poly_chromatic | ❖ 001

[The lady looking curiously into the camera could have just stepped out of a time machine, or a nuclear bunker that's been sealed up for the last sixty years. She's dressed in a luxurious velvet evening dress and her pin curls are draped elegantly round her face, which is full of nervous excitement as she glances round her. She's still a little bewildered by her surroundings, but she's clearly trying to make the best of them.]

Is this on? [A small, delighted laugh.] I never thought I'd be able to film anything like this - that's just for big time Hollywood people. This place sure is great, having this sort of technology readily available. It's so futuristic.

[She pans the camera round the Square briefly, before the shot returns to her face, looking a little more confused now.] Is there one of these buildings that's better than the others? To live in, I mean. I can't tell just by looking - is there one that the right sort of people tend to go for, or do I just plump for one and make the best of it? ...If there's one that's known for housing troublemakers, I'd rather avoid it.

[Now she adopts her most charming smile.]And if this really has worked and people can actually see me on this, then I've been awfully rude in not telling you my name. It's Ruby. I've figured by now that I'm probably stuck here, but if there actually is a bus back to New York that I could catch, I'd appreciate being pointed in the right direction.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Her face lights up then, a mixture of triumph and relief.] I just spent the last three weeks campaigning for Eisenhower in New Jersey for the primary there. I'm glad it pays off.

I think I've got some of the basics down. That we're unable to leave of our own volition, that there are all sorts of people from all sorts of places here. Anything else important that I should know?

[Laughing a bit] Well in that case, congratulations.

That's most of it, except the curses. Um, every few days something strange happens-- sometimes they're dangerous, sometimes they're just ridiculous. Today there's one with things showing up on the Network that you didn't write, most of which are pretty embarrassing. It's kind of a mild one.

I saw that - I didn't know if there was something wrong, or if most of the people here are just incredibly vulgar. I'm glad it's the former.

If everyone's behaving strangely but in similar ways, it's usually a good bet that it's a curse. Though sometimes-- there's a weekend a month where it's not the same curse, and everyone's affected differently.

Oh my, that does sound terribly confusing. I shan't look forward to those weekends at all.

It's... tricky. But, well, it's not all bad! The City has a lot of really interesting people, and sometimes the curses are all right.

I'm sure in time I'll find it's not all bad. The thought of meeting so many different people is exciting, at least. But maybe I'll come to view it as not all bad later, once the shock of being dumped here has worn off a little.

I think no matter how anyone explains it, it's going to be confusing for a while. But you figure it out eventually.

Do you need anything? The Welcome Center is really good about helping get people settled.

Let's hope so.

Well, apart from a place to live - which I'm figuring out, I just need to choose one of these apartment blocks - I suppose the only thing I'll really need is a change of clothes ... and a job, if I really am to be here long term. I can figure out everything else later.

The Welcome Center can definitely help out with that-- the woman who runs it is named Penny, she's really nice.

All right, well in that case I shall certainly stop by there.

Good, I'm sure she'll be glad to have you.

[Of course, Neil has no clue that thanks to some suspect tea, Penny isn't her usual friendly self.]

And if there's anything I can do, let me know, okay?

I'll be sure to. You've been a great help already, I really appreciate it.

It's nothing, really.

❖ 001 - Video

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