maskormenace

[ Here's Kitty, wearing a smile and giving a little wave to the camera. ]

Hullo. It's Kitty here. I was just thinking about how it's about time for us to get another wave of new people - and then I remembered how last December, we didn't get any, and then I realized that I've now been here for over a year and that was just mad to think about.

It's easy to focus on all the horrid things that happen to us here. Because there are so many horrid things - that's true. The war with the Soviets is just terrible, and sometimes you just want to take the President by his shoulders and shake him until he stops - and those groups that detest us, they've made things a bit hard at times, as well. [ There's a little sideways twist to her lips as she says that; that's a grotesque understatement from a girl who had quite the history with one of those groups that detest us. ]

But it's always easy to remember the bad above the good. That's how the human brain works, isn't it - it's designed to remember hurts so that it can avoid those hurts in the future, which isn't bad, but which means that we sometimes lose track of the fact that there is so much more kindness than cruelty in the world. So I was just sitting and remembering all the good that's come to me over the past year.

Because this year, in this world, it really has been filled with impossible goodness. When I first came here, I was so scared, but there were people who took me in and helped me and protected me until I got a little more courage. And now here I am. I've made so many friends, amongst them someone I thought was my direst enemy. I saw people whom I'd never done any good for - I saw them forgive me when I was cruel and wicked and spiteful towards them, saw them risk themselves to help me and to save me.

And I've lived amongst the people of this world, who have been so good to me. So good. I've made friends amongst them, too. I've been kept on at work when I really have been the worst employee, when I've been unreliable because of my other obligations. And we've been allowed to speak our minds, speak freely. We've been allowed to travel far and wide. We've been supported in everything we do, which is far more kindness than has ever been extended a group of refugees at any time in any world. We've lived at peace. We've lived well.

So -

[ She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. ]

I'd thought - if I could trouble you all - that we could spend a little bit of time, all together, remembering the good turns that people have done us.

Talk about whomever you'd like. Talk about the people who have been kind and helped us when they didn't have to. Talk about the wealth that is the other people we know here. And I thought we could talk about the natives, too - I was thinking I might put together a little something, a few quotes, that we could pass along to the natives of this world, so that we know that we appreciate them. Let's take some time to overcome our brains, and remember the good - focus on the good and remember how kind the world is to us. How well we live. How strong and brave and honest we can be here.

[ Translation: 'All of this is a somewhat underhanded but well-intentioned PR thing that will let me package some stuff to make the natives less furious at us in an ongoing attempt to avert all-out war between us and this world.' ]

Anyway. There's that, if you can spare some time. Oh, and, erm - come by Krakatoa, while I've got your attention. Best club in town, bar none. And the employees are simply gorgeous.

[ A quick, half-sheepish grin, and then she gives a little nod and waves her way off. ]

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[ Immediately Adam stills. There's silence for a moment, no noise other than the sound of him trying to breathe evenly. He's been angry and upset for days and now Gansey has seen him at his worst once more.

There is dirt inside of him and it rises up and coats his insides now. ]

It's stupid.

[ He cringes, sounding petulant to his own ears. ] Nobody believes any of this.

[ Gansey knows. Adam has always had a paranoid streak.

But not normally like this, particularly since the same paranoia generally keeps him from shouting about it. That's what makes Gansey worry now. ]

It's not her fault.

I know it's false. There's always a falseness to politics, and that's all she's doing. There's worse things she could want than cooperation.

[ His paranoid streak is the only thing keeping him alive. ]

Cooperation with a bunch of mass-murderers and criminals? Shit, Gansey, you've seen the calibre of people here. By pretending we're all a bunch of nice people is literally just handing those kind of people an opening.

I have seen them, and not all of them are mass-murderers or criminals. It is not terrible to be nice to people.

[ A little pause. Then he sighs. ]

And we both know that's not what you're angry about, anyway.

I'm not angry.

[ He's so angry. Cabeswater isn't even here to excuse him. ]

Being friends with everyone doesn't work, Gansey. We all know that. You don't know what's going on inside people's heads.

But I know what's bothering you, and I know it's not Kitty Jones.

[ That's not exactly sharp, but it's firm. Unhappy, certainly. ]

You're treating her poorly. She doesn't deserve that, and you know it.

Fine.

[ Adam huffs out a sigh. ]

Fine, I'll stop. But I still think it's wrong.

[ He leans against his wall. There's no sign of this tiredness in his voice. He keeps it clear. ]

She's just trying to help. It's Kitty. That's what she does.

It's not helping the people who fall for it.

She's sincere.

At least to an extent. Not all optimism in the world is a lie, Adam. There are people who are genuinely happy to be here. No one is asking you to lie.

I'm fine being here.

[ He still hasn't admitted to preferring it to Henrietta. That would really slash a knife through their relationship. ]

I just don't think we should pretend that together we're not a dangerous group. You've seen what people can do here, Gansey. Wouldn't you rather know instead of blindly living your life thinking the wolf is actually just a sheep?

I know that you are.

[ Adam has been happier here. It's not hard to see. Gansey isn't sure there's much that ties him to home at all, aside from Cabeswater, and now even that bond is broken.

Adam had wanted to find Glendower, he's certain of that. But that had also been before he'd seen a world where his heritage really could just be forgotten. ]

I think that I would find it abhorrent to think all imports were the same as every other. I dislike the element of this that seeks their approval, but nor would I want any one of them to be afraid of me.

Or of you. Or of any of us, aside from those who are a real and genuine threat. Kitty is over-egging things, certainly. But ultimately she is trying to bring two disparate communities together, and as I said, there are worse goals to have.

[ Adam still needs Glendower. He needs to save Gansey's life. He needs to put that right. But if he could do that and stay here he would. Because this place, for all it's faults, isn't a place where the people on the street know him as the boy from the trailer park. It's done wonders for his self-esteem. It's made him stand up straighter.

Or it did. ]

I'll stop.

[ The fire has gone from his voice. Now he just sounds tired. ]

[ Gansey breathes a sigh.

Everything is so wrong between them. ]

Thank you.

[ He'll leave it there. At least it'll put a stop to one fight. ]

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