video; introductions

[aggressive_negotiations]

[The video opens up into a small but well decorated home office. Behind Smith is a bookshelf with titles ranging from "To Kill and Mockingbird" and Sun Tzu's "The Art of War." There are photos of Smith with prominent local leaders, and several awards issued to her for services to the community.

There's a space right behind her, in full view of the camera, where someone who didn't build their career on social media optics might hang their degree. Smith regularly uses this home office to live stream town hall meetings and council Q&A's. People want evidence that you're smart, but they don't want you being too obvious about it.

Instead, there's a piece of artwork with her favorite quote on it: "I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night." It's from a poem called The Old Astronomer by Sarah Williams. Her parents gave it to Smith when she first decided to run for local office.

The entire background paints a picture before Smith has to say a word: Competent, but not arrogant. Approachable. Ready to listen, and with resources to offer.]

Hello. [A smile.] My name is Leia Smith -- please feel free to call me Smith. All my friends do. Some of you may have seen me at the support group, or at the wonderful event at Rockaway Beach. Or you may recognize me from my work as District 7's city councilperson. I apologize for not formally introducing myself sooner. As I am sure you are all aware, when one's world view is turned upside down...[She looks off camera for a moment, considering her words.]

It takes you a moment to regroup, doesn't it? [She looks back at the camera. Relaxed, but full of purpose.]

I've had my moment. Now, I'd like to help. Most immediately, I'd like to connect members of this community with additional resources to help navigate the challenges that come with being...[There's a clear measure of distaste, as she echos The Bureau's words.] "Different."

What's happening to us isn't normal. And yet, we live in a society that demands we go on as if it is. There's rent, holding down a job, trying to maintain one's mental health -- many of the daily demands of life become that much more difficult when you're processing a trauma. So if these events have impacted your ability to do any of those things -- please let me know. I will do my best to help.

Comments

video;

[bearshermark]

[Have one bright, young smile and enthusiastic wave. She'll likely have seen him there, might know his name if she'd asked after the party's host at all]

Hey! Saw you at the party! I meant to say hi and thank you for coming. Sorry about that.

video;

[howkickassiam]

[ His first reaction to her was that she has a very put-on affect, that she doesn't seem genuine at all. But he doesn't want to react in a way that will put her off right away, so he puts on a relaxed expression and switches on the video feed. ]

Hey, there. I'm Garrett York, but everyone calls me York. I guess right off the bat that gives us something in common.

video;

[traceofeffort]

[Lisa's somewhat excited to respond to this; that probably shows in her manner, cheery and forward, doing her best not to let the thoughts of what processing a trauma puts in her head. Her head's a complicated place, she's used to that by now.]

It's strange, isn't it? How crazy everything goes, and then how normal it goes back to being. I've had days where I don't want to leave my room, and then days where I feel like I can do anything, and I can trace a lot of it back to all this. I just want... well, no. I don't want things to go back to normal. Not anymore. There are too many things I don't want to lose. But I want to feel comfortable again. That seems to come and go for me, and I'm tired of it. [Lisa suddenly realizes nothing stops this woman from going back and reading the network's post history, and abruptly has. A small fear.]

The beach helped a lot, the other day. That was me playing music that evening, in fact.

[darkforcerising]

I have questions.

First, hello again.

But, uh, how? And how are you going to find psychologists who won't, you know, lock us up? The Bureau doesn't exist outside of our collective knowledge of them.