[video/open to action]

[anunluckypenny]

Hey. Happy October, everyone.

[Penny is up bright and early. From the looks of things, she just finished setting up the usual buffet-style breakfast at the Welcome Center. No one else is around yet; the sun's only now beginning to shine in through the windows in the main room, painting the colorful rug and worn cream carpet with oranges and golds.

It's almost ridiculously pleasant for the City. Then again, consider the management.]

I've never been here for an October--not that I can remember, I mean--but I've heard that it's not always one of the best months to be in the City. Kind of hard to believe with how nice it is outside.

Anyway, the main reason I'm posting or blogging or whatever is to let the newer people in the City know--and remind everyone else, too--that the Welcome Center and the Youth Center are both open. We have some warmer clothes in the Welcome Center for anyone who doesn't have much in the way of those, along with blankets. There're always rooms open in the Youth Center for any kids out there who don't want to live on their own just yet, and we've got a few beds over here for anyone else. Thanks to the Blue Light--shameless plug, but go there and spend money if you have it because the food's amazing--the Welcome Center serves three meals a day, so come in and help yourself if you're new or just having a rough time.

Or, you know... if you want to talk. You don't need to be new here to stop by.

Also--and this is kind of exciting--volunteers at both centers will be getting actual salaries now, so if you could give me your banking info whenever's good for you, I'll get the paying started. If you're not the banking type, let me know and we'll work something out, okay? And if anyone's looking for a job, there're definitely openings.

Even if you're not working for either center, I'd really, really appreciate it if you could point anyone who looks new and lost this way. Thanks a bunch!

[She reaches over to turn off the video... and pauses.]

Hey, has anyone seen Ja--um, Doctor Wilson lately? Just curious.

Comments

[anunluckypenny]

Good job. I don't know how much it'd cost to bail you out of prison, but I'm pretty sure I don't have it.

[intheblanks]

It's enough that you'd think about it.

[anunluckypenny]

Not letting people rot in prison... that's what friends're for.

[intheblanks]

[Oh Penny, you have no idea.]

I hope this isn't based on another college anecdote.

[anunluckypenny]

[She'd like you anyway, Robert.]

Not that one. That just feels like common sense.

[intheblanks]

Hopefully you'll pick the kind of friends who won't make it an issue.

[anunluckypenny]

None of them ever killed anyone. That's got to count for something.

[intheblanks]

[Of all the times he's been glad a conversation isn't face to face.]

I'm sure.

[It counts him out, for one thing.]

So, I'll get Wilson to call you.

[anunluckypenny]

Thanks, Chase.

[There's something not quite right.]

Hey... are you okay?

[intheblanks]

When am I not?

[When caught out, be blatant about it.]

[anunluckypenny]

I don't really know. It's not like you ever let me corner you into talking about feelings or anything; you could be the unhappiest person in the City and I wouldn't know.

[intheblanks]

I'm not the unhappiest person in the city. And you have no idea what cornering looks like if you think that's what you do.

[anunluckypenny]

Both of those things're good to know.

[Although she already knew that she was bad at the cornering-people thing.]

If something was bothering you... would you think about telling me? Maybe?

[intheblanks]

If there was something I needed to talk about, I promise you'd come to mind.

[Plenty of things bother him. Needing to talk about them is a different matter.]

[anunluckypenny]

[That is not the same.]

And you know you can tell me anything?

[intheblanks]

Nobody can tell anybody everything. And that's a good thing. If we spent all day laying our inner thoughts out on the line nobody'd ever get anything done.

[anunluckypenny]

You know what I mean, Chase.

[intheblanks]

I know you're there.

[anunluckypenny]

Okay.