One - Audio - UN: XvXSherryXvX

[littlemissgvirus]

[It's pretty early in the morning when Sherry sends out her message. She was still trying to really 'get' the network, but it was starting to make sense.]

[Also no one should make fun of her awesome 1998 style username.]

Hi. Good morning. I'm Sherry Birkin. I only arrived here a few days ago so I don't really know anyone yet...

Which I guess makes this a strange question but I-

[There's a pause because of a very audible yawn.]

Oh! Sorry about that. Okay. Does anyone have advice on what to do about getting rid of nightmares? I've never really had them before but they're...pretty bad right now.

If not it's okay. I'm sure I can get used to them.

Thanks though.

[There's another yawn that cuts off midway as she disconnects.]

Comments

[whatsamada]

I see.

[...]

I’m still sorry though, it can’t be easy knowing your father was a part of this and then ended up being a creature he help created.

Private to Ken

[cameprepared]

[Claire can't let this one sit uncommented on. She's been following all this.]

Ask me later. It's a long story, and probably best not talked about with Sherry.

[whatsamada]

[That was something Ken wasn't expecting. As he looked at the message, he spoke to her in a low voice.]

Okay then, I just hope Sherry will be okay later.

[cameprepared]

She will. I'll do what I can for her.

It's...just a lot for a kid her age.

[whatsamada]

I can understand, it’s not easy having to deal with zombies at a young age.

I’ll talk to you as soon as I’m done with Sherry!

[littlemissgvirus]

Yeah...

[Sherry's just quiet then. She hadn't really had time to really think about what had happened. What her father had turned into, what had happened to her mother. It was this black cloud hovering just out of sight. Eventually it would catch up to her and she'd break down hard. But she kept managing to hold it off.]

[whatsamada]

[It was strange for Ken to suddenly be reminded of how trauma was for kids his age. He already knew Sherry had dealt with a lot but it was only recently.

He’s been dealing with his own issues for years.

He didn’t say anything for a moment wanting to see if she would continue. However...]

How are you feeling? Still scared?

[littlemissgvirus]

[Ken's voice seemed to snap Sherry out of her sudden thoughts, and she made a soft, uncertain noise before she answered.]

No. I just

I miss my mom.

[whatsamada]

[Ken found himself struggling to say something. As he heard her say that word, he froze up. Talking about parents was one thing but for her to suggest a specific parent? That was another.

That silence quickly turned into a long one as he really didn't how to respond back without letting his own feelings get in the way.]

I'm guessing you liked your mom more. [Pause] I don't blame you, I miss my mom too.

[littlemissgvirus]

I...it's not like that! [Sherry frowned, even if Ken couldn't see it.]

Mom was just around more. Dad was always at work but mom usually came home most nights.

[whatsamada]

Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that!

[And there he goes, letting his assumption get the better of him!]

Then what did you do whenever they're not around? [But it sure sounds like they weren't paying much attention to her. However, this was his bias getting the better of him.]

[littlemissgvirus]

I had my tutor and nanny around during the day. So I was pretty busy.

[Sherry's parents weren't going to let her go to school, after all, too much of a security risk.]

I read a lot too.

[whatsamada]

[She was starting to sound a lot like a certain someone he knew back home. If she was anything like Mitsuru, the topic around her parents would be tricky.

Hmmm....]

Such as...?

[littlemissgvirus]

Mostly stories? My mom had a lot of books from when she was a kid and my nanny would bring me more books. Like, uh. Mary Poppins and Doctor Doolittle and Nancy Drew...

[Good stories, but clearly not going to help much with her shelteredness.]

[whatsamada]

[And you hear that? There’s a hint of sadness in his voice.

She definitely was someone who was innocent, wasn’t she?]

Maybe you can find some of those stories here. I don’t think it should be difficult to find.

[littlemissgvirus]

I did used to read before bed. Maybe that would help...

[At least it would get her mind off zombies.]

Do you know any bookstores here?

[whatsamada]

No I don’t but I can show you how you can read them on your phone.

[Which may it may not end badly.]

[littlemissgvirus]

You...you can read books on your phone?!

[Every day these devices become more and more magical.]

[whatsamada]

Yes, you can! It’s mostly clicking around the screen until you find the book you want to read!

[...]

Do you need some help finding it on your phone?

[littlemissgvirus]

[There's a long pause where Sherry is clicking around. And failing. Finally.]

...Yes please.

[whatsamada]

Okay let’s see here...

[Hopefully he can explain this to her? He’s not a navigator like Fuuka but he can try!]

So on the main screen, there should be a picture of a book. If you click it, you can look through the catalog of books they might have there.

[littlemissgvirus]

...Oh.

[Sherry stares at the book for a few seconds before tapping on it.]

I guess that was obvious huh.

[whatsamada]

It's okay, you're still learning so you'll just know the next time around! And you're from the past so it'll take some time to get use to!

[Give yourself some credit, Sherry!]

[littlemissgvirus]

Yes. but

[She stopped herself. He was right. She thought she should be smarter because her parents were brilliant. But she WAS smart, and that didn't mean she should magically know how fancy future phones existed, right?]

Right. I just need to think about it like it's not as complicated as I was thinking it was.

[A picture of a book, after all...]

[whatsamada]

[There was a pause on his end. The more he talked to her, the more he couldn't help but be reminded of a certain person whom he knew back home...]

It does take time to get use to a new environment. It's not something you should think too much about and I'm not blaming you for not knowing how.