first reflection → video

[heartmirror]

[ The video opens with a closeup of Stephanie's hand, as she does her best to get it into place. When she eventually pulls back, she nervously tucks a loose lock of hair behind her ear and gives the steamgear a slightly awkward smile. ]

Um... hello, everyone! I guess I'[m a little late doing this, but I was looking for a place to stay... it feels a bit weird, just picking a house like this, but it's better than sleeping on the streets, right?

[ She picks up the steamgear and turns it, giving everyone a look of the apartment behind her -- it looks like a loft apartment, lots of bleached wood and sparse decoration. Once she's done, Stephanie sets the gear back on the table in front of her, still smiling nervously as she does so. ]

Anyway... I guess we're all stuck here for now. I don't know anything about fixing up computers or machines, but I'll do my best to help out.

But what I wanted to ask is... is there any way to get things... you know, fixed? Um, stuff we brought with us from home, I mean, that stopped working.

Comments

[deserve]

That is a nice strategy. How do you make the most of something?

[heartmirror]

Hm... I'm....

I dunno.

[ awkward laugh. ]

I guess I'll just have to find whatever works for me and just go from there.

[deserve]

What was your life like, before?

[heartmirror]

[ ... she's starting to feel a bit like she's being interrogated or like she's filling out some kind of bizarre questionnaire. But she can't think of a way to refuse to answer that isn't all kinds of rude, so all she can do is -- well, answer. ]

Um... it was pretty normal, I guess? Well, anything's pretty normal compared to this, so...

[ awkwardly trailing off. ]

[deserve]

[That's Mary for you. A bizarre walking questionnaire.]

I suppose it is, isn't it. We must find our own ways to make it different.

[heartmirror]

Y--yeah. I mean, if everyone had the same kind of life, it'd be really boring.

[ is she really having this conversation with a total stranger? somehow, this is the weirdest part of her day today. ]

What about you? Have you found somewhere to stay?

[deserve]

Yes it would. You are a very perceptive girl.

[a pause.]

I have. Thank you for asking.

[heartmirror]

[ waits for her to elaborate...

... aaand she doesn't.

She clears her throat, in a transparent attempt to feel a little less like an awkward loser. ]

Is it... nice...?

[deserve]

This place, you mean?

[So sorry about Mary.]

[heartmirror]

No, I mean--! Your new house or -- the place you're staying now. I meant -- did you find a nice place to stay?

[deserve]

Oh yes, I did, thank you so much for asking. There is plenty of space for us to take, here.

[heartmirror]

Oh, that's good-- yeah, really good! I mean, it's a bit weird that we're living in someone else's house but... but well, I guess it's better than being on the streets or something.

[deserve]

I used to live in the streets. [a soft sigh. There is no sorrow in her words, if that's a concern.] I much prefer a house.

[heartmirror]

[ oh god oh god she totally put her foot right in her mouth, she FUCKED UP BIG TIME ]

Well uh -- yeah, I can see why! Houses are um, definitely better, yeah. Especially these ones, they're huge!

[ she's rambling out of discomfort. Whoops. ]

[deserve]

[Mary may not be the most perceptive of creatures, but she can certainly pick up a thing or two.]

Is something wrong?

[heartmirror]

Something wrong? Ahah, of course not! I was just agreeing about -- houses and streets and stuff. Like you said.

[ oh my god why can't she just stop ]

[deserve]

You seemed nervous. Did I read that right? I have some difficulty, sometimes.