voice.

[theguideless]

[a testing sound, a little huff of an exhale, and a lapse into quiet. he's hesitant.

but:] Did they say anything about this? Everyone changing...Last time awful things were happening, they said they were working on it. Things got better.

I'm...not very good at using this. Did I miss it? It's... [slight pause. his tone gets gradually more distracted:] It's going to change, like before. And every time we get sent someplace different, something else happens...

[beat.

WAIT:] I meant the Initiatve people, I'm sorry. [a quick, wincing pause. apologies....] They're who I meant should have said something.

Comments

[notbeth]

[ she leans forward curiously. ]

When?

[theguideless]

Mhh... [slight pause.] Months ago, but...I don't know how months really work. So I don't know the number.

[notbeth]

[ and she pulls away, skeptical. ]

What do you mean you dunno how they "work"? It's really easy.

[theguideless]

[smaller, embarrassed:] I never heard about them until I came here. I only know there's a lot of names and numbers.

[notbeth]

You didn't learn from your mom or dad? Or school?

[theguideless]

No. I don't think they knew, and there was no school-place.

[notbeth]

None? But then how'd you-- [ you have to learn from somewhere, right? ]

Home schooled?

[theguideless]

[a beat. meaning....

well. close enough, he thinks.] Yes. Like that. Everyone stayed together all the time, except when having to work.

[notbeth]

[ that sounds kind of nice. unity, closeness, etc. she misses having that with her mom and sister. ]

So, where're you from?

[theguideless]

[from? before or...?]

I used to be from a different world, like a lot of people here.

[notbeth]

I mean... [ she frowns. different worlds is hard to completely accept, even if she's already met an elf. ] Your city.

[theguideless]

[oh.]

I never lived in a city before this. It was one big building everyone stayed in.

[notbeth]

Uh, but... buildings are usually in a city or town.

A country? [ MAYBE HE'S FROM A FARM?? ]

[theguideless]

[UHMM...]

Well, the...the whole land I was from was called Olvoski. Is that what you wanted to know?

[notbeth]

Olvoski... see, I knew it had to have had a name.

[theguideless]

[there's a delay.

wow, he only just realizes how derailed he's gotten. uhHHh...

but.

uh.

]

...I'm Martin.

1/2

[notbeth]

[ WOW SHE REALLY DID GO OFF TOPIC.

but martin you are kind of weird, she needed to know. ]

[notbeth]

I'm Kate.

What places do people get sent to? I know we're supposed to be fighting a war...

[theguideless]

H– [oh. so much for hello. he swallows it.

pause.]

Different places than here...Sometimes there is a lot of snow, or it's very hot...They're supposed to be different places in time.

[notbeth]

Have you been shipped out?

[theguideless]

["shipped out"–?]

What do you mean?

[notbeth]

Being sent elsewhere. It's a war, right?

[theguideless]

Oh...

Yes. I've had to go before. A few times.

[notbeth]

I can't believe they really send kids... they don't do basic training?

[theguideless]

[gorl you sound tinier than he is.

another hesitation.]

There's places to train, yes.