[video]

[scootch]

[The journal clicks to life - shaky at first, then clearing up to show Ellie's excited face.]

Oh man- is this what used to happen during Christmas? The whole surprise-gifts-under-the-tree or whatever... it's kind of late, and yeah, there's no tree, but--!!

[She turns the journal around to show her sparsely-decorated apartment at first, and then, when she fixes it, a big, box-style arcade machine, the game title of "The Turning" splashed across the front in faded letters. It looks kind of beaten up, but not in too terrible a condition.]

Does anybody know about this game? It's supposed to be so cool, I heard all about it from a friend back home. I can't get it to work, though... they're supposed to be plugged in, right? It's in the middle of the room, so the cord won't reach anything.

Can somebody strong come over and help me move it? I wanna give it a try! ...And if it doesn't work, would anybody know how to fix this kind of thing?

Comments

[whiskytraitorfirefight]

You're welcome. I'm Ginia, sorry I didn't introduce myself sooner.

[scootch]

No worries. I'm Ellie, nice to meet you. How come you're writing everything?

[whiskytraitorfirefight]

Nice to meet you too. And I'm mute.

[scootch]

Oh.

[Well that's awkward.]

Sorry!

[whiskytraitorfirefight]

Don't be. It's not that bad really. Honestly, I feel more sorry for the people that have to read everything I write.

[scootch]

[Well, at least there's that.]

It's okay, I don't mind. It's good practice anyhow.

[whiskytraitorfirefight]

[That's for sure, though to need practice reading or writing... hm.]

Been in Luceti long?

[scootch]

Like, four months? Long enough, though I know people've been around a lot longer.

[whiskytraitorfirefight]

Doing okay? No one giving you grief or anything?

[Don't mind her, she's got a soft spot for kids and teens.]

[scootch]

Not really. Everyone here is pretty cool. If anything it's weirding me out, I'm not used to it.

[whiskytraitorfirefight]

I hear you on that. Not a bad thing since we're all in this enclosure together, but still odd.

[scootch]

I can't complain. It's the first time I've been treated like I've heard kids are supposed to get treated. I've even gone to school.

[whiskytraitorfirefight]

How are kids treated in your world?

[scootch]

Like shit, in a nutshell.

[Oversimplifying it, maybe, but humanity's made it pretty clear how worthless you are when you can't help rebuild society yet.]