[Voice]

[thegriffinofdeath]

[Ana has been mostly avoiding the network since her loss of the ambassadorial elections, partly out of embarrassment and partly out of relief. She wasn't sure she wanted to be in charge of anything, really. Still, dwelling on the election had made her think of home, her real position, with her people...and her family. Which was why this evening network post happened.]

[There might have been a glass or two of wine involved, too, if she was being honest.]

Hi. [She started, then hesitated, collecting her thoughts.]

I know that most all of us have left loved ones behind when we brought here. Friends, families...lovers. But...

[Another beat and a small breath.]

Is anyone else married? It's so strange. I've spent...mm. Longer than I'd like to admit with Vein. Good times and awful times but always...there.

I've been here nearly a year, now. A year without him or my daughter and...

[Where was she going with this? Another pause.]

Mm. I suppose I just need a distraction.

Tell me about your families. If anyone would like to, at least. Here or...there.

Comments

[subourbon]

The same is true of where I'm from. It's not like we get a say in any of it. Although, frankly, I think magic could also make things more complicated.

[Fighting wars with magic only seem marginally less terrible than with nuclear weapons, as far as Alison's concerned.]

[thegriffinofdeath]

Maybe. Magic can be...troublesome. But it's no worse than a lot of the things i've seen invented in this world.

And the things it can do that you can't with science...

[She hesitates.]

I suppose it doesn't matter either way. Nothing is going to change.

[subourbon]

I've never been very fond of change, but I've learned to live with it, I guess. You have to in a place like this.

[thegriffinofdeath]

I have learned to embrace it. I never had much choice, even at home.

It can be a welcome thing, sometimes.

[subourbon]

Under the right circumstances, maybe.

[Alison's quiet for a second, thinking about how nice it is to speak to an adult with - well, not exactly the same situation as her, but at least similar. Like her suburban book club, with much less passive-aggressiveness at play.]

You know, maybe we should start something like a support group for people like us.

[thegriffinofdeath]

[There's a small laugh.] People who miss their families, or people who aren't fond of change?

[subourbon]

I was thinking the first one.

[thegriffinofdeath]

It might be nice. Or it might just be a lot of sad people suffering together.

[subourbon]

... well, it was just a suggestion.

[thegriffinofdeath]

And a good one! Just because something can go wrong doesn't mean you don't try and do it, right?

[subourbon]

In most circumstances, yes.

[thegriffinofdeath]

Well, either way, if you want to organize something like that...I will attend.

[subourbon]

Well, I'll see what I can do.