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

video;

[brightdawn]

[Hey, it's that nice kid again. Koltira blinks into the feed, his smile concerned.]

Is something awful happening, Martin?

[THINGS ARE PRETTY GOOD FOR HIM. Except for the part where he has nowhere to sleep, of course.]

[theguideless]

[there's a hesitation. how embarrassing. it's...it's awful to a length for Martin, but...maybe not for everyone changed.

though there is an awful lot of flustering going on...]

People...some people are changing. [slight pause.] Getting older, or younger...Different. A lot of people. I don't know why, but...things like this have happened before.

[brightdawn]

[This poor child always seems so distressed. It's difficult for Koltira to reconcile the Martin on the screen with the assured, confident ghosts he had just met.]

Ah, I see ... and it's troubling you, isn't it?

[theguideless]

[another lapse.

with less strain, a bit subdued:] Yes. It's...causing a lot of people problems, too, it seems. It's not very good to confuse so many people... [that makes it sound less selfish a complaint, right?]

[brightdawn]

But you said these occurrences are not uncommon. So that means, eventually, everything gets sorted out, right?

[theguideless]

That's how it's been before. But...the people with the machines, they haven't said a word. I don't know what that can mean.

[brightdawn]

Maybe they're not aware of the problem yet? [His voice is warm, assuring.] I mean ... has this been going on long?

[theguideless]

[smaller:] I don't know for sure. I only noticed it...with a few people I already knew. [YOU. DAD. ROOMMATES...] There could be more.

[a hesitation. but now he's starting to feel like the only person who hasn't changed. WHAT IF NOBODY REMEMBERS??]

They'll...have to do something about it. [iF THEY REMEMBER.]

[brightdawn]

[Koltira's been thinking--and still sort of thinks--that his presence here was a result of a mistake made on his world, not vice versa. But he can't deny the mounting evidence he's seeing to the contrary, and Martin's anxiety is a powerful argument for the latter cause. He speaks more softly.]

Well--I'm sure these people will fix the issue, as soon as they can. Perhaps they will speak to us once they have a solution ready.

[theguideless]

[a breath.]

Yes. I think so. [no, hope so. he can't fix this himself.]

video

[notbeth]

What "awful" things? [ everything else is like white noise-- she's zoned in on that part. ]

[theguideless]

[hesitating.]

People are being changed. Older or...younger. [or suddenly alive, yanno. take your pick.]

[notbeth]

[ she looks relieved, though still a bit weirded out. ]

Oh, that...

[theguideless]

[this is a...questioning pause. oh, that?

he makes an uncertain sound, but not much else. he's...he's very aware he didn't think about how to approach this subject, knowing so little.]

[notbeth]

[ kate rubs her head, uncertain herself. ]

I heard people talking about that.

But...

That can't be possible. Right?

[theguideless]

[a delay.]

It happened before.

[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?