riverview | audio

[ 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Can't hurt to consider it. We come here from such different worlds. I mean, anything from the technology to the climate could throw someone for a loop. Now, I've seen the proof for myself that differences make a community stronger when it embraces them. There are a lot of things we can all learn from each other.

[ Which is close to home, in its own way. ]

Organizing a more relaxed way to ask questions would help. Even if people can't get the answers they wanna hear, they can walk out feeling a little less alone and a little less afraid.

[ Dorian mulls this over. The city he came from was a mishmash of cultures, dialects, people. As a robot, he was outside of it all, having no culture of thought or feeling of his own. Who were his people? He was a robot but he also wasn't. Almost human. ]

Are there answers you're looking for as well?

[ She takes a few seconds' pause. ]

The biggest question I have is when I'll get to go back home. It's a little on the selfish side, I'm afraid.

I think that's a question on many people's minds. It's not selfish to want to return home.

I know a lot of people who'd be more interested in the scientific possibilities behind what they have to offer here. But I guess in fairness, they are mostly scientists.