[voice] Anybody out there?

[abigailsciuto]

[Since her arrival, Abby had met a few people, but hadn't really come to trust anyone. She wasn't sure if she wanted to reveal the location of her lab just yet, so she disabled the visual function for today. She had been working for hours, just making busy-work for herself. After awhile, she grew frustrated. This was pointless. There wasn't any

Comments

[visual]

[caringhand]

[Penny had found an empty room in the Sanctuary easily enough after she had left Billy in the hallway, but hadn't really ventured much outside of it. She kept thinking that maybe if she waited long enough, pinched herself hard enough, that she'd wake up - but no dice, and she was started to feel like that was a ridiculous dream she kept nursing.

When she heard Abby's voice on the tablet, she jumped, but leapt for it, fumblingly turning it on; she still hadn't really gotten the hang of this thing yet. When she speaks, it's gently teasing, not actual chastising:]

Well, that's not a very happy outlook.

[voice]

[abigailsciuto]

You're right. [Abby sighed loudly.] I'm usually much less grim. I think this place is getting to me.

[visual]

[caringhand]

[Penny squints down at the screen of the tablet.] Oh, good, you can hear me - I can't see you, I wasn't really sure if I was using this thing right.

[A pause.]

.. Right. Does that mean you've been here long?

[visual]

[abigailsciuto]

Abby decided that the girl didn't look like much of a threat and turned on the [visual] function of her tablet. "Sorry." She said with a shrug, "I wasn't really up for feeling seen by everyone out there." She rubbed the back of her neck.

"No, only a week or so. I just miss home. What about you? How long?"

[voice]

[gammapulsed]

[Bruce recognizes the voice, but hesitates before answering. After all, they hadn't parted on the best of terms, and he wasn't sure if she would be unhappy to see him or not. So eventually he compromises and goes with the 'voice' function as well.]

A little bit, yeah.

[voice]

[abigailsciuto]

[She recognized it. Of course she did. She'd only met a handful of people and only had as much of a conversation with one. David. She glared at the tablet as if it was the fault of the little device.]

Not surprising that you'd agree. Feeling better?

[There was a harsher tone to her voice than she might have always offered up. She didn't mean to come off snippy, but the guy had acted so weird before.]

[voice]

[gammapulsed]

[He winces at her tone. He thought maybe she might have mellowed a bit towards him since last seeing her but no dice. There's a small sigh on his end before he speaks.]

M'fine. Thanks for asking.

[There's a decent-size pause. When he speaks again, it's sincerely apologetic, but definitely sad.

...Sorry. Guess I shouldn't have answered this. I won't bug you anymore. Promise.

[voice] then [visual]

[abigailsciuto]

[Abby didn't want to be angry with him. She didn't want to be angry, period.]

Wait, David, I... [She sighed and switched the feed to [visual], tugging on one of her pigtails for a moment.]

"I get freaked out sometimes, alright? I'm in this place and nothing makes any sense, and on top of that the first person I meet is full of more secrets than Pandora's box. What am I supposed to do? What am I supposed to think?"

She peered into the tablet, even if he wasn't visible to her. She wanted to trust, to make friends. She wanted to feel normal again.

[voice]

[dexmcduff]

All the time.

[voice]

[abigailsciuto]

[Abby smiled at the response, laughing lightly]

Oh, yeah? Have you been here long? I've got to hold out hope that it gets better.

[dexmcduff]

Three... months? AKA what's starting to feel like forever. [... pause.] Could be worse, though!

Are you new?

[voice]

[abigailsciuto]

Brand new. Unless a handful of days counts as old news. I'm Abby.