[ voice ]

[hostage]

[Voice this time, not his usual video. He's pretty sick of people telling him how awful he looks when he's got the shakes. Not that he sounds great, either, but typing's too much effort and he doesn't care that much.]

This is, uh, like a heads-up. I don't think I can do the cookie thing next week. Just a lotta work, you know, in the kitchen then going out in the rain all day. I don't... yeah. Anyway, I can give you all the stuff if you wanna do it yourself. It'd be nice if somebody was out there for the new guys. I never really thought about making sure somebody else could do it if I was gone.

[A pause.]

Yeah. That's it, I guess. 409 if you wanna pick up ingredients or whatever.

Comments

[marbled]

Is it easy to meet them? Even if they're scared?

[hostage]

Mostly. Some people get too scared to come close but a lotta them are hungry or cold or just lonely and it's nice 'cause you're right there to make friends with 'em.

[marbled]

Is that what you do?

[ Her voice drops a bit as she continues. ] Become friends with them right away?

[hostage]

I try. Sometimes it works, sometimes it don't. Like I said, people are scared. Takes a while before they can trust you.

[marbled]

[ Anna's familiar with the concept of trust and building up to it. There are times where she feels she's not sure if she can trust some of the other members of Homra even though they treat her kindly. ]

Are you scared too?

[hostage]

Not of these people.

[marbled]

Can't they hurt you too?

[hostage]

Sure, yeah. They could.

[marbled]

They can hurt you, but you're not scared?

[hostage]

[Confidentially:]

I'm used to getting hurt.

[marbled]

That doesn't mean people should be allowed to hurt you.

[ Adding on: ] Even if you willingly permit them.

[hostage]

I said I wasn't scared. I didn't say I'd let 'em do it.

[marbled]

Huh..?

How do you stop them then if you get scared?

[hostage]

You mean like if they try and hurt you? Just run away. Call for help.

[marbled]

But then someone else might get hurt instead. [ That seems to bother her more than her getting hurt herself. ]