A video chat with mynameisnotbrad

[chiron_survivor]

Adia sits at a computer terminal in the Plaza, a cup of coffee next to the keyboard. It takes a bit of nerve to return so soon after the Valentine's Day fiasco, but the Nexus, for all its unpredictable magic, is still a more comfortable place to her than her home on New Caprica. Her new friend's request to show her a video is all the excuse she needs to visit.

She opens up the chat program and sends a message to Josh. (Or, "gameshow host Josh" as she has come to think of him, already having a friend named Josh in her life.)

Hello! I am in the Nexus now, if you are around.

She takes a sip of coffee and waits for a reply.

Comments

[mynameisnotbrad]

['Josh', although he'd never admit it, has been waiting of Adia's message patiently. Unlike the first conversation they had, he's a lot more prepared this time around, having fitted his cell phone with a reliable voice filter that doesn't require much effort. It doesn't take away the fact that he's actively contacting someone, let alone the fear of his true job being revealed.

It's ironic that he's drinking coffee as well when she messages him back, but in a slightly different setting that's he all to eager to show her via live cam. He's not going to surprise her with that right off the bat, sticking with texting first.]

Adia! It's good to hear from you again. I hope everything is well.

...

I want to show you some really neat things. Don't worry, it's nothing scary or bad. Just let me know whenever you're comfortable with having a video call.

[chiron_survivor]

I'm okay. Valentine's Day in the Nexus was weird. There's also the matter of things worsening on New Caprica, but she doesn't want to bother Josh with her problems.

We can do a video call, sure. Although telling her not to worry automatically makes her a little nervous. A video call is a step up from audio, almost like meeting in person. How do I do that? Do I press the video camera icon?

[mynameisnotbrad]

Valentine's Day is strange in general. I went out to a speed dating event and...yeah...could've saved myself a few hours by skipping out on that. At the end of the day it was just me, a box of chocolates and watching Bob Ross paint. [He talks so openly about his feelings, regardless if the person on the other end was male or female.]

Great! Yes, that's what you'll do. When I call in, there's probably going to be a camera button that you can push. [Is he getting a little nervous? Yes. But he's got his trusty voice filter and he highly doubts anyone in the Nexus will want to trace his phone.]

[He points the camera away from himself, so his face is not the first thing Adia sees. Instead, the view Adia is going to get the second she clicks the camera button is relatively tame: it looks to be the interior of some sort of cabin living room. From the light source, it's mid-day and sunny, clearly a tranquil place by first glance alone. He turns the camera gently around the room, finally stopping on the large windows.

Taking a few steps forward, the sight of grass and a few sparse trees lay next to the house, paling in comparison to the large desert ranch which takes up a majority of the landscape. A few people linger outside, dressed like modern day cowboys, tending to different colored horses. As if on cue, dust kicks up in the background; a team of horses are seen running in the distance. It's like watching a western movie unfold in real life.

'Josh' isn't going to ruin the moment with his face, merely keeping the camera on the landscape and animals, wanting to give Adia time to let it all sink in.]

"So...what do you think? Pretty cool, right?" [He's not fishing for praise, rather, he just hopes the sight makes her happy.]

[chiron_survivor]

I never tried speed dating. Too scary. Having to interact with several people, all in a row, under a vague hope of potential romantic attraction? No thanks. I still don't entirely understand Valentine's Day very much, but I don't think I like it.

She feels culturally insensitive for typing that. Who is she to judge an Earth holiday? But her experience in the Nexus more or less soured her on it.

Adia dutifully clicks the camera button once it appears. The image from her camera is herself sitting at what appears to be a computer table in the middle of an outdoor plaza. There is a fountain behind her, covered in snow, although Adia herself does not look cold. She does look tired, however, and pale, like she could use a good night's sleep and a few days in the sun.

That tiredness leaves when she takes in the view. It's not quite like Leonis, but the cowboys and horses stir up her nostalgia. She leans forward, looking over everything with a soft-eyed wonder. "It's beautiful... thank you for sharing this with me, Josh. What a wonderful view."

[mynameisnotbrad]

[He can't help but smile from behind the phone camera, just hearing her words of happiness. There's a great deal of hesitation in turning the electronic device away from the window and to himself. Adia might actually hear him sigh, almost in fear of how she'll react to his looks. How ironic.

For a serial killer, he hardly looks the part: just your average 30-something year old guy, dressed in a typical blue polo shirt and khaki capris. It's very obvious that's he nervous at actually getting to see what Adia looks like, along with revealing his true identity via the internet. The very thing a typical serial killer is not supposed to do.]

"I'm glad that you like it!" [He waves lightly to the camera, which is held as straight as possible in his other hand.] "I couldn't help but think about you when I got here..." [Oh god, he has to pull himself out of the 'sounding weird' category fast.]

"Oh! Where I'm at...I can tell you about that. This is Nevada, a state in the far west of the United States. It's considered a desert biome in some places, but elsewhere in the state it snows." He tries not to stare at her features, but can't help noticing how tired she looks. Does he say anything? Doesn't matter. The words slip right out of his mouth.

"Adia...are you okay?"

[chiron_survivor]

Her reaction to his appearance is one of mild surprise. He looks normal. Attractive, even, in a conventional polo-shirt wearing sort of way. It makes his voice seem even more incongruous. What happened to him to make him sound so dark and distorted?

(She can't help but think of the chocolatier Shark took her to while under the Valentine candy's curse, a pink dragon-like creature that spoke like something straight from the depths of Tartarus. She quickly takes a sip of coffee to rid herself of the mental comparison.)

She smiles shyly and waves back. "I do like it, it's amazing that you can see that from your living room. I hadn't heard of Nevada before. We didn't have any deserts on Leonis, but it still reminds me of home."

The question catches her off-guard; her gaze shifts to the small window at the bottom of the screen that shows the view from her own camera. She does look tired, doesn't she? She stares at herself self-consciously for a moment or two before sighing and returning her attention to Josh. "It's... it's a long story. Things have been... not good, where I'm from. Recently they got a lot worse."

[mynameisnotbrad]

[The feeling is mutual when he looks at Adia: a very calm, peaceful person that strikes at his usually cold heart. If he could have friends like her, then maybe he wouldn't have taken up killing as a paid profession. Then he wouldn't have to use voice filters as a way to boost his self-confidence as well.]

"I wish I could call this my home full time, but I'm out here for work. This is a rental property on a ranch: a vacation spot of sorts." [He fiddles with the phone, setting it in a stand on the coffee table in front of him, so he's able to talk to Adia without any problems.] "Nevada is warm, has a lot of ways to get out into the wild...but there's also Las Vegas." [And he says that so begrudgingly.]

[Hearing her voice gets him to stop thinking about his minor complaints.] "...I'm sorry to hear that." [And he means it, as his gaze goes to the floor, almost guilty for bringing up her appearance.] "H-hey, if you want, I can give you a tour of the ranch! I mean...if you don't want to talk about what's going on, there's other things we can do."

[chiron_survivor]

"I suppose it wouldn't feel so special if you lived there all the time," Adia muses. It's what made her visits to Nana's house in the country so special, after all. "What's Las Vegas?" She can only assume it's something unpleasant from the way he says it.

Adia looks away guiltily. It feels wrong not to tell him at least a little of the what she is going through, but she has shared her story so many times in the Nexus, and though she appreciates the sympathy (and sometimes helpful advice) it elicits, she hates burdening others with her problems. It would be nice to keep the conversation light and untroubled for a while.

"Sure." She smiles and her gaze lifts. "A tour would be nice."

[mynameisnotbrad]

"Very true indeed. Vacations never last forever." He stands up, grabbing the camera off the stand gently, knowing full well that Adia's view is moving around drastically with each turn of the phone.

"It's no problem. I apologize in advance if the view gets a little jarring." He starts walking to the cabin door, opening it to reveal a warm wave of sunlight, which he tries to avoid pointing the camera directly into.

Outside of the room is a long open hallway, allowing visitors to see the ranch while walking to their rooms, covered by an expansive wooden roof. At the very end, one can make out the image of a large building which is presumably the main lodge.

"Ah, Las Vegas. You ever heard of the Seven Deadly sins, Adia? It's a place that literally embodies those morals." He sighs, walking briskly down the path, camera pointed at the vast ranch yard, so the view of the horses can be seen more than anything else.

"It's too busy, bright and crazy for my tastes. But I have to go there for work: it's an ideal spot to round up contestants for my gameshow." Because the versatile combination of drunks, young adults and tourists make for easy kidnapping victims that hardly garner any attention upon disappearing.

[chiron_survivor]

Once the camera compensates for the change in light, Adia marvels at the expanded view. "Oh, it's lovely," she says happily, forgetting her troubles. So many horses! "What do vacationers typically do at the ranch? Aside from riding horses, of course."

She has heard of the seven deadly sins, actually. It gives her pleasure to know something about Earth. "It's from one of Earth's religions, right? We don't have anything comparable, but I get what you're saying. Las Vegas sounds a lot like Celeste. That was the capital of Scorpia, one of the colonies. A real vacation hotspot, but there was a seedier side to it." She shrugs. "It was easy enough to avoid, though. I went there on vacation once, but I only went to the safe areas."

[mynameisnotbrad]

"Well, people like to take tours of the desert in order to see lots of wild horses or birds. Some use this as a place of healing, to get back in touch with themselves. Other than that, it's a quiet resort to get away from a busy city life." He almost feels like that answer is minimal, but hey, the video can tell a better story than he can. The walk continues on, as he approaches the backside of the lodge area, where a large glass door sits.

"Yup, originating from Christianity, the description of man's immoral behaviors. It sounds like Celeste is very similar Vegas, based on your description, some bad spots but easy to avoid most dangerous things." He takes a moment to open the door: the change of scenery, in both sight and sound is drastic from outside.

The main lodge is full of different visitors, ranging from children to the elderly. Consider it comparable to an old-style saloon, lots of people talking and drinking, but with less grime and shady practices. He casually moves to the side of the room, holding up the camera for a better view, thankfully not looking weird while doing it, since other people are taking photos and filming.

"Welcome to the main hub spot! This is actually a pretty tame time in comparison to later in the night. As you can see, lots of visitors..." The one odd thing about this call that Adia might notice is the fact that no one seems to be fazed by 'Josh's' voice. One might think that such a creepy voice would be easily recognizable when talking, but this isn't the case, as no one seems to be batting an eye towards him.

"So, Adia, do you partake in drinking or dancing at all? Because, if so, there's plenty of that around here."

[chiron_survivor]

He doesn't need to explain further, the view from the camera speaks louder than words. Adia could easily see herself riding along the desert trails, or watching the sunset from the main lodge, letting the peace of the quiet landscape restore her nerves. "I can see why you enjoy it so much. It does seem very peaceful."

At least, until he steps into the main lodge, although even here, there is a kind of quaint joviality to things. "Scorpia was very tropical," she says belatedly, trying to track everyone with her eyes. So many people, having such a nice time. It was heartening to see. "So I spent most of my time in Celeste on the beach, or touring the rainforest. I went parasailing, too, that was a lot of fun."

It is curious that no one bats an eye at his unique voice. But maybe he comes to the main lodge often enough that everyone is used to it. His question distracts her from that train of thought, anyway, and she smiles self-consciously, playing with the scarf around her neck. "Not enough of either," she admits. "I used to do line dancing with friends, but I never went clubbing or anything like that. And I don't drink much. For a variety of reasons."

[mynameisnotbrad]

"Well, if I'm dragging myself out to a city I despise, I might as well enjoy a different scenery beforehand." He sighs, staring out at the same view that Adia is seeing right now, although the joyous people grind a little on his nerves. Not like he'll actively say anything rude while she's on the other line. "There's no beaches or rainforests out here, just lots of desert landscapes. Although, that does sound like a beautiful place to visit, again, if only just for a little while."

He moves around the edge of the room, avoiding any collisions with other people, sneaking off down a hallway to his left. It's much quieter than before, less people around and more time to chat with his Nexus friend. There's a wide assortment of paintings and different historical brackets mounted on the walls, listing off facts about the ranch. Much of the artwork depicts horses and the older forms of architecture from years long since past. "I took a cruise ship all the way out to the Yucatán Peninsula back in 2013, that ended with me spending some free time on a few beaches in Mexico. Good times." He nods to himself. "If you ever get the chance, you should take a boat ride somewhere nice, Adia."

He's going to stop walking for a moment, letting her examine the different pieces of history in the hallway. As a fan of fine art, he might also be taking in the moment as well. "Clubbing isn't my thing either. Occasionally, I'll have alcohol, but there's better alternatives out there. Please tell me that you have other fun things to do currently? Or is that what the Nexus is for?"

[chiron_survivor]

"You said there was snow, too?" Adia asks curiously. Earth has such a diverse climate! "The closest landscape I can think of was on Tauron, but I never saw it personally."

She says this last bit with noticeable regret. She had wanted to visit all twelve colonies at some point. Now she'll never get that chance.

But there is little time to dwell on the past -- her past, anyway, because Josh has changed the scenery. The paintings intrigue her, although she doesn't have any historical context to place them in. "Mexico... I haven't heard of that country before. What is it like?" She nods earnestly at his suggestion. "Oh, I'd love to. I've been on a few boat rides on Aquarion, but that was more for work than pleasure."

She's not sure what he means by "better" alternatives. Adia has never experimented with anything stronger than perhaps an energy drink or two in college. "That's what the Nexus is for me," she admits softly. "There's a forest here, and a lake... I'll meet interesting people, or see someone perform real magic. Back home there are card games, mostly. Storytelling. The alcohol is all bootlegged, so it smells like paint thinner. I don't touch it."

[mynameisnotbrad]

"I did. Northern Nevada is full of mountains and closer to colder temperatures, thus it snows in the same state where a desert exists. Kinda strange when you think about it, but fascinating all the same."

Josh notes her moment of sadness, but isn't going to pry further on the topic. He gets the feeling that Adia goes through a lot of stress and problems, and to be fair, he wouldn't want anyone calling him out on his bad days.

"Mexico is located in the southern half of the United States. It's the sixth largest county in both North and South America. Because of it's geographical location, it stays warm all year around, making it a popular spot for tourists. If you're into history, I would do research of the Aztecs: they're the people of Central Mexico who built pyramids and created unique pieces of art based around mythology."

"Ugh. I wouldn't even touch bootleg alcohol unless it was forced onto me." Maybe his choice of wording wasn't good, because it really does seem like he's implying some illegal substances or drinks, which is far from the truth. Unfortunately, he doesn't even catch this mistake. "Too many important things to do back home, I take it? Because it sounds like the Nexus would be a good place to live. No real magic, no real interesting people. This world of mine can be boring at times."

[chiron_survivor]

"It is fascinating," Adia agrees. "Do you ever vacation in Northern Nevada, or do you prefer the desert?" She'd likely choose the desert, but only because of the horses.

She listens to his description with rapt attention, eager to learn more about Earth. After he mentions the Aztecs, she moves the mouse around off-screen, her gaze shifting to another window on her computer screen. "I'm going to write that down," she says, typing 'Aztecs' into a document and emailing it to herself. "I'll look it up after we're done talking."

Her neglected cup of coffee gets noticed when she reaches for the mouse again and she takes a sip. She wouldn't judge Josh either way on illicit substance use, although she's assuming something mild like marijuana. The remark on bootleg alcohol makes her smile briefly. "Leonis was famous for its vineyards. I don't have a nose for wine but I've probably spoiled been spoiled by the good stuff."

She doesn't know how to answer, at first. How could Earth ever be boring? Adia would readily give up the Nexus if it meant living on a world like Josh's. "There are plenty of people who live in the Nexus, but it's not very stable, and if you're unfamiliar with magic or advanced technology, it can be scary at times." She frowns and leans towards the screen, her voice lowering, "Some people come here who are really dangerous. There's an anti-violence field that protects people in the Plaza, but it's spotty the farther away you go. You can't always rely on it to protect you."

[mynameisnotbrad]

"I don't mine either one. Earlier in the week, I visited Reno, a city on Northern Nevada, which gets all the snow. Had to leave it all behind to come down south to Vegas though." He continues walking down the hallway while Adia jots down her notes.

The path branches off in two directions: north or east. He takes the left path, opening the doors to reveal a large, open patio, where lots of tables and chairs are set up. There's a small amount of people here, sitting in different places, drinking coffee and looking at their cell phones / computers. He takes a seat far away from the other patrons.

The view seems about the same as before, but hanging down from the edges of the patio are small birdfeeders and different windchimes.

"Wine, now that's one of the things I prefer to drink. On days where I need to unwind, I head outside and sit with a glass." He's going to have to respond to her other statement carefully, mainly to avoid revealing his bad habits. "I've seen a lot of bad and scary things in my life, so maybe the Nexus won't be too bad of a shock if I ever visit it."

Oh dear. Hearing about an anti-violence field gets a frown out of him. Thankfully he has the camera pointed at a bird feeder, where a group of hummingbirds are hovering in for a snack. "Even if it has weak points, at least something is there to protect other people. Are the dangerous people easy to spot?"

[chiron_survivor]

"Leonis had mild winters, but we'd get some snow up in the mountains." She moves away from the camera so that he can get a better view of the Nexus. "There's snow here, but not too much. We have a winter spirit who frequently visits, but he's been taking it easy this year." And thank goodness for that, after what happened last winter.

Coming back into frame, she looks over the patio. The lodge has a very nice layout. Josh must do a lot better at running his game show than Adia first thought. "Oh, that sounds nice. Especially with the view you must get sitting out here."

His phrasing not only avoids revealing anything nefarious, it has the added bonus of tugging at Adia's heartstrings. "I'm sorry to hear that," she says sympathetically. "I've seen some scary things, too... it didn't entirely prepare me for the Nexus, but I always already in shock from everything that had happened just before I came here. But I got used to it quickly. Or... well, I saw the good things about the Nexus, and was less put off by the strangeness of it. I hope you get to visit someday."

She means it, too. Now that she has a face to put with a (creepy) voice, Josh seems much more real to her. And nice. Any red flags from his earlier behavior are forgotten or explained away.

It takes her a while to answer his question, distracted as she is by the hummingbirds. Her eyes light up as she tracks their movements, barely suppressing a girlish squee from how cute they are. "Well... sometimes. There is an old priest who spreads disease, for example, and he looks the part. But other people here can have tremendous powers and look as human as you or me. But... well, dangerous doesn't always mean bad, either. I try to keep an open mind when meeting people."

[mynameisnotbrad]

Ooh. His eyes widen at the sight of the Nexus, seeing all the different people and creatures walking around is simply fascinating. Now, more than ever, he really wants to visit it. "A winter spirit, huh. I'm guessing that anyone or anything can show up there." He's trying to downplay the depressing reality that he many never get off his own world.

The camera is propped onto the table, turning back to the outdoor scenery, 'Josh' not wanting to spend that much time staring at Adia. "It's okay...I've gotten used to it." As both the recipient and the deliverer of physical pain. Mental as well, but unless he's really caught in a moment of weakness, he'll never talk about it. "Yeah, someday it might happen."

He's staring out at the birds as well, but his gaze occasionally drifts to the different people sitting outside. The mind of a serial killed is always running at full speed, looking for a potential 'new friend'. "Evil comes is all shapes and forms, I suppose." And now he calmly asks the next question. "So, if you met someone who seems torn between good and bad, would you try to help them? Or does all of their bad deeds outweigh any good traits the person has?"

[chiron_survivor]

"Yeah, pretty much." She thinks about the people she's met over the years in Nexus. She stopped being surprised by the variety a long time ago. "I've even met talking animals. There is a polar bear who lives here who is super nice. He made me this scarf."

That's sad to hear, the resignation at having been the victim of trauma. (She's assuming, anyway.) Even though she'd likely say the same thing if someone expressed sympathy over her current situation. She tries to cheer him up by replying, "You've been able to connect remotely, I don't see why you couldn't get here physically one day." Not to mention how he was able to get ahold of her contact information. It doesn't seem too outrageous that he'd be able to find a portal somewhere.

"I don't know... it'd depend on the person, I guess. I've met a few people who straddle the line, but... the Nexus is a place of second chances. I don't know how fair it is to judge someone on things they've done in the past, on their own world." It's a troubling question, though, because she knows her answer barely touches the heart of it. She tries so hard to see the good in others, sometimes she wonders if she's merely fooling herself. "If they wanted my help, though, of course I'd help them. It can be a struggle to do the right thing."

[mynameisnotbrad]

He briefly looks into the camera to see polar-bear knitted treasure. "It's a cute scarf." Oh he already regrets saying that, immediately pulling himself out of view once more. "I mean...the colors of it are very nice and it looks super warm."

It takes him a minute or two to respond to her comment, his gaze is fixated on a group of hummingbirds, specifically looking at a smaller-than-most bird. "Perhaps. However, some things might be happening for a reason. Not all people have the luxury of getting what they want, whether it be careers or dreams." He can't help but sigh, but quickly attempts to chipper his voice back up. "Don't listen to me, Adia. I'm getting all negative on you and that isn't helping in the slightest."

Although the next part of their conversation does little to put his mood back in a positive direction. Instead, all of his questions are inquisitive by nature, but most certainly contain more feelings than normal. "What if they can't get away from their past? Every action they've ever done is just to define themselves, good or bad." He's dancing the line of revealing his real job and interests, and if it comes to that nearly being revealed, he can always disconnect the call due to 'bad services'.

[chiron_survivor]

Adia hides her smile behind her coffee cup. "Thanks. I think it's cute, too." Nothing wrong with a grown man finding things cute. If anything, it endears her to Josh a little more.

"It's okay," she says gently. Her mood can't get knocked around too much, not with a lovely view of the hummingbirds. "But... um, and not to sound like the type of person who says you should be grateful for what you have, but even if you don't find the Nexus, you live on such a lovely planet. Even this small part you've shared with me, it's beautiful. You're very lucky, Josh."

His questions about good versus evil people in the Nexus is starting to sound a little personal. But she doesn't see that as a red flag, as it's personal for her, too. "I don't know," she admits. "But if they wanted to change, or do better, I wouldn't give up on them."

[mynameisnotbrad]

Her compliment registers in his brain, but so far, all of his thoughts are going deeper into despair and darkness. The voice filter isn't helping to make him sound like the world's nicest person ever.

"Can people change...?" It's a question he asks quite often in his field, seeing how people pay attention or respond to his unethical 'tests'. "Adia, there's something you should know about my world. It's..." The door to the patio can be heard opening and the sound of footsteps get close to the table. 'Josh' is quick to turn the video portion of the call off suddenly, before speaking back into the phone.

"I'm going to put you on hold for a minute, okay? One of my friends just showed up, and...it'd be really awkward if he saw me doing this." Whether she likes it or not, he stuffs the phone into his pocket.

Problem is, he most certainly didn't hit the mute button, so she might be able to start hearing his conversation soon enough. Or maybe not, if she decides to mute her own portion of the call.

[chiron_survivor]

He sounds so sad. Even sounding like he does. She's not the type to pry, but the picture being painted of Josh's life, even with his wonderfully scenic travels, is starting to look rather dark to her.

But before she can ask what he means, the screen literally does go dark. Surprised, she doesn't bother to reply when Josh gives his hurried explanation and the sound becomes quiet and muffled. She's not offended, though, she knows how awkward it would be to explain a video chat with someone in a completely different universe.

She takes another sip of coffee, then opens up the computer's web browser to start reading up on Aztecs while she waits. Although she knows how to mute a call, she doesn't think to, already distracted by her research.

((Edited because that made it sound like she knows about the voice filter, which she doesn't.))

[mynameisnotbrad]

The problem with balancing Nexus conversations and real life is that, eventually, the two will somehow clash. It's just unfortunate that the first time 'Josh' has attempted to do normal things, this happens. The sound of another chair being moved can be heard, presumably for the unexpected company to sit down. 'Josh' is certainly not initiating the conversation.

"Didn't expect to find you outside, but I guess spending endless hours in a dungeon would drive anyone stir-crazy." She can't see it, but it might be easy to picture an uptight British gentleman sitting there, based on the accent alone.

"Why are you looking for me? Aren't you supposed to be doing something else right now?" He shifts in his seat, staring his lawyer down intently.

"Why, Spen..."

"Stop. I hate when people waste my time and you're accomplishing that right now." The way he speaks almost matches his 'voice' perfectly, as if anger is second nature.

"I suppose I should get to the point already. I've got a few friends who're very eager to participate in your gameshow. In fact, I talked everyone into meeting with you in Las Vegas tonight..." His statement is very carefree, almost too happy towards the 'friends' he's describing.

"That's not part of our agreement. I choose who I want to put on the show. Not you."

"Must I remind you that Las Vegas is a valuable timeshare. It's fought over by many people in your line of work. And look at you, sitting here wasting time watching the clouds roll by, as if nothing important is going on." The chair is pushed away from the table quickly, as 'Josh' stands, hate and anger in his voice.

"I know. You don't have to remind me of these things."

"Wonderful. We leave for Vegas in an hour." Too cheerful, this gentleman is. "Oh, before I forget, the recent voice-over commercial you auditioned for...Well, let's just say they aren't looking for someone like you."

'Josh' has nothing to say, continuing to stare at his so-called lawyer.

"Stick with your day job. It pays the bills without any worries, and if I may be honest, it suits your personality so much better."

'Josh' has to resist the urge to fly off the handle, somehow leaving the patio area without attacking or breaking anything in the process. For being upset, he manages to keep it all internal, walking the long distance back to his room, where this whole tour started. It takes him a solid 10 minutes to quell his anger, once seated on the sofa, to pull the phone out of his pocket. He doesn't even notice it's been on the whole time, and to be fair, he's almost forgotten Adia is on the other line.

He's at a loss of words right now, so she might have to find a way to resume the conversation, sans video chat.

[chiron_survivor]

Adia has just clicked on a promising wiki link when she hears the voice of man with the posh accent, clear enough to be understood, followed by Josh's irritated reply. Her gaze slowly drifts away from the article about Aztecs to the minimized chat window in the corner of the screen while they converse.

This man does not sound like a friend. He sounds like someone who enjoys pushing other people's buttons, and he seems to have succeeded with Josh. Her friend's anger is palpable, a rage that seems disproportionate to the topic of acquiring new game show contestants.

She gets the feeling that she shouldn't be overhearing this conversation, so she's grateful when it stops. But the silence that follows is unnerving. Did Josh forget that she's still on the other line? She wants to call out to him, to ask if he's all right, but the words stick in her throat. He sounded so scary back there. She doesn't want to be recipient of his misplaced rage.

Hesitantly, she edges the mouse cursor over to the video chat. If she closes the window and calls back, she can pretend that she got disconnected. It will leave Josh the illusion of privacy, and if he is still too upset to talk, he can simply not take the call.

Unfortunately, something goes wrong -- an accidental clicking of the mouse, perhaps. A computer-generated voice begins reading the contents of the wiki article, starting somewhere randomly in the middle:

"...known most famously for its stunning architecture and rich culture. However, like any empire, the Aztecs had a darker side to their way of life, regularly engaging in human sacrifice --"

Startled, Adia fumbles with the mouse to turn off the sound.

[mynameisnotbrad]

Lawyers must be naturally forceful, regardless of the species or world they hail from, and the one 'Josh' deals with is no exception to the rule. This one clearly wasn't hyped up on any cursed chocolate, for better or worse.

He's almost out of his homicidal rage, but seeing the phone light back up only causes him to tremble, his grip around the electronic device tightens. The irony in being recited facts about Aztec culture completely goes over his head, only paying attention to the fact that his entire conversation was overheard. He has to question every word he's said up to this point: was anything significant revealed?

Anger is terrible at helping people retain their memories and 'Josh' just finds himself taking deep breaths, clearly audible, while staring at the floor. He doesn't know what to say, only that he has to be the one to take initiative.

"...How long have you been able to hear me, Adia?"

Concern and worry would be a common feeling normal people go through in this situation, but the filter speaks volumes: he's the reincarnation of Alfred Hitchcock in this moment. Crisp and clear with his words, monotone with no signs of emotion. He just wants answers and can respond from there, depending on how much knowledge she's gleamed from his personal conversation.

[chiron_survivor]

Adia would much rather deal with a lovesick Shark again than the uncomfortable direction this video chat has turned. She fusses with the mouse a second or two more before managing to shut off the automatic reading of the wiki.

But things are unfortunately not silent. She can hear Josh's heavy breathing, as harsh and ragged as his voice. And then he speaks, and there are not enough generous excuses and second guesses to wish away the chill that goes straight down her spine.

"Um..." She stalls, but only for a moment. She can't lie to save her life. "I'm sorry, Josh. I didn't mean to listen. I heard your conversation with that man who is recruiting contestants for you..." She trails off and bites her lip in worry. She hates being the source of anyone's discomfort. "He wasn't very nice to you. I'm sorry that he spoiled your vacation."

[mynameisnotbrad]

He's about to jump the gun, to start intimidating her further like he would any other victim under his control, but stops upon hearing the shift in her tone of voice. It should be bringing him undeniable pleasure in knowing that's she afraid, but his intent was never to go that far, especially not with someone who might actually be treating him kindly.

"Adia..." He starts pacing the room, still cradling the phone in his hand. The fact that she didn't anything overly sensitive brings him at ease, but the conversation can never go back to the way it was before. "I didn't want you to have to hear the conversation I was having with my laywer." Wow. Now that he says it, he could have done a better job at ensuring that the call was muted to begin with.

"Work is the only reason I travel anymore, so this can't really even be called a vacation. Your words are nice to hear, but..." He shakes his head. "I shouldn't have contacted you during such a busy time to begin with. We're both living two different lives in different places and excitement got the better of me..."

[chiron_survivor]

The whiplash in his mood, from harsh and cold to calm and almost apologetic, reminds her of her ex-boyfriend Caspar and the way he reacted to being found out as a Cylon. That should be a red flag in and of itself, but all it does is make her more sympathetic to Josh's situation. "Hey, it's okay," she says gently, pushing aside the fear she felt mere moments before. "You were excited to share something with me. I really appreciate that. Things aren't... they aren't good at all back home. And they get worse every day." Her voice cracks a little and she swallows hard. "So for you to show me such beautiful sights from your Earth, that means a lot to me. Thank you."

[mynameisnotbrad]

"...I guess no one gets a free ride in life." He laughs weakly, finding it hard to not think about their struggles, especially given how hard it can be to see the light at the end of the tunnel. "Wow. Thought nothing was going to go wrong today and then something happened."

Her thanks is definitely disarming, given no one has said those words to him in a long time, his negative behaviors makes it impossible to get positive affection from anyone. His gaze rests on the window, staring outward in an attempt to come up with the right thing to say back to her.

"I'll consider that a win for one of us then. Adia...promise me something. If I ever do something bad in the future, I hope you stand by your statement from earlier."

[chiron_survivor]

It's really bothered him that she overheard that conversation with his lawyer, and she can't quite understand why. Is he embarrassed that he was bossed around? Is he ashamed that his voice over audition didn't pan out? His previous anger and current despair seem too extreme, too volatile.

She doesn't say anything right away, when he asks for her promise. What sort of bad thing is he alluding to? But despite the foreboding nature of his words, she finds herself at least willing to try. She gave Reynard a second chance. She'd give Caspar another chance, if she ever saw him again.

"I promise," she says, softly but clearly. "But, Josh... if something is ever troubling you about me, please just tell me. I would never intentionally do something to upset you."

[mynameisnotbrad]

"Adia, it's not you at all..." He can't say it. That he's the problem in this friendship and not her in the slightest. This was the danger of continuing conversations with other people: the risk of ruining it all because he happens to enjoy being a serial killer.

He fully expects her to start asking questions, btu when she doens't, there's a sigh of relief. The conversation is still on tense ground, and really, he's not sure about continuing the conversation with Adia. Hanging up is still an option, but he wants to try and repair the damage done.

"I've got a lot of stuff to work through, from my childhood, that's shaped me into the person I am today. The sudden bursts of anger are part of that." He sighs. "That's why I asked for your promise, because...I actually fell somewhat normal getting to speak with you."

[chiron_survivor]

"I have a bad habit of assuming that it is." She laughs sheepishly. "Sorry." She's relieved to know that he isn't mad at her, but what she really wishes is that he'd never speak to her in that emotionless, chilling tone again. It is a side of him that scares her. But she knows that she can't ask for that, so she'll have to settle for not upsetting him in the first place.

She also wishes that he'd turn back on the video feed. Seeing his face, watching the scenery about him, it made him normal. It humanized him, somehow. His distorted, growly voice does him no favors.

"That sounds painful," she say sympathetically. "I, um... there's a lot I'm working through, too. You can text me anytime, if you need someone to talk to. Or call me, if I'm in the Nexus."

[mynameisnotbrad]

"Again, you don't have to apologize. Things...happen." He just shrugs his shoulders, realizing that all positive momentum this call had is gone. It's going to take a lot of will power for him to even put the camera on himself, if he even decides to do it. All he knows is that he snapped, and in combination with his usual scary filter, he's done something awful.

"...I'll keep that it mind. The offer stands for you as well, Adia." He pauses. "I think I've created an awkward situation for the both of us. Maybe...maybe I should let you get back to Nexus things. We can try to end this on a better note, right?"

[chiron_survivor]

"Sure," she says, trying not to sound disappointed. She hates for the call to end on such an awkward note, but she respects Josh's decision. Sometimes it's better to walk away from an uncomfortable situation and try again another time.

"It was nice talking to you," she says, sounding sincere. And it was... y'know, except for that scary part towards the end. "I hope you're able to enjoy the rest of your time at the ranch."

She'll let him hang up, figuring it will let him feel back in control of the call. She has her article about Aztecs to read and a cup of coffee to finish, anyway. And maybe if she has enough time before she needs to return to her world, she'll look up Las Vegas, too.