ArchivedLogs:Vignette - And Now The News

Vignette - And Now The News
Dramatis Personae Latverian News Reporter
In Absentia	2013-06-08 A wild news report appears!
Location Latveria
Despite the name, the Latverian News Channel is not strictly a channel exclusively dedicated to news. The country only has two channels – LATV1 and the LNC. The former is already modestly rising to show various cultural programmes, but there are still hours in the day when it shows absolutely nothing. The latter, on the other hand, has recruited various academics to relay the history and culture of Latveria in-between occasional news reports. Both channels transmit in Hungarian with Russian subtitles. The reports themselves usually pertain to the country, almost always omitting focus on Doctor Doom, unless of course the situation calls for it. The channel usually covers the status quo, detailing the arduous recovery of the country, although it does not forget to report on the more optimistic aspects of Latveria, however few they might be at this point in its time. While Sunday nights are reserved for a forward look to oncoming scheduled events of the following week, Saturday nights are for reports summarising the foregone week. Tonight is host to one of these reports. But tonight it differs from the usual status quo. Not long after it airs tonight at 9:00 PM Greenwich Mean Time, this particular report will be singled out by the foreign media, heated discussions will trickle into and subsequently trend in social websites, and the report will become available on the Internet with a good number of views. As always, the opening to this weekly news programme is actually longer, showing a heavily yet shabbily clothed rebel tiredly climbing debris with a tattered Latverian flag. When he reaches his objective, he lifts the oversized flag in the air and tears his clothes off, revealing to be a humanoid machine. The flag is slammed into the ground, releasing a bunch of fashionable CGI effects that flood the screen and overshadow the scene with an appropriately patriotic colour scheme. The electronic music peaks and ultimately fades away, revealing a single news reporter. "{Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you for watching the weekly Latverian news report.}" The dark-haired Romani man is surprisingly young yet predictably handsome, as news reporters generally tend to be. A dashing dark grey suit with a black tie and a white button-up shirt comprise his attire. His Magyar is elegantly enunciated, brandishing a parabolic intonation. "{This week has been another busy week for Latveria. Two months have passed since we have regained our yearned for independence, but the shadow of war still lingers.}" After a bit of a dramatic pause (which is more to do with the technical side of things than theatrics), the screen shifts to show a ridiculously busy construction site of a mining facility; the montage makes sure to show the workers are man and machine, Romani and American. "{As of today, two massive mining operations are finally functional, and two humbly sized mineral refinement facilities have been renewed. The opening of the third mine has been delayed to mid-July due to unexpected complications. The local workforce, automatons and contracted United States labourers are a part of one of the most ambitious and arduous nation-wide reconstruction efforts in human history.}" "{Further work on railroad and road connection has helped determine that the country will see favourable public transport connectivity by the end of next year. Two schools are scheduled to be completed early next year, and the Latverian Nexus Airport will see its official opening as soon as August.}" The montage ends with an artist's interpretation of what looks like an unbelievable elaborate metropolis from science fiction. "{The country is well on its way to full recovery.}" Another pause lingers, and the scene returns to the newsroom and the reporter. The man looks at the camera – the viewer – for a few silent moments, his face void of expression. And then he begins again: "{In other news, the first research facility has opened its doors to mutants earlier this week on Friday. This is one of the first laboratories that are open to mutants who want to contribute to a greater understanding of their extraordinary abilities.}" The montage switches to show the facility in question – it has a rather temporary appearance, strung together with puzzle-like pieces that could likely be disassembled as easily as they were assembled. The sterile-looking waiting room is shown, populated by mutants. Some are easily recognisable by their physical mutations. Some of them look antsy and anxious, while some of them look curious and impatient. "{This first facility is currently functional in Hassenburg, but Doctor Doom plans to shift it to other cities on an established rotary schedule. More labs are currently being constructed.}" "{All registered mutants with a place of residence will receive a formal invitation to provide voluntary aid to a better understanding of how their ability responds to a variety of external and internal factors, such as stress, alcohol intoxication or illnesses. Contractual and long-term cooperation is open to mutants who want to contribute on a deeper level. Besides functioning as research facilities, registered mutants are also able to seek shelter and guidance in these labs.}" The montage shifts to a dark-haired Romani person having his blood taken. "{Despite being open for but a weekend, the response has been phenomenally positive. Workers placed in the research facility have commented that the overwhelming response requires an expansion of the project earlier than initially predicted. For many mutants with uncontrolled abilities, this is a new start.}" Then comes the interview. The footage cuts to that very man, looking to the camera with an uneasy smile; as though he wants to be enthusiastic, but the weight of the topic presses down on his excitement. Although he speaks in Romani, a voice over his translates it to Hungarian. "{Yeah, I mean-- You know, it's... something. I hurt my child, my own blood. I thought I was a monster, a devilspawn. But these people see me another way.}" A twitchy little nod is given. "{If I help them, then that means another father won't hurt /his/ child, yes.}" A couple more people are interviewed, and although they are clearly in a state of stress, it seems they are overall content with their treatment. Of course, the many little signals are rife for nitpicking and misinterpretation to the right (or wrong) sleuths. The montage cuts away and the news reporter is at the centre of attention once again. "{Doctor Doom has returned to Latveria from another visit to the United States, overseeing the construction efforts and the further establishment of the geopolitical infrastructure.}" The young man brightens, and the mood changes immediately. "{And now, the weather – the summer has finally arrived to Latveria, and it looks like it's going to be a /heated/ one.}"