@ciri.lla

[persists]

I think we should all meet up on a monthly basis to go over any useful information. Weekly is too much — I'm not looking for that kind of commitment. While this... correspondence can provide use, does anyone else feel more comfortable face-to-face? Not relying on this thing to discuss our secrets?

[ She doesn't understand it, really. Barely understands how to utilize it to communicate. So... here comes the challenge: showing her discomfort without feeling vulnerable. ]

I'll buy the first round of drinks if the lot of you agree.

Comments

@mei.zhou

[frostedplum]

I'd be happy to meet up with you! I wouldn't even need the drink. It's a good idea to stay in touch.

[persists]

Right. It’s about dependability - and if we are all stuck here in the same boat, at least we should have some kind of unity in this regard. As much as I’m not eager to admit it, we all have to rely on each other... some of you all are beating that into me.

[frostedplum]

It's nice to not have to go it alone. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should have to, right?

[ Mei's talking from personal experience here. Thank goodness for Snowball during that time. She wishes he was here too, but at least she has this bond with others. ]

[persists]

Right... you’re right.

[ truthfully this was something she had only just begun to adjust to. Even with the bitterness in her heart and the optimism on her mind before awakening here - somethings proved hard to overcome. ]

Thank you. For all that you’ve done thus far and the kindness you’ve shown.

[frostedplum]

Oh, you're welcome! I'm glad I could help. And that we're getting to know each other. And that you've been so nice!

I'm just really glad for all of it. Anyway, did you have a schedule in mind? Like which day of the month it should be?

[persists]

Oh goodness, you’re chipper today!

I was thinking perhaps to keep things flexible - to not stir up too much interest on our group gathering only on specific times. No patterns to telegraph our moves.

[frostedplum]

Am I? I suppose I'm just looking forward to our meet up and getting to know people better!

Oh, that's a really good point! We'd have to meet in public because of the number of us, wouldn't we?

[persists]

I’m talking business and you’re happy to socialize. It’s endearing, don’t worry.

That’s my thought - some of us aren’t keen on Morningstar enough to trust them and others may have already began living on their own... I would hate to risk their stability.

[frostedplum]

Are you one of the ones not keen on Morningstar, Ciri?

[persists]

...I don't know what to think. I'm not the best judge of character, I understand the risk we all pose to them. A risk that they can't afford to have. If we bring any issues, we will be the first ones tossed out or turned over. I believe they are trying to do good, but people who want to do good also stay focused on their goal.

Before we arrived, they didn't even know what we were.

[frostedplum]

It's hard for me to not want to lean on them a little, because they took us in and helped us get familiar with everything. Even now that it looks like I can move out soon, I want to help them to repay them for what they did.

[persists]

It's not wrong to find loyalty.

I've found myself indebted to them as well and given my word to assist, I'm just not keen on it. I've done dirty jobs and worked for questionable people — no one will ever be clear on their intentions. It's... I'm just worried about being dropped here with no resources or connections, worst case scenario.

[frostedplum]

It's definitely been tough. We have no information on who brought us here or why, and it's been Morningstar that's helped us when they didn't have to, but...

But they might want me to do something I don't want to do. You heard the news about the border guards, didn't you? I definitely didn't kill them, and I don't know that anyone else did either, so I'm not sure if the police are trying to pin it on Morningstar, or if some of them really did do it.

[persists]

[ Ciri tenses up a bit, feeling almost bitter. ]

Depends on the circumstances. If Morningstar had to kill — if any of us had to kill to protect our own objections and greater good... so be it. Morningstar gives me hope that someone has their head on straight to keep priorities afloat, but we weren't born and bred Morningstar. We weren't recruited by traditional means.

I think we'll always be outsiders.

[frostedplum]

Oh.

[ Yeah, Mei doesn't think she can say the same here. ]

I'll keep that in mind when dealing with them.