video | first hit

[heisenbitch]

Uh. So, uh. What up!

[ Skinny, scrawny guy on the video feed here. Jesse is trying to appear confident, together, like he ain't bothered by any of the shit that's been going on, or the fact that he's apparently lost an entire freakin' year of his life partying with a bunch of mantis freaks. There's something wide-eyed and twitchy about him, though. Off-screen, his leg is jiggling up and down anxiously.

He might be high. Because waiting for him in the mail was a whole two ounces of meth, and what was the first thing Jesse did after spending a while staring at the two baggies of crystal, trying to will away the gnawing temptation to take a bump? He slammed a bump. Lit up that meth pipe that had been shipped in the mail with the meth when his willpower finally caved. What better way to try and drown out how scared he is and how much he wishes like hell Mr. White was here, because Mr. White would know what to do.

Of course, Jesse might not seem high to look at over the video feed. Just anxious and on edge. In fact, that's pretty much exactly how he's coming across. ]

Uh. So, uh. Name's Jesse, yo. I'm, uh. Guess I'm kinda one of the newer kids on the block around here.

[ Pausing a moment while he smears his hand down his face and rubs the back of his neck. That hand drops away as he fixes his attention back on the screen. ]

Anyway, um. I'm-I'm all outta smokes, and I was wondering if, uhh. If anybody's got any smokes to spare. Like, cigarettes. Or… whatever.

[ Another pause. Another anxious rub of the back of his neck. He so badly wants to say something about… everything. Those mantis people. The fact that they'd been drugged. The fact that he's a year older, just like that. Not to mention all the goddamn robots and other weird shit he's still trying to wrap his puny brain around. But instead… ]

I'll… I'll find a way to pay you back. Dunno how yet, but I'll think of something. Um. So, yeah. Just. Lemme know or whatever. No problem if nobody's got any.

Comments

text

[gentlemenpreferblondes]

[Oh hey. J actually recognises this man. It's a hazy and confusing memory that's associated with a killer headache but she still could make this man out from all other blurry figures.

He had looked like a mess back then but she hadn't thought much of it, believing it to be just from the party. But apparently he's just a regular junkie. Pity.]

do you smoke menthol?

[heisenbitch]

[ Jesse recognises the person instantly from the little user picture attached to their profile. ]

Sure whatever
Whatever you've got
Guess you owe me a smoke anyway huh?

[gentlemenpreferblondes]

like hell i do.
the smoke you gave me tasted like shit.

[heisenbitch]

I didn't hear you bitching about the taste while you were hogging it
But sure okay. Whatever. You're welcome, yo

[ Jesus. ]

[gentlemenpreferblondes]

Well, thank you [You ass.]

but i do have some stuff. mostly menthol though.
if you are interested we could try trading?

video;

[heelys]

...Are you okay?

[hi it's a robot] You look like you should probably see a doctor? Smoking isn't a good thing, 'specially if it's coming from your engines...

[heisenbitch]

[ Oh my god, thinks Jesse as he drops his head briefly into his hands and smears them down his face. It's another one of these giant ass things. How many of them are there?! He looks back up to the screen, a flat look on his pale face as much to say "duh, I know it ain't a good thing". ]

Do I look like I got engines, yo?

[heelys]

Hey, don't blame me, it's not like I know how organics work. [HONESTLY.]

[heisenbitch]

...'Organics'?

video;

[kaijumanic]

Woah, kiddo. You okay there?

[He looks like an anxious wreck. And hey, with everything that's happened recently, Newt doesn't fucking blame him.]

I have some weed stashed somewhere in my lab. Or well, I did. That might help calm your shaking there.

[heisenbitch]

[ Jesse is rubbing the back of his neck, a little anxiously chewing on his lip. That is, until the guy mentions weed. He goes still, a small surprised but maybe also kinda hopeful raise of his brows. ]

You... you do?

[kaijumanic]

What's it worth to yah? [He's got his eyebrows raised.]

[heisenbitch]

Uh. I dunno. A lot? [ Like, a lot a lot. It's not like he's got much to barter with, though, apart from meth, and he's sure as shit not about to go bartering that openly for all and sundry to see or hear. ] I guess... name your price, yo. I mean, y'know. Assuming you actually got pot and aren't just playin' me.

VOICE

[squadgoals]

I'm sure it's not the answer you're looking for, but considered quitting? Good way to make sure you won't owe anyone anything.

[ENTER THE AMAZING PARAGON PARTY POOPER]

[heisenbitch]

[ So dry: ]

Real helpful, yo.

[squadgoals]

I do my best.

But I'm serious. Hell, I'll even help. We can quit together.

[heisenbitch]

...You smoke? [ A questioning scrunch of his brow, even though she can't see it; it's evident in his voice. But then: ] I got a better idea: you wanna quit, give me your smokes.

voice;

[otiosity]

No pipes or cig-whatevers but I moonlight as the ship's walking lighter. So if you find one, I can light you up.

[heisenbitch]

[ ...Okay. ]

...What, you just walk around all day lightin' up people's smokes or somethin'?

[otiosity]

Well, mostly at the bar. It makes me popular!

[And she seems pleased about performing this rather inane task and her bizarre reasoning behind it.]

[heisenbitch]

...With what? 'Cause lighters don't seem to be much of a commodity here. Like, at all.

[ So far as Jesse has been able to ascertain, anyway, in the short time he's been here. ]

[video] hopefully this is okay, i know it's late! feel free to ignore

[soldiergenes]

[ This newcomer (Jesse, the MID tells him) looks very much like he's in need of a smoke, if only so he can relax. If he's asking the ship at large to help him out, then that's a sign of just how bad it is -- or how few friends he has, that he can't do this in a more private venue.

It would be simple enough for Snake to ignore this and move on, but the twitchy, anxious way that Jesse carries out his broadcast is something he can sympathize with. Although he doesn't think he's ever been that bad. ]

You'll think of something?

[ Snake's smoking as he replies, if only to make what he's offering crystal clear. ]

Doesn't sound too committal.

never too late!! <3

[heisenbitch]

[ Oh, man. Straight away, this guy has got Jesse's attention. Jesse is trying not to show that too much: he's sitting there, slouched on a seat, head resting against his knuckles like he's bored out of his mind. His eyes are definitely on that cigarette, though. ]

Bit hard to make concrete offers when you barely got jack to trade with, yo.

<333!!

[soldiergenes]

[ It's a marked difference from how the kid had carried himself in the initial broadcast, and that's enough to tip Snake off. He's trained in how to read people, and right now this guy has taken on a front of being uninterested. The way that anyone would behave when negotiating for something that they desperately want, basically. ]

Forget material goods. [ Snake shrugs a shoulder and takes a drag on his smoke, just to rub it in. Look, he's probably going to hand over at least a few cigarettes to hold the kid over until the next mail drop, he's not cruel. But he's going to run through a few questions first. ] Got any skills?

[heisenbitch]

[ Jesse watches the smoke drift out of the guy's mouth with his foot now starting to jiggle as well. Asshole is doing that deliberately, isn't he? ]

Like what?