01 | video

[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

[voice]

[bluffed]

[ Oh no... kids are her weakness. The boy definitely makes her think of Sasha. Even if Sasha is in her early 20's and capable of handling herself... there's a part of Fiona that makes her eternally 12 years old. Sorry.

The kid asks a question that she doesn't want to answer. But, she kind of felt compelled to. So, for now... she's brief. ]

Just got here. Hard to say. Home is dark like this place. It was kind of a big cave too... okay, it's actually really similar.

[ Hollow Point... smh. She's just going to skip the details. ]

What I miss most? Heh. That's too easy. My sis. Isn't much to miss besides her.

[voice]

[thetruestbeliever]

[ Henry's already kind of used to perpetually being The Kid, no matter what. He can roll with it, he's just determined to also prove he can handle himself, too, even if he's young compared to most people here. ]

You...live in a cave? [ That seems fairly unpleasant, even if it's not quite a cave, but just similar to it. ] How old is your sister? Is she younger or older than you?

[bluffed]

Kinda. Whole city was in a cave. Cave-city. [ Don't worry, Henry. Fiona will let you spread your little writer wings... She isn't going to be too overbearing. ] She's 24. Still not...uh.. quite so little, but gotta keep an eye out on her. Man, she hates me for it, but sometimes you just gotta.

How old are you?

[thetruestbeliever]

[ Cave-city. Wow. It sounds like it could be depressing, like this place, but also fun to explore. ] Does it get depressing living in a cave?

[ She sounds like a good big sister from the sound of it. Super protective. ]

She's lucky to have you, I think. And I'm thirteen.

[bluffed]

My entire world classifies as "depressing" if you really think about it.

[ Okay... dial it back Fiona. ]

But... it wasn't too bad.

[ Fiona has to at least let her Heart of Gold trait show a little bit. It was a lie, honestly. She wanted off Pandora more than anything - and to get Sasha away from that lifestyle too. But, did it matter if she told a little white lie to make a 13 year old feel less worried? ]

Thirteen... Please tell me your parents are here.

[thetruestbeliever]

[ Exploring the cave world one lives in would be fun for a little while, but when it becomes routine and when that's your life day in and day out, he can see how enough would just be enough eventually. ]

Yeah, my mom's here. One of them. We came at the same time, which was really a relief because when I left home, my whole family had disappeared. I...don't know where the rest of them are, back home. [ He really, really hopes they're safe. ]

[bluffed]

[ One of his two moms were better than none, at least. Doesn't sound strange to her at all. ]

They'll be fine. Keep your chin up. [ She can neither confirm or deny, but it felt like the right thing to say. ] Family has this weird tendency to show up when you least expect it.

[ Well, her own 'guardian' counted as such but she doesn't dwell on it. She kind of...killed him. ]