Audience: Grace Monroe

[probe]

Comments

[alteracion]

Besides "we're greedy"?

[ since that seems like the obvious answer, but also, she's joking. ]

[probe]

Do you think of yourself as a greedy person?

[they seem interested in an answer.]

[alteracion]

Not anymore than the average person.

[ if she had to assign herself a sin it'd be pride, but also, wow she's not a sinner ]

[probe]

Then wouldn't it stand to reason that perhaps that's not why you were picked at all?

[alteracion]

[ oh my god ]

I was kidding, Greed. So what is it we have in common that made you pick us, then?

[probe]

[there's a faint, fanged smile from beneath their hood.]

Self-preservation, and persistence.

[alteracion]

[ huh.

grace grins back ]

So have we got that in common with you, too?

[probe]

[they stand a little taller, head up just a bit.]

I suppose you do to different extents.

[alteracion]

Good to know. [ how tall is greed compared to grace. give me this ] So what do you like to do for fun?

[probe]

[greed's a couple of inches taller than she is.]

Surely nothing of interest to you, Miss Monroe. My hobbies tend to be more quiet.

[...is that a joke? possibly.]

[alteracion]

So? Simon's hobbies are quiet, and I only judge him a little.

[ because his writing his shit. ]

[probe]

[that's completely understandable.]

You did ruin one of them with copious amounts of soda.

[alteracion]

I already apologized for that. [ did she, truly. ] And I like music. I had violin lessons for a little bit as a kid.

[ and then she walked into a train and never touched it again but you know ]

[probe]

[they tap their foot as if to say "did you?"]

Piano. And the flute, on occasion. It's been some time since I've played either, but I've enjoyed it in the past.

[alteracion]

[ :) ignores that ]

Why did you stop playing? Too busy?

[probe]

Yes. Other things happened and my attention was needed elsewhere for something else I cared about.

[alteracion]

That's fair. I was a lot better at dancing than violin, and that was also a lot easier to keep up with once I got on the train, so.

[probe]

Your train rarely supplied you with all that you needed so easily, did it?

[alteracion]

Nope. [ she pops the p ] The train doesn't really supply us so much as happen to maybe have stuff that might be useful in some cars. But that makes it kind of fun.

[probe]

And then once you find it you take it for yourself in order to survive. Yes, I understand that.

[but.] What do you propose to do after you get what you came for and leave this place?

[alteracion]

[ she looks like she doesn't understand the question? ]

I'll go back to the Apex. Hazel will be safe, and things will go back to normal.

[ she does not say "simon will stop being so awful", but like, hopefully ]

[probe]

[hm.]

Nothing else comes to mind that you may want?

[alteracion]

Oh, you're right, I need to fix my number, too. And maybe then Simon will freak out less.

[probe]

[they seem to look at her arm.]

I still don't quite understand your number.

[alteracion]

[ she looks at her arm for herself. she's. still wearing gloves ]

What part? The train gives passengers a number, and the higher you are, the better. That's why the true conductor had the highest number I've ever seen.