#1 video; @waltz

[enveloped]

[The video starts with a tall, bearded man wearing a tailored suit sitting on the edge of a very executive looking desk in an equally executive looking office.

He smiles before speaking in a low, steady voice, his arms by his sides. Purposely left uncrossed. No fidgeting. He's comfortable in front of a camera, but not without practice.]

To be forcibly removed from our homes, support networks, and everything we’ve ever known is no small matter. For some, the experience can be traumatic. You may struggle with day to day life, or find yourself feeling unsafe in your new home. Holding down a job or making connections with other people can feel difficult, or even impossible, when you're uncertain of your environment and place within it. Everyone copes differently.

Very few of us asked to be here, and it's necessary the city is prepared to deal with the very real problems experienced by its displaced citizens, and accommodate their needs as efficiently and empathetically as possible in order to create and maintain a happy, healthy society. My name is Cameron Waltz, I'm a negotiator and cultural mediator from Earth, and I've been appointed the role of public representative to present our needs to the city council, and ensure our voices are being heard.

I'm looking for feedback on how your life has changed for the better or the worse since your arrival. I'll start with a few questions, none of which you have to answer, but would be very helpful in solidifying the case I'm building.

Please answer as honestly as you're comfortable. Anonymous commentary is allowed on this post, and you're welcome to be as vague or as specific as you'd like, without fear of discrimination.

I greatly appreciate any and all responses. With your help, we can find the holes in the existing social services system and work together to close them.

Thank you for your time.

--text attachment

-Have you felt adequately supported by the city, and its representatives?

-Do you struggle mentally or emotionally with your expatriation on a day to day basis?

-Are there aspects of life in Riverview you find more difficult than others?

-If you’re a minor, or know a minor, have you found the social services offered adequate?

-Are you satisfied or dissatisfied in the career provided for you? Do you find yourself changing jobs often?

-Do you struggle to make ends meet?

-If there's any one thing the city could do to improve your life, what would it be?

Comments

[enveloped]

Yes, I did say you had a good idea. Because it is. A sense of community is the quickest way to security.

[Jeff Calhoun has a nice smile. Better than nice.

Cam tilts his head, because what Jeff says is what makes him want to see what's behind that smile. Jeff isn't so happy-go-lucky or simple as he appears to be. And he's not an idiot, either.

Well, not all the time.]

Is that what you feel like? Cosmic debris?

[bardish]

[ He draws in a breath, smile fading as he thinks on it, mulls over the question for a moment. ]

In a way, yeah. It's, y'know, like we're all just fragments of our worlds that kind of drifted over here. [ He shrugs, a hint of that smile returning. ] But I figure we can make something good out of debris.

[ Pause. Okay, look, he knows how most people might take him waxing poetic on space debris. ]

I swear I'm not high right now!

[enveloped]

You have a way with words.

[Cam smiles, because Jeff is full of surprises.

He's curious to know what's going on under that smile.]

Human beings, and I suppose other sentient species, are amazing in that they can change the world around them. Animals exist in nature. We shape it. For better or worse.

In this case, I'd like to think it's for the better.

[bardish]

I do?

[ Help, he seems genuinely surprised to hear that. USUALLY PEOPLE JUST WRITE IT OFF AS STONER HIPPIE RAMBLING.

Hell, he didn't even come up with most of the lyrics to his own music. His bandmates were better at that. ]

That's a nice way of putting it. I like that. Too many people go right to cynicism instead. Like it makes you more real to think of everyone else as garbage.

[ That kind of mentality is just... sad, to him. Depressing and mean. The world's got enough of that. ]

[enveloped]

You do. You're one of very few men to surprise me... just don't let it go to your head.

[A little smirk, and he's leaning back on one arm. Relaxing. This is a topic he's both comfortable in and passionate about.]

As someone who's seen a very large portion of our planet through extensive travel, I can honestly tell you most people in most places are good. Or want to be.

Some people end up on dark paths, but very few want to be there. Give them another option and they'll almost always choose the way out.

[bardish]

[ Jeff grins, and there's a note of laughter in his voice. ] Too late.

[ It's all gone to his head!! You've created a monster, Cameron Waltz!

The grin softens again to a more sedate smile, as he listens to Waltz talk about his observations of... people in general. How most are good, or trying. It's so refreshing, to see that open, candid optimism from, like, SOMEBODY OTHER THAN HIMSELF.

God, he wants to see more of Waltz. Get to know him in so many ways. ]

Yeah... I haven't traveled much, but I've, ah. I've seen my share of people on dark paths. [ He was one of those people. ] You're right. Very few of 'em want to be there.

[enveloped]

I think, at some point in their lives, everyone takes a wrong turn. I know I have. It took me some time, and no small amount of effort, to find myself again.

I'd be a rather spectacular asshole if I denied others the benefit of the doubt, or the chance to do the same.

[Not that he isn't sometimes a judgemental asshole, as Jeff knows all too well. Cam does his best to be a good man, but he isn't perfect. Nowhere near it.

He shifts, crossing one leg over the other and drums his fingers against the edge of the desk. Eyes on the camera and Jeff on the other side.]

Now you've traveled farther than most people on Earth ever will.

What's that saying, 'space, the final frontier'?

[bardish]

It's hard to imagine you taking a wrong turn.

[ Admittedly, he doesn't really know the guy well. Just a handful of interactions. But he's still trying to picture how a wrong turn might look for a man like Cameron Waltz.

...

oh my god you did not just say that you freaking nerd. STOP MAKING JEFF LAUGH, YOU'RE SO CUTE. He's smitten to, like, embarrassing levels now! ]

Oh, is that a saying? I never heard it before!

[ N E R D. ]

[enveloped]

I've made many. I try not to count.

[Are you laughing at him Jeff Calhoun?

He folds his arms over his chest with a lift of his brows and is very (not really) affronted!!!]

Really? You must not get out much.

Perhaps you should try boldly going where no man has gone before.

[bardish]

I think I would've rather left all that exploration to the next generation.

[ They're making Trekkie dad jokes. BEHOLD, ATHENA, THE POWER OF TWO DADS.

Not that Jeff's ever really watched much Star Trek, and besides, this is treading dangerously close to fourth wall territory, but I couldn't not make that comment.

ANYWAY. Moving on: ]

It's weird, y'know. If it weren't for the whole... [ Separation from his daughter. He doesn't even want to say it, really. Waltz knows what he means. ] This experience is something special. All the people you can meet here, it's crazy!

[enveloped]

[Cam chuckles. Who loves a dad joke more than a dad?

Once you have a kid, regardless of how that kid happens, it's like your humour evolves into something both painfully simple, yet incredibly complex. In its puns, anyway.

Father Noveau.]

I feel the same way. There's no way I wouldn't have snapped up the opportunity were it offered to me. Under different circumstances this might be the greatest adventure of my life. It's certainly up there.

The people, culture, technology... There's so much here, I don't feel like I'll ever be able to experience it all.

[bardish]

[ High five for dad jokes! Jeff doesn't have quite the flair for them that the meeemeees say he should, so he's always a little proud when he can pull one off. ]

So I guess that means we should make the most of it while we're here! Try at least one new thing a week. No excuses.

[enveloped]

That sounds like a great idea.

[Cam smiles, brightening.]

It's fun to experience new things, but it's always more fun to share that experience with someone else.

Hope you don't have any phobias.

[bardish]

[ !!!!!!!!!

That's what's going through his head right now at Cam's smile. Jeff's brightening, grinning in return, and uh, OH SO CASUALLY TURNING HIMSELF AND THE CAMERA SO A TEENAGE MENACE CAN'T WANDER INTO THE FRAME TO MOCK HIM WITH KISSING NOISES. ]

Oh, I've got a long list of 'em. [ Kidding! Well. Sort of. ] We'll make it work.

[enveloped]

[Jeff has a good smile. Cam touches a small, stray piece of hair behind his ear.]

I only have one.

[bardish]

[ Oh no that little thing Cam does with the hair touching is so cute... ]

Well... We'll make a point to avoid it. Unless you don't feel comfortable telling me what it is! In which case you can just veto every suggestion that comes close to it until I figure it out myself.

But that'll probably take a long time. [ So if you want to keep your phobia a secret, YOU CAN. ]

[enveloped]

[Jeff is so considerate. Cam can't remember the last time a man was so candid with him on this level. Open to being familiar.

It makes him feel both comfortable, and a little shy.

He touches his hair again, finger following the line of his ear. Another habit.]

It's the dark. Being in it. Not your average dark. The kind of dark your eyes can't adjust to. Like being shut into a small room with no windows and the lights off. Pitch black.

I can manage with a flashlight, but I'd rather avoid it if possible. Equipment has a way of failing when you need it most.