001 ✶ audio/action

[scarletcast]

For those of you who have [ pause, a low hum, ] superpowers. Has this place ever taken them from you?

​​[ A beat. ]

If you wish to speak in person, I will be in the park. In the red jacket.

​​[ She has ways of being completely private, but that's a little invasive and not something to advertise. Anyone heading to the park to speak to her or in the vicinity will see a young woman on a bench, with a thermos full of tea next to her, steam rising off the cup clasped in her hands. ]

Comments

[video]

[scarletcast]

[ Nothing is impenetrable. No fortress, no person. But Bianca knows that. ]

I am realising that. There is nothing to stop them taking the rest as well.

[video]

[wormintheglass]

It's evident that we're only of use to them functioning. Although I did once casually mention virtual environments to Rage; she acted like Bud and Lou smelling a treat in someone's pocket.

[video]

[scarletcast]

Does anyone know how much power they need from us?

[video]

[wormintheglass]

[She makes a contemptuous noise that might almost be a snort.]

I doubt even they do. They're like children. I wonder very much what kind of people the natives of this place were.

[video]

[scarletcast]

Dead ones.

[ She never sees a reason not to be blunt, but with the monsters roaming around, food that the gods don't understand might hurt or kill them, it's a miracle. ]

[video]

[wormintheglass]

[Bianca snorts again, this time with sudden laughter.]

Yes. I should dearly love to know why they died out.

[video]

[scarletcast]

Probably the same thing that killed the so-called gods.

[video]

[wormintheglass]

Have you seen how they react when someone asks?

[video]

[scarletcast]

I haven't.

I don't imagine it's helpful.

[video]

[wormintheglass]

If you touch on the past, suddenly their little feelings become too bruised to speak of it. Hope will give you one of his patented reproachful faces. Delight will go all sad and quiet and Sorrow, from what I've seen, will start making threats.

But it's perfectly fine to have us buried alive to increase the milk yield.

[video]

[scarletcast]

Apply pressure, and everything yields.

[ This is not Natasha's lesson. It's just her words giving form to the concept. ]

[video]

[wormintheglass]

[Bianca smiles, brightly vivacious.]

Precisely. And one day I will find the right spot to apply it.

[video]

[scarletcast]

If I don't get there first.

[ Brisk, certain. ]

[video]

[wormintheglass]

I had rather cooperate than compete on that particular matter.

[video]

[scarletcast]

[ Bianca, as she often does, has a point. ]

I agree.

[video]

[wormintheglass]

I think what irritates me most is that, given freedom to leave, I would probably stay. I like this city. I just don't appreciate being caged.

[video]

[scarletcast]

I would help if asked. There should be a choice.