Not getting rid of me that easily
[White Chalice just received a message. It's a video, addressed to friends of Devon and Cheng - but anyone can watch it should they decide.]
When I left, I promised to keep in contact.
So here I am.
[Look, it's Devon. And she seems kinda awkward, unsure where to start something that's supposed to be a casual conversation sent through a highly secure long-distance video feed. Also, the usually stringy Shifter seems to have gained some meat on her bones. You can see it even under her clothing - some kind of apron, though most empathically NOT a frilly one.]
As I expected, rebuilding Gucun requires... incredible effort. We are nowhere near done, and will not be for months - if not years. But... we make progress. Food, water, even power and medicine - they are scarce still, but present. People will not fear starvation, disease, or violence. We'll make sure of it, together.
It is not just my husband and me. We are not alone, many others support the rebuilding effort. Many - not all, not everyone shares the vision of how Gucun should be rebuilt, and there is friction. But I manage to keep them under control.
[Surely Devon does not mean she is punching out dissenters, right?]
I must be... thankful. If it was not for them, individuals of skill and knowledge, we would have achieved nothing. Thanks to them, there is hope. Cheng has... ideas. Ideas for the future, to ensure Gucun's prosperity without preying on other countries. He has adapted to the role of leader well. You would be surprised.
Our child is a girl. We decided on the name - Xue Yi.
That is all.
[Devon's eyes stray off, as if she was reading from a cue card.]
Gucun is not ready for a visit yet - it is a hectic and busy place. But soon... you will be able to visit, and I hope you will. It would make me and Cheng... very happy.
We will keep in contact like this until that time.
[End of video. The transmission was one-way only, so there's no way to respond. This is more of a reaction/mingle post.]
When I left, I promised to keep in contact.
So here I am.
[Look, it's Devon. And she seems kinda awkward, unsure where to start something that's supposed to be a casual conversation sent through a highly secure long-distance video feed. Also, the usually stringy Shifter seems to have gained some meat on her bones. You can see it even under her clothing - some kind of apron, though most empathically NOT a frilly one.]
As I expected, rebuilding Gucun requires... incredible effort. We are nowhere near done, and will not be for months - if not years. But... we make progress. Food, water, even power and medicine - they are scarce still, but present. People will not fear starvation, disease, or violence. We'll make sure of it, together.
It is not just my husband and me. We are not alone, many others support the rebuilding effort. Many - not all, not everyone shares the vision of how Gucun should be rebuilt, and there is friction. But I manage to keep them under control.
[Surely Devon does not mean she is punching out dissenters, right?]
I must be... thankful. If it was not for them, individuals of skill and knowledge, we would have achieved nothing. Thanks to them, there is hope. Cheng has... ideas. Ideas for the future, to ensure Gucun's prosperity without preying on other countries. He has adapted to the role of leader well. You would be surprised.
Our child is a girl. We decided on the name - Xue Yi.
That is all.
[Devon's eyes stray off, as if she was reading from a cue card.]
Gucun is not ready for a visit yet - it is a hectic and busy place. But soon... you will be able to visit, and I hope you will. It would make me and Cheng... very happy.
We will keep in contact like this until that time.
[End of video. The transmission was one-way only, so there's no way to respond. This is more of a reaction/mingle post.]