anyone doing that. It'd be crazy.

[ He grits his teeth. The things this guy is saying pisses him off. It all seems so nonchalant. ]

Money? Fame? A hero? Just shut up. You're not a soldier. You're just playing games.

Excuse me?

[ Well, that does take care of the nonchalance, at least - he looks offended (but still quite not as though he's taking this turn with all due sincerity). ]

I think I've got more than a few years of experience that'd say otherwise, short stuff.

If you're thinking about things like that, I can't believe you're actually a soldier! What kind of ... of childish things are you doing to earn shit like that?! Let alone that you went there on your own. You probably don't even know what it means to go to war.

[ This guy wants FAME and GLORY? And he and Boo couldn't even go home? It makes him so angry, he feels like his head will burst. ]

[ There's a flash of real anger, this time - muted, hastily cast aside, but real and white hot for the brief instant before it passes.

He's just a kid, and Zack feels guilt almost in tandem with that quiet outrage (brought on in the first place only because he's barely more than a teenager, himself). Just a kid on a video screen, and he's not going to lose his cool over a little mudslinging. ]

...You know what? I wish I didn't. I wish you were right, and all that stuff was just make-believe. [ Resigned, he shakes his head. ] Think what you want about me, okay? One person living with my past is more than enough.

I can't believe in your sob story... when you have a home that you left behind... still there for you to go back to... and think there's anything more to being a soldier than waiting for the hell to be over. I can't believe people like you exist!

Hey, don't call it that. I didn't ask for sympathy. [ And he'd only shrug it off, too, if he had any. But being hated for being what he is isn't really a novel feeling (and it brings out his bitter streak, maybe, a little more than he should let it). ]

And I guess it should've been more obvious from the start that your world's not like mine. To me, being a soldier is about protecting people, about keeping them safe. We don't fight for the fun of it, but because we have to be strong for others' sake.

I'd go back and change a lot of things, if I could, sure - you're not all that far off-base, telling me I was a pretty dumb kid. But I wouldn't change what I am. I get that it's different for you, but I can't understand if I don't know how.

I have a hard time believing you'd be able to understand, even if I told you. Not with that carefree attitude.

I don't... want to talk about it where other people might hear, anyway.

Oh yeah. I guess I forgot these things are kind of public. [ WHOOPS, oh well. He doesn't have enough shame to do more than look briefly sheepish and run a hand across the back of his neck. ]

Still, that's some pretty heavy judgement to pass on a total stranger. Give me a chance. You can yell it at me through a locked door, if you want. [ Okay, that's probably not helpful; but joking is a completely legitimate coping mechanism (and he's being exceptionally gentle about it, now, if nothing else). ]

It doesn't have to be like that. I'm too tired to throw a punch at you, if that's what you think I'll do. You're a lot bigger than me, anyway.

Well, when you're feeling more up to it, you're welcome to take a swing.

But I mean what I say. Maybe I run off at the mouth a little [ or like a whole lot or constantly ] but I'm not a liar. And I don't pick on kids, either, if that's what you think I'll do.

... No, I don't think you would. If you did, I might get enough energy to hit you, after all.

I guess I'd have to endorse that. ...Nobody is picking on you, though, are they?

No. No one's picking on me. I haven't talked to a lot of people, so they haven't had the chance to, anyway.

[ At least Zack has distracted him enough to calm him down now. ]

Good. You might not like me, but I don't think there's any good reason for all of us not to look out for each other.

[ He sighs. ]

Listen... I'm not... I don't...

I just got angry hearing you talk like that. I don't hate you any more or less than I do anyone else here.

Don't worry about it.

[ It's a far cry from being called a monster - so, still better than his usual fare. ]

I don't know what you're going through, but if that's how you fight, I'd place my bet on you making it out the other side.

... Well, you're wrong. You'd lose your money on me.

You know, I was just thinking you kind of reminded me of someone - but I think there's definitely a resemblance, now.

He probably would've said the same thing, and I probably would've told him that he was wrong. So that's definitely what I'm gonna do, now, too.

I can tell you for certain that you're wrong... but I won't talk about that over this, either.

Suit yourself. If you decide you feel like talking in person, though, you should come down to the lobby - the one with all the games.

Or if you just get your strength back and think you'd like to take that free swing, after all.

Maybe sometime, I will. After yelling at you, I owe you that much. I told Shu after less, though he needed to hear it, anyway.

You don't owe me for anything, okay? It's your life; I don't really have any business prying, anyway.

[ It's never really felt like his life. It hasn't been for a while - but that's another new thing about this place. He's not sure how to respond. ]

... A part of me wants someone to know, at least, I guess. Maybe. I've never been alone with it like this.

[ Yeah, he definitely knows that feeling. But saying that outright doesn't seem like the wisest choice, right now. ]

Well, you're not alone, here. If you wanna talk, I'll listen.

[ He's still offended. Still thinks this guy is foolish and childish. But.. ]

Thanks.

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