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[thetruestbeliever]

Um. Hi. I'm Henry.

[ He knows full well how to use a smartphone so there's no awkwardness there, it's more the fact that he's addressing people he can't see and hasn't even met in person yet. They all do it so it's nothing new, it's just figuring out how to start this that has him fumbling for words for a moment. Some people might not even really care who he is and what his name is, but he likes to be friendly. Might as well be authentic, even in a place like this. ]

I've been here for a few weeks now, I...haven't met a lot of people yet. And I was thinking about where we all come from.

[ There's a lot to fear or at least be worried about when it comes to this place, so idle chitchat like what he's initiating might not be super welcomed by everyone, but messages like these are easy to ignore, he figures. He's curious and he wants to know people better; the ones who are willing to listen and respond, anyway. ]

I know of a lot of places, some of them...kind of bad. But I didn't know a place like this could exist. So. I was thinking maybe there are places even worse than this out there. Or maybe more places like where I come from, where things are more...normal. Ish. [ The 'ish' is because, well, his hometown doesn't even technically exist. But that's a story for another time. ] What's your home like? Is this place better than what you left behind?

[ And, because he is a teenage boy: ] What do you miss most? I miss really good New York pizza. And my family. I really miss my family, but at least my mom's here. Well, one of them, at least. [ Oh. Right. That's another story. That'll have to wait. ]

Comments

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[casperdisaster]

I think everyone probably thinks their home is normal... I know New York though! Doctor Banner is from there - I'm from Henrietta, it's a town in Virginia. [He leaves out the 'on earth' clarification because, well, Henry is either not an alien or one that looks human and lives on earth...]

I miss gelato. There was this great gelato place.

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[thetruestbeliever]

Yeah. I guess you're right. [ How else would people define normal? Unless they have awareness of other places that they think seem better somehow. ] I've heard of Virginia, I haven't been there, though. Oh, gelato! Yeah, I miss gelato. And ice cream. And milkshakes. [ He's rambling a little, he realizes. ] What was your favorite flavor?

Wait...Dr. Banner?

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[casperdisaster]

All flavors are my favorite - vanilla's great for mixing other things in to the ice cream though, like cookie bits or candy.

Yeah, Doctor Banner, he runs the clinic. Apparently he's actually like... a physicist, but he's got medical training so that's kinda more than anyone else here has...

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[thetruestbeliever]

Chocolate chip cookie dough - that's definitely my favorite. [ So yes, he enjoys vanilla, too. ] Well, one of them. [ Truthfully, he's fond of many different flavors, though he does have his absolute favorites. ]

I uh, I thought I recognized his name. I've heard of him, back in my world. [ He knows he has now. It has to be the same Dr. Banner as the one in his comic books, he assumes, although he'll know more when he meets him. Not wanting to sound weird or make it awkward for anyone, he of course doesn't mention any of that. If it's truly the case, though, that's really exciting. ] We're lucky he's here, I think.

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[casperdisaster]

Yeah? He'd probably be relieved to hear someone think that, he's really hard on himself...