savetheearth | 3rd Song // Video (Webcam) // forward-dated to about 2am on the 14th

[Sam doesn't look very good. Actually, he looks downright exhausted. He's sitting in his room with a desk lamp giving just enough light to make the video clear and is propping up his chin with his hand. He clearly hasn't slept all night, between his bloodshot eyes and the dark circles underneath them. It could be that he's been visited by that "ghost" that seems to be following people around...

But if it is, he's not going to say anything. That's not how he rolls. Of course, after staying up for this long he's frankly bored, so he's turning to the Network for entertainment.

He speaks in a slightly hushed tone, probably trying to avoid waking up his mother.]

Hey, so. I've mentioned this to a few people, but I haven't really shown it off yet. Thought it might interest you guys. It's good for a laugh anyway.

[He holds up to the camera a wooden cup-and-ball sort of toy. The ball is painted purple, and it looks a little worn.]

This is a kendama. It's a toy that's popular in Japan. My grandfather got this for me as a kid--said it would be good for me to learn concentration. [He snorts and shakes his head.] I guess I was too energetic for his tastes.

I've never been very good at it. I mean, I can catch the ball in one of the cups...sometimes. Maybe one out of ten tries. But the pin here? [He lifts the ball up to show a wooden pin at the top.] I've never been able to catch the ball here in my LIFE.

But...

[He stands up and moves far enough back from the camera so that his movements can be seen. To warm up, he first drops the ball and then catches it in one of the bigger cups. He does this a few times and succeeds every time, before switching to alternating the ball between the two cups on the side. After a few rounds of that, he tosses the ball up in the air--and catches it on the pin. He bends down to look at the camera and points at the ball with a look of disbelief.]

Isn't that strange? But this gets better...

[He straightens back up again, then starts to juggle the ball between the big cup on the side and the smaller cup on the bottom, humming a song softly to himself as he does. He keeps it up for about two minutes, never losing the beat or missing the ball. At that point he seems to get bored, so he tosses the toy up in the air, catches it by the handle, and once again catches the ball on the pin. He walks back over to his computer chair, points at the ball on the pin with a look of amusement, and then sets the toy aside.]

I think I'm in the running for "most impressive unimpressive Extra ever." Maybe I should start training to be certified. I bet my grandfather would be pleased.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[laugh] That might work! Although I'm not sure if I'd want to get a vision while plummeting to the Earth.

Yeah, that would be awkward. Maybe parasailing? Or hang gliding? At the very least if it doesn't work for some reason you'd have a neat adventure as long as you aren't scared of heights.

Ha ha, good point. I honestly don't know if I'd be freaked out or not, I've never tried anything like that. It might be worth it just to say I had the experience. But I think it'd be more fun if I had someone to go with.

Are you hinting that I should come with you?

[And she sounds quite nervous at the idea. Though hard to say whether that is because she is weirded out by doing something like that with Sam, or because she's kinda scared of the idea herself.]

[And now he sounds a little nervous, mostly because she's nervous.] Well no, not necessarily! Just a friend in general. Not that I wouldn't enjoy having you come along, but...um. I wouldn't want you to feel pressured to.

I don't do very well with heights. It looks like fun, but the moment I'd get out there I'd be too scared to try. I guess it's just another way I'll end up being like her since she seemed to have no such fear.

[The very idea of Tamara becoming "her" fills him with frustration and bitter anger. An accusation echoes in his mind: you can't save her.

On a typical day he'd easily force those emotions aside and try to sound reassuring, but when he's already been shaken and exhausted, he doesn't have the same amount of self control. When he speaks, his voice is snappish in tone and much louder than before.]

You're NOT going to end up like her!

[Damn it, where did that come from? He forces himself to speak softer again.]

...Sorry. I didn't--it's my--I shouldn't have snapped at you. I guess the lack of sleep is getting to me.

You don't have to go, and even if you did I wouldn't make you hang glide or anything like that.

I understand. I haven't been able to sleep either, but not because of the stuff everyone is talking about.

But are you scared of us becoming them as well?

[sigh] Maybe? Probably. I...think you're a nice girl, and I don't want to see you get hurt.

[Now witness as he tries to clumsily switch the subject of conversation from himself to Tamara!]

Why haven't you been sleeping well?

[So obvious, but she'll let him get away with it since subject change sounds like a great idea! But she's going to change this to being private since Sam's the only one who knows of that little ability.]

It just went into the other direction. So instead of being tired I'm now wide awake all the time. I'm sure I just need to get the hang of how much I need and I'll go back to normal.

Oh, you mean you found something to...'eat'?

Yeah, as much as I don't like the idea.

[Doing his absolute best to be reassuring.]

It'll be okay. It doesn't make you a bad person, it's just eating. Besides, if you're taking so much that you don't even need to sleep, that probably means that you can get by on even less than you're currently taking, right?

Assuming that nothing changes. At least it's not blood, that's just gross.

Not the sort of girl that finds vampires sexy, huh?

I just wouldn't want to be one.

Mm, well...yeah, I don't blame you. And it probably doesn't taste that great, either. [He's trying to lighten the mood, but his brain is just not co-operating with jokes...]

I definitely would prefer a good cheesecake myself.

Cheesecake, huh? Yeah, that does seem like the sort of thing you'd like to eat. I'm a bit more of a spicy fan than sweet, myself. Although I have my moments.

Spicy can be good as well, but I'm definitely a sucker for sweets, even the traditional chocolates.

Chocolates and cheesecake. I'll have to remember that for when your birthday rolls around...

If I even mention when it is.

What? You won't tell me? That's no fun...

I just don't like being the center of attention.

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3rd Song // Video (Webcam) // forward-dated to about 2am on the 14th

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