video.

[jokesonthem]

[It takes him a while to figure out the NV. (In fact, it takes him a while to realize he has it, busy as he is searching for somewhere to wash the dirt off his face, pacing back and forth a lot, and laying down to will his wounds to stay closed.) He has, in truth, not a clue how it works, except that it seems to respond to his touch. He has poked tentatively through network broadcasts and determined the meaning of "video," the only command the thing offers he doesn't recognize--although he hesitates about touching that command, himself. He is dissheveled and in his pajamas and looks quite rattled, in his opinion, which surely is too embarrassing to show complete strangers.

... But maybe they would have some sympathy for him if they could see his face. He turns on the video...

...giving everyone a lovely view of his nightshirt's collar and the lower half of his face. There is a plaster on his cheek, and some wrapped bandages visible crossing his collarbone.]

Well, is this thing working? [He taps the screen sharply, then holds the NV a bit farther away, which puts the rest of his face (and more bandages!) in view-] How am I supposed to tell--oh, is that me in the corner?

[Serious time, Reim. He squares his jaw and regards the NV with his best business face.] My name is Reim Lunettes. I would like to request several things, if I may: information, something to write with, and-- c, clothes.

[He mumbles the last part. This is humiliating...]

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

[He nods, and his eyes dart around in the typical manner of someone who has no idea how to find the 'stop' button, but he gets it eventually, and just before he finally presses it he adds (an afterthought, his voice climbing out of its calm tone and becoming decidedly freaked out by the end):]

If--If there is anyone here who knows me, please come and find me!!

[oh wow this is so embarrassing he has to go FEED CUT]

Comments

[ Video ]

[jokesonthem]

[What is that noise what could possibly be happening that he isn't present to prevent?]

Answer my question!

[ Video ]

[maddeninghatter]

Why, I'm coming to get yoooooooooou! Just like you asked!

[ It's fortunate for everyone that this tank's top speed is 5 mph. Innocent bystanders can, at least, flee. Its progress is punctuated by the sound of debris being crunched underneath - not only the vehicles he blasted just now, but also cars parked along the side of the street. Staying in lane: kinda difficult.

Presently, this beast of a machine makes its way across the baseball diamond, towards the Newcomer Towers. ]

[ Video ]

[jokesonthem]

That doesn't--

[Hold on. The mystery rumbling noise suddenly sounds like it's coming from more than just the little device. In fact, it sounds like it's somewhere behind him!

... He really, really, really does not want to look. But he does, turning slowly around until he sees-]

WHAT IS THAT?

[It looks like a THING TO GET AWAY FROM REALLY FAST.]

[ Video ]

[maddeninghatter]

[ The tank rrrrrrrumbles to a stop and the top turrets opens. Break pops out, waving. ]

It's meeeeeeeee!

oh i guess it would be [action] now wouldn't it oops

[jokesonthem]

[Reim had been halfway to making a run for it (backwards), and so when Break pops out of a big scary machine, he stumbles over himself and flops back with an oof. If he had a day off for every time he'd fallen over in the dirt today...

For a minute he just stares. He can't even adjust his glasses. Is he dreaming, is any of this really happening.


...but!] XERXES BREAK, exactly how many things did you destroy in order to get that here?!

[maddeninghatter]

[ It had all been like a mad dream...

But now... now that he can truly hear Reim's voice and feel his presence... ]

S-stop complaining.

You know I can't stand it. Can't stand... whiny men...

[ His face is contorted; he's trying to smile but looks like he's about to burst into tears. ]

[jokesonthem]

[Reim is busy getting to his feet- which hurts, he's been tossed around too much today, but he only grimaces- so he isn't looking at Break when he says,]

You sound pitiful.

[as casually as possible, given the circumstances. But then he does look at Break, and- stops. Huh?]

Xerxes?

[maddeninghatter]

[ Just at that moment, Break drops down, back into the tank, aware that his face has betrayed him. His voice echoes from within: ]

Stop lollygagging, get iiiiiiiin~!

[jokesonthem]

[Reim frowns, before heaving a sigh and approaching the... thing.

He stares at it. Does he have to get in this thing? Raising his voice, to be heard from inside:]

How?

[maddeninghatter]

Just climb in.

[ He peeks over the turret once more, having somewhat composed his features. ]

I'll... I'll give you hand up, if you need it.

[ He puts out his arm. ]

[jokesonthem]

[This honestly looks like the worst possible idea. But he certainly isn't climbing into a big metal death cabin all by himself, so he reaches up to take hold of Break's hand and pull himself up. Enjoy his lack of gloves and a fair amount of dirt (and maybe even nightshirt sleeve!), because Reim sure isn't.]

What is this thing?

[Today, Reim Lunettes learns he is very bad at climbing.]

[maddeninghatter]

[ As Break's (delicate, girly) hand closes around Reim's--

There's that pitiful expression again. Talking to him on the NV is one thing, and actually speaking to him is another; yet touching him...

He's real, he's alive. He's not a ghost.

Break attempts to salvage the situation by making it look as though he's straining really hard to pull Reim up, bodily. Which he is. Sorry about the wounds, pal, Break doesn't know you have them. In his mind, the dead are mysteriously healed, somehow. ]

[jokesonthem]

[Questions about the big metal death cabin have been put on hold to wince sharply and let out an actual obvious noise of pain, this time. There are gashes all over him that want to be left alone, and they are presently objecting to their wishes being ignored.

Reim nearly loses his footing, but grabs onto Break's arm with his other hand at the last moment. Sorry he's tall and heavy...]

Hey- ow! Slow down, will you?

[maddeninghatter]

Reim--

[ That cry of pain! WHAT IS HAPPENING? AUUUGH! ]

Reim! Are you all right? What's the matter?

[ It's easy enough to hold onto Reim; he might be heavy, but Break is strong. ]

[jokesonthem]

What do you think?

[He's cross and in pain and he's going to whine about it while he regains some steadiness, standing... barefoot on a terrifying thing...

He lets one hand go to survey himself briefly; it looks like he's survived ripping all his wounds open again, so far. A sigh.]

Nothing is the matter. Come on; I don't want to stand on this thing all day.

[He is slightly convinced it's going to tear his leg off.]

[maddeninghatter]

[ Break makes a small noise. A noise that might sound like a whimper. Reim is, of course, chastising him for the whole being dead thing, but he's not going to say it outright, and Break isn't either, and he simply can't bear it -- ]

Er. Hang on, I've got an idea.

[ Brb, reaching inside and pulling on more levers. You might explode in fire or die in a rain of machine gun fire or--

POP!

The driver's escape hatch opens, in front. Just lower yourself in, big guy. ]

[jokesonthem]

[Pitiful noise. Reim declines to comment on it this time, simply noting that Xerxes is being stranger than usual (if only he had his notebook) and suddenly worrying about him pulling on more things-]

What's- [When the hatch opens he nearly jumps, and then actually looks at it. A withering look, actually, but he awkwardly fumbles his way in all the same.]

Why didn't you do that in the first place?

1/2

[maddeninghatter]

Cos climbing's more fuuuuuuun~☆

[ He reaches for the viewfinder and slides it into place in front of Reim's face. He pats Reim's shoulder. ]

Anywaaaay~~ There's no need to be cross, just because you decided to go travelling without your shoes, haha~!

2/2

[maddeninghatter]

[ As soon as he says it, as soon as his fingers register the soft, thin fabric of Reim's nightshirt... Ah. Of course. He's got no shoes, because that's how he was buried. He's clad in a shroud. ]

Nnngh. Look, just... just... don't worry about that, all right?

[jokesonthem]

[Someone sure is uncomfortable about pajamas. Reim puts his hand up to block the viewfinder; it's all bright and weird, what is he supposed to do with that.]

I didn't have time to find some slippers. [beat] And where were you, where did this thing come from--

[The viewfinder is literally painful to look at; he pushes it more actively away from "right in his face."] Can you do something about this?

[maddeninghatter]

[ "Where were you?"

SOB! ]

This? It was just sitting in the street. Lots of them appeared today, out of nowhere, apparently~!

[ Absently, he adjusts the dials on the side of the viewfinder, demonstrating the brightness control. ]

As a special favor to you, in honor of your arrival - I thought I'd let you steer!

[jokesonthem]

[Reim adjusts the brightness so he can look at the screen--]

Me? Where am I suppsed to take it?

[Leaving aside that he's never driven anything, let alone a TANK...]

[maddeninghatter]

Home, of course~!

[ He reaches for Reim's hands. They're bare, of course they are. Poor man. Poor dead man.

He wished he could have been there, at Reim's funeral. He would have insisted he be buried in his Pandora uniform, with his white gloves and polished shoes. And a little notebook and a pen, so he could record his notes about the hereafter. Whoever had buried Reim didn't really know him (Lord Barma probably, damn the man and his idiot hair). How terribly sad.

Break guides Reim's hands to the steering wheel. ]

Just... just reverse direction.

[ Once again, he's failing pretty miserably at keeping his voice bright. ]

I'll tell you which way to go.

[jokesonthem]

Home?

[Incredulous; did they not arrive at once, but scattered, like he assumed? He would like someone to explain to him what's happening, instead of putting him in machines and telling him to make them move. But perhaps he should save his prying for answers for a bit later, when he doesn't have to wrap his mind around so many things at once.

He boggles at all the levers and buttons.]

Which one of these does that?

[maddeninghatter]

Ha ha!

You'll just be in charge of direction! Turn the wheel, if you please~♥

[ Leaning across Reim, Break gets his feet on the pedals and reaches for the gear shift. RRRRRRRRRRUMBLE! The beast starts moving forwards.

...At present it's headed directly for the Newcomer Towers. ]

I'll handle the rest.