Nate Danger (provenate) wrote in remains_freenet, @ 2015-08-14 12:51:00 |
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Entry tags: | # interview, # username: feelthelovebitches, # username: slapinthefarce |
Interview
OFF CAMERA: [There is a mechanic noise as the camera zooms in on Sepphy’s face. Nate can be heard off screen.] You can look at me, at the camera. Nothing is wrong. Are you ready? Can you state your full name? [Sepphy smiles, a bright expression and she waves to the camera, looking into it for a brief moment before she refocuses her attention off camera]Persephone Claire Forrester. At your service.[She fiddles with the hem of her dress just a little, the only indication that she might be nervous] [Nate tries giving her a reassuring smile.] Have you lived in Austin all you life? How long have you been at Foxgrove high school? I haven’t lived here my whole life, I’ve been sort of back and forth. My parents traveled around a lot when I was growing up, joining different communes, cults, really. [she shrugs one shoulder] That was their thing. But some were less suitable for children, so when that would happen I would come here to live with my Aunt. I’d been with her for about a year and a half before everything happened. I came to Fox Grove halfway through my freshman year. [She smiles, glancing down then back up] What do you mean by communes and cults? Religious cults? [Nate asks this calmly. It’s a part of her, a part of her past and he thinks it is an important question.] What was your Aunt’s name? Yep! Religious cults. Or like, sex cults, I guess. Mom and dad sure loved to bone. But yeah. They were always searching for some truth or another. I was actually born in one, where they believed in all the old gods ‘n stuff? So any children born there were supposed to be reincarnations of them or something, and I was supposedly Persephone. That’s probably a big piece of information to explain what my parents were like. They totally did that. My Aunt’s name was Carrie. [Nate does his best not to have any reaction. He’s practiced with this and for the most part, the smile seems more good natured than it does shockingly amused.] Some people claim that Foxgrove is a cult in and of itself. The Children of the Corn. What do you say about that? [It isn’t accusatory. It’s a true question. A matter of fact reality] [She smiles, laughing, unoffended by the question] I think I get why it would look like that to outsiders! For a number of reasons , really. Not the smallest of which is a lot of adults just aren’t comfortable with people they see as ‘kids’ governing themselves. But the truth is we don’t need someone older telling us how to do things. We worked it out ourselves just fine. We aren’t The Children of the Corn. We’re a commune, by default. We share everything, everyone pulls their weight, takes care of everyone else. But we also have representatives for different social groups, so everyone gets heard, and we’re a small enough community here that we get to put democracy to work. [smiles] It works really well. OFF CAMERA:[He’s happy she isn’t offended. Relieved actually. His purpose is information only.] So everything is voted on by consensus or by popular vote? What groups are represented and actually, how many people do you have at Foxgrove? What is your youngest and your oldest? Everything gets voted on. And when we were figuring out representatives, we started out with the usual social groupings? Like jocks, geeks, that kind of thing. And people were encouraged to step up, and anyone feeling that a group isn’t represented is encouraged to become a rep for them. I wanted things to be as open as possible, because I’ve never been into the idea of one person being in charge of others. Just leads to weirdness, y’know? So, if everyone’s got a voice, then there shouldn’t be things festering under the surface. We go by popular vote, unless trouble arises. I get final say on things, if matters get out of hand. [she gives a secretive little smile at Nate] We’ve got over a hundred. Oldest is in their twenties, youngest is just over a month. [beams] And she’s so cute! [This news is a surprise to Nate and this time he can’t conceal the expression that comes on his face.] A month old. Was the baby born here? [There are so many questions now and he feels he needs to get off track a little] I want to talk about you but first, I just want you to talk about the hanging. What happened? [She gives a little giggle at his surprise] There’s a baby! There’s more than one baby. [she nods when he brings up the other subject, clearly having been expecting it] You have a lot of questions about Fox Grove. Sure you’re not here just to find out about our society so you can find weaknesses? [she smiles, but it isn’t quite as bright as before] Hangings. Plural. There’s been more than one. We have two capital offenses. Murder and rape. Anyone who does either of those sees the end of a rope. Not because we’re old west fans or anything, or because we’ve seen too many movies, but because we feel like it’s the best way to do things. We haven’t had one in a long time now. People re-think their way of doing things, and their ideas of consent when they know the consequences aren’t a slap on the wrist. If you have questions, please, ask. [The conversation is riveting. It’s the sort of story that Nate might have been compelled to do on its own if there wasn’t so much tragedy like this all around Austin.] You’re the leader, then? [He ignores the talk of multiple babies for now. He’s hoping there will be some way that he can convince her to let him photograph something, or film a little bit of the mystery that surrounds the school.] How did that come about? Were you part of an original faction/group/representation? Yes. And I was the girl with the plan. When everything went south, I stepped up. Like, immediately. I was one of those nerds who would have long discussions with friends about what to do in case of ‘fill in the blank’. So in all honesty, I already had a plan thought out before zombies were even a thing. So when they happened, I just kicked it into gear. By the time the dust settled from the first wave, people still looked to me for guidance, so I gave it. [He nods. It is not up to him to give her any advice or criticism. It is only his job to listen, to be neutral and to find out what is happening.] How old are you Sepphy? What are you plans for this place? Eighteen. I was sixteen when everything went sideways. [she gives a grin] My plans? Keep things up and running. Eventually, if societies around here are actually willing, I’d like to set up inter-cooperation between them. I don’t see why we can’t all work together on some level, while remaining true to our own visions of society. We don’t all have to view things the same to respect each other, and recognize no one is actually going to get far on their own. I guess sort of a more effective united nations situation, if for no other reason than having a plan in place in case things get worse. OFF CAMERA:[He is listening, crossing his legs and then uncrossing, then crossing them again. Maybe he’s been spoiled by his mattress at the capitol] Have any of the shelters reached out to you? Or have you reached out to any of the shelters? If so, what happened? Anything that prevents you from working with them now? [she shakes her head and wrinkles her nose cutely] No one has reached out to me. But I haven’t floated the idea yet either, save in a situation with the Dog Park leader guy. He wasn’t interested to say the least, but then that whole thing was kinda a train wreck. As for anything stopping me from doing it now, part of it is simply not knowing who to contact. Maybe soon I’ll try an open post on the free-net to see if anyone responds. [laughs] The real question will be whether anyone else wants to think wider than where they’re at, and if they can take me seriously at all. [The mention of the Dog King certainly piques his interest]What happened? What do mean it was a train wreck. Can you expand on that? I went there with the intentions of helping someone there with reading. It wasn’t thought through super well on my part, I realize now, I was being naive. They didn’t exactly react well. Lots of threatening happened, implications of bad things that could happen to me. I was kept there overnight then released. To me it seems like their whole thing is they want everyone afraid of them. That’s not exactly conducive to cooperation, and when I brought it up, they seemed to think I was y’know. A dumb nutjob or something. [she shrugs, bites her lip as she opens her mouth to say something, then thinks better of it] OFF CAMERA:[Nate makes an adjustment to the camera. He notices her pausing on a thought and he goes back to the point as soon as the adjustment is made] What is it? Please, you don’t need to keep anything back on my account or his. [she shakes her head] Actually, I do. Because everything is connected, and I’d put a target on my head if I was honest where just anyone could see it - or, alternatively, I could fuck things up for other people. Words have power. I’ll finish my thought off the record, but not on, if you really want to know what I have to say on it. [Nate turns off the camera] The following is OFF RECORD [Shakes head] No. He didn’t. He tried really hard to scare me, and I don’t scar e, so that didn’t go over well, but in total honesty, I think he was trying to teach me something. I think that all the threats, the implications of rape gang or otherwise, the idea thrown out there that terrible, terrible things could happen to me there was because he didn’t want me walking into a situation somewhere else where it would happen. But if I put that out there, then that undermines what they’re trying to do. They protect themselves through the threat of everything. And I’m sure that terrible things do happen to some people. But they didn’t really hurt me, and even if I think I royally pissed off the Dog King? He still didn’t hurt me. But if I say that on the record, and people know that. Maybe they think he’s got no bite left, and if that happens, then there goes their way of life. Just because I don’t agree with it doesn’t mean I don’t think they’ve got a right to do things their way. I’m not going to do anything to jeapordize that. And, y’know. They could always decide that I’ve got a big mouth, and opt to put me down because they should have before I had anything to say about it later. OFF CAMERA:Thank you.[He tells her and then turns on the camera. He doesn’t say much about it, just that he is ready to start back on the interview.] Do you allow anyone inside? Is everyone welcome? [she nods to the thank you, and when everything is rolling again, she laughs a touch] Back to Fox Grove again, huh? [she shakes her head] We don’t usually let people inside. Our social ecosystem here works super well, it wouldn’t so much if we abruptly had a ton more people to add into it. Now, that isn’t to say that we’ve never let anyone in, or would never let anyone else in either. We just stick with our age range. OFF CAMERA:[She’s so young. It seems plausible to believe that Foxgrove is a huge part of her young adult life. The system she knows the best but no, he’s not done with her personal story.] Would you let your parents in if they appeared or your Aunt? [He’s not sure they’re dead or alive but maybe she does.] Do you miss the world before or do you think you’ve found a groove here, especially in 2018? They're all dead. Or, okay, I don't know they're dead like, I've seen their corpses or anything, but I know. My parents spent their whole lives pretending it was Free Love time, neither of them would be cut out even to just endure the horror of zombies, let alone work out how to live in a world like this one. If they didn't go down in the first wave I would be shocked, and if the miraculously survived for a while, I think they would have rather killed themselves than live in a world like this one. My Aunt, she wasn't really someone I could see making the cut either, sadly. But even if they were alive, I would decline, which I know sounds cold. It isn't meant to be. We just have things here the way we've got them, and the council and I wouldn't make an exception for anyone else, so we wouldn't make it for me, either. We'd direct them to one of the other shelters, though, and make sure they got there alright. [she's back to fiddling with the hem of her skirt] I think it's apples and oranges, really. Then and now are such different times that I don't really even think of them in the same sentence? Sounds weird, I know. But I see it like then was then, now is now. I'm not so much nostalgic for the world before as opposed to certain things or people. Mainly, I've definitely found a groove here, like you said, and I'm doing just fine. [smiles] OFF CAMERA:[Nate isn’t sure he’s creeped out or impressed. Maybe a little bit of both. Knowing he wouldn’t make the cut here is a little off putting. That they’d send an ‘old man’ like him packing was a jarring realization.] Let’s do some quick Q&A. You ready? > The Movie you wish to see again? We show movies here when we get them. But one I haven’t seen in too long is The Neverending Story. I’d love to see that one again. Favorite Book? World War Z. Subject matter aside, I loved how it was written and approached. I felt at the time that it was as realistic as you could get to what might actually happen. Favorite song? I have too many. But I guess if I had to narrow it down...gun to my head, I’d have to go with ‘Hold On, I’m Comin’’ by Sam and Dave. My Aunt had a ton of old records, I loved going through them in the summer. Favorite Food? Prior and now. Sushi! And now it’s peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Something you never thought you’d be able to accomplish? Surviving an event like we all did. Even in my best zombie apocalypse plans, I always went down at some point. I didn’t figure I’d make it. Best Friend? [smiles, glances past Nate, then back to him] Probably Daniel Kwon. Just shh! Don’t tell him that. Biggest Fear? Raiders, trying to attack us. We’re prepared, but still. That keeps me up nights sometimes. Biggest Pleasure? [laughs] Too many things to list! I like to remember to appreciate the little things. Toys, candy, fresh bread, a good night’s sleep, playing with toddlers, holding babies, seeing people smile... How many infected have you disposed of? People keep count of that? I didn’t. Sorry. [Nate nods. People do. But her answer tells him all he needs to know. There’s been many] What is your stance on the infected? I think eventually they’ll die off. Not sure how, but I feel like they will. but we always need to be on the look out for those immune ones. They’re probably the key to a vaccine or something. [He subconsciously touches his bite.] You haven’t been bitten? [her eye is drawn to the touch to the bite, and she smiles, a soft expression.] I see you have been. Glad that you were immune. I haven’t been, though, so I have no idea if I am or not. Statistically speaking, I probably am not. Do you have any immune in Foxgrove? We do, yes. What is your weapon of choice? A nine iron. [smiles] It’s light enough for me to actually wield, without being a danger to myself or others. Do you have guns here? We’re not big on guns. I know a lot of people are, but they’re too loud, they run out of bullets, and it’s too easy for things to escalate to bad places if they’re just lying around where anyone with a touchy trigger point can get it. What are your best skills? Talking. Strategy. Logic, optimism. Positive attitude. I’m best at finding ways through problems. Do you want a family some day? I do! I’d love a family. For now, everyone here is my family, but I’d like for one day to have some babies, help bring about the next generation, Generation One. The first born after the world hit the reset button. Anyone you have your eye on? The music from Never Ending Story starts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gf1WT8V [she smiles] That would be telling, now wouldn’t it? Screen goes black as the music continues to play |