kate [pcs]

[cumulative]

beep

Comments

[sootprints]

[ ...

as if to just make this worse, a trail of dark smoke starts to rise from the top of her head. ]

I'm sorry. I don't mean to frighten you.

[cumulative]

Oh-- n-no, it's not... um, I don't mean to...

[he just looks chagrined as he realizes he is. probably pointing out the obvious, to her.]

I-I was worried something... happened to you.

[sootprints]

[ the smoke starts to thin out before it stops. ]

... It's all right. Thank you for your concern. I'm...

What you see before you is a shadow.

[cumulative]

You're... a living shadow-? I'm sorry, you... don't need to answer anything if you prefer not to, but I've never seen... u-um, a number of things, apparently...

[he really just keeps getting surprised by the things people say, here.]

[sootprints]

That's probably the simplest way to think of it.

... It's all right. There's no shame in not knowing some things.

[cumulative]

R-right...

[still. he could have thought more before he said anything.]

Have you... been all right, since we all woke up here?

[sootprints]

Hm...

[ she considers that question. ]

Yes. I'm worried about what may happen back home, but I haven't faced any immediate danger or harm.

... What about you? You seemed a bit... distressed.

[ both when they first bumped into each other, and just now, while he was huddled in here and spacing out. ]