008- Oxygen (Accidental Video)

[makinganote]

[All the world's a stage, or at least that's how it looks at the moment. The floor doesn't creak when someone steps on it. The spotlight follows movement with precision. There's gold foil on the statues going all along the edges, and rich velvet curtains pulled back with golden ties. The lights are down, where available. There's some hints that

Comments

[whatbrother]

...Ema? You okay?

[video]

[makinganote]

[The spotlight picks up a nod and a friendly wave, as she keeps counting up always two by two. The wave is a bit too big, a bit too animated.]

I'm just counting statues, America. [The voice is a little flat at the end, but otherwise sounds normal. The counting continues. The smiling continues.]

...Sixteen, eighteen, twenty....

[video]

[whatbrother]

[Something about the way she acts and what she says seems off-kilter to America. He's not the brightest crayon in the box, but he does make a point of actually knowing his friends.

His brow knitted in concern and confusion, America decides to do something that he saves for only the most dire and severe of situations: be careful. He could call her out on acting weird, straight up, but subtlety just might work...]

Are you sure? You seem a little off...

[Video]

[makinganote]

[She shakes her head, as she lowers her pen for the moment. Her brows don't knit in confusion. It looks as if she's almost laughing. Almost, but not quite.]

I'm fine! I just really like it in here. It's so big, and there's so many things to study. Scientifically speaking! I wouldn't mind staying up here for awhile to help.

[Help do what? She doesn't say. She just smiles and tilts her head. An empty gesture. It doesn't mean anything.]

Why, America? Does something seem wrong?

[The spotlight changes, just for a second. Wires above her head, that vanish in the dark. The empty seats in the audience are focused on, instead.]

[ofhopeandglory]

Something about this doesn't feel right.

Ema?

[video]

[makinganote]

[Smiles. Waves. A big wave, like before. An exaggeration, more than anything. Like covering up for something that isn't there. And she still stands at the edge of the stage, stock still. As if she's seen a ghost. But that isn't very scientific, is it?]

Hi, England! What is it? Is something wrong?

[ofhopeandglory]

What? Oh, the dratted thoughts thing... I can't put my finger on it, but...

What are you doing?

[makinganote]

[She tilts her head, for a moment. It takes her a beat too long to reply. She still smiles. She still stands at the edge. But she's stopped counting the statues. Almost. The two by twos echo in the silence.]

I'm just having fun up here! Being scientific! I'm counting the statues! You should come up here, England. It's not as high up as it looks.