CAMERA for the main three. (... Yeah and also Veto. Of Course.)
CAMERA - do they enjoy having their picture taken? what's their go-to pose? do they like taking photos? what do they take photos of?
[The sound of a click distracts Nickle and Veto from their animated discussion. Casey, on the couch, looks over and suddenly tenses.]
NICKLE: Wait, are you taking pictures?
BLITZ: Oh, don't mind me.
NICKLE: I wasn't ready! I didn't smile or anything!
VETO: Lost cause, man. This auteur likes taking candids.
[Nickle poses anyways, freezing with a bright smile and an exuberant burst of limbs. Veto snickers and follows their lead, striking an exaggerated pose with one hand extended out and the other pushing up their glasses. Blitz obligingly clicks the shutter again.]
NICKLE: Wow, that camera looks super old!
BLITZ: Do you like taking pictures, Nickle?
NICKLE: Yeah! It's tons of fun! My camera is pretty cheap, though.
BLITZ: I think I have a spare.
[Nickle gasps in delight, distracted from posing into a wide-eyed look of surprise. Veto grins at them, switching their pose to anime-thoughtful. Blitz smiles and takes another, which makes Nickle giggle.]
NICKLE: Do you like taking pictures?
VETO: Nah, I never got into it. Probably could if I tried, though.
NICKLE: You totally should!
VETO: Homemade memes.
[Nickle groans. Veto gives them a challenging look. Blitz waits with their finger on the shutter.]
NICKLE: You should do more than just memes!
VETO: Name one thing that isn't memes to take pictures of.
NICKLE: Things that make you happy! So you can look at them again and keep them forever!
VETO: Right. So memes.
NICKLE: No!
[Veto laughs for real as Nickle gestures angrily at them. Blitz takes a picture of that.]
NICKLE: Casey, do you wanna join too?
CASEY: Absolutely not.
NICKLE: C'mon, it'll be fun!
CASEY: There is absolutely no reason to be taking my picture. I do not want my picture to be taken.
VETO: Dude, you literally work for a surveillance state.
[They sound unusually disapproving. Casey bristles a little, crossing their arms to grip themself. They draw their legs up to their chest.]
CASEY: That is entirely different.
VETO: How?
CASEY: The subords aren't taking pictures of people for no reason. I actually know what they want with it.
VETO: Okay, hang on. No, no, let me unpack what you just said here.
NICKLE: Guys...
VETO: You think the subords are telling you more about what they want with their pictures than regular people?
CASEY: Yes! Because I know what their objectives are!
CASEY: Subords are dedicated to maintaining the stability and order of the city, acting with clarity and efficiency, and preventing loss of life! They have no personal stake in the action whatsoever!
VETO: Right. So the fact that they could be recording me whenever and I have no way of knowing or objecting...
CASEY: You could just ask them! There are ways to work out exceptions!
BLITZ: They rarely answer most people.
[Veto and Casey both look over. Blitz takes another picture of Nickle and Veto.]
[Casey looks affronted, even though they were not in the frame. Veto snorts.]
VETO: You trying to get a money shot of us arguing?
BLITZ: No comment.
NICKLE: Okay, but people usually take pictures for nice reasons, right? Like, they don't want to do anything with it. They just like having pictures of people and things they like.
CASEY: I have no evidence of this. And I don't like the idea of them having my image without knowing what they're doing with it.
VETO: Dude.
NICKLE: Okay, but that's the same thing as what Veto was saying!
CASEY: How is that the same thing?
NICKLE: It's just directed at a different person! Nobody can help who they trust like that. If you just feel that way about numerals, some people would just feel that way about the subords, right?
[Casey frowns, thinking this over. Veto glances at Nickle, who is beaming, and says nothing.]
CASEY: I guess.
NICKLE: So if you want to get to say no to having your picture taken–
CASEY: I would still rescind my objection if it was about someone's safety. There are some factors of priorities to consider.
VETO: People can just lie and say things are about safety, you know.
[Casey looks indignant.]
CASEY: Why would they do that? That's just– that is completely exploiting a legitimately prosocial instinct!
VETO: I mean, yeah. You kinda summed up why right there.
[Casey scoffs. They set their chin on top of their knees.]
CASEY: This is exactly why I don't want numerals taking my picture.
NICKLE: Casey...
CASEY: Subords don't do that. It would never even occur to them.
[Nickle sighs.]
-----------------------
OCTAVE: What? No, of course not.
[Octave scoffs, wiping their hands on their mechanic's apron. They are scowling.]
OCTAVE: I've had enough of that, thanks. The only time anyone ever wanted pictures of me was to let everyone know I was doing something wrong.
OCTAVE: ...
OCTAVE: Someone else might have. Done it better, I mean.
OCTAVE: I don't know what people usually do in pictures. Smile, I guess?
[They think for a while, a slight frown on their face. After a moment they remember themself and scoff again, turning back to their work.]
OCTAVE: Sounds fucking stupid. Doubt I'm missing out on much.
