[Video] [New Los Angeles]

[witnessme]

[The feed shows a pale young man with a scarred mouth and a bald head, mostly recovered from his recent injuries. He's posting this from what appears to be a run-down gas station bathroom, where the tiles are water-damaged and there's at least one visible leaking pipe in the frame.]

I d-didn't talk about this before. I was scared. I always was k-kind of a coward.

But there's something I gotta say.

It's my fault Damon came to Shepherd's Haven. I challeneged him to a fight when he was being mean, long time ago, and forgot about it. I wanna stay and help rebuild, like they said we need to, b-but I decided that I needed to leave. I'm in New L.A. now. Weird things are happening here, you guys know all about that. But it's a better place for me in case he wants to come back and knock the snot out of me again. I got my bike, a lot of road and space. Working on getting a job.

Anyway. Sorry I couldn't be a better Numbered. You all deserve so much better.

Comments

video.

[enflammen]

[So much side-eyeing going on right now, and you can tell because Micah's got the camera on.]

And what exactly is running away to New LA supposed to accomplish?

video.

[witnessme]

[Nux swallows, overecome by shame and guilt that is all but palpable.]

It means that anyone coming after me won't go after them that are staying. The peaceful safe haven c-can stay.

video.

[enflammen]

So you lead them out to New LA instead? Because we don't have enough problems as it is. I'm just trying to understand your reasoning here.

video.

[witnessme]

Reasoning? What? I d-don't know what you mean, not trying to play any fancy mind tricks or nothing. I just think that people who live in New L.A., they know it's gonna be a little rough. People living out in the New Zealand settlement, uh, they're there because they're trying to live peacefully.

video.

[enflammen]

So because New LA's already a shithole, it's OK to make it more of one?

[Noop, that logic does not compute.]

I hate to break it to you, but people in New LA are trying to get back on their feet, for the most part, and it's hard enough as it is.

video.

[witnessme]

[He sounds legitimately tormented when he answers.]

Look! I g-got to go somewhere. They can't fight back where I left. That asshole thought it was funny to break and burn as much as he c-could.

video.

[enflammen]

[Siiiigh.]

All right, kid, relax. Who's this asshole you're talking about? Damon, you said?

Video.

[witnessme]

D-don't make him mad. It's not worth it. He'll hurt you or worse.

Video.

[enflammen]

I wasn't actually planning on it. I figured maybe you could tell me about him, so I'd know if I ran across him in a dark alleyway.

Video.

[witnessme]

D-d'you know Tony? He's his double. Looks just like him.

Video.

[enflammen]

No, I don't know anyone named Tony.

Video.

[witnessme]

He's got, uh, white hair. Real strong. Real mean. Y-you can't fight him or run away.

Video.

[enflammen]

Got it. Mean, strong, white hair. I'll be sure to steer clear of anyone matching that description.

[Since, you know. He's been steered toward New LA, apparently.]

By the way, is that really your plan? Just stay on the run forever?

Video.

[witnessme]

Do I seem like someone who's g-got a plan? I'm not one of those Numbered, the smart ones. I never even finished high school.

Video.

[enflammen]

So? Neither did I. That doesn't mean you can't still use your head.

Video.

[witnessme]

Some people don't finish high school because it can't keep up with them. Not how it was for me.

Video.

[enflammen]

So - what, you really just believe you're too stupid to bother with?

[Video]

[charcoalfeather]

[....Boy, what a thing to see at the end of a long and terribly day.]

Nux...? Please, let's talk about this.

[Video]

[witnessme]

[That is a rough face to look at directly. He averts his eyes.]

What's there to t-talk about? I'm so sorry for what I did. Never wanted you to get hurt, never wanted anybody to get hurt. I'm so stupid.

[Video]

[charcoalfeather]

[Well, that's just going to lead to her looking at him harder. Nux, please... don' resist the puppy eyes.]

No, you didn't! I believe you, you wouldn't do any of that on purpose. [But then that all still went down...] But, are you sure that leaving Shepard's Haven is the right way to make things better?

[Video]

[witnessme]

[The puppy eyes might actually kill him, cut him straight to the heart and leave him bleeding.]

He probably won't come back if I'm there. It's a peaceful place, supposed to be. It would be selfish of me to stay.

Voice

[solvethepuzzle]

Hey. Are you alright? [This always sounds like a stupid question to Nathan. But conversation starters are hard.]

Voice

[witnessme]

[A long silence follow.]

I dunno. How am I supposed to answer that? If I say I'm OK it's a lie, if I say I'm not it sounds like I'm looking for kindness I don't deserve.

Voice

[solvethepuzzle]

Making a mistake does not make you undeserving of kindness. [This is so much easier to say to someone else than it is to one's-self.]

Voice

[witnessme]

It was a pretty stupid mistake. Like, too stupid to live territory. I almost killed you guys.