maskormenace | one ✩ video

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[ ID reads Karen Starr.

As for Karen, she's seated on her bed in her shared housing complex. Next to her bedside, on the small dresser, is a tall iced cappuccino that's already a quarter finished. Most of her hair is tied up and she's dressed in a camisole and three quarter pants, but interesting there's a light sweater laying near the edge of the bed.

It's much too warm for long sleeves. ]

Probably a bit weird to ask, but how many of you are going to the jobs they set up for us? I can't exactly complain about doing work I know how to do and being able to earn money ASAP, but it still feels a bit like a demotion. I liked the view from my office window.

[ She sighs and scratches above the digital tattoo on her wrist. ]

Ugh... and I don't suppose someone's found a way to get rid of this?

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They have me working part-time.

[ she is obviously very unhappy with this fact. ]

[ She's somewhat confused by that answer. ]

Glad to see you're okay, Kanaya.

Did they enroll you in school, too?

[ she scoffs as if the very idea is offensive. ] As if I'd let them.

If my participation in the one job is limited, I'll simply have to find another to keep the slack left.

[ 100% confused. ]

Hang on.

So, you want to work full-time? [ She thought kids preferred having free time to do whatever they liked to do in that time. ] What for?

[ some kids, sadly, are well past that point. they always grow up too fast. ]

While I do appreciate the hospitality that has been extended to us since we were brought to this universe, I would prefer not to take it for granted. Better that we bring ourselves to the point where we can provide for ourselves without their assistance.

It's not exactly new, either. I've been working full-time for nearly a year now. Like you, no one appreciates a demotion.

It's different for someone like me: I've been an adult for years. It's expected of me to provide for myself for the most part.

You didn't have a guardian or someone who helped to support you back in the City?

I said I've been working full-time that long, that isn't when I was first expected to provide for myself. Or others, even.

It isn't nearly so different as you think.

[ we'll call that a "no". ]

I just don't think it's right, even if it's often a reality.

Though, then I gotta ask... did you ask them for more hours?

They said "they'll see" and tried to talk me into attending school again.

But I don't think there's anything wrong with their being a lack of difference. We each have to earn our way, and the responsibilities I have here are actually less than I would have if my planet were still a thing that exists.

[ Karen pauses a little longer than she means to. That always tugs on her heartstrings. ]

If it's that much a problem, you have the option of looking for another job.

And look, I know we haven't known each other long and that we don't know each other well, but it's alright to ask for help. We've got to stick together somehow.

[ and here kanaya thinks she's just another human, no clue she's just as much an alien orphan. ]

That was going to be the plan. That hasn't changed, but they seem to be more difficult to stumble across here than in the City. It's much smaller.

And while I appreciate the offer, I think for the same reason we all may need to build whatever stocks we can. You know, just in case the worst happens. When that time comes, it'll allow us to support each other. [ as opposed to her being supported, that's just weird and uncomfortable.

but on that topic, something about karen's tattoo has been nagging at her. ] Why hadn't you registered?

Okay, okay. I can respect that and the fact you're able to outline what you need to do. Just... I'm here at the same time, alright?

[ She knows if she presses too hard she'll only force Kanaya away. At the moment, there's no need for it. Everything's... calm.

She looks down at her wrist and shakes her head. ]

I don't know if they've been completely honest with us.

I'm not disinclined to believe they haven't. But we're in no position to be picky about it, either. Like I said, I'm not the only one I have to think about.

It's best to be careful while the situation is to our benefit.

For the moment.

[ Karen's quiet for several seconds. ]

Hey, can I ask you something?

For the moment, yes, because we can't say how long that moment will last.

[ and she pauses a moment, just because she isn't entirely sure how to segue to that without doing so awkwardly. ] Go ahead.

Do you know Nepeta?

[ Considering the two are trolls, she figures Kanaya does. ]

[ kanaya's face tenses a moment at the name, eyes widening, lips pursing, like a catch in her breath, r a skip of her heart. the moment passes and her expression falls as it relaxes. the pause tells the story all by itself. ]

...Knew.

[ Her throat closes up while almost shoots out of the bed. Her own eyes grow wide with horror and disbelief. ]

No...

[ It explains the missing name on this network. ]

What happened?

The end of the world happened.

[ her jaw sets as her brows strain together, but she leans her head against a hand to cover her eyes. ]

She didn't make it to the other side.

[ kanaya still remembers the sensation, feeling nepeta's limp body in her arms only to be empty-handed a moment later. the camera swerves to the ceiling as she puts the comm down, then clicks off to audio only. ]

Kanaya.

[ Her voice is quiet and soft, forehead creases prominent as she continues to frown.

Damn it all. ]

I'm sorry, Kanaya.

Not as sorry as I am.

[ and it's the guilt that hurts the most, that she and nepeta had lost their friendship to so much pettiness and pride, and when the time came, it was too late to fix it. she'd botched the whole thing. ]

But being sorry doesn't change a damn thing.

I know.

[ She knows it all too well, it's part of why she'll never forgive Barbara; it's so much easier to blame her for everything rather than to stay feeling sorry for herself. ]

I'm only sorry I didn't get to know her too well. She was sweet.

Thinking of her only as sweet does her a disservice. She was many things, and harmless not among them.

[ because that was a lot of their problem. nepeta wanting to be stronger than kanaya treated her, kanaya not wanting her to have to be. ]

She went bravely, at least. But she always had.

What do you mean "always had"?

[ she takes a deep breath. ]

Suffice to say...she didn't have much time left in our native universe.

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