hadriel | video;

[ It's Hannah's network debut! The teen looks cheerful enough, for a person trapped in a monster-infested cave nightmare, standing in front of one of her city-decoration projects. ]

Does it work? I know everyone hates when people hit "reply to all" on e-mail, but I haven't really used this thing yet, and I thought I should introduce myself to everyone. We're all stuck here, so... better to have names to go with the faces, right?

[ Hannah, no, this isn't an online college course. ]

My name's Hannah - Hannah Washington. My brother Josh is here, too, and... I'm from the same place as Chris, Ashley, and Emily, if you've met them.

[ She isn't exactly sure how long her friends have been in Hadriel, but it's been longer than her own one-month period for sure. ]

Um - So, I got some cookies for painting, I guess. From Hope, maybe? Are they safe to eat? I know that the "gods" aren't all the same in how bad they are, but if there's any chance of them being risky, maybe it'd be better to throw them away.

[ Hannah pauses, tucking some hair behind her ear. Behind her, occasionally visible, are paintings of butterflies on the walls. ]

Any tips for a cave-city newbie?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Sure are a lot of you from the same place.

[As someone who is always trying to figure out how the Door works and why it pulls people in the way it does, that's certainly something worth noting.]

As for advice, I'd familiarize yourself with where some of the important places are, if you haven't already. The Clinic, the Guard Headquarters, the temples. In a place like this, you never know when you're going to need to run to any one of those.

I think it's just five of us. [ Hannah notes. ] Is that a lot?

[ She has no idea what the running numbers are for everyone else's home populations, anyway. ]

The clinic, the... Okay. Got it. [ She jots them down to be sure she won't forget. ] What's in the temples?

[ Aside from, she assumes, candles, altars, and that kind of stuff. ]

Yeah, five is a lot.

[Especially when most folks seem to be the only ones from their respective worlds.]

What's in the temples isn't all that important. It's just good to know where they are, in case you need to head there for safety. We had a fog roll in a while back that brought in some real nasty characters from the caves, and the temples were about the only places they couldn't go.

Oh. [ beat ] I didn't know.

[ Should she apologize? Instead of focusing on the mild awkwardness, she presses: ]

So, they're like... sacred ground. [ She does know some stuff from horror movies. ] Why don't we just stay there all the time, then?

Most people seem to avoid them because while you're in one, you can feel the gods' influence. Emotions that aren't yours.

[ Hannah frowns. That doesn't sound good.

But, then: ] Wouldn't it be nice to feel hopeful all the time? Or even delighted?

You like being told how to feel? Or made to feel that way against your will?

[ She thinks about it, still frowning, considering-- ]

... I guess not. It sounds creepy when you put it that way.

Just trying to help you see why most folks aren't keen the idea.

No, I... appreciate it. You're right.

[ Ultimately, she doesn't want to be controlled, even if she would think she was actually happy - or, hopeful. ]

You just be careful out there.

[And since it seems other folks got the rest of her answers covered, he lets her go for now.]

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