savetheearth | 04

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04 | [Video]

[The webcam feed opens to show Hajime's darkened apartment. The lights are off, the curtains are drawn, and a hulking figure can be seen moving around in the shadows. He's moving too fast and too much to get a clear look at him for very long, though the green orb on his chest is slightly luminescent. He's so distraught, he hasn't realized he even activated the webcam. He thought he was just switching on the mic for audio.]

I...I can't stay here. I can't let anyone find me like this. But I don't think I can get out of here on my own without anyone seeing me...

[Hajime is doing his best to keep his voice calm, but there's no denying the fact that he sounds quite shaken. It's still recognizable as his voice, although it sounds a little rougher than usual.]

I changed. I...tried to fight it, but...it...it was just like I remembered...and I can't hide the belt anymore, not that it matters...

[He is this close to having a massive freakout right then and there. Staying calm after turning into some kind of a bug monster is really hard, especially when you were normal--or as close to normal as Hajime gets these days--an hour ago. He's going through the room, trying to figure out what, if anything, he'll be bringing with him when he leaves. It's at this point that he realizes the webcam's on, and a green, clawed, and definitely inhuman hand will reach out to cover it.]

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[Hajime actually growls softly at that.]

Don't remind me. I've been talking with Bakura. He remembers something with monsters getting sealed, and I remember something about monsters getting sealed...plus, I will now apparently flip out on anyone who flicks a card at me in the wrong way. It's like some sort of crazy reflex. Feels like I'm being threatened or attacked or something if I'm not watching for it...

[He does not want to be some card-based monster, or some monster who went around sealing other monsters into cards, or any sort of monster at all, really.]

Whatever I'm turning into, all I know is that it's nothing good.

Remind me not to challenge you to a game of Old Maid then.

As for good, I don't know. You're a pretty stand up guy Hajime and these changes haven't changed that yet. Anyway, who is to say all monsters have to be bad? I clearly remember some of the monsters the Goseigers fought having a sense of comradery as well as right and wrong, they just had different priorities.

No matter how you change, you're still Hajime, just a bit different. A bit more of a wild card, but with people getting robotic limbs, apparently being angels, and who knows what else ... well we all are.

As long as you're not throwing the cards at me when you lose, I think it would be all right.

[He goes quiet for a moment after hearing the rest of that.]

...thanks. I think I needed to hear that.

Then you don't want to hear how my friends and I used to "play" that card game about training and trading monsters.

[They just threw the cards and collected them because they looked cool. Seriously, who actually knew how to play?]

Hey, it's nothing Hajime. Just telling you the truth after all.

I can imagine.

[He actually knew how to play, but more often than not, it devolved into some version of War with everyone slapping the cards...]

Still...I appreciate it. Sometimes you need that sort of thing...

[Now he just sounds embarrassed.]

Everyone does on occasion, just generally not so focused on the "You're still you" front. Still, I'm just being honest. Big bug guy or no, you're still partly responsible for alot of my meals and that means alot.

I don't really cook much of anything, just manage...

[He shakes his head.]

Not being able to go over there and do my job is kind of driving me nuts right now.

You're still partly responsible and you're a pretty cool guy. That's all I need out of a friend. As for not being able to work, oh I bet. You don't really have much you can do right now to stave off the boredom, do you?

Ah...I've got some books. Maybe an old video game console.

...and Mr. Lyall's got a TV.

[TV. There is always TV.]

Mr. Lyall? Well, it's something at least. Depending on what games you find you might end up fighting things that look like they'd be your cousin though.

Yeah, I'm going to avoid anything like that. I know I had some samurai game; I figure I'll just play that. No giant bugs in feudal Japan, I suppose.

Or maybe there were. What if you're one of those changelings that have been secretly controlling the world since ancient times that conspiracy theorists always go on about.

... Naw. That's just crazy.

I suppose at some point we need to put limits on all the crazy going down here...

Besides, the only memories I have as this thing involve fighting other monsters. Nothing about ruling the world there.

Oh give it time. Didn't we actually get a conspiracy theorist on the network?

Huh. A black and green bug man fighting against other monsters. You know, I'd watch it. Maybe get a motorcycle or something and you'd be onto something.

Yeah, I think I've seen one or two.

...I've got a motorcycle. I think I'm a little too big for it now, though. It would need some adjusting.

Well there you go. If this whole alien invasion things blows over you could have a future in entertainment.

Yeah, I think I'll pass. Never did like much attention.

Then you turned into a large bugman. I'd say it's ironic, but it isn't.

Well, I think I'm a large roach...the sort of thing that runs from the spotlight, I guess.

Cockroach huh? Does that mean you have an egg sack? Will you freak out if you're sprayed with Raid? If you lost an arm, would it grow back?

I...I don't know. I'm a guy, I probably don't have an egg sack.

[He sounds vaguely offended.]

Anyone who tries to spray me with Raid gets a punch in the face...and I don't plan on testing that last one.

[As he should be.]

Hmm, so nothing definite yet. Well, you're probably right about the first one. Guess we won't be seeing a swarm of little cockroach men running around anytime soon.

...

[There's a sigh.]

Unless any of the women start turning into bugs, I don't think that's even a possibility.

[At least, he assumes giant bugs work in the same way normal ones would.]

Hey, you never know. I mean, would that really be any more unexpected than you becoming a big bugman?

At this rate...probably not.

Though I at least kind of had some warning this would happen. I...kind of remembered turning into this thing.

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