1G | VIDEO

[weightoftheworld]

[ there's a pair of thumbs clumsily blocking the camera for a moment, and then a boy's face appears. the kid's barely a teenager, and he looks a little nervous, but he smiles politely for the camera. ]

Looks like it's working. Good. Uhm– [he takes a deep breath, then launches into a clearly-rehearsed speech] –Hi, everyone. My name's Alex Power. Obviously I'm new to this place, but I've already read all those pamphlets they gave us and done some research, so I think I'm mostly caught up on the City and how it works.

[ he smiles wider, though it's a bit forced. ]

It's pretty weird and all, but, my family lives in Manhattan, so I'm kinda used to weird. Superheroes really aren't anything new, ya know? [ he sighs, then catches himself and laughs a bit, awkwardly. ] If my parents were here they'd tell me to try and make the best of it, and that's what I'm going to do. I guess I'm headed to the MAC Building, so...if any of you are living there now, lemme me know if you want to meet up? I don't know anyone here yet.

[ ohgod. being abducted is nothing new, but alex hates being in a weird place without his family. MUST ACT MATURE. ]

Comments

she's going to be a jerk, I'm sorry

[halfwitch]

Doesn't matter who I am. You don't know why she did what she did. You can't put any blame on her.

don't be sorry, alex can practically be the king of jerks when he wants to

[weightoftheworld]

Did I say I was blaming her? It's none of your business, anyhow!

[halfwitch]

You made it sound like it. And it is my business. She's my friend.

[weightoftheworld]

Okay, well, you gotta name? [ screw it, we're checking the comm register ] 'Gretel,' huh?

[halfwitch]

Yeah, that's my name. What of it?

[weightoftheworld]

Nothing. I just wanted to know. I figure I'd better start remembering people's names, if we're all stuck together in the same place. [ still moody tho ]

[halfwitch]

[Snorts.] And who are you?

[She didn't bother to watch the post. Or to check the comm name. She's lazy.]

[weightoftheworld]

My name's Alex. And I'm not trying to pick a fight with anyone.

[halfwitch]

Right. Alex. I'll take your word for now, since she doesn't seem that bothered.

[weightoftheworld]

Okay. Guess I'll see you around. [ :< ]

[halfwitch]

You might. Depends on whether you got to the school here.

[weightoftheworld]

I'm not going to the Institute. Not yet, at least.

[halfwitch]

I didn't want to go either. It's not too bad. The teachers are boring and the work's stupid, but the other kids are okay.

[weightoftheworld]

I know some of the teachers already, and I like most of 'em. [ the kids, we'll see. ] But I'd still rather stay with just my sister for a while.

[halfwitch]

You got a sister?

[weightoftheworld]

More than one. But it's just Katie who's here.

[halfwitch]

Younger or older? Both of them.

[weightoftheworld]

They're both younger. Katie's supposed to be the baby, but she's not from the same time as me anymore--she's almost my age. [ HE DOES NOT KNOW WHAT DO ]

[halfwitch]

That's got to be weird. I don't know what I'd do if my brother came here and was older than I remember.

[weightoftheworld]

And how old is your brother supposed to be?

[halfwitch]

He was ten when I left.

[weightoftheworld]

That's just a little younger than my sister Julie. Except now Katie's older than her...

[halfwitch]

That's pretty awkward.

[weightoftheworld]

Yeah...I dunno how to feel about it, really.

[ awkward silence. ]

[halfwitch]

[tramples on the silence with a loud sigh]

Be happy that she's at least here and alive.