❥ 001 video

[advocacy]

[Daneca has spent the first few hours going through the posts to the network. She...]

[...doesn't know how to feel about any of this so far. People going missing and others turning up dead. Zombies, vampires. And Cassel. Realistically speaking, Daneca knows she should probably be more anxious over a potential serial killer running around than the prospect of speaking to Cassel again, but that's what gives her more pause than anything. (At least she's not totally surprised by the idea of a serial killer on the Barge, she figures. Still in the realm of sanity for now.) She thinks maybe she should send him a private message or try to find him and speak one-on-one, in private. But that seems like too much even for her right now.]

[So, she settles for just introducing herself to everyone else. If he wants to talk to her, he can. If not...]

[Well, he doesn't have to. It's not like Cassel owes her anything anyway.]

[With that resolved, she can go back to being properly more anxious about people turning up dead, zombies, and vampires. And apparently also werewolves being real as well.]

[Daneca appears a little stiff and tense. Being on camera and broadcasting like this makes her a little nervous in ways that are harder to cover up than other things that make her nervous or uncomfortable. But it doesn't paralyze her or make her smile seem like a disingenous cover for nerves that ends up looking more scary than pleasant. Daneca is not someone who can lie very well. It's nervous and small, but her smile is no less sincere. She's trying desperately to channel her mother right now.]

I know I'm coming in at a really bad time, but I thought I should probably introduce myself anyway. My name is Daneca and I'm new. [She flushes a little and says a little softer:] Obviously.

[She shifts a little uncomfortably and finds the strength in her voice again.]

I'm a warden for anyone that might matter to.

[She's sure it does especially to some of the inmates. She'll lie about other parts about herself anyway. Might as well be honest about some things that might make people uncomfortable.]

Anyway, I guess I'm just looking for a tour. Or advice. Whatever anybody can spare.

Comments

[bitteraftertaste]

Do they? Perhaps I just don't have much to add.

[advocacy]

Totally see what you mean about the helpful thing now.

[bitteraftertaste]

What would you have preferred I had said?

[advocacy]

What you really think would probably be a good start.

[Daneca could frankly use some honesty in her life.]

[bitteraftertaste]

I completely respect your opinion, and ability to be so naturally optimistic, but adopting that sort of attitude towards people who understand what it's like to have hope taken from them - because it does happen, and there are many people who can attest to that on board - isn't going to do you any good as a warden.

[advocacy]

[There, that wasn't so hard.]

I never said that people have to agree with me or that I would try to convince anyone to think the way I do, inmate or otherwise. I couldn't change that even if I wanted to.

By the same token, I'm not going to give up something like that myself.

Maybe it doesn't make me the perfect warden to think the way I do, but perfect was never really the plan. That doesn't mean I can't or don't bring anything else to the table that might help someone in some way.

[bitteraftertaste]

I never said it doesn't.

[advocacy]

Not in so many words, but I get the sense you've got some doubt about me.

[Which, okay, she can recognize as fair. She's still basically a kid, still figuring herself out, and has never really had to deal with anything like this before.]

[That doesn't mean it doesn't still bother her.]

[Because it seems like lately most people don't seem to have any faith in her ability to choose for herself.]

[bitteraftertaste]

I found your opinion slightly insulting, and know that several others on board are likely to as well.

[advocacy]

I'm really sorry it came across offensive. It wasn't meant to be. It's just... It's just how I've made sense of things I've had to go through.

[And she's not actually being sarcastic or even defensive when she says she's sorry it offended Vesper.]

[She is sorry.]

I think if I gave up in thinking it was something I could control, I wouldn't have been able to keep my head above water and handle things. But like I said, I'm not demanding anybody agree with me or like it.

It's just what I think for whatever it's worth.

[And she doesn't really think she's been here long enough to really say it matters all that much what she thinks.]

[bitteraftertaste]

And you have every right to think that, and to genuinely believe in it. But when you say it that way, it does sound as though you're expecting people to agree with you, or that you don't believe there's a valid, alternative way of looking at things.

[advocacy]

You don't know me very well, so I wouldn't expect you to know the exact difference in how I was saying what I was saying.

But I promise I was really just saying it as someone who believes in something strongly, not as someone who expects agreement.

[Look at who she keeps for company, Vesper. Cassel and Daneca are night and day.]