Video

[buywithme]

[Video clicks on at an odd angle, it's pointed upwards and is recording from the floor, where it's just been dropped. Prefect is leaning heavily against a wall, staring into space blankly. His eyes are slightly glazed, and as he lowers himself to run his hand across the floor, searching for the dropped journal, he doesn't bother to look down at it.

His hand finally brushes against the journal, and after a couple of minutes fumbling, the screen is covered by his palm. The video lurches as Prefect finally picks up the journal, and there's a brief shot of his palm running across the wall of his cabin, searching for the door handle out of his room.

Finally, the door opens, and the camera points down, just transmitting a shot of the floor as Prefect moves very, very carefully across the corridor. The shot of the floor stops, and changes direction as Prefect tries to navigate his way to the infirmary.]



[ooc: Prefect's power is seeing Auras. And nothing else. So basically, he can see GLOWING SHAPES OF LIGHT when people are in front of him, but other than that? ALL IS DARK, so he doesn't know that the journal has switched on at all. Feel free to yell at him through the journal, or spam at him in the corridor!]

Comments

[equalsfive.livejournal.com]

I'll come, comrade.

In fact, comrade, given the amount of obstacles [boxes. he means all those boxes] in your room, compared to mine, you can come back to mine instead, comrade.

[You'll just have to dodge his piles of paper.]

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Comrade. That would be good.

[He lets out a breath, and loosens his grasp on his legs. Just a flood. It's just the flood. It'll be better in a couple of days.]

[equalsfive.livejournal.com]

Uh. I don't suppose you know where you are?

All my instincts seem to be taking me in the direction of non-existant broken bicycles.

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

Level two corridor.

[Pause.]

I think. I might have... I might be on level three. Or one. I definitely went up though, so, I'm above level four.

[He's on level two.]

[equalsfive.livejournal.com]

I'll start there, comrade. Don't move.

[He's coming straight for level two and won't be long. In fact, charging along the corridor right now.]

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

[Prefect... doesn't move. Or he does a bit, carefully pushing himself to his feet, so when O'Brien gets there he can at least start off on his feet.]

[equalsfive.livejournal.com]

[O'Brien comes down the corridor, looking concerned,] Comrade? I'm over here.

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

[Prefect turns his head, he doesn't see O'Brien, but he does see a faint gray mist, hovering a little way down the corridor.] Comrade? [He takes a step towards the mist, and carefully extends his hand, hoping to hit something corporeal.]

[equalsfive.livejournal.com]

[O'Brien reaches up and puts his hand on Prefect's arm, pushing it downwards a little so it doesn't hit him in the face,] It's me, comrade. Just keep hold of me.

[Having someone completely reliant on him was a bit of a power rush in itself, but there was that nasty, nasty familiar feeling of actually wanting to help Prefect.]

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

[Prefect lets out a loose, nervous, almost accidental laugh, then swallows hard.]

Thank you, Comrade. [He reaches with his free hand for O'Brien's arm, trying to stabilize himself somewhat. The feeling of the other totalitarian's unseen hand on his arm, had clarified Prefects own vulnerability for him, and he was suddenly extremely relieved to have O'Brien there.]

[equalsfive.livejournal.com]

[O'Brien kept a firm grip on him, partially to help him, partially to reaffirm a sense of power in the situation,]

It's alright, comrade. Just stay with me. [He started to lead Prefect in the direction of the stairs and his room.]

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

[Prefect walked alongside O'Brien, falling quiet briefly as he allowed himself to be led by the other man.]

Uh, warn me if we get to the stairs, Comrade?

[He thought O'Brien would warn him, but he felt like he should say something to keep things moving at least.]

[equalsfive.livejournal.com]

Did you seriously think I wouldn't, comrade? [That was subconsciously deliberate, the way he phrased that.]

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

[Prefect gave a little shake of his head, then realised that O'Brien might not be looking at him.]

No, Comrade. I didn't seriously think you wouldn't tell me.

[He admitted.]

[equalsfive.livejournal.com]

[O'Brien had noticed the shake and nodded to himself, more out of habit than anything. And a bad habit, he thought, but still,]

Then why ask, Prefect?

[Pause]

And there's the stairs.

[He reached over and put the man's free hand on the railing.]

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

[Prefect turned his head slightly as he felt O'Brien's hand steer his onto the railing, before gripping it a little more securely.]

Oh, thank you Comrade.

[He eased forward onto the first step.]

I just didn't want there to be an awkward silence.

[equalsfive.livejournal.com]

[O'Brien started down the steps carefully,]

Generally, there's no such thing as an awkward silence in my world, comrade, but... fair enough.

[The awkward silence thing was another sign of how weak he was getting. Dammit all.]

So you can just see lights? What kind of light am I?

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

There aren't many in my world either, Brother. We try and fill them with things as a preventative measure.

[Prefect turned his head to study O'Brien, briefly, squinting his eyes as he did so.]

Not as bright as the one around the Marquis. It's sort of grey, and wispy. It's more like smoke, or mist, Comrade.

[equalsfive.livejournal.com]

We'd consider excessive talking a sign of ownlife. [He shrugs and leads Prefect further down the stairs before asking, a little curiously,]

Do you think they mean something, comrade?

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

[Prefect's grip on O'Brien tightened slightly as he proceeded down the stairs with him. He was trying to listen to the conversation, but he also really didn't want to fall down the stairs.]

Uh, I don't... I'm not sure, Comrade. Maybe it's to do with body temperature?

[Not that O'Brien felt particularly cold to him.]

[equalsfive.livejournal.com]

[He paused to help Prefect with a handful more stairs, as two things at once was probably more difficult.]

Possibly. Have you seen anyone else?

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

[Prefect bit his lip and shook his head, still focusing on navigating the stairs. He didn't want to insist on going too slowly.]

Not up close. Just you and The Marquis.

[equalsfive.livejournal.com]

Does it work on video, by any chance, comrade?

[He was quite tempted to try that somehow when they got to his room, and slowed down a little for Prefect.]

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure, Brother. I... don't know, reliably when I've been looking at the screen of my journal.

[He slid his hand down the bannister ahead of him slightly, searching for the end of it, to give himself an idea of how many steps remained.]

[equalsfive.livejournal.com]

[O'Brien didn't notice him doing that, so couldn't give him an answer. But there were about four left.]

Perhaps we can work that out later, comrade. For reference's sake.