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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Better than your idea that thanking someone for existing is gonna make up for crap like that.

I never said it would make up for it. There's...nothing that'll make up for that. But it might do something.

[ He says nothing for a couple of moments, then rubs his eyes with his hand. ]

Maybe. [ Which he leaves unclarified. ] Personally, I think a better show of gratitude is to spend more time in clubs and leave 'em the hell alone.

[ She runs her hand briefly over her mouth, and shrugs, and says: ]

That makes zero sense.

It makes plenty of sense -- the whole helpful hero thing isn't gonna fix anything, but the less stressed out we are, the less likely we'll make things any worse.

Well, most of us.

Uh-huh. You know, I think it's those remaining few that really are the ones that matter.

Then as long as it isn't anything like that, what the rest of us do shouldn't matter all that much.

And so what's the situation that results? The majority of us, sitting about like fat useless slugs, staring glassy-eyed as those wicked few make this world theirs. That sounds nice to you?

No -- we can just live normal lives until we have to go back. We're not all each other's keepers.

Things aren't that easy, Reggie. Lives aren't that isolated. You can rage against this fact, but we're all bound up in this world and in each other.

[ ... Ugh. His brow furrows, but then he gestures flippantly out with his hands. ]

Hey, you got your way and I got mine. Things can definitely be that easy, it's just mind over matter.

Yeah? Well, you've been working hard at being isolated for a number of months now. How's it going for you?

First of all, I'm not isolated. Second of all, never been happier. That's what happens when you let yourself have fun.

Reggie, you're going on about how you don't want connections to people here. That's, like, the definition of isolated.

No-- [ It's hasty, a bit defensive. ] There's a difference. I'll hang out, it's getting too invested that's better off avoided. What good's all this appreciation do when we don't stick around forever anyway?

So, what. You cut off friendships once they look like they're getting too warm and genuine?

[ Basically, yes. He pauses. ]

... Yeah, right. Do I seem like a warm and genuine person in the first place?

[ A shrug. And she answers honestly: ]

You seem like someone who absolutely could be if you let yourself.

[ He exhales huffily. ]

Sounds like a real blast. We can eat ice cream and bond over our hopes and fears and favorite hair products.

That's the most dire scenario you can come up with? Ice cream and a nice conversation?

I never said dire. What about that sounds like a nice conversation to you?

Hopes, fears, and hair products are all quite interesting.

Well, okay -- hair products, sure.

And hopes.

I feel like you've made yours pretty clear by now.

VIDEO.

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VIDEO. / do you want to action/move the thread/anything else?

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