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hemlock grove - roman godfrey

o n e.

text;

No cellphone reception. No cash or major credit cards accepted. And me without a clue.

What is this? Yeah. A city. What is this really?

[ooc; Behold a very pissy and confused Roman who just walked his way from the forest. Welcome him the only way you know how, City.]

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Probably not. I mean, people have lived here for years. I'm sure they would've done the harvesting already if that's what they wanted.

[And this is how Penny remains an optimist.]

Nope, it's not that easy. Don't worry, though. You'll be okay.

Okay. That's good news.

[Kind of. He doesn't act like it's good news.]

...I have money though.

[Lots! He has a company credit card! It's got the same last name as his!]

Yeah, but if that money isn't City money, you'll have a hard time paying for anything. A few people will take money from other places. Not many, though.

[His face falls even though he's trying to take it in stride.]

...I could use some help.

[Wait for it.]

Please.

Sure thing. Are you by a giant fountain?

Um.

[Looking, looking. This way then that way.]

I think I can see it way up ahead.

Okay. If you head for the fountain, I can meet you there.

Okay.

[So now he is on the look out for a redheaded lady. There are so many people. It certainly is a city.]

[It takes Penny longer to spot the kid than to get to the fountain. She finds him, however (this is why she always uses video), and waves him down.]

Hey there! I'm Penny. We talked on the network?

[But Penny! He's so tall and lanky. Roman makes the connection. Mostly because well, she does have a very distinct hair color.]

Hi.

[Hands in his pockets shake loose as he remembers his manners and extends his hand.]

Roman. Roman Godfrey.

[Might as well come out with it. Maybe it'll help? What a way to surrender there, Roman. Why would she seem to give too much of a care, she's trying to help.]

[But there are a billion people and almost all of them are taller than Penny!]

It's nice to meet you, Roman. [She takes his hand and shakes it.] If you'll come with me, I can hook you up with some essentials, maybe answer questions if you have them.

[Still! What a giant of sorts. She's all small and cute. It's hard to be civil all the same. He can be such a big baby sometimes.]

Okay. [And remembering himself once again, it's important.] Thanks. I'm just not used to any of this.

[And she can't see into his head, he owes it to her to be more open.]

I wanted independence but--[not completely stranded.]

It's fine. Honestly, I worry more about the people who're totally okay with showing up in an alternate dimension. That just doesn't seem normal.

[She heads in the general direction of the Welcome Center. It's about as close to the fountain as a public building can get.]

But not this much independence? If it makes you feel better, you're handling this really well. Sometimes there's crying and screaming.

How do you--how does anybody know what's happened? This could be a dream, you know?

[Or maybe she doesn't it is just so surreal. Oh. A whole place for that? It makes him feel like less of a freak. Sort of.]

Yeah. Exactly too much independence.

[He's still living at home as much as he hates it.]

Well. I try to be open to change.

[By change he means disappointment. End of the world teenage fashion disappointment...and supernatural drama kind of course.]

I sure hope it isn't a dream. This is kind of all I have.

[With such a crazy home life, Roman won't have any problem handling the City.]

Falling into a new dimension is a huge change. Don't worry if it takes a while to adjust, okay?

All you have?

[That is super cryptic there. Maybe he will be okay adjusting. But Penny! It's change! Being a teenager is so hard!]

...okay.

[He nods. And actually, it is comforting to hear. He hopes it's true.]

[Oh man, Penny hates it when she slips up and has to explain the being-dead thing to people.]

For a lot of people, the City's like a vacation. When they leave, they'll go right back to their lives like nothing happened, right? But for some of us, the City's more like an afterlife. We're dead at home, so... you know, going back would cause some problems.

But I'm not a zombie or anything! Right now, I'm just as alive as anyone else! It's one of those things that takes some getting used to.

Not a zombie just... not supposed to be alive?

[Mind breaking. She is right here. Roman lifts a hand and he doesn't touch her but he thinks to for a second. They did shake hands. That was substantial. He rubs his opposite arm.]

Like a ghost then?

[Now he wonders if you can touch ghosts. There could be people he knows here. His father, Brooke Bluebelle....]

Not a ghost, just a person who doesn't exist at home anymore.

[She knows that's a disappointing answer. Look, kid, Penny doesn't know how this stuff works.]

I try not to think about it too much.

[His lips purse together as he nods.]

Why do I get the feeling there's gonna be a lot of that?

[As he follows her along like a big, lost puppy.]

At least you're ready for it now?

[They arrive at the Welcome Center and Penny holds the door open for Roman.]

Can I get you anything?

[He smiles because he feels the opposite.]

I better be.

[Wait. Isn't that the other way around? Oops. Well. His mother's not hanging around to be miffed he's not being the polite gentleman.]

...if I'm supposed to be here a long time where am I going to live? I can't just--I mean I appreciate it, really--I can't just get a hand out from you.

[Why is she so nice? Why?]

You will be. You're doing really well.

[Imperfect manners are forgivable. He was just dumped in another dimension!]

There're apartments all around the square. I'm pretty sure you have a month before you have to start paying rent, and it's not too hard to find someone else to live with to cut back on expenses.

Don't think of it as a handout. Think of it as a welcome-to-the-City present.

[She keeps saying that. Roman really wishes he could take it to heart. At home he was already feeling displaced. He sure would have liked to have felt like that rather than this.

In true teenage fashion, there's a pout to his face still and a slump to his stance.]

Thank you, Penny.

[That comes easier because he means it.]

...are you this nice to everybody?

[Aw, displaced and uncertain teenagers are one of Penny's favorite kinds of people. ;;]

Not a problem.

[She laughs, but doesn't deny it.]

I try to be. It'd be pretty terrible if I wasn't... I'd have to fire myself from the Welcome Center.

Oh, Roman--do you mind dogs?

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