| 003 | VIDEO |

[briefly]

Let me start this by saying that I feel absolutely silly for having not thought of doing this a long, long time ago, but - well. That's obviously not longer the case. But I ought to get it out of the way anyhow.

[a breath.]

Katherine Stewart.

Marguerite Chadwick.

Stanley Chadwick.

Anthony Proud.

Delphine Gaudin.

Emilia Gorski-Grumley.

[With a little tension in her voice-] Julia Grumley.

[And after a pointed pause, exhaling again - this name is the hardest to say.] And Frederick Grumley.

I don't suppose anyone here has seen either of these people. Or - is any of these people? Who knows how long I've been here, but considering how long we've all been here, I... I thought it couldn't hurt to ask. If I'm here, chances are one of them might be, too. Not that it would be ideal, but I'd rather know about it.

[Read: she misses them. And she's worried about them. So there you have it.]

Thank you.

Comments

[briefly]

[le sigh.]

Suppose I should feel relieved for that.

[allbloodyhail]

But you're not. [ he knows that feel. ]

[briefly]

... I can't help but miss them rather selfishly, I'll admit.

[god forbid, she even misses Jules.]

[allbloodyhail]

They're better off not being in space hell, at least?

[briefly]

A bit sad that 'at least they're not in space hell' is what makes their absence comforting.

[allbloodyhail]

Sad, maybe. But it's true.

[briefly]

I think I might need therapy if this is as good as it gets.

[allbloodyhail]

Don't look at me, I'm better at causing trauma than solving it. [ self-depreciation is an art yo. ]

[briefly]

Ah? Should I be talking to you, then?

[allbloodyhail]

That's up to you, isn't it?

[briefly]

Suppose it is. [a soft shrug.] So far so good.

[allbloodyhail]

Hey, I'll take it. Better endorsement than I usually get.

[briefly]

Exactly who have you been talking to lately?

[allbloodyhail]

The elves. Friendly bunch.

[briefly]

And they consider you traumatizing.

[allbloodyhail]

You'd have to ask them, I'd guess.

[ this is such a helpful conversation. ]

[briefly]

I get the feeling you don't have the highest self esteem around.

[allbloodyhail]

Nah, [ is he admitting to it or dismissing it - can it be both? ] just don't like speaking for other people is all.

[briefly]

That's actually wise, that. Very wise.

[allbloodyhail]

I have my moments.

[briefly]

You hold on to them, now.

[allbloodyhail]

Always do.