I | VIDEO/VOICE

[hispanus]

[The video focuses on a group of children in a park somewhere as they choose sides for a game. Much of what is said between them is too quiet for the communicator to pick up until one boy's face falls, his complaints carrying loudly enough to be heard: "But I was an imPort last time! I want to be a native!" A girl responds unintelligbly, but given the slouch in the boy's posture, his fate is evident.

When the children split up and run off, the video cuts, and a voice is finally heard, speaking the Queen's Latin (i.e., he sounds just like Russell Crowe doing a British accent).]

I have seen similar games in the provinces; tribes against the invading army. Children will have their sport, whatever the climate.

[He pauses, considering the implications. When he speaks again, his voice is softer, lacking the modicum of levity it once had.]

This is more than sport.


[ooc: 4th wall as much as you want c:]

Comments

Voice;

[yelloweyesdarksomething]

Aw man, I always have to play imPort, like, every time.

permavoice

[hispanus]

Are you?

[he is not too sure how this network works...]

[yelloweyesdarksomething]

Well, yeah, but it's supposed to be pretend!

[hispanus]

[oh, monster...]

Do they know you are an imPort?

[yelloweyesdarksomething]

The ones at school totally do, and the kids in the park know, but I totally don't know how 'cause I never told them.

[hispanus]

Why do you encourage them?

[yelloweyesdarksomething]

I just wanted to play with them!

[hispanus]

What happens when your side win?

[yelloweyesdarksomething]

I don't think we're supposed to win.

[hispanus]

Have you?

[yelloweyesdarksomething]

A couple of times! It was totally fun, I was like "Bam! I hit you with magic missile!" but then they claimed I cheated 'cause magic missile wasn't a thing and I was like "nuh uh, it totally is!" Sometimes I have to lose on purpose so they don't get mad at me. [ and sometimes he loses legitimately because he's not all that clever ]

[hispanus]

What is harmful to the swarm is harmful to the bee, lad.

[yelloweyesdarksomething]

We aren't pretending to be bees.

[hispanus]

I know.

[yelloweyesdarksomething]

[ beat ] I'm confused.

[hispanus]

[he can't help but be reminded of his son. his voice softens.]

What is your name, boy?

[yelloweyesdarksomething]

[ AW MAXIMUS :c ]

I'm Monster! What's your name?

[hispanus]

[:c and what even is that unfortunate name]

Maximus. It is a pleasure, Monster.

[yelloweyesdarksomething]

It's nice to meet you too, Mister Maximus! [ He's so pleased he even got the name right!! ]

[hispanus]

[though monster cannot see him, maximus is smiling at the boy's evident joy.]

You would do well to seek more compassionate friends, Monster.

[yelloweyesdarksomething]

Yeah, well, the people on this thing are super-cool and I hang out with them a lot! It's just they keep leaving.

[hispanus]

Surely there are children at your school who do not wish you ill.

[yelloweyesdarksomething]

Oh, some of my classmates are nice! And most of them were okay until I was an alien for a bit, and then I was gone for a while and when I came back they were scared of me. I mean, I'm supposed to be scary, but not to my friends! It totally sucks!

[hispanus]

Supposed to be scary?

[yelloweyesdarksomething]

Monsters are supposed to be scary, right?