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[The feed opens and it's focused on the back end of a fluffy sheltie as it barrels through the snow and trees at breakneck speed, dragging what looks like a leash tied to... a trash can lid? Somewhere behind the camera, a boy is laughing like he's having the time of his life.

There's a flash of movement across their path, and the dog veers off, and laughter turns to alarm.]

No, no no!

[The small round ball of a boy, and the camera sail through the air as the lid flips, and there's a soft plop and darkness as both land in a snowbank. The camera shifts back and forth as it wiggles, and a moment later it's pulled loose, and a short red haired child with a raccoon skin cloak comes into view.]

Wicker! I'm so sorry, are you okay?

[He doesn't seem to realize this is being broadcasted across the network as he dusts the snow off his Omen. There's a very disgruntled sounding meow as the camera focuses on Billie, rosy cheeked and absolutely covered in snow from head to toe.]

I said I was sorry!

[Very deliberately, the cat turns around, and sits with her back to Billie, and after another apology from the boy, steals a glance back at him. After a few moments, the dog careens back into view, heading straight for the Omen, its mouth is open, and its tongue is lolling out happily. The cat stands up, and gives an impressive sounding scream as the dog bowls her over, licking her, and the camera, all over.

Someone's Omen is not having her very favourite day ever.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I bet it wasn't everyone — probably just a few people. ( She.... can't know that for sure, but why not try to ease the poor kid's discomfort as much as she can? )

Besides, you looked like you were having a really nice time. ( Even if she can't help worrying about a child using a trash can lid as a sleigh.... )

I bet if anyone else besides me saw, they were glad to see someone having fun. This place seems pretty gloomy, doesn't it?

Oh...

[Oops. Well. If it's just a few people, maybe Tuck and Vyng won't see it? He isn't too concerned about them being upset that he's not napping like they thought, but going headfirst into a snowbank is embarrassing!]

Yeah, it was a lot fun!

[He looks around.]

It is kind of gloomy here. Is it always like this?

I've only been here a couple of months, so I'm not quite an expert yet, but.... from what I've seen so far? Totally gloomy. The people here seem kind of spooky.

( She smiles again. )

How long have you been here?

[He returns the smile - she seems really nice.]

Umm... Not long. A little over a month ago, I think? When those creeps that were kidnapping people were around all the time.

( A fresh little wave of alarm shoots through Rose's chest at that. She'd had plenty of experience with those horrible creatures, and encountered more than one child who'd ended up taken by them, too. )

I saw some of those, too. They didn't get you too, did they....?

( Check her just casually trying to see if this poor child has been Freshly Traumatised like all the rest.... )

[Billie shakes his head.]

No, they didn't get me. They got one of my dads, but we got him back.

[He probably stabbed some zealots. It's fine.]

That's a relief.... Is he okay now?

( She'd witnessed for herself a variety of just what they could do to people. Some of it so horrific that she's sure some people are still having to recover from it. )

Yeah, he's okay. He's pretty tough.

[Billie shrugs a little, apparently unconcerned. It's done and over now, everyone's fine, and the zealots, he's pretty sure, won't mess with them again.]

I'm glad to hear it. I know how scary all that was.

Both of your dads are here with you, in Trench? Did you all come here at the same time?

( She seems very interested in the concept — as someone who's been told it isn't the norm for families to show up here together. But she hasn't given up hope that her own daughter might be here somewhere. )

No, they were here way before me. It's kind of weird. I saw them, like, right before I got here, but they've been here a long time, and I don't remember the same things they do.

[Issues with his memories are not unfamiliar, though, and he does have a bit of an understanding that sometimes time doesn't move the way its expected to with his experiences at home too, so he's fairly accepting of both phenomena, even if they are strange.]

They didn't think I was real at first.

Oh, I see.... It's all pretty confusing, for sure. Time seems to work differently here.

( It does make her wonder what might happen if Sharon shows up here later, instead. Will she be from a different time? Will she have the same memories...?

No matter what, it doesn't matter. Rose just needs to be with her again. )

I'm glad you're with them, though. I'm hoping to find my daughter here, too. This place is so big, and she gets scared very easily, so I keep thinking.... maybe she's hiding someplace.

Me too.

[As long as Tuck and Vyng are here, it doesn't matter how bad things get. They'll manage as they always have - together.]

Do you know if your daughter's here now? Maybe I can help look for her? What's her name?

I don't know for sure if she's here or not, but... she was lost in a strange town once before this. I had to find her, save her, and I think that's what I have to do this time, too.

( Rose reaches into her shirt to pull out a golden locket of the Virgin Mary hanging from her neck. Gently, she unclasps it to reveal a photo of a little girl, holding it up to her screen to show the little boy. )

This is her. Her name's Sharon — she's nine.

Thank you, I would appreciate that very much. And I'm Rose, by the way. Rose Da Silva.

I'm Fat Billie. Lots of people just call me Billie, though.

[There's no other halflings named Bill around that he needs to distinguish himself from - or at least as far as he's aware, anyway, so there feels like less of a need for his full name.

He leans in close to peer at the picture. It doesn't take much for him to form attachments to people who are even a little bit nice to him, and of course, his first thought is he immediately wants to help Rose find her daughter.]

I'll look for her. Did you check the orphanage? There's lots of kids there.

( Oh...! That's quite a name. Rose smiles again, giving a little nod. )

It's nice to meet you, Billie.

( She'll certainly be committing him to memory, as well — even if his fathers are here, thank god, he's someone Rose will be keeping her own eye on. )

I did— I've been checking there almost every day, actually. So far she hasn't shown up, but.... I haven't lost hope.

( Rose's smile flutters into something sad as she glances down to the photo. )

I miss her very much.

It's nice to meet you too!

[Not unlike Tuck and Vyng, Billie quickly forms attachments to people who are even just a little bit nice to him. He will absolutely keep an eye out for Rose too.]

I'll help look for her as much as I can. I'll tell my dads too. I guess they really missed me too before I got here.

Thank you so much, sweetie. ( Rose smiles again, touched by the boy's offer. )

I'm sure they're so incredibly happy you're here. ( And probably worried, given how dangerous this place is. Still... at least they're all together, and she's very glad this boy isn't alone. )

I'll have to meet your dads, too — make you all a nice dinner sometime.

Ooh! That'd be great! Their names are Tuck and Vyng. I think they already know kind of a lot of people around here too. Have you met them before?

[It really doesn't take much to make Billie happy.]

I don't remember meeting anyone by those names just yet, but I'll certainly keep an eye out from now on. ( Rose smiles warmly, giving a nod. She definitely needs to get to know more people here, since it's evident she's going to be here for..... well, she's not sure how long, exactly. However long it takes to find Sharon. From there? She doesn't know what might happen. )

Thank you again for helping me, Billie. I'm really lucky to have met a sweet boy like you.

They're really great. I think you'll like them a lot.

[Billie smiles broadly. She's SO nice. He really does hope she decides to watch out for his dads.]

I'm lucky to have met you too!

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