Video: UN: BRUNO

[wedonttalkabout]

WHO: Bruno and you
WHERE: Network, his place
WHEN: End of January
WHAT: Bruno has a vision
WARNINGS: Weird future bullshit

[The video feeds starts a little out of focus - Bruno's still getting to grips with technology in general. There's some muttering before finally, it comes into focus with Bruno squinting at the screen close-up. ]

Did I get it? I think I got it!

[He pulls back with a grin- his rats are mingling in the background and the one nestled in his hair seems to be wearing a tiny little bee costume. He does not explain this. At any point. He waves at the camera, a little awkwardly.]

Okay, um- hi. I'm Bruno, for...people I haven't seen yet which is most people because...I'm not great with the people thing. But! I have this...gift from home? I can see the future- which is way less fun than it sounds, trust me. Anyhoo, I decided to try and see into the future of this place a little? Mostly to see if I can get me and my sobrina out of here- full offence - don't wanna stay here. Didn't see that, but I DID see this!

[He picks up a green, glass slate, which he turns to them. On it is a very crude image:



He turns to look at it, grimacing a little.]

Honestly? They usually look better than this. Like, they don't normally look like a five-year-old drew them. And I couldn't see the vision very clearly anyway, so I think something's wrong with my gift? Weird. I saw this rodent that was shooting lightning and a net being thrown at it. They're not my rodents, FYI- they can't shoot lightning. [He snort-laughs like that's the funniest thing ever.] Like, what are they? My sister? Hah.

[He lifts the plate up again, so people can see the...really ugly picture.]

Soooooo if weird lightning rodents and nets mean anything to anyone? This might be yours? Our ours? Who knows!

Comments

[ape]

[ monke here for chaos. at that, zeke gives a deep chuckle that scrapes his throat and nearly makes him cough. ]

Oh, definitely. They strap you in and make sure you're safe. Maybe what I just saw was terrifying, but the mall experience is smooth sailing— [ point! ] especially when part of you knows it isn't real.

[ spoiler: your brain tricks you, but he won't spoil it. not this. ]

Do you like roller coasters?

[wedonttalkabout]

[There will be so much chaos. Worry starts to seep in because what the heck?]

Wait- what? Strap you in? Like...why? Why would I need that to be safe?

[Just. The blankest of looks.]

I have never been on one. Those are those carts on rails? Right?

[ape]

[ hohoh, why does he need to be strapped in, he asks . . . ]

It’s all part of setting the mood for the experience. And it’ll be an experience. Maybe a preparation for the real thing.

[ at least the topic (and his smoking) has calmed him down significantly. he shouldn’t think too much about what he saw. ]

[wedonttalkabout]

[He already has so many regrets. So very many. ]

...hmmmm.

[He feels like he should be worried about this. He licks his lips nervously.]

I don't know about that. I don't really...uh, do experiences.

[ape]

[ okay, maybe he shouldn’t smile— but he is, and at the very least hold in his chuckle. ]

I’m sorry, you don’t— do experiences? [ he smells fear of trying new things is what he’s smelling. flicking some debris off the cigarette butt, he nearly burns his fingers on the ash tray and mutters: hot! ] Then how do you live? Isolated from society?

[wedonttalkabout]

[He appreciates that, you're a good guy. His eye drops to Zeke's nearly burned fingers, then back at the man himself, chuckling nervously. ]

Something...like that. Our um- home is an encato. It's protected from the outside world with these really tall mountains. Or...was. There's kinda a hole in them now.

[That's probably something to be worried about hmm. He picks a little at the surface of the table.]

I lived in the walls for our house for the last ten years. By myself- well, myself and my rats. It's- it's complicated. I don't do that anymore but...yeah.

[ape]

. . . Oh.

[ the teasing is gone immediately. he didn’t think it was actually, you know, possible! to do that this day and age, but ezekiel has a hard time remembering that people from other dimensions are just dropping out of the sky and homes are very different. at least, he looks apologetic. ]

I’m sorry about that. [ at least the rats, from what he’s seeing and hearing, are good rats. ] At least your rats seem like good companions.

[wedonttalkabout]

It's...fine.

[It's absolutely not fine, and the fact he looks so miserable and upset about it makes that very clear. It's the opposite of fine.

He manages a chuckle anyway.]

Hah, yeah. Those little guys kept me company. Don't know what I would have done without them.

[ape]

[ bruno he sees you . . . . . but he won’t question a man he’s only just met. instead: ]

They feel the same way, I’m sure. [ while he’s at it!! he puts the cigarette out, now. ] About that VR experience . . . I can accompany you sometime. What do you think?

[wedonttalkabout]

[Thanks, Buddy, he appreciates that. Dig into his horrific mental health issues at a later date. You gotta be prepared for that journey. ]

Oh um...okay? Sure. That would be- [sorry, Zeke, he's not used to people actually wanting to spend time with him] nice. Gracias. I...appreciate that.

[ape]

[ it reminds him of the select few students in class who are loners. he’s got to help out, somehow. so, clearing his smoker throat one last time, out comes a deep: ]

De nada.

[ spoken like a tru disney villain ]

I may need to work on some of my pronunciation, but I think I pulled that off. Did I even mention my name—? [ he doesn’t remember such! ] It’s Ezekiel. You can just call me Zeke.

[wedonttalkabout]

[He chuckles, bless him he's trying.]

Muy bueno, you didn't do so bad.

[A valiant attempt was made!]

Nice to meet you, I'm Bruno. [A beat.] I already said that didn't I?

[ape]

[ zeke lifts a hand up in a calming gesture, ]

I don’t mind repeats. It usually takes me a couple of tries to fixate.

[wedonttalkabout]

Hah, good to know! It's uh...been a while since I got to speak to so many people, honestly.