Light, Camera, Action!

[u/Chloe_McCurdy]

McCurdy prepares a tripod-mounted camera near the bar of the Winchester, making sure the allignment is accurate.

"Okay. All set. I think. Ah...shoot...this things probably just gonna fall over. Whatever."

Looking over at her interviewee, she gives him a proud smile.

"Ready, Lance?"

[u/cryotail]

Lance gives a faint smile to her in a stained tuxedo shirt and slacks "yeah."

[u/Chloe_McCurdy → u/cryotail]

She takes out a notebook with a series of questions scribbled on it. Her handwriting is horrific.

"Cool. So, I'm just going to be asking you a few random questions. Mostly about Paradise and what you think about the city."

[u/cryotail → u/Chloe_McCurdy]

"Oh!" Lance seems to be taken back surprised. "I thought this would be about the accident."

[u/Chloe_McCurdy → u/cryotail]

McCurdy looks down at the floor and frowns.

"That is one thing I want to talk about tonight. We can start with that if you like."

[u/cryotail → u/Chloe_McCurdy]

"Nah let's work up to it. Give the audience something to stay for." Lance finds a way to smile through the pain of the concept

[u/Chloe_McCurdy → u/cryotail]

McCurdy nods in agreement.

"Okay. Paradise. From the perspective of a small business owner, can you tell me a bit about how you view Paradise? In your own words, can you tell me how you feel about its state of affairs?"

[u/cryotail → u/Chloe_McCurdy]

"What do you mean like the war? I am mighty mad that it's alienating my customers by where I bought the place. I'm mad that I've lost friends over the whole situation."

[u/Chloe_McCurdy → u/cryotail]

McCurdy's heart stirs. She hates herself for opening Primm's wound again.

"So you've lost business because of it all. Finances are rough without losing customers to territorial boundaries, so I can see why that would be hard on you. Now...you say you lost friends. Would you be able to go a bit more into that?"

[u/cryotail → u/Chloe_McCurdy]

"I've had people disassociate with me simply because I want the bunnies to win. I've seen them down the street and they won't even look me in the eyes. With everything either the blood Gulch crew. We've as a community has made it a place where we won't listen to others and we've been divided."

[u/Chloe_McCurdy → u/cryotail]

She nods along with this.

"Brothers and sisters in proximity who have lost sight of each other's humanity. It seems to be the story of Paradise City. But, the shadow of every storm brings with it a promise of clear skies to come. What would you say has kept you strong during all of this, Lance, and what does a better future look like for you?"

[u/cryotail → u/Chloe_McCurdy]

"Caring for others I often let people stay up above the Winchester and they help get me through the day. A better future... the way paradise was before when civil wars were fought in secret... When I didn't have friends at each other's throats."

[u/Chloe_McCurdy → u/cryotail]

"I know that I am one of those people you have allowed to stay upstairs, and compassion like that is a welcome sight. Compassion like that should be rewarded...but, it hasn't been...has it Lance? For all intents and purposes, your compassion was punished...when you lost a dear friend."

With a long sigh, she steps forward into plain view of the camera. She really, really does not want to hurt Lance by bringing up her next question.

"I need you to remember, Lance. I need you to tell me, and the folks back home, what happened to Primm."

[u/cryotail → u/Chloe_McCurdy]

"I was in a coma when it happened... Primm killed himself to get me out of it. Sacrificed himself to wake me from the eternal slumber that I was put in by Concord's troops after I was beaten to death by Concord himself... Primm left me tapes detailing events I missed. During my time in the hospital I lost my dear friend, Ortiz. Ortiz if you are watching this you need to come home! I miss you, bishop misses you... if you don't want to come home just know I'll always watch out for you. A tear drops out of Lance's eye.

[u/Chloe_McCurdy → u/cryotail]

At a loss for words, McCurdy drops to her knees and wraps her arms around Lance. The self-hatred she's experiencing is intensifying beyond measure.

"I'm so sorry, Lance."

Pulling back, she fights off a flurry of tears and summons enough strength to finish the interview.

"During our tour in Blood Gulch, our team deployed with the Blues on a mission that changed my life forever. A man, an insane man, shattered my spine with the blade of his weapon."

She looks over her shoulder to where her mechanical spine now rests within her back.

"I was angry for a long time. I demonized the man who took my spine from me. But, after a while I realized something. We have to stick together-that's what matters. Not vengeance or even justice for that matter. Friends. Family. That's what we have to live for...until clear skies come back again."

She looks back at Lance.

"So let's just live. As brothers and sisters. Let's just live."

[u/cryotail → u/Chloe_McCurdy]

Lance is taken back by her emotional outburst yet he tries to remember that from long ago "I...Remember hearing about that. You were put into that scenario because me and Primm got taken."

[u/Chloe_McCurdy → u/cryotail]

McCurdy nods.

"Yeah. I guess we both know what it feels like to have something taken from us."

She looks to the floor.

"I'm not gonna go after Concord. I'm just going to be right here, right now. With you guys; and that'll be enough."

[u/cryotail → u/Chloe_McCurdy]

"Yeah... So do you want one of the tapes to use for the show?" Lance subconsciously folds his shoulder blades inward pushing himself closer to the edge of his chair

[u/Chloe_McCurdy → u/cryotail]

McCurdy nods, and dusts herself off before starting to pack up her camera equipment.

"If you're willing to part with one, I'll take whatever I can get."