audio | @e.weir

[justbeginning]

[ There's a moment of dead air first. Very brief, just long enough for a breath (a hesitation, possibly, it's all relative). Then: ]

Riverview Quarantine, this is Dr. Elizabeth Weir speaking. Now, you might be thinking that you don't know me. [ Her tone warms. ] Don't worry; the feeling's mutual. Since I've been very generously offered the position of public representative to the government of Riverview, making some introductions felt pretty prudent.

[ There's the slightest bit of emphasis on generously: not quite sarcastic, not entirely sincere. She pauses briefly. ]

I'll be honest and say I really don't plan on being in this city long-term. If they make the right calibrations to send me home, I'm gonna take that opportunity. But for however long I am here? My job is to make sure we're all heard and that our needs are met. I'll be representing all of you. And I don't intend to take that responsibility lightly.

So, you can-- consider my door open. [ Elizabeth seems pretty optimistic about that, at least? ] Unless the paperwork was misleading, that should be half the point of the job.

Comments

[tetherer]

[Fear not, Elizabeth. Or perhaps do fear? One fear: the Tetherer is just as human as you are. Just without any human experiences to go along with it.]

Are there? I would be very grateful if you sent them to me. I worry I'll forget to do something simple. Everything was sort of always... taken care of for me.

[They are like a very powerful baby bird, they know how to Tether worlds and make final decisions on political debates and interact with important people and absolutely nothing else.]

[justbeginning]

[ No Fear. "The polite and endearing god you met could absolutely beef it just like you." One Fear. ]

I'll make sure I send it all your way. I can't say I've hit a point where I feel like I've got everything under control since I first stepped out on my own, but I can promise that the basics get easier as you go. It'll be second nature before you know it.

[tetherer]

["Second Nature" is an idiom that holds great weight for the religious on the Nexus. It is generally used to describe something one devotes one's life to following just as closely as their own Nature.

The Tetherer has learned enough of and traveled to enough other worlds that they don't misinterpret her words, but it takes them a second to remember.]

That is reassuring. I will follow their instruction closely. Thank you, Elizabeth.

[justbeginning]

[ Culture clash in the galactic cocktail mingle, coming to a computer near us. ]

Of course. Let me know if you need anything. It won't be any trouble to lend you a hand.