singillatim | the frost, it looks like dust, settled on the world

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the frost, it looks like dust, settled on the world —

Who: Miss Huang + YOU!
What: general arrival catchall / event-related threads to be added in later.
When: December - January.
Where: Milton for now, may add more later.
Content Warnings: None explicitly, but themes of her canon content warnings may make an appearance in my introspection for her.

Note: I did have Miss Huang on a previous TDM; however, I've apped her in now from a later canonpoint. For that reason, I'll be clean-slating that TDM arrival and bringing her in fresh for new interactions!

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[ Before she answers, he registers what she's holding, and he makes no effort to hide his surprise and confusion at it. What an odd thing to bring along with you here, and carry all the way.

It must be very important.

He catches himself staring, though, and schools his face back into a smile as he turns his gaze to meet hers.

He hadn't wanted to assume that the place the woman is looking for is something back home, even though that's what he suspected. When she talks about people sending her something - he's not sure how precisely a shuttle would help in this case - however, he thinks that suspicion is probably right. ]

There is much here that has not been explored. Unfortunately, the chances of your Empathy Centre being out there is probably slim, if not non-existent. Like most of us on this island, this is probably not where you meant to be.

[ Miss Huang almost seems surprised to catch the other staring at the bust she holds securely to her hip, and looks down at it for a moment. It's heavy, but it's a weight she's quickly gotten used to.

Much that has not been explored....? This place truly is remote. Miss Huang listens to what he says with severity, although not quite the right kind. In her mind, it all makes sense — if the Empathy Center isn't here, then this must be part of her training to get there, eventually. ]

This has to be where I'm meant to be. [ She insists, though politely. Lumon doesn't make mistakes. ] It must be part of my training. Though I don't know how long it will last... How long have you been here?

[ While he could try to insist that it most certainly is not where she's meant to be, she seems quite determined and she'll probably need to reach that conclusion herself, eventually. So he'll move. ]

Over half a year. Nine months, I think, according to the calendar they use here. I'm Frodo. Frodo Baggins.

[ The girl's eyebrows lift at that, a little surprised to hear that he's been here so long. Does that mean he isn't a fellow intern, then...? This is his full-time job? It must be. ]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Frodo Baggins. I'm Miss Huang.

[ She smiles cheerfully, offering her free hand for the most professional handshake she can muster while simultaneously struggling a bit with the large bust of an adult man's head in her other arm. ]

That's a long time for you to have been working here. I'll look to you for guidance in an environment like this.

[ He takes her hand, and gives the bust another look. ]

I will try my best. I think you may want to set that down for now, and ... have something to eat?

[ With a gesture at the pot of soup. She may not be hungry, but she ought to be cold, surely. Soup will serve just as well for that purpose. ]

Oh — I guess maybe I should. [ She realises, still smiling, still cheerful, but looking a little uncertain for a moment. She has no idea what she's meant to do with the bust, now. And she's almost been afraid to let go of it, to stop physically touching the thing. It's extremely important, after all.

(She's not sure entirely why. Just that it is.) ]

I can set it... here, I think. [ The girl moves to carefully place the thing down on a countertop, where she can still keep an eye on it. It's not that she's worried about someone taking the thing; she doesn't know the fear of people stealing. It doesn't happen, where she's from. She just... feels like she should keep it in sight. But then she turns back to Frodo, looking over at the food. ]

Are you hungry, Mr. Baggins? We can eat together!

[ Most people aren't so cheerful after arriving here, but most people also are not under the impression that everything has gone according to plan and they are where they're meant to be. He can't help but wonder if maybe she actually is where she's meant to be and it's the place that is wrong, but that is hardly a question he can answer now. ]

I would be happy to. A meal is always best shared.

[ Then, he will take a bowl and spoon and offer them to her. ]

[ The girl is used to doing things alone — independently, as she's been taught. Her lunch breaks at Lumon would be taken in solitude, even though the innies were encouraged to eat together in order to build camaraderie. Not the managers, though.

It was kind of... lonely, if she were to be honest. Not a thing she'd ever admit out loud, of course; it would make her seem irresponsible and childish. But at heart, she is only a girl. So she meets the idea with almost childlike delight, smile perking up again as he hands her the items. ]

Thank you! [ She accepts the bowl and spoon, then moves to fix herself a helping of food. It looks and smells warm, inviting, and when she goes to find a seat with Frodo, she's having to force herself to stay proper and professional and not dig right in, eating slowly and politely. ]

So how has your experience been here so far, Mr. Baggins? Is there anything that would better it for you?

[ This is truly one of the strangest encounters Frodo has had so far, which is quite the accomplishment. The question is unexpected and startling, and he looks up at her with surprise written all over his face.

Although he'd reached the conclusion to let her work out the situation on her own, it doesn't feel quite right to answer that like he's on the same page as her. ]

Err-- Well--

[ There's a long list of things that could be improved, but ultimately most of them are out of their control. ]

I don't think so. Uhm.

[ Maybe he can nudge her along somehow. ]

You ... mentioned that you're training for something. Is that what the bust is for?

[ Miss Huang notices the clear surprise on his face, and gently mistakes it for some sort of modesty perhaps — or an inability to voice what he might need. Perhaps he's used to working very independently. There are some workers in the departments like that, who simply need to be softy coaxed and helped to engage more in teamwork. Perhaps she can arrange some trust-building exercises here!

She'll let it go for now though, instead replying to the question. Though it's one that gives her a beat of pause, because in truth... she doesn't quite know what sense to be made of what happened, why she was pushed through so quickly. ]

It was given to me after completing training before this. But now that I've been sent here, I suppose Lumon wants to teach me some more things before I head to the Empathy Center. [ She takes a cautious sip of her stew, nodding. ] I'm hoping to find a supervisor I can speak to, soon. I'm not sure if they'll want me to act as a manager again, or not...

[ He really wants to know what this Empathy Center is, but he's not certain how that question will be received. The way she talks about it, she seems to assume he knows what it is, and he wonders if she would think he's lying or mocking her if he tries to claim otherwise. ]

Is that what you are training for? To be a ... manager?

[ She pauses at the question, considering how best to answer it. She's not supposed to talk too much about things, was given explicit instructions not to, back at Lumon. But she's had no direction given here, which means.... She's not sure what it means. ]

Not exactly, [ she settles on, taking another bite of her food. ] I was working as one for a while, before here. To prove my capabilities. But it seems like this community is lacking managerial influence, so... I think they might want me to serve as one while I'm here, too.

[ Girl.... no. ]

Have you gotten to serve as a manager, before?

No.

[ That might not be true if he thinks about it for a bit longer, but he's bewildered by her, by the strange excitement in her demeanor and her almost eager questions. It doesn't feel right to let her carry on like this. ]

You may find that many here are not, erm, receptive to 'managerial influence'.

[ Somehow, that just seems to make the strange little girl perk up even more. Her eyebrows lift as she latches onto this concept. It's all starting to make more sense.... This place must be in need of such influence! It must need more structure! The people here must have fallen away from Lumon's routine and stability. It's happened before, in small, distant towns. ]

It sounds like the people here are desperately in need of some order, [ she deduces. It doesn't sound like an easy task at all, but that must be part of the lessons she's meant to learn. A chance to show she can do better this time, and not fail to facilitate for the employees she was responsible for, like last time. ]

Are they very unruly, in your experience? Have they been exhibiting problematic behaviours?

[ Miss Huang, please.

Frodo can't help it. He snorts, but manages to suppress what would have been a laugh behind the back of his hand. ]

I'm sorry. It's, uhm ... Life here is very difficult, and right now I think the lack of daylight is getting to everyone. I believe people have done much to make it as easy as possible, but most of the time we simply try to tend to matters alone or with a companion or two.

[ She's relentless!

There's a blink of startle at the sound, but it's more polite than anything. She's not used to people acting animated in any capacity or just showing reactions to things. In her world, people are very... collected. Almost inhumanly so.

But his words make her smile slightly, and she nods knowingly (even though she is very much not In The Know, here). ]

This kind of environment is a challenging one. I saw a bit of that during my last ORTBO. [ Outdoor Retreat Team Building Occurrence.... She was stationed out in the middle of the frigid nowhere then, too. But that was only for a couple of days. ]

I think I can help provide some relief, cheer, and stability to all of you. I'll do my best!

[ Well, no matter what she thinks this is, if she does manage to provide that, it's sorely needed. He cannot help but worry that her spirit will somehow end up irreparably broken, though. She looks young, which can always be deceiving, but she seems it too. ]

In that case, this - the Community Hall, [ he nods with his head into the middle of the room, ] is the center of Milton. I try to ensure there is always a fire burning, and food when I can. Others help too. Feel free to use it.

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the frost, it looks like dust, settled on the world —

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