001 // Video

[gloriousandfree]

[The video opens on a woman sitting against a wall, a little too ramrod straight to be comfortable and her smile betrays her nerves. She was never very good at this, having made a few mistakes on filtering and the wrong thing to say as a teenager. These things stick with her a little too intently]

Since this seems to be the thing to do, I suppose I'll introduce myself. I'm Madeline Williams, I went to this school for...[She counts] nearly four years, and I'll be teaching well--what I'm calling Modern World History. I know a lot of students never get into the last hundred years or so in history classes but I think that's some of the more fascinating events. We probably won't make it to the 80s or 90s to be honest and it will include more than just Europe and North America. A lot of things happened outside those parts of the world.

[She claps her hands] And I know it's a little unorthodox, but I'm going to try offering ice skating lessons at some point down the line. Perhaps not right away but there is a rink nearby. Or there was.

[Now she looks a little concerned] It has been five years. We-Well I'll just have to check and see if they're still around. I hope to see you all in class, thank you for your time.

Comments

[the_prodigal_son]

Yeah. I lived in Kansas for a while and I don't think you know much about Rapture anyway... so....

[gloriousandfree]

It is safe to say I don't know a thing to be honest. But I can work with that. Lord knows, I know far too much about American History for someone who isn't actually a citizen.

Lets get together in person and we can work out a plan for this. What's most important, your pacing, etc.

[the_prodigal_son]

It's better you don't know about Rapture.

You can come to my room whenever you want. I don't leave much.

...Even when I should...

[gloriousandfree]

Nope, you come to my office then. I don't know what's wrong and it's okay to be not used to being social or out and about, but I think we'll do these lessons at my office.

[the_prodigal_son]

[He wilts.]

Being out and social is fine, but... [He plays uncomfortably with a red wrench in his hands.] ...I'm scared I'll hurt someone. It's been a long time since I was near them and didn't... Need to.

[gloriousandfree]

Okay, what exactly is your power?

[the_prodigal_son]

Well...

My everything is better than normal. Stronger, faster, less pain, less food, less sleep... In Rapture I was supposed to be a... Killing machine. And I guess I'm... Good at it.

[He hates himself for this. So much. It comes off him in waves.]

[gloriousandfree]

So...Alright. Are you compelled to kill or is it just the reflexes and a history of having to kill?

[the_prodigal_son]

...Both?

[He frowns.]

I don't like being in a room with other people who aren't dead. I get... Anxious. It's built in. Fontaine out in my DNA somewhere. Or something.

[gloriousandfree]

Hmn. I suppose we do it over the network. I'd change into a tree but I don't I'd get much teaching done that way. Can't write or speak. Haven't worked out to move the tree limbs yet.