Energy Up! Backdated to December 1

[dead_black_eyes]

Brian: Welcome to today's shocking installment of Energy Up! I'm your host, Brian Forester. In the recent eventful weeks we've heard a lot about the Numbered, and for the first time ever, we have in our studio someone who has, until now, done his very best to evade all of our attempts to get him here. Introducing the enigmatic owner of Locke City's most dangeous coffee shop... Lazarus Lawliet!

L: Hello.



Brian: Thank you for making time for us, Mr. Lawliet. Though the answer might seem obvious to some, in your own words, can you tell us why you've chosen now to give us an interview when you've had several opportunities in the past?

L: I'm angry, and I want people to know that I'm angry.

Brian: That's... very direct, Mr. Lawliet, but I suspect you're just that kind of man.

L: Yes. I am.

Brian: Does the recent fire at your coffee shop have anything to do with that anger?

L: Absolutely, it does.

Brian: Tell us a little bit about your background, if you don't mind.

L: My background is that I played chess competitively as a child, started college at 14, and suffered a nervous breakdown a few years later just before earning my master's degree in criminal justice. That's when my life stopped; I was alive, but I wasn't living.

Brian: Mental illness, substance abuse, a lot of sordid things from what we understand. Can you confirm diagnoses or substances?

L: No, I prefer not to. Suffice it to say that everything is well-controlled at this time.

Brian: That's good to hear; congratulations, Mr. Lawliet. Your business must mean even more to you, given the difficulties you've had to overcome.

L:Working at Espresso Yourself was my first real job. I wasn't doing so well, and about a year ago, shortly after I got my Number, the manager there offered me a position. Things were rough at first, and then they got worse when that stone snake went on its rampage through the business district. We were terrified; people died, the building was destroyed. But I had an inheritance, so I bought the business, rebuilt it, and started living again. It means everything to me, today as much as it did then.

Brian: Since then, the business has been the subject of several scandals. Did you ever think that choosing to prioritize hiring Numbered people would create such a backlash and draw so much negative attention? Any comment on the hipster you assaulted?

L: I always knew that people were unaccepting [BLEEP], if that's what you mean. Maybe not to that extent. All I wanted was a way to keep people who were inherently misunderstood safe. As for the hipster... we were both rude to each other and I simply took it further than I had any right.

Brian: I admit that the accounts on Twitter really led me to believe that you appeared very differently.

L: You're saying I look scrawny, aren't you?

Brian: I didn't want to be rude, but if I was one of those big ladies with a cooking show, I'd want to feed you sticks of butter. How much can you bench press?

L: I don't suppose you've seen those Pocky sticks.

Brian: *surprised laughter*

L: The point I think I'm trying to make is that I didn't pose much of a threat to that hipster. He punched me so hard after I let go of him that he knocked me off my feet completely, and that's when my associate intervened. You've had him on the show before. Tony?

Brian: Ah, yes, spirited young man. Our intern Martin was especially moved by his perspective.

L: Mm, for good reason. The day he agreed to work for me was a very happy one for me. We've been through a lot together, and the timing of the incident fell after a particularly unfortunate one in which we both thought we'd die.

Brian: Over the summer, you mean. There was a shootout and two hostages were taken to the hospital after being held captive in a now-deserted and condemned warehouse for a week. You and Tony were those people.

L: Of course we were. We were tortured, and we barely got out with our lives.

Brian: Why do you think that the two of you were targeted?

L: Do you remember your bench press question? I imagine they saw us as easy targets. The fact is... a lot of us are not superpowered, or even strong. A lot of us are in more danger than we pose to others.

Brian: Of your employees, some have been controversial. Tell me about Anthony Janvier, the zombie who allegedly killed an old woman and ate her brains.

L: Thanks for giving me an opportunity to further illustrate my point. Anthony was a gentle child who wouldn't hurt a soul. Even the thought that he was mildly inconveniencing someone was enough to reduce him to stammering apologies.

Brian: So you don't think there's any stock to the rumors? That he was... harmless?

L: I think that people have more active imaginations than they have common sense or observational skills. Anthony didn't stand a chance when that civilian mob gunned him down while he was working behind the counter. He was blind and frail and he couldn't move quickly enough. The idea of a zombie eating brains is just more interesting to people than the harsh reality of a faultless teenager getting killed because people were afraid, and fear made them stupid.

Brian: But scared citizens aren't the only people targeting your store or its workers. A little over a week ago, 12 individuals working together tried to burn the shop down, and several were confirmed as working for Albero's security company. Do you want to say anything about that?

L: Sure. I wouldn't hire Albero's company to keep my business safe, that's for sure. *light laughter*

Brian: That can't be all you want to say. This has cost you money, and time, and doubtless some peace of mind.

L: You want me to go off, call them [BLEEP] [BLEEP] [BLEEP] and [BLEEEEEEEP]?

Brian: Uh.

L: Because I want to. I'm furious. But if I can see that it's wrong, I'm sure the good people of Locke City can, too. This shouldn't stand, and I shouldn't have to say [BLEEEEEEEEP] to make it clear.

Brian: What exactly are you calling for, Mr. Lawliet?

L: People have to open their eyes. We work hard to fit in, make a living, help our own when we're not doing so well. Just like most of the citizens of this city, where I was born, which I love... we do our best just to get by. I'm on your side, Brian. My friends are on your side.

Brian: And your enemies?

L: With any luck, their number will be fewer after this segment has aired.

Brian: I'd like to open the lines and take a few phone calls now, Mr. Lawliet, if that's all right with you.

L: Please, Brian. Call me Lazarus.



[OOC: Got something to contribute to the segment? Sure you do. Post away in the comments and influence that media presence.]

Comments

[charcoalfeather]

[L.....why....

She can't even say anything. She called in and she cant say anything!]

[dead_black_eyes]

L: ...

Brian: Yes, hello! You are on the air! Hello?

[charcoalfeather]

U-Uh!

[WORDS

WORDS PLEASE WORK FOR HER NOW WORDS]

Y-yes! Hello! I'm here...

[dead_black_eyes]

Brian: Speak up, no need to be shy! You sound familiar, have you been on the show before?

[charcoalfeather]

Uh, yes, I have! I mean... maybe.

[She can't remember. Ugh, this was her life.

Okay, deep breath.]

I think he's right. About the Numbered. We've been trying to help just as much as everyone else, but now we're being treated badly, no, abused by the mafia that is set up around here.

A lot of my friends have left Locke city because of it.

[prismaticdestruction]

[How she got though is anyone's guess. Probably made her voice sound more Mature and Dani tries to keep it up.]

He's right you know. Even those of us who were not born here but moved in before they got their numbers- We love our home. Even those who have basically been chased out.

[dead_black_eyes]

Brian: Hello, you are on the air! Welcome to Energy Up!

L: Thank you, truly.

Brian: Miss, do you mean that things got so bad you felt you had to leave? What exactly happened?

[prismaticdestruction]

Thank you.

I guess you could call it that. There was just so much going on it was enough for the people I live with to move away. Of course before the move was the whole thing with 'vampire are hurting people' so that didn't help.

[A sigh.]

It was just bad all around really.

[dead_black_eyes]

Brian: Vampire? Is that what you are? Do you mean the kind that drink blood? Human blood?

L: Even if she does, she wouldn't hurt a human. She would find a workaround. We're all committed to making the world a better place with our differences, not a worse one.

[prismaticdestruction]

[There is a moment of hesitation before she responds again.]

Yes...but He's right. Even though I may require blood to survive, it does not mean people would be hurt for it. People have voluntarily donated blood and even then...I won't drink it often.

[peacefulwinter]

[It's amazing what you can do with the right amount of will and some ingenuity. She's been listening, and while there's a small smile on her face as Lazarus lets the poor host have it, she shakes her head as she punches in the number on her phone.]

We've come a long way in the last year and a half... if you'd told me a year ago that we'd be talking about Numbered business on open air, I'd have tried to laugh and managed a stuttering "no way" instead.

[dead_black_eyes]

Brian: Hello, young lady, you are on the air! Thank you for your call. Yes, it's been very clear that a lot of Numbered have been reluctant to speak out. What do the two of you think the change indicates?

L: That it's the right time to remind people that our voices matter.

[peacefulwinter]

For the longest time, we kept silent. Speaking up might help us in the short run, but it got us killed in the long term. We'd already learned that lesson. More than once.

But times have changed. We have to make our voices heard, or we may never get a chance to speak up. And there are a lot of voices with a lot to say.

[dead_black_eyes]

Brian: I think all of our listeners are very interested to hear you speak out, Numbered or not! We've certainly gained some interesting new perspectives, and your losses are things that even the most cold-hearted of skeptics would have to sympathize with. Attacked coffee shops, dead friends... How has being Numbered affected you personally, positively or negatively?

[peacefulwinter]

I... that's kind of a question with a long answer. It's been a trial just getting through the days, sometimes. Some of my friends have forgotten all of this, some have moved away for their own safety... a couple are nothing more than memories for us, or have come very close to becoming that. [Raye was a memory that still stuck in her mind, and if she hadn't known him well, it hadn't made Neil's death any less painful. That pain is audible in her tone.] Spending a night in jail was a sobering experience, too. And I've gotten hurt more than once.

Still... I've had some personal victories along the way. I've learned a lot about myself, for better or worse. [Now her voice is warmer than anyone, perhaps excluding Lily, has ever heard from her.] I made a lot of friends that I trust... and I met someone I can give my heart to. Mr. Forester, I want you to understand - the last year and a half has been rough. But if I had the chance to do it all again, I would. In a heartbeat.

[jasminebloominginshadow]

[Jasmine's call comes a bit after Winter's, as hearing her do this plays a big part in getting Jasmine's confidence up to do this]

... Hey. I'm a Numbered, and I'm one of the ones who can't pass as a normal human being. Maybe you'd all like to hear about that.

[dead_black_eyes]

Brian: Hello, you are on the air! Welcome to Energy Up. We are interested in what all of our callers have to say, but even if it's unprofessional to say so... some things are much more interesting than others! If I met you on the street, miss, how would I know that you are not human?

[jasminebloominginshadow]

... It's pretty much an open damn secret, but I have a giant wing growing out of my shoulder.

[dead_black_eyes]

Brian: Wing, singular? Just one?

[jasminebloominginshadow]

[there's a pointed pause, where the only thing heard on Jasmine's end is her sucking in a deep breath]

Y-yeah... I have only one wing.

[gobybessie]

[ Calling in, calling in ... ]

I'd say something about swearing on air, but I'd hope people are more understanding than not in this case.

[ Hi, L. ]

[dead_black_eyes]

Brian: Hello, sir! Thank you for calling in; we are broadcasting on a slight delay, and I apologize on behalf of the show if you are offended.

L: I don't apologize. Humans are imperfect; they get emotional, and they swear, and I am indeed human. I want the listeners to know that.

[Even that has a calculated, premeditated point to it.]

[gobybessie]

No, no, I'm not offended. In fact, I would like to say I can agree with Lazarus's, ah ... Let's call it sentiment.

[dead_black_eyes]

Brian: Oho! Then you, too, are angry and want to be heard at this time?

[gobybessie]

I thought I'd add to it, yes. Lazarus isn't the only one who's angry, and I'm quite certain it's not just the two of us either. Frankly, the whole matter is nothing short of appalling.