citynet | video; un: Hob

[The video shows Hob, sitting at home on a balcony of his apartment. He smiles, but there's a little uncertainty to his attempt at pleasantness. Something is bothering him.]

Hello, all. Uh, I don't mean to alarm everyone, but...

[That's usually how people cause alarm. Good work, Hob.]

I noticed something strange during my recent walks. I have a path I routinely take as I explore the city, walking different areas each day in case there's something out of the ordinary. Well, I typically stop in the same shops for some water or food, or to carry something home. When I went into one of the stores I frequent, I noticed the things I helped myself to previously haven't been replaced. It always was, before.

[It's hard to mask his concern.]

As more people typically arrive about once a month, if resources get scarcer... shouldn't we think of something?

[A quick smile.]

Or maybe it's all a fluke! A temporary disruption in services. That's all.

[That could be it, right? Hob doesn't have to eat to live, but starving is not a lot of fun.]

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I don't know.

[But Hob is clearly concerned about what it means.]

Maybe it's just temporary. Wish we could ask.

[They would have so many other questions, too, though.]

I don't think we're going to ever get answers about anything here.

[ If the past few months have proven anything at all to Daniel, it's that fact. He's come across so many people who have had so many questions about this place - and as far as he's concerned, not a single one has been answered.

It's frustrating. ]

Which is one thing when we're wondering about why we are here at all, but it's even more difficult when the answers to said questions might determine our ability to survive here. [ God, if the food runs out.. Daniel doesn't even want to think about it. ] I wonder if we can even figure out some rationing plan with so many people present in this place..

It's hard to believe we could be kept in the dark forever, but...

[ He doesn't really want to consider that might be the case. ]

Rationing among this many people will be difficult, especially if we don't know how much we have to ration with. Perhaps things will work out, though.

[ He's attempting to look on the bright side. ]

[ Daniel lets out a slight breath.

It's not a huff, though. If anything, he actually doesn't really sound displeased as he says: ]

You're a bit of an optimist, huh?

[ Of course he doesn't mind that. Daniel likes to be one himself, though it's a little hard sometimes under the current circumstances. In a situation that's this uncertain.

(Though they've been alright so far, right?) ]

[ He gets a gentle laugh out of Hob. ]

I try. Life can be too long to give in to despair overly much.

[ That can make living pretty miserable, especially for a man like Hob Gadling. ]

I think it's a good thing.

[ Does Daniel understand the value of being cautious? Of course - it's why he's more like that himself.

But it doesn't mean he can't appreciate some good optimism, especially-- ]

Especially here. Things can feel so.. bleak sometimes, you know? Especially when things like these happen. Sudden changes that don't make sense, but that could turn out for the worse for us. It's nice some people can keep their spirits up in the face of all of it. I'm sure it helps other people too.

[ Especially the kids. Gosh, there are just truly too many kids out here with too little supervision, and it's definitely a worry of Daniel's. But having some adults be optimistic could be good for them, right? ]

I'm sure a lot of people are feeling homesick by now. Especially if they come from a place very different from this one.

[ Hob has also been concerned about the large number of younger people, but so far, they don't seem overly bothered by it all. Or they're putting on brave faces, at least. ]

[ There's a hum of agreement coming from Daniel. Easily. It's something he's considered too, if not just because he's pretty homesick himself - and because he's been fussing about quite a lot of people in this place on top of it. ]

What is your home like then?

[ There's a slight pause, and then Daniel is at least kind and polite enough to add: ]

If you don't mind sharing. [ It's not like he wants to be nosy, anyway.

He just wants to give Hob a moment to talk about it. To maybe prevent homesickness just a tiny bit. ]

[ Hob doesn't mind the questions, but he considers his home pretty average. Especially since he's already met a god and a couple aliens since he's been here. ]

London? It's just a city like most others, but I guess that depends on what you're used to. I teach at a university there.

Yes, I know London.

[ Daniel feels a little silly saying it, and it shows in his tone - just a touch awkward. But, you know, this city just happens to be the one place you actually have to confirm other people actually know about major cities where you come from.

In fact, Hobb may just have one of the more normal backstories Daniel has heard so far, thank god. ]

I'm from the San Fernando Valley myself, over in the United States. Do you know how statistically impossible it is that we both apparently happen to be from regular Earth, compared to the stories some of the people here have?

[ There's a quick smile at hearing Daniel is familiar with some version of Earth, though he knows there are more than one version, too. ]

It's surprising, but in a good way. Someone else told me Earth was invaded by aliens some years ago. Not where I come from, thank goodness.

[ He lets out a huff - it sounds half-disbelieving, half-exasperated. ]

Aliens? Really?

[ He supposes it's in line with the way some people here talk about their worlds, but.. sheesh. ]

That almost makes it sound like we've got the entire collection of 'weird stuff that usually only happens in movies' gathered here. Almost makes you feel strange for coming from such a normal place, right?

It does.

[ Even with his unique circumstances, Hob feels as though he's the normal one here. ]

But it's also a chance to experience things we never have before, so that's kind of exciting.

That sure is a word for it.

[ It's not like Daniel will fully deny it, but-- on the other hand, he's a guy who would prefer having a little less excitement in his life, honestly. Espeically at this point. ]

Were you some sort of adventurer back home? You know, someone who loves extreme sports and all that?

[Hob laughs.]

No, nothing like that. I like to travel a bit, but I definitely wouldn't meet an alien back home. Probably.

Well, that's good to hear.

[ Not that extreme sports wouldn't still be considered relatively normal.. but that relatively is doing a whole lot of heavy lifting in that sentence.

It's more normal than vampires or aliens, sure, but also still a little more out of the norms when you go by absolute normal standards. ]

If not just because I'm glad there's a guy here who's just as normal as I am. Feels reassuring, you know?

video; un: Hob

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so sorry for the delay, i lost the notif! ;;

no problem, i've been bogged down by work :/

ugh, the worst!! let's hope it gets better soon ;;

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