1st Stanza Audio UN:Marsh

[gristle]

[The voice you hear is a teenage girl, and she sounds a little disgusted. Whether or not this post was an accident is up for debate. But she'll respond either way.]

What the fuck kind of place is this? I thought the adults were supposed to care. Sure doesn't look like it.

I need a cigarette.

Comments

un: TheStrandInstitute

[nobasisinfact]

Is there a specific situation you're referring to?

[He has not realized that this is one of Stan's friends ... yet.]

[gristle]

The girl on the network. Obviously.

[Sorry adult man, Bev is going to mouth off to you. She doesn't know you're the weirdo who takes care of Stan.]

[nobasisinfact]

Some of us don't have the skill set needed to stop Laura.

[And will get ripped to pieces. It's better to let those that have that ability do it.]

[gristle]

It shouldn't be about stopping her. It should be about stopping him.

[Because you know, innocent victim here.]

[nobasisinfact]

It's about stopping both.

[Innocent or not, Laura is still hurting people.]

[gristle]

Sounds like she needs help. Stan says she's a good person.

[Hey look, a clue that she knows Stan.]

[nobasisinfact]

She is, and she does.

How do you know Stan?

[gristle]

I know him from home. How do you know Stan?

[That is the accusation that it sounds like, Strand.]

[nobasisinfact]

He's my ward and a friend.

[Look at that, someone Richard admits to having as a friend.]

[gristle]

Oh. You must be one of the weird couple he lives with.

[She could have not said that, but she's Bev and she doesn't know him so...]

[nobasisinfact]

[It's not an inaccurate statement, and he appreciates her honesty.]

Yes. I assume he's given you the pertinent information about Riverview.

[He has every faith that Stan is that sensible toward his friends.]

[gristle]

'Pertinent information?' Why do you talk like you're in an old movie?

[Weirdo.]

[nobasisinfact]

Because I'm old.

[gristle]

You don't sound that old.

[nobasisinfact]

By all accounts, I'm old enough to be your grandfather.

[gristle]

How old are you?

[Bev doesn't have tact when it comes to where Stan's living. She knows too much about shitty living situations.]

[nobasisinfact]

[Richard has no issues telling his age.]

54

[gristle]

That is old.

[nobasisinfact]

So I hear.

[gristle]

Why are you friends with Stan then?

[nobasisinfact]

He's a very intelligent young man.

[gristle]

Of course he is.

[Obviously.]

Why did you take him in?

[Bev.]

[nobasisinfact]

Because I have space and he seemed unhappy in communal housing.

[He was pretty sure anyone would be. That shit sucks.]

[gristle]

He would be.

[Bev could admit that. It wasn't for everyone. She herself was definitely loving it, because it meant freedom and privacy that she'd never really had before. It meant that she could smoke and skip school and do anything she wanted to.

But Stan wasn't like her, so she was glad that he had someone. Even if she didn't trust him.]

How are you weird?

[nobasisinfact]

I don't particularly find myself weird.

[Rude Bev, rude.]