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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[There's definitely a hint of concern coming from Al.]

Boss, you okay? What's goin--

[And then he sees that green hand.]

[Get a visibly shocked and surprised Thomas face as close to the camera as he can. A clawed green hand, stuff like "I've got to get out," and glowing can only mean one thing.]

Oh my god. A real monster. I thought Al might just be the actor, but ...

[No focus Thomas. You might not know him that well, but Hajime is one of the few on this network you'd call a friend. Time to be the dotting big brother type you're supposed to be.]

Hajime, talk to me. Take a deep breath, and talk.

[Hajime freezes at the sound of Al's voice.]

No. No, I'm not okay...

[Deep breaths, deep breaths, can't let anyone see him but he's too freaked out, trying not to freak out...]

...I'm not going to be able to come into work for a while.

What about Al?

[Actor? What? Not like Hajime's doing a great job of focusing on anything other than I am a giant bug how did this happen at this point in time.

Wait, yes, deep breaths would be an excellent idea. If he's still even breathing. He thinks he is? Maybe? It's a lot of new physiology to get used to all at once and thinking too hard on it isn't helping. He's not covering the webcam anymore, but he's stepped out of its line of sight for now. Easier than fumbling around with it some more.]

I...I had one of those weird hollow pulses earlier this week, but nothing happened...then...something did.

Um, long story short, I think I know where Al's things are coming from. Down to a specific person. We'll have to see if I'm right.

[Best not to tell Hajime about the fact Al might be a guy who destroys things like Hajime right now.]

Pulses? That's the third term I've heard for these things. Anyway, doesn't matter. What matters is what happened to you. You ok? Relatively speaking?

[Hajime knows about that memory Al has and is already starting to suspect that, sadly enough.]

I don't even care what they're called; I just don't like them...

...I'm...fine, I guess. I'm not hurt or anything, functional enough for...for...this...

Good lord...

If I had any doubts about this all being real, they're gone now. Are you... I suppose asking if you're all right is somewhat silly. Is there anything I can do to help?

Well, that's something. You said you can't hide the belt right? So that's probably part of this. Is it doing anything different? Any sort of symbols on it or you?

More importantly though, do you need anything? Some supplies? A huge blanket to use in case anyone knocks on your door?

[And there's no need for Hajime to explain either. Just... seeing him... Al can only nod.]

...I understand. I'll make sure everyone knows you're out sick or... something.

[There's a long pause.]

I don't suppose you have any ideas on how to get a...man-sized bug...out of an apartment complex with no one seeing.

[also a pause]

Hm. If only it was still convention weekend, few people would question it then. You could just explain that it's a cosplay from that Karate Bugmen TV show. As it stands...

[sigh]

And it's July, so I suppose bundling you up in a dark cloak would just be more conspicuous. Perhaps... if someone has a refrigerator box, we could put you on a dolly of some sort in the box and wheel you out?

[There's a wince.]

Sick might not work. Mitsuko...

[His sister is studying to be a doctor. They're close. Of course she'd want to come take care of him.]

The buckle was red. Kind of a stylized heart...it's green now.

[What that means, he's got no idea.]

I don't know...I'm not planning on staying here for long.

[It's just the getting out without causing a panic that worries him.]

...hell of a costume.

[The idea of just walking around like this, even pretending it's a costume, just weirds him out to no end.]

I...might fit in something like that...

[Another pause.]

The spikes are making it kind of awkward to gauge that sort of thing.

[[Bakura is torn between worry for his friend and utter elation of holy shit that's so friggin awesome. Doing his best not to show that 2nd part there when it's pretty clear Hajime's distressed]]

You okay? I mean-- besides... you know.

I...think so. Nothing hurts.

[Really, on some level, the form is somewhat comfortable, which only makes everything else that much worse.]

Edited 2013-07-20 01:10 (UTC)

[[[aw, c'mon, don't hide it, that looks so damned cool!

... by which he means while yes he understands the urge to do it, no one's judging, just relax ~~and let him see how damned awesome that looks~~]]

That's good then, right? So you know you're not in any danger or anything, you just need to relax, right?

I'm not in any danger now. But I can't stay here--it's the first place my family will come looking for me.

[He's distracted by that thought, and he quits trying to obscure the camera.]

I don't think relaxing is going to be a thing any time soon...

How look until they come? If you can hold out until dark, you should be able to sneak away easily enough.

[[a thoughtful pondering]] Oh... do you think you could fit in a wagon? I have a tarp and long as you're not too heavy could smuggle you to safety that way!

I'm supposed to work tonight. They'll call if I don't show, and if I don't answer, someone would probably come looking for me after the restaurant closes. I've never missed without letting them know where I am. I guess I could call in, but if I say I'm sick and my voice sounds weird, my sister would stop by to check on me anyway. She's a pre-med student. She'd want to practice.

[Even if he told her not to. She has a key to the apartment. He's quiet for a moment, thinking.]

I'm pretty heavy. I don't have a scale, but I know I'm way bigger than I used to be.

Could you just tell them you're tired? Or something came up and a friend called in a favor or something? Like you stayed up all night and just got in and you really need to crash?

... and bigger than like.. what? 300lbs?

Edited 2013-07-20 01:58 (UTC)

Ah... yes, those are a problem. Um, do they bend, at all?

Oh!

[Miria nearly fell over when she spotted... that.]

Are you alright?! Did changing hurt?! Do you need anything?

That...that might work. Yeah. I just don't want them to worry about anything...

[He's shaking his head, kind of like he's trying to clear it.]

I guess I'm not really thinking straight...

[He'll look down at himself to gauge his size.]

Not bigger than that. But probably closer than I'd like to think.

No, that would defeat their purpose.

[And now he just sounds awkward.]

They're...probably for stabbing things with, given what I remember.

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04 | [Video]

[video]

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[Video of a green monster hand doing a terrible job of covering a webcam]

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[video of al being all worrisome because boss is a cockroach thing]

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[Video of a mopey bug monster]

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[Video, failure of an attempt at covering the webcam]

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