+01 (Video)

[the_red_pawn]

[The camera is clearly sitting on a shelf or something, judging by the perspective the feed opens up on. It was the best way to get a steady feed, and besides, Sakuri is 4"9, this is the only way to frame the shot so she doesn't look tiny. The twelve year old smiles for a brief second before her expression settles into a default sort of wariness as she clears her throat and begins.]

H-hello, everyone. My name i-is Sakuri Kunikai, and I just, um, arrived. I h-have some questions... things back h-home were, they were... [she trails off, looking stricken, but sucks in a deep breath and tries again, fists clenched at her sides as she struggles to keep calm and keep talking,] they w-weren't going well. Demons w-were involved. I, I think I need a therapist, m-maybe. But I don't really know h-how that sort of thing works, or how to f-find one.

Also, I want, well, I'd l-like some time to think about the, [this will never get less surreal to say,] the superhero th-thing. Registering, I mean. C-can we take some t-time to figure that out? I, at home, things, things went really wrong a-a-and now I get, I get these big flashes of panic, and I cry a-and I don't know why, and I just don't want to b-be a bad superhero and g-get somebody hurt. But I d-don't want to sit around and not h-help anyone, either. People sh-should help each other, it's just the right thing to do... [Despite her voice shaking, she nods to herself, as if reminding herself of this fact, and her voice is a bit more even as she finishes speaking.]

Sorry, if th-these are stupid questions. And for my stutter, I, I was going to speech therapy but, but it'll take a while t-to go away completely. A-anyway, thank you all f-for your time.

[She cuts the feed, shoulders still visibly tense, clearly not any less nervous than when she began.]

Comments

[video]

[carbonfrozen]

Hey. Hey. Kid.

[Crap, how old is this kid? Han leans forward, hands clasped together on his lap, in order to be more reassuring.]

Look. Listen, kid, you don't have to register right away. Or at all, if you can help it. So far nobody's asked me to try my hand at this superhero thing, so that's optional—if you really wanna help people, there's other ways.

You all right?

[video]

[the_red_pawn]

[It does not help her case that her hands are shaking a little when she picks up the camera to answer him, but she's not visibly on the verge of crying anymore, so that's good.

Her voice is rather timid as she answers.] I - I d-do want to help p-people but, but I... [Sakuri shudders at more than one memory that comes to mind, squaring her shoulders.] I don't wanna b-be hurt anymore.

I'm. Um. [She doesn't want to worry him by telling him she isn't, she really doesn't, he seems nice. At the same time though, she's only twelve and she's been through a lot, so, rather abruptly, she bursts into tears.] S-sorry, sorry, I'm o-okay, really, I am, now, b-but back home...

[She can't even finish that sentence at the moment.]

[video]

[carbonfrozen]

I don't think anyone wants to get hurt.

[Okay, she doesn't look like she's about to break down crying on him right now. Still, she also doesn't look too good, so Han keeps his voice soft and kind.

And she's gone and burst into tears.]

You don't have to tell me what happened, kid. It's fine. Just—do you need anything? That I can find here, by the way, so I'm not gonna be able to get you, say, a carton of bantha milk.

[video]

[the_red_pawn]

I, I want t-to be safe, and, and I want my mom and my s-sister but... [They're not here. They're dead, she knows that, it's just too awful to put into words, so she wipes at her eyes until she can form words again.] I g-guess a nightlight? Unless m-maybe I can sleep with the l-light on.

[video]

[carbonfrozen]

Don't know about safe [what with the giant killer butterflies and the earthquake and the usual imPort craziness] and I can't do anything about your family, but yeah, you could.

You could also buy a nightlight somewhere, like, uh—that WalMart place.

video;

[soldierman]

You don't need to register right away. You don't need to register at all, if you don't feel it's the right fit for you.

[ His expression is understanding and his voice soft. Danny doesn't have the heart to not extend a little help to someone who seems so distressed. ]

I’m sure there’s someone here who can help you with anything else. There’s all sorts in the porter cities. Is there anything you need in the mean time?

video;

[the_red_pawn]

[She wipes at her face before she picks up the camera, but it's probably clear she's been crying a little.]

U-um, no, no, I'm okay. J-just a little nervous, I guess. This is a, a lot to take in. [Sakuri pauses, thinking, then asks a little shakily,] How s-safe is it, here? And have, uh, th-this will sound weird, but have you s-seen a man named Ritz a-around here? Blue-purple hair, b-black and red eyes? [Her voice wavers, and her grip on the camera tightens even as her hands shake slightly, but. She has to know.]

video;

[soldierman]

I'm still nervous as well. It is a lot to take in, but it’s safe. There will be plenty of people to help you with anything if you need it.

[ He pauses briefly, genuinely taking the time to rack his brain, but the name and description don’t sound familiar. ]

I haven’t seen anyone like that. I’m sorry.

[ He looks and sounds genuinely apologetic, but he’s quick to add: ]

But I’ve only been here for two months. There’s a good chance that someone else may have spotted him. Would you like me to ask around for you?

video;

[the_red_pawn]

But i-if I don't register, then w-won't I lose all the, the stuff I got? Like the j-job and the place to stay? [She is twelve, she doesn't know what she's supposed to do to get by on her own. Sakuri isn't dumb, but she's pretty sure she can't just hide in the government housing and hope nobody throws her out.

She does breath a sigh of relief at Ritz not being here, though.] G-good. Ritz is evil, he, he - I d-don't even want to think about it. Just k-keep an eye out? S-so everyone can be safe.

[video]

[glassfall]

[Oh, the poor dear. Cinders keeps her voice soft and gentle as she speaks.]

Of course. You may take plenty of time. I know it's frightening, being in a new place like this.

[Cinders, you don't know the half of it.]

And your questions aren't stupid at all. You don't have to apologize for your stutter, either.

[video]

[the_red_pawn]

[Sakuri wipes at her eyes, but the initial wave of panic seems to be subsiding a bit. It's nice to see another girl here, even if she's older.]

O-okay. But I, I read in the document t-the government gave me that i-if you don't register th-then you might not have a, a place to st-tay and... [Sakuri has no idea how renting a place would work even back in Japan. She's pretty sure that's something that she'd have to be older to do, though, and she really doesn't have any money. She worries her bottom lip with her teeth, thinking, clearly still stressed.]

Th-thank you, though. For not minding m-my stutter. I'm getting better at not stuttering but it, it's hard, when I get n-nervous. [And even without the preceding trauma, talking to all these new people on the network would've made her nervous. First impressions are important and tricky in equal measure.]

[video]

[glassfall]

If you don't have any where to stay, you can stay with me. I've been planning on getting a place, anyway.

[It's a bit rash, but she's not about to leave this poor girl all on her own.]

Don't worry about it. I'm called Cinders.

[video]

[the_red_pawn]

Really? But I, I d-don't really know you and I c-can't bring in m-much money... especially if t-the job the government gave m-me goes away. I don't w-want to make your life h-harder.

[Cinders seems nice, she doesn't want to have a negative effect on her life. She tries a smile, weak as it may be.]

Cinders i-is a pretty name. M-my name's Sakuri, um, I d-don't have a nickname or, or anything cool like that...

text

[wetblankets]

[Ian knows a thing or two about demons, the internal kind. Running from them. Dealing with them. There's no easy fix but the fact that she wants help and is asking for it, that'll make a difference.]

any chance you're in heropa?
i can talk this out with you but face to face is better.

text

[the_red_pawn]

Oh! I am, actually. I live in Heropa now, I guess. But I don't know if my roommate - housemate? - is coming back soon or not so maybe somewhere other than the house would be good. I don't want to disrupt them...

And, um, I hope it's not offensive but my mom always said to meet people from the internet somewhere in public. So is that okay?

[She doesn't know how to do this. Social skills and talking to people seem like things from another lifetime. Time in Hell passed on a different scale; it had probably been years in compressed time since she'd texted anyone. But she does her best to be nice and hopes that makes up for any mistakes she might be making.]

[wetblankets]

that's damn decent of you.

[Aw, shit. He should watch his language. She's a kid.]

your mom's not wrong.
there's all kinds of creeps around
better safe than sorry.

why don't you pick a place and i'll be there in ten minutes.
the city isn't that big.

[the_red_pawn]

I'm trying to make a good first impression. I know they probably didn't ask for a roommate, after all. I sort of feel sorry for people here, even if I'm glad we have houses this way.

There's a coffee shop not too far from my place. Is that okay? If you don't like coffee we could go somewhere else.

[But she sends him a link to their webpage, which shows both their address and the fact they have non-coffee drinks that hopefully appeal to him. It's a hot day, so she figures a cold drink is a good thing, right? Besides, this way she knows there will be people there, and that makes her feel a bit safer.]

( text )

[drizzle]

That's right. It's always good to follow your gut feeling in wanting to help while taking into account any known issues before involving yourself in something that may possibly overwhelm you. I think it's pretty mature of you to do.

I think you don't have to make a decision right away. They give you time to think about it. The government is more interested to learn about your decision in wanting to be registered or not. You don't have to accept the responsibility right away. At the very least, I have never been forced to.

If you want to see a psychologist, you should talk to those at the swear-in. They'll prepare everything you need.

( text )

[the_red_pawn]

Oh, thank you. I don't think I'm very mature usually, but I'm going to try to do my best, here. People here seem nice, so I want to make sure I don't mess up.

I think maybe some day I would like to be registered and help people. I just don't think I'm ready right now. Besides, I don't even really know how to use my powers. I don't think there's much I can do so far. But! I heard they might not let people stay in the housing or have a job if they don't register and I don't know where else I'd live. Or what job I'd get, either.

Thanks. I'd like to talk to one to see if maybe I can get to be less panicky. Maybe then I won't get so overwhelmed. I know I'm not very good, right now, but I want to get better.

( text )

[drizzle]

Yeah. Everyone is very welcoming to newcomers. I remember being given the same greetings as you are.

That depends on your housemates, actually. As far as I know, the government has never kicked me out upon rejecting their offer for registration. It's true there are disadvantages to being unsettle, but I've been able to live by just fine. As long as you live in a porter city, you should be fine regardless of your decision. Most of the citizens in this world have great admiration for us.

There's a school you can practice your powers in. It's in Heropa, I do believe, if you wanna check it out. As I said before, you can definitely find a psychologist to speak to within our community or can ask the government for one in a swear-in. It'll be easier to contact them that way.

( text )

[the_red_pawn]

It's really kind of everyone. I didn't think they would want to talk to me. I'm so much younger than everyone, but they're really polite anyway. <3

I haven't met my housemate yet. It's a little rude of the government to drop me off while they're out... I hope I make a good first impression. I'd like to be friends with them. All I want is to have friends, and get better so I'm not scared all the time, and maybe when I'm better I can help people. If people admire me, then I want to make sure I don't let them down.

Oh, wow. I'm glad there's a school like that. I'll have to check it out. Maybe with that and one of the psychologists you mentioned, I can get back to normal and start helping people soon! I'm not alone anymore.

video;

[aberranthubris]

Good evening, Miss Kunikai. [ Have a calm, comforting smile to go with it. ]

Absolutely no one is going to expect you to do something dangerous here. I'm sure you've already been told that you don't have to worry about registering.

I'd like to ask you if you were situated to live with someone you can trust?

And it's nice to meet you, Miss Kunikai. I'm Professor Charles Xavier.

video;

[the_red_pawn]

I - I - if I c-could, I'd l-like to help people b-b-but. [Deep breath.] But I'm n-not okay enough to h-help, right now.

Oh, u-um... well, my h-housemate isn't h-here, so. I haven't g-gotten to meet them y-yet. It seems k-kind of mean, for the government n-not to send them a, a text or call th-them, or something. [A new person in your house is a big surprise to spring on someone, after all. But she doesn't know her housemate's number so she can't text them an apology or something. Otherwise, she'd have done it already.]

Nice t-to meet you, too, Pr-professor. Sorry, about m-my stutter. I know most t-teachers back home d-didn't like it. I'm trying t-to work on it, [she adds, quickly.]

[aberranthubris]

You have to take care of yourself first to be able to take care of others.

It is how these things work. Don't think too much about it. But you seem awfully young to be left all on your own.

[ Are they really going to just shove her into a home with random imports? That doesn't seem right. ]

If you find yourself in trouble, you can always reach out to me for help. Do you understand? I live in Nonah with some nice people. If you need a safe place to stay in, it can also be arranged. Just don't be afraid to reach out.

And don't worry about your stutter. We all face struggles in our lives and you're working with it. Take your time and I'm sure you will eventually conquer it.

[ Here, an encouraging smile! ]

[the_red_pawn]

I've b-been on my own b-b-before. [Her expression falls, though, in a way that suggests she's not saying that because she thinks she doesn't need anyone. She knows she does. But she's been in situations where she was all alone and in danger and she knows she could probably do it. She just really, really doesn't want to.

Sakuri fidgets, hands playing with the hem of her shirt nervously.] I d-don't know my way a-around yet. A-and if I don't R-register, then I c-can't use the Porters a-as easily, people said. I, I mean, i-it'd be nice to be somewhere m-more safe, but... [She may seem overly resigned to her face, but having been kidnapped and held by a complete sadist like she was doesn't create a whole lot of defiance in a person. Especially someone as young as she is.]

I w-was in speech th-therapy back home. Um, d-do they have that, h-here? I'd like to k-keep trying.