video, un: littlealbatross

[soulmakingsound]

[What the viewer sees first is hair. Long black hair obscuring the lens of the camera while River fiddles with it. The camera and the girl are both on the floor, and she leans back eventually, sitting against the foot of her bed while she talks.

She never looks directly at the camera.]

There are too many choices.

People talk about getting to go home. Going back to rebuild. I hear them in the halls, in their rooms. Making plans.

But what of the rest of us? The homeless. The lost. The ones who came after the dragon, who never settled.

I opened my eyes and there was snow. I walked where they told me to, stayed where they told me to, and that was easy. And now they give us choices.

Which train to take?

Which life to choose?

Comments

[soulmakingsound]

[It works better (worse? certainly feels worse) when the person is there physically. But she can hear the sadness, that much is sure.]

I'm sorry your friend is gone. Easier to have not been here at all.

[fiendennor]

[A little sigh.] Perhaps. But it was nice to see her again, all the same.

Would you prefer your brother stayed asleep? Or that he awoke, only to return after a few months?

[soulmakingsound]

An arrival and swift departure would potentially be more catastrophic than him never arriving at all.

A false sense of hope and home.

[fiendennor]

I see your point, but I don't think I agree. I'd rather know they're alive and whole, personally. Seeing them asleep in stasis isn't the same thing.

[soulmakingsound]

Maybe there is no right answer. Just a lot of almosts and not good enoughs.

[fiendennor]

I suppose that's true. "Safe but permanently in stasis" and "here temporarily but returned" aren't optimal choices no matter what your position.

Do you have anyone here?

[soulmakingsound]

Inara. She's a friend. Like a sister.

I've met some new people as well, which is something of an adventure. But it feels much safer to have someone from home close by.

[fiendennor]

I can imagine so, yes.

At any rate, I'm happy you have this friend with you. I hope you can meet others, too-- have your adventure.

Is there anything I can help you with in that?