video, open to action;

[anunluckypenny]

[As early evening stretches shadows and forces the temperature down from Unpleasantly Hot to Basically Tolerable, Penny finishes scraping the last traces of graffiti from the Welcome Center's facade. She picks up a small stack of posters and addresses the network.]

Okay. I'm all for getting involved in what's going on in the community and freedom's a great thing, but it's been a week and I'm still picking these [a demonstrative wave of the posters] up. The graffiti's not too bad. The flyers, though? I don't know where anything in the City comes from or if we need to worry about conserving natural resources, but in most places, all of this anti-deity Cityzen stuff would be putting a dent in the tree population.

I'm not saying that stirring up some rebellion is bad. I just don't think we need to go around wallpapering the City with posters when we can talk about it. Save some trees--or whatever it is paper gets made out of here.

Oh! And sorry, but I'm not interested in any uprisings right now. Just trees. The curses've been weird enough this month without annoying the deities, right?

Comments

[anunluckypenny]

If that's what's going on, they need to get on a new strategy.

[Maybe something more polite and eco-friendly.]

[intheblanks]

I'd have to agree.

[You're adorably mad about the trees, Penny.]

I figured they had to be the usual intake we get every now and then. You know, organise a raiding party to go down and prod at the clock, get their fingers burned, eventually give it up. Maybe this is more.

[anunluckypenny]

If that's what it is, I hope it's not too much more. Trying to eliminate the curses seems like a surefire way to get more dumped on everyone.

[intheblanks]

[He smiles, a little.]

There was a time when I'd have been in support of anyone who might get us out.

[anunluckypenny]

[Chase, what does that smile mean.]

And now?

[intheblanks]

[His smile is full of secrets.]

Now, I'm not sure I'd want to go.

[anunluckypenny]

Good. I'm not sure I want you to leave.

[intheblanks]

[And he never wants you to leave. Please don't make him mourn you.]

Then if the gates open, grab my hand and I'll find something to hang on to.

[anunluckypenny]

[How could she ever want to leave after Chase says that?]

If it happens, I will. Just don't get yanked into wherever with me.

[intheblanks]

We're already wherever. At least we'd have company.

[anunluckypenny]

Yeah, but then you wouldn't get to go home.

[intheblanks]

And?

[anunluckypenny]

I don't know. Isn't there anything you'd miss?

[intheblanks]

No one I didn't miss already. [That's not entirely fair.] No one I'd miss more than the people I've met here.

[anunluckypenny]

Okay.

[She isn't certain that she believes him, but she doesn't want him to think about it too much and change his mind.]

You know, that's one of the nicest things anyone's ever said to me--the you grabbing my hand and hanging on thing.

[intheblanks]

[Are smiles audible? Maybe it's in his voice.]

You need to hang out with nicer people.

[anunluckypenny]

[That one was clear enough.]

I like the people I have.

[intheblanks]

Well, I won't complain about that.