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

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.

[squadgoals]

No.

[heisenbitch]

..."No", you ain't quitting? ..."No", you ain't gonna give me your smokes?

[squadgoals]

Both.

I don't smoke.

[heisenbitch]

[ He smears a hand down his face. Damn it, he'd been stupidly hopeful for all of a second there that maybe he'd be able to bargain some kinda deal with the lady. ]

Yeah, okay. Whatever. If you don't got smokes, I ain't interested.

[squadgoals]

Alright — but it's not going to be an easy habit to upkeep in space, and in one way or another, it's going to cost you. There's not exactly a ship's stock for tobacco, Jesse.

Just think about it. Do you really want to be beholden to whoever happens to have a pack in their pocket?

[heisenbitch]

[ His head drops back with a flat look of impatience on his face while he listens to her go on. ]

Oh, my god, what are you, my grandma? Think I'm not already aware of the tobacco situation 'round here?

1/2

[squadgoals]

[Grandma.

Punk I will snap your neck like I'm breakin' a toothpick.]

2/2

[squadgoals]

"Newer kids on the block" — your words, not mine.

And if nobody's got any?

[heisenbitch]

Guess I'll then have to pull some outta my ass.

[ Said so dryly like a smartass. ]

[squadgoals]

[There's a scoff, but it's humored.]

Why wait?

[heisenbitch]

'Cause I wanna see if other people can pull smokes outta their asses first, duh.

[squadgoals]

How enterprising of you. But in a week or so, you're going to be back where you started, plus debt.

Unless you have a unique item or skill that would pay it off, and prove me wrong?

[heisenbitch]

[ Oh, for cryin'-- ]

Look, why do you even care, yo?

[squadgoals]

Consider me a concerned party, looking out for the health of my fellow crew.

Also, smoke on a space ship? Really screws with ventilation and air purification.

[heisenbitch]

So, how come no one else has been getting on my ass about it?

[squadgoals]

Probably because most people on board didn't grow up on space ships, and aren't aware.

[heisenbitch]

...You grew up on spaceship?

[ Really, maybe he should just stop being surprised or mystified by anything at this point. ]

[squadgoals]

Born and raised.

[YOU MERELY ADOPTED SPACE, I WAS BORN IN IT, MOLDED BY IT, I DIDN'T SEE TERRA FIRMA UNTIL I WAS ALREADY A WOMAN--]

I take it you're not from a space-faring era?

[heisenbitch]

Uhh. Do I look like Buzz Lightyear to you?

[ Seriously. Does anything about Jesse scream 'space ranger'? The answer is: definitely not. ]

1/2

[squadgoals]

2/2

[squadgoals]

I'm sorry, who?