Those globes everyone was findin'...they were right pretty to see, weren't they? Especially remindin' everyone of 'ome. Don't know if it was nice or not of the City to give us 'em though. It's like everythin' can be looked at two ways 'ere. Don't like it much.

Still, didn't mind takin' a look at London again, even if it 'adn't been my 'ome in ages, not really my 'ome. Ain't 'ome more people than a place? 's how I've always felt about it at least.

[She shakes her head at herself.] Listen t'me, maudlin' on like this. Guess I just can't stop thinkin' about the people that ain't 'ere any more. So many old friends gone. It don't make for much of a Christmas...well, should be grateful for everyone who still is 'ere. Can't know when they'll leave.

[Action]

[After posting on the Network, Doll decides she simply can't sit around the apartment moping all day. Keeping busy is always a good distraction and it's easy enough to find things to do when necessary.

She thinks that she may as well give out the presents Penny had prepared for people - she's sure it's what her friend would have wanted. Her own are already under the small tree in their...in her apartment, even if the thought of opening presents on her own on Christmas Day isn't all that appealing. Maybe Hanna wouldn't mind her staying at his place until then.

At least the cold outside is bracing and the festive look of the City cheers her up somewhat. Now if only she'd been paying more attention to why the City was looking so festive today.]

Blimey, what was that curse yesterday? Was like people were goin' crazy! Tried to get some food from the shops an' they were almost fightin' over it. Couple of places I went by looked like people 'ad come to blows.

Someone even tried to buy Tiger off of me an' wouldn't take no as an answer! Got right mad at me when I said 'e wasn't for sale.

[said dog is curled up on Doll's lap as she sits in her and Penny's apartment, not looking the worse for wear after the experience and happily chewing on a rubber bone that she got him to make it up to him - or to make herself feel better at the thought she could have lost him.]

Guess I should've stopped questionin' the curses after all this time, but they still take me by surprise sometimes. 'm glad it looks to be peaceful for the rest of the day at least. [And off Tiger goes, returning with his leash clamped in his muzzle, tail wagging furiously as Doll laughs at him.] Yeah, yeah, I think it's a good time for a walk too.

Don't seem like there's any curses 'appenin' today, so maybe it's a good time to ask 'bout this again.

We really need more people to 'elp out at the orphanage. A lot of the old 'elpers 'ave been sent back 'ome an' we can't really leave the kids on their own, always need at least a couple of people there to keep an eye on 'em. 'sides that we need people to make sure they've got everythin' they need, enough clothes an' food for all of 'em, makin' sure they get to go out an' play an' that they're bein' taught some stuff. That they're safe durin' curses too.

So if anyone can do any of that, let us know?

[she's about to switch off her device when she remembers something else]

Oh! Almost forgot. Hanna's lookin' for an accountant for 'is flower shop an' I said I'd ask around, so anybody who's good with numbers an' wants a job can talk to 'im about it! Or just tell me an' I'll pass on the message.

I wish dogs wouldn't eat anythin' they find in front of 'em. Poor Tiger's been lookin' poorly ever since 'e laid into those cupcakes yesterday. But...they 'elped people, didn't they? All that's over now? Still ain't sure what was 'appenin'.


...that was your letter put up all over the City, weren't it, Penny? D'you think they'll really listen this time? If only they would. Never thought they'd listen to reason, but if it makes any difference at all, 's worth it. Better'n people blowin' things up, that's for certain.

[Doll's half-lying on the sofa, Tiger in her lap as she absent-mindedly pets his head, talking to him - or maybe just talking to herself. But talking to yourself is easier with company.]

's the last day to write that up for them, Tiger. But what could I even say? I ain't good at writin', or at puttin' words together like that, makin' 'em make sense. At least it's a word I don't need a dictionary for this time. Or any kind of explainin'.

[Grimacing, but it smooths out into a smile down at the puppy as he licks her hand.]

I think it's crueller'n a curse anyway, tellin' us to write about pain. Like they don't know it'd make us all 'ave to remember what it means to us.

It used to get so bad, after days without food, it'd feel like your insides were tryin' to eat you. It'd be freezin' outside too, an' most times we didn't 'ave a spare rag between us to keep warm. Was too small an' too slow to get things any way else, an' if they caught us they'd beat us an' then everythin' would 'urt. Couldn't even do that much for the others, gettin' 'em somethin' to eat since most of 'em couldn't walk or carry stuff... Used to 'urt too, when they'd call us names for bein' orphans, or 'cause...they didn't like the look of us. Different kind of pain, that. Didn't 'urt as much as everythin' else though, but it was still pretty bad.

Maybe the only good thing about pain is it makes you appreciate some things more when you finally 'ave 'em. Makes you see what's really important. But it doesn't stop, not really. Every time you think it's goin' to stop then somethin' worse comes along... Or it feels like it. Nothin' could really be worse'n back then.

[Tiger whines; she'd been holding him too tightly, and now she lets go with a apologetic scratching between his ears.]

Sorry, boy. Shouldn't complain, should I? It ain't all that bad 'ere, ain't bad at all most days. If only Beast an' Joker an' the rest were around too.

Come on, let's take you out for a walk. Any of the others 'eard me maudlin' like this, they'd never stand for it.

[Getting up and knocking the communicator over as she does so, cutting off the recording.]

Er...should probably apologize if I went around botherin' people this weekend. 's all a bit hazy so I can't remember exactly who all I talked to, but thanks for puttin' up with me then, whoever it was.

Really hate it when this place turns me little. Must be the fourth time now at least. An' it's worse when I can't remember all the times before.

[The puppy curled up next to her paws at the screen.] Yeah, yeah, I know, Tiger, least you kept me company, didn't ya?

'm glad we're 'avin' a couple of quiet days though. We need it after the week we all just 'ad. What a way to end my first year 'ere. [she shakes her head a bit, but doesn't seem too upset.] All's well that ends well, I guess.

All those frogs an' bugs an' the water goin' bad...the 'ell is 'appenin' this time?

Penny, 've tried blockin' up the windows in the apartment best I can. The pets are in the bathroom so they'll be out of harm's way for now...is the Welcome Center doin' alright or d'you need 'elp there too?

Should've known things've been too easy 'round 'ere lately.

Was goin' to ask before now, but things were a bit crazy with all those curses an' everythin'.

Anyway, I really don' 'ave any idea who sent me these 'cause the person who delivered 'em just ran off without sayin'...

But they're so pretty, ain't never been given anythin' like that before. An' guess I jus' wanted t'say thanks? Even if you don' want t'say who you were an' if they got sent to the right person of course. Thank you, I really like 'em! They're still keepin' real well too! Found a vase for 'em an' kept 'em in water an' everythin'.

S'everyone doin' alright after the last few days?

Still don' rightly get what that last curse was about. Numbers everywhere an' people makin' such a fuss. Well, guess it don' matter now it's over.

Anyway, been meanin' to ask. Hikaru's left the City...an' she used to do a lot of work at the orphanage, lookin' after things there an' just 'elpin' out an' everythin'. So, if there's anyone good at managin' stuff, or even who can jus' lend an 'and for a couple of hours 'ere an' there, it'd 'elp a lot. 'cause there's less of us to 'elp now an' people keep on comin' in.

[awkwardly, because she's not used to being a spokesperson for anything.] ...thanks.