video; un: natsume.takashi

[natzoom]

[Natsume begins the video message with the best intentions. He's sitting very calmly in his apartment (which is strange, he's sixteen, he isn't old enough to have his own place to live), legs crossed, expression very composed for someone who just arrive in Trench. His voice is even, shoulders squared, like he isn't the least bit disturbed by the circumstances.]

Please excuse the interruption, but I had a quick question. Where is --

[Then he stops, mouth hanging open, eyes widening, staring at something just past the camera. Long, loooong seconds pass as Natsume stares, face slowly turning pale, barely blinking, barely breathing. Then his head moves, eyes fixed on the something as it sloooowly approaches, closer and closer, until he's staring off to his left, watching the thing. It's moving closer, it'll appear in the camera frame at any second...

...but nothing does. Natsume is still watching, still silent, craning his neck around, then turning in his seat to keep an eye on whatever-it-is, as it apparently moves past him, behind him, then off to one side. Either he's a very good actor, or there's something he's seeing that the camera isn't.

Natsume keeps looking off to the right, where the unseen thing had disappeared, for another couple moments. Then he blinks, turning back to the camera. His face is still very pale, his voice quite a bit fainter, shakier when he speaks:]

Where is the nearest shrine?

Comments

Video; un: lothrat

[ezra_of_lothal]

[Well, that's concerning.]

Do you...want someone to come and walk with you to Cassandra?

video;

[natzoom]

Cassandra is where I should go? [At least he'd written down that it's a place, not a person.] Is it very far?

Re: video;

[ezra_of_lothal]

Well, I guess that depends on what you're actually hoping to do at a shrine.

Where are you now?

video;

[natzoom]

I, ah...find them comforting. [It's only sort of a lie.]

Crenshaw, I think it's called?

Re: video;

[ezra_of_lothal]

Cassandra's a bit of a walk from there. But once you're there, you can't miss the Pale Shrine.

But people usually go there when they want visions.

Re: video;

[natzoom]

The Pale Shrine. [Natsume inclines his head in a little bow of gratitude.] Thank you very much.

...I suppose that's an understandable risk.

video;

[ezra_of_lothal]

You're welcome.

And hey, my name's Ezra. I was completely on my own when I was - well, I guess I shouldn't assume your age. But, anyway. I'm happy to walk you over, but I get it, if you don't want company.

video;

[natzoom]

Natsume Takashi. I'm sixteen. [And...very open with personal facts about himself, apparently. But he does seem relieved at the offer.] That would be very nice, thank you.

[ezra_of_lothal]

Ok, so I was a little younger than you when my new family took me in. [And Ezra usually doesn't mind sharing some personal details to try to put people at ease.]

I'm on the beach, but I'm heading towards Crenshaw. [And his is, up, moving around as he's talking.]

[natzoom]

New family? [His curiosity is piqued here, his attention off of whatever-it-is that's in the room with him. This isn't the best idea, because it's still moving around, rustling things.]

Is it a very far walk? [Look who doesn't know about Lamps yet.]

[ezra_of_lothal]

Yeah. Never too late to choose more family, in my book.

It could be a bit of a walk, but it doesn't have to be. Did you see a lamp on the boardwalk, when you first got here?

[natzoom]

Ah. [Interesting. Natsume has honestly never considered the concept of choosing your family.

The question feels like a non-sequitur, prompting a frown.] Yes...?

[ezra_of_lothal]

Great. Because you can use lamps like that to travel. You just...think of the lamp on the other end of where you want to go.

[natzoom]

...can you? [Forgive his extremely skeptical tone. That sounds very unscientific.]

[ezra_of_lothal]

Yep, you can.

[Is it unscientific if it works? Ezra figures the best proof he can offer is keeping the camera rolling while he walks up to the lamp on the boardwalk and touching it so the fact that the world changes around him can be seen through the call.]

See?

[natzoom]

[...welp, he can't argue with that, wow. Natsume's eyes widen a little at the display of teleportation, mouth dropping open slightly.]

That's...wow. That's how people get around here?

[ezra_of_lothal]

Yeah. Wierd but kinda neat, huh?

[natzoom]

It's...unbelievable. Much more efficient than the bus.

[ezra_of_lothal]

Ok, I'm in Crenshaw. Where are you specifically?

[natzoom]

It's an apartment building? I'm not too sure of the surroundings, but it's...here.

[He flips the Omni around, to show the view out his window.] Does that help?

[ezra_of_lothal]

[He looks at the view and glancing around himself, then shuffles around, getting oriented.]

Yep! Think I've got it. Coming up!

[He keeps his screen on still, as he heads towards the building, and up.]

[natzoom]

[Now that Ezra is this close, Natsume will chance sloooowly backing towards the window and opening it. There's a sloping roof outside it, and he'll just...casually step backwards and outside. Hopefully it isn't too slippery.]

Ah, I'll...meet you outside.