1. (video)

[thisonetime]

[The feed comes on, but at first, everything's dark.]

The hell is this?

[Then there's a shot of Ellis's gray eye, and then it pans back out to his face. He's covered in a layer of dirt and various bodily fluids, and beyond that, he's tired and bruised in a few places. The stone ceiling of his barracks room can be seen in the background, and Ellis looks quite perplexed.]

Hello? Anybody out there? This funny little book's talkin' about worlds bein' unmade and records bein' kept and whatnot, but it ain't makin' much sense.

Like, how'm I here if everythin's not made anymore? And hell, you can't unmake shit! My friend Keith tried to unmake a car once, cause he thought it was haunted, but all he got was a broken car and a face full'a burnin' oil. He quit messin' with it after that, mostly 'cause he went blind for like six months. Don't know if it was really haunted or nothin', but I guess anything can happen, after the zombies an' shit...

[Ellis just trails off, then looks around the room. With his free hand, he rubs the space between his shoulder and neck and winces. Getting pounded into the ground by a charger sucks, and he's still aching.

Then, he turns back to the camera and smiles, though it's a little uneasy.]

So, hey, m'name's Ellis. I'm lookin' for Nick, Rochelle, and Coach, if any y'all out there.

[And they had to be, didn't they?]

Comments

[veggie_wolf]

That's perfect!

[She manages to get out through her laughter.]

I'm going to turn it into a badge and wear it around. I think it will make me very respected.

[thisonetime]

[Ellis can't help a chuckle of his own.] I think so too, Miss Tahlia. And if it don't, well, them's fools for not obeyin' the new Master o'Happiness.

[veggie_wolf]

They are fools! Who doesn't want happiness? Grumpy grumps, that's who. And no one needs grumpy grumps anyway.

[thisonetime]

Amen t'that, girl.

Y'all need a badge or somethin', though, like, so people know on sight. Or, like, a special hat or somethin'.

[veggie_wolf]

A special hat! I didn't even think of that. I can draw smiley faces all over it. Maybe I just need a whole special getup. People will know on sight for sure if I wear one of those.

[thisonetime]

Yeah!

Oh, hey, 'minds me - I heard people talkin' about spare clothes round here, only, they's kinda... weird. Y'could prolly put somethin' real fancy-like together, then errebody'd know.

[veggie_wolf]

Oh yeah, there are some clothes in one of the towers. There like the clothes you would see a few centuries ago. I'm sure there is something there that would make a good master of happiness outfit, like some of those big, poofy collar things.

[thisonetime]

Yeah, yeah, s'what I thought! And you could get a big poofy dress, too, or like - I guess they got suits or some shit, if y'wanted to look real official an' all.

But whatever y'pick, I think ya gotta have a top hat.

[veggie_wolf]

I think I'll try and go for the suit. Too much poofiness will just make people laugh at me, and then no one will take me seriously. I guess laughter is a form of happiness, though, so I'd be doing my job.

Definitely got to get a top hat. That will add a final touch of classiness.