Military Log 001 - [Video] | User: mhughes

[dadandgone]

And...yeah I think that's right...

[The camera feed starts at an odd angle. Maes holding the communicator in such a way that it's clear he's very new to using it. He is looking intently at the screen and then back at the directions held clearly in his other hand. Yes, he's actually using the friendly directions to help. He doesn't seem to notice at first that he's gotten it to video mode though, which probably gives his audience time to notice that he's in the recovery ward. Honestly how different can hospitals/medical bays look in space? Even Maes realized where he was as soon as he opened his eyes.

Speaking of, he's now turned his gaze back to the screen and seems to finally realize that the camera is recording. He smiles -- though if anyone really knew him they'd probably be able to tell it's about as strained as they come. As he starts to speak he manages to adjust the angle so it's not as crooked.]

Oh hello. Lt. Col. Maes Hughes reporting. I just woke up and they told me I can't leave the recovery ward yet, but that I might enjoy passing the time getting to know other people on this ship. I hope you all don't mind, I'll try not to poke too far back in the logs or anything. I'm not even sure I'd know how, honestly.

[There isn't a lot for him to do since he's been ordered to stay in the recovery bay for a little longer. He might even appear a little pale now that people watching can see him more clearly.]

I have to say now though that I'm not even really sure where to begin past giving my name. We don't have anything like this where I'm from so usually conversations would be a bit more immediate. You know, face to face or over the telephone. But I guess I could look at it as writing a letter...except that's not really accurate either, is it?

[He shakes his head. Focus, Hughes.]

Right, so who wants to swap stories? I apparently missed out on the real fun of orientation around here. Really just anyone can talk about anything...just get my mind off of the fact that I'm stuck in a hospital in space.

[The camera shakes a little in Maes's hand, but he steadies his grip. Come on, Maes, you're better at keeping your composure than that]

Comments

[dadandgone]

Central City in Amestris.

[Though he looks doubtful that those words will mean anything.]

You?

[ex_forcechoke292]

[The words don't register in terms of familiarity, no. But he files the information away for later. He's always loved finding new places he's never seen before--or at least had before the war--this is simply further out than his travel range. (But circumstances like these, who knows anymore?]

Coruscant. Or at least that's where my family still is. [No matter how he defines it.] The whole planet is one giant city.

[dadandgone]

[Maes lets out a low whistle, impressed by the idea. He finds it hard to imagine. Central City is the biggest city in Amestris, but it's still a small city in one country of many.]

That sounds pretty impressive. Central is big...but not like that.

[ex_forcechoke292]

Most places aren't. [It's meant at something of a consulation, though he likes to think he's more acutely aware of this than most. He isn't.] I haven't always lived there; not all of our planets are like the capital, but I suppose that's why it is. It's easy to get overwhelmed, the first time you see it.

[dadandgone]

No kidding. I'm starting to feel like a country bumpkin all over again.

[He'd grown up outside the city as a kid, he didn't see Central until he was well into his teens, even older than the Elrics when they'd first joined the military. It was impossible to imagine that out there were places even bigger. Although, from what he'd heard and seen of this ship, well, it was a little easier to imagine.]

I'll try to keep my wits about me should we come across a place like that.

[ex_forcechoke292]

It's easy enough to get used to after the first week or so. [Try month, maybe years. But he's never sure how much of that he should blame on the Temple being guarded about letting Padawans out on their own; without the Chancellor, he'd still be starstruck.] I grew up in the middle of nowhere, and it doesn't bother me too much anymore.

[dadandgone]

That's reassuring, thank you. [He even sounds sincere about that. To be fair, Maes (despite his griping) is fairly adaptable and flexible] The place I grew up was definitely small town--though maybe not quite middle of nowhere, I think we were at least on any decent map.

[ex_forcechoke292]

What was it like? Your small town?

[Because he has to believe not everything in the galaxy--even if it's not his own--is like Tatooine.]

[dadandgone]

Hmm...not a lot to say about it honestly. It was a small town, so it was quiet most nights. We listened to the radio at the local general store or at home. When we were really bored we'd run around after trains along the track.

[ex_forcechoke292]

You don't mean ground trains?

[Ground transportation isn't unheard of in the far reaches back home, but it's definitely rare. Archaic and usually a sign of how removed a planet is from the culture of the Core. Even Tatooine had managed to stick to speeders for those not culturally attached to their beasts of burden. The Core has trains and buses built for the same use; moving as many people as possible conveniently, but the idea of it running on a track is a relic.

He couldn't sound more interested.]

[dadandgone]

As opposed to...sky trains?

[There's a question mixed in with the slight sarcasm in his voice, also a single eyebrow is raised to emphasize his curiosity and confusion. You're on a spaceship, Maes. Trains in the sky or at least off the ground shouldn't be that surprising. And yet he sounds skeptical of the idea. Probably because while he is technically on a space ship he hasn't actually seen evidence of that fact beyond CRAZY technology and people telling him he's in space.]