video, after the caverns

[fuck1ngusernam3]

 So, correct me if I'm wrong about this. 

[Hank doesn't bother with an intro, just starts right on in. The angle he's holding his wrist shows both his face and the stick he's dragging along the wall behind him, which has been in a fire at some point in the recent past and leaves a long black trail of ash over the wall as he walks.]

But when all you heroes trooped into the haunted caves under the mysterious freaky lake the communication plan was along the lines of, 'gee, if someone gets their feet ate off by some freaky bullshit I sure do hope they yell real loud so I can get there before they bleed out' right? I mean, I trust you guys know to make a post letting us all know if you need backup, but what if this- [Here the screen shakes as Hank wiggles his wrist, indicating the watch] -gets busted, or stolen, or whatever? 

I don't know, I was just thinking, next time a bunch of us, or just anyone, goes into something that might get bad there should be some kind of post stuck to the top of our feed that we could all check, just something like this-

[He stops walking, still talking as he starts to scratch a little list in ash onto the wall beside him.]

Hey, I wonder how little Suzy's doing. Oh, she checked in an hour ago, she's probably fine.

[He writes Suzy on the wall, and a checkmark next to her name.]

How about JimBob the Murder Bot? Oh, he hasn't checked in for about seven hours, I should take someone to go look for him.

[Next to JimBob the Murder Bot he doodles a little skull. Sorry Jimbo, it's hard out there for a figurative probably-dead robot. Better luck next time.]

Or maybe you guys would rather do some kinda daily role call like in school or, hell, maybe it's just more fun to lone wolf your way through all this world saving shit, what do I know. Decide amongst yourselves. I might be around, I might not. Just thought I'd throw this out there. I'm gonna go eat. 

Comments

[fuck1ngusernam3]

That sounds...

[Hank frowns, looking baffled, like he's looking at something beautiful and confusing and far away. Then he smiles, faintly.]

That kinda sounds like you're saying getting rid of real food got you guys world peace. Is that what did it, or is the goo just what you eat in space for your lunch-meetings with the aliens? Cause, I've got to tell you, I'm still trying to decide whether that's worth it.

[He holds up his hands out flat, palm up, and lifts one and then the other like he's weighing something.]

On one hand my world's got, uh- eternal war, endless suffering, human nature, etc. On the other hand... fries...

[spaceforged]

It's the aliens that do the food goo. You can still find fries, burgers, and whatever else you want on Earth. Depending on the populace of a city and its restaurants.

But we still have politics, human nature, and other things. We just channel it differently. [He points upwards. They search beyond their planet. Not entirely successfully yet but.]

Some of it, anyway.

[fuck1ngusernam3]

What, so you just go blow up all the alien's shit, instead of ours? I don't know, that still sounds like some kind of miracle, even if all you did's just move all your wars to space. But, I don't know, you turn into a fuckin psychic robot lion for fun so what the fuck do I know about impossible shit.

[spaceforged]

[He pauses and starts to protest that he shapeshifts when necessary and closes his mouth without uttering a sound. He glances off to the side.]

...Okay, I can't deny that. I like shapeshifting. It's weird but I get to fly. [And sometimes roaring is just...cathartic.]

And yes, we're blowing up the empire instead. Earth itself isn't in the fight. Just the five of us on our team are. It's a long story.

[fuck1ngusernam3]

Sounds like a party.

[Hank sets his chin on his fist, frowning, eyebrows raised.]

I'm gonna be honest with you, uh, 'one team against an alien empire' sci-fi movie shit's uh, it's kind of... [It's kind of a lot. Still.] It's not really something I can just chat about, you know? I do have other stuff I want to ask but as far as that long story goes uh, you really don't have to worry about it. Sorry.

[spaceforged]

we're the only 'human' team against it. Anyway, ask what you want to ask. [He spreads his hands apart to indicate he's open to the question hour.]

I'll answer what I can and warn you if it's about to be a weird answer.

[fuck1ngusernam3]

[Hank makes a quiet, amused noise and leans back.]

I appreciate it. So. You said, uh... [He thinks back, trying to remember the guy's phrasing.] You said the watches can't be broken, but they can get dicked around with. What have you seen? What kind of stuff should we be watching out for?