@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

[forcevisions]

It's the only one that makes me nervous, anyway.

I'll show.

[persists]

I won’t be too cheap. Have to keep you all coming back, right?

Thank you... your help and thoughts are invaluable in times like this. I was ready to beg.

[forcevisions]

Nervous for you, I meant.

I don't drink.

[persists]

[ SWEATS ]

After that gathering celebration, I’m merely hoping to barter and sway people. I need a break from puking my guts out.

[forcevisions]

Nervous for the credits you'll spend, Ciri. Not your stomach.

Though apparently I should worry for both.

[persists]

[ SWEATS X 2 ]

It’s not my fault this damn thing doesn’t handle implications well!

[forcevisions]

I never said it was.

[ now she's just having fun. ]

[persists]

Stop being cheeky - I’m trying to work on my flaws here!

[forcevisions]

What flaws? You've got a good idea, and a good way to convince people to come. You don't need to work on anything.

[persists]

That’s... kind to say...

But.

Hm.

I simply like handling my business alone... reaching out to you all is different. Challenging, truthfully.

[forcevisions]

I understand.

[persists]

I am sorry, I don’t mean to make things odd.

[forcevisions]

You haven't.

I had a feeling.

[ she doesn't want to be like 'ya i pinned you for a scrappy neglected orphan the minute u were digging under the cots' but also like ... she did. ]

The city's been a lot for me. I've never seen so many people in my whole life.

[persists]

[ less of orphans and more of problematic girls all up in the safehouse lbr ]

I can’t say the same. I’ve seen bustling townsfolk and cities much like this - it just never gets easier. It’s not home and we don’t know why. I’d like to change that.

[forcevisions]

Likewise.

I don't like feeling as though I keep hitting dead ends.

[persists]

It may be all we have. At the very least, we can begin narrowing down to what isn't useful. So we can warn others not to waste their time.

[forcevisions]

Yeah. Ruling things out is still something.

When are you thinking we should do this?

[persists]

Before the end of the month, I would say. Give newcomers a chance to settle — give us time to find something. Right now, I'm empty handed myself...

[forcevisions]

Likewise. All sorts of theories, but nothing solid.

[persists]

[ Unfortunate. ]

And which one have caught your attention? Admittedly, I haven't heard much of any...

[forcevisions]

1. there's a connection between our arrival and the creatures.

2. we were a weapons shipment after all.

[persists]

[ That second one, hm. ]

If there's a connection, that means there's a source. Something that brought us from multiple worlds — a portal of somekind that also allowed those beasts to pass through.

[forcevisions]

Portals are outside anything I've ever dealt with. Have you seen something like that before?

[persists]

Yes. Plenty. My...mother was skilled in them. Annoyed most of us with her flippancy in casting. I always enjoyed them.

[forcevisions]

How does it work?