| 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

[inspirited]

Oh— are you okay? [because hearing that people you know aren't here is never easy]

[briefly]

Uhm - [tough question. It shows on the way her voice is suddenly caught in her throat.] Yes. I mean - I could be worse, obviously. Right?

[inspirited]

Mm, they're probably better at home than in this place.

[briefly]

Oh, goodness, I have absolutely no doubt. I don't think I'd wish this place on my worst enemy.

[inspirited]

Yeah, I definitely agree with that.

[briefly]

Not even the Gardens would make a nice brochure for all the hell we have to go through, really.

[inspirited]

Yeah, I know what you mean.

[briefly]

[yeah.]

Sorry - didn't catch your name.

[inspirited]

Oh— sorry. My name is Chuck.

[briefly]

Chuck. Very nice to meet you, Chuck. I'm Poppy.

[inspirited]

It's nice to meet you too, Poppy.

[briefly]

How long have you been here, Chuck?

[inspirited]

Quite a while— since the fifth jump.

[briefly]

Goodness. That's a lot of jumps.

[inspirited]

Yeah, I know— it's so strange to think it's almost been two years.

[briefly]

[her tone becomes just a little bit grave.]

Two years. God. [she exhales.] And... how are you doing?

[inspirited]

Yeah— I guess I'm as good as I can be in this place, at least.

[briefly]

Suppose that gives me some hope.

[inspirited]

Really? I'm glad then.

[briefly]

Are you alone?

[inspirited]

No, my boyfriend is here as well.

[briefly]

Oh-! [... jealous.] That's nice. Isn't it?

[inspirited]

Yeah, it is— I actually arrived the jump after he did too so maybe the same could happen with someone you know.

[briefly]

I'm glad you two have each other. [and the sentiment really is genuine.]