003 - video

[therightchoice]

[ Jesse's been around in Poly for a while . . . and he's starting to hate living in the clinic. Mostly because he's been used to live in a house mostly by himself when his parents are away to work during the day, and not being with so many people. But even then he's hesitant of asking for other places to live in, simply because of the memories of his parents warning him about strangers. It's stupid to still uphold that after being here for so long, but habits (lessons?) die hard. ]

Is there anther place than the Clinic that I can go to a place to live in?

Comments

[therightchoice]

[ Man, Bruce, that's like asking if Jesse has any friends, and having no friends is kinda embarrassing despite the situation Jesse is in. So he shrugs in that particular way of young children trying to avoid a question. ]

It's just me here.

[hulkbusted]

I know that feeling.

[And he was pretty much a friendless kid, so he knows that feeling too.]

Go ahead and pick a tower. Maybe you can pick one near a store or restaurant you like? I'll help you get set up with groceries and whatever else you need, okay?

[therightchoice]

Alright. I'll do that. Thanks.

How much is the allowance?

[hulkbusted]

I don't know the exact numbers. Enough to take care of your necessities.

[therightchoice]

Alright. I guess I'll just pick four, since I like that number better.

[ Most mature way of making a choice. ]

[hulkbusted]

[Good enough, since the buildings are almost all the same. Although apparently there's a full desert in one of the buildings.]

Okay, we'll get you set up. Are you sure you're okay on your own?

[therightchoice]

My mom and dad worked long hours, so I learned how to take care of myself when they were away at work.

[hulkbusted]

Yeah, but it's one thing to be a latchkey kid and another to be alone all the time.

If you don't mind, I might drop in now and then, help you with groceries, that kind of thing.

[therightchoice]

[ Jesse thinks this over and considers. It wouldn't, he guess. ]

Sure.

What's a latchkey kid?

[hulkbusted]

A kid who comes home from school to an empty house.

[therightchoice]

Do people really have names for something like that?

[hulkbusted]

Yeah. It was a pretty new phenomenon when I was a kid, so they came up with a name for it. Maybe it shows my age that I still use it.

[therightchoice]

[ Now he wonders if he parents ever knew. They probably did and never bothered to tell Jesse about it. ]

Maybe.

[ Even if it doesn't matter anymore. ]

So you don't want me be in the room by myself?

[hulkbusted]

It's not that exactly. Spending a couple of hours a day on your own is one thing, but spending all your time alone when you're at an age where an adult should be looking out for you doesn't feel right.

[therightchoice]

Oh.

[ Well, how can Jesse respond to that? It's not like he can really just explain his whole life when half the time, Jesse isn't sure what just happened himself. ]

Well. I promise I'd call? Or something.

[ He's got nothing, man. ]

[hulkbusted]

Do. You can call me if you need me to. You can trust the police here, too. After all, the police force has Captain America running things.

[therightchoice]

[ ...wait sorry Bruce but his mind just short circuited for a second there. ]

What?

[ Is this one of those lies adults gives to kids to make things cooler when they are really aren't? ]

[hulkbusted]

Captain America. Steve Rogers is in charge of the police force here. He's a good guy and I've seen him in action. If you need help, you can count on him.

[therightchoice]

[ Jesse desperately wants to believe it, but it is just so unreal that Captain America is here. ]

Really?

[hulkbusted]

Scout's honor. If I lied about that, you'd never believe anything I said again, and that's not worth it.

[therightchoice]

[ At least someone gets it. ]

That's true.

Do I have to go to school here?

[hulkbusted]

I don't know, but what else are you going to do during the day? I'd get bored with nothing to do.

[therightchoice]

I just walk around. I tried to go to the forest but someone told me that it was too dangerous to go alone or something.

[hulkbusted]

It's not a good idea to go out there alone. There's a path through the Wild to the Deep Blue, though. It's safe.