[1] Video

[krangke]

(To be honest, he had completely forgotten about his communication device until he saw it sitting on his bed. He forgot about all of the contacts, the people he mostly didn't know. It's not until after the buried event that he even thinks to utilize this broad form of communication. Suddenly he sees the benefit in it, the reason why people might want to use this sort of thing beyond private talking.

So Newt's set it up and a feed of him sitting on a mattress on a floor begins to flow through to the network. He's in clean clothes and looks clean enough overall but his hands are covered in tightly wrapped bandages and he looks rather tired.)

Hi, everyone.

(He doesn't seem to be awkward at all. Like someone whose had to address groups of people before. There's no hesitance, no shift or uncertain pause of what to say next. He's already thought it through.)

My name's Newt. I haven't met most of you yet but that's okay. What I'm about to say applies to everyone, regardless of whether or not we know each other.

I know that everyone sort of just went through their own personal hell. Whether you were buried alive or looking for someone you care about- it sucks, it really sucks and I hope to God that we found everyone.

(His eyes roll upwards and he actually does look serious, looks genuinely pained at the idea that maybe they didn't. That maybe, just maybe, they had somehow missed someone. He doesn't linger on it though. This video has a point. He clears his throat and looks back to the camera and offers a slight grin.)

I know that the clinic has been helping people a lot. But - well, shock is a pretty nasty thing and it's a bloody reckoning waiting to happen if you're on your own too much. And not everyone's all too great about properly taking care of themselves when they're- they're bad off. I don't know if everyone has someone here to look out for them so- I don't know. Shuck it-

(He spreads his hands open and shrugs his shoulders.)

If you need something, let me know. I've made a load of sandwiches and don't mind bringing them over. Stew too. A lot of you are probably dead tired still so that's fine. I've got tea- and apparently my tea isn't too buggin' bad at all- and if you just need company...

(He puts his arms back down, fiddling with the bandages on his hand. The smile he offers is now a bit hesitant. It's a broad statement but he means it all the same. Being shocked can really hurt a person, deeper than some can even handle. Sometimes being alone is the worst thing for them and he gets that. He really, really does.)

I can sit around with you or talk to you through here. Doesn't matter to me. So here's hoping to everyone being okay. Anyway, see you lot around.

Comments

video

[werewolfing]

Wait, who says I'm giving you a cigarette if you're mad at me?

video

[krangke]

Me. I say so.

Re: video

[werewolfing]

Oh, well if that's the case...

Action

[krangke]

(Just like that, the video feed switches off. There's some shuffling around from inside of the house and before long, Newt joins Peter out on the porch. He settles right next to Peter before grinning and holding his hand out expectantly.)

Action

[werewolfing]

[peter rolls his eyes and hands an unlit cigarette to newt, then lights a match and holds it up.]

You're a jerk.

[he says this the way most people say 'hello'.]

[krangke]

(Newt just grins until there's teeth showing and puts the cigarette between his lips, leaning forward to grab at Peter's hand and guide the match home.)

And you....are a shank.

(He says this delightedly- the way most people might say 'thank you'. He leans back then and takes a small puff.)

[werewolfing]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You keep saying that and I still don't know what it means.

[nor does he care, particularly. peter has a cigarette and a belly full of sandwich, life is okay.]

[krangke]

Dunno either, mate. Just slang from the Glade.

(Life definitely is okay for right now. He tips his head back and sighs around his cigarette.)

I invited Arya over. Not for anytime specific- just whenever works. But I thought it'd be nice.

[werewolfing]

[peter's eyebrows raise, and then he smiles as he exhales.]

That would be nice. She's a good kid. Lot of spunk, that one.

[krangke]

Yup. We're gonna doll you up like a princess.

(He smirks a little bit around his cigarette, eyes darting over to Peter.)

[werewolfing]

You are so full of shit. I would be the worst princess. You'd be a much better princess.

[krangke]

I am so not. (And now he'll just proceed to gape openly at Peter.)

How exactly would you make a bad princess but I would make a good one?

[werewolfing]

You're prettier, mostly. And we both know that Arya would stab anybody who tried.

[krangke]

(Ooooooh my God Peter you don't just call people pretty. Holy shit how insensitive. How dare. How. What. No. Bad.

Newt takes like, a full minute to respond he's too busy ignoring the flaming in his face.)

Okay, first of all- (Nope still too embarrassed to talk. What the hell. He shoves a hand over his face, holding his cigarette in the other.)

I've no idea why I talk to you. None. I should make Arya stab you anyway.

[werewolfing]

Arya won't stab me, she'll agree with me.

[oh my god this is the best this is making his day. you're making his day, newt.]

[krangke]

I swear to God.

(He gives Peter a horrified, exasperated stare, jaw dropped.)

You're so fucking ridiculous!

(He shoves Peter particularly hard and it's totally in all good fun but his humiliation runs behind it like a train- so you know.)

Boys can't even be pretty.

(You are not making his day, Peter.)

[werewolfing]

[newt's shove pushes peter back against the wall, and he hits his head and shoulder. for a moment, he gives newt a dark look that might actually have some shadow to it, but he rubs the back of his head and it's gone just as quick.]

Why can't boys be pretty? That's dumb.

[krangke]

I'm sorry-!

(Newt quickly darts out because he really, really hadn't meant to and for a moment, his own unique look of guilt crosses over his face that goes a bit deeper than the regular guilt of someone who accidentally hurt someone else.

He also notices Peter's look. With his lifestyle, it's hard not to and for a moment, he actually feels a little uncomfortable with Peter. It's the first time since meeting the boy but it surprises him- short lived as the look is. It still existed and Newt has no clue what that meant. Was Peter more dangerous than he let on? It was certainly possible. His eyes flick down and he feels a bit out of sorts.)

I dunno. Never mind. Doesn't bloody matter anyway.

[werewolfing]

No, no, I'm fine.

[he touches the back of his head and then shows newt his fingertips.]

See, no blood. Just didn't realize it was worth that much of a shove. No worries, I'm told I have a hard head.

[he reaches out and pats newt on the leg, gentle as ever.]

[krangke]

(His eyes flick to Peter's fingers because some part of him is concerned he really had hurt Peter. It is a relief to see blank fingers.)

I didn't mean to push you that hard.

(He mumbles this in quiet earnest, putting his cigarette out. When Peter touches him, Newt jumps a little bit, leg jerking just the slightest bit beneath Peter's hand. He looks over at him with a frown before pushing himself to his feet.)

I should probably go make sure no one's contacted me for stuff.

[werewolfing]

Hey.

[peter reaches out but stops before touching newt again.]

What's your deal all of a sudden?

[krangke]

(Newt looks down at Peter and he feels stupid for being wary. But to be fair, he came from a world where he survived on being wary. And more than that, it wasn't Peter he was most afraid of just then.

But this isn't like his memories or the tattoo or WICKED. There's plenty of things that Newt will be open about but this is something he doesn't know how to talk about and something he really isn't ready to talk about. Especially not to someone who doesn't even understand what a Crank is. How do you let the person you're living with know that you're slowly having your brain eaten away by a disease that will eventually reduce him to a violent, insane- monster. He hasn't thought about it too much but lately...

He shakes his head at Peter, shrugging.)

I'm just- not feeling too well.

(And that's actually not a lie.)

I'm sorry I pushed you.

(He says this quietly, seriously.)

I didn't mean to hurt you. It doesn't matter that I didn't make you bleed. I'm still sorry.

(Because one day he might not be sorry and that's what really kills him. He clears his throat, shaking his head again before gesturing vaguely.)

Listen, it's - weird, okay? But don't worry about it.

(He also didn't know how to inform Peter that he had just given him a pretty freaky look and that Newt didn't know what to make of that anymore than he did anything else. Maybe he was being paranoid but that was nerve-wrecking to think about too and man- he really just needed to go somewhere.)

[werewolfing]

Right. Okay.

[peter takes a last drag on his cigarette, stubs it out, and immediately taps out another. there's no real hint of how he feels on his face, snubbed or confused or annoyed or none of the above. but newt clearly wants to go, so peter waves him off with the flick of a match.]

Go see about your good samaritan gig. Lots of people ought to take you up on it.