video;

[interns]

Oh! See, I'm ready this time. Hi.

[ guess who's sitting on camera looking cute in the Oxford hoodie she got for Christmas from Peter, hair perfectly styled, make-up perfectly done. this girl! ]

Hello, everyone temporarily tuning into the Barge network for the next few days - my name is Gwen Stacy. If you have any questions about what's going on, or who might be here, or- anything at all really, please feel free to ask me and I'll try my best to answer them.

[ mostly, she's just hoping to hear from her family. or maybe even Flashua. she'd be really okay with that. ]

Comments

[ video ]

[notsoneedy]

My only question is an easy one, I think. How have you been?

[ video ]

[interns]

Needy!

[ like she needed her name to be announced, yes ]

Hey. I'm well. I've been good. It's so good to see you.

[ she huffs a laugh ]

I'm still really happy that you graduated, but I miss you.

[ video ]

[notsoneedy]

Yeah. I...I miss you guys, too.

Which is kind of weird. I mean don't take it personally, but the whole point of going there is to leave anyway, right? But. For awhile, it was home. And a lot of you guys, well. You were my friends.

Still are, I guess. [Even if they don't exactly get to see each other anymore.]

[interns]

It's a little weird, sure, but it makes sense too. This place wouldn't really have a point if everyone just tried to forget about it as soon as they left.

How are you? I mean, how's Beacon Hills? That's where you chose to go, right?

[notsoneedy]

Right. Yeah. What you said.

[She brightens again, more.] That's right. Uhh, it's kind of weird, since so many of the people I wanted to come back here for still aren't back yet. [She huffs a laugh.] But that's only a little thing, and otherwise. It's great. It's...it's like Devil's Kettle, only not shitty. I'm having fun and feeling like, you know. Like a real person again. Only now I'm making a difference too.

[interns]

Oh yeah? What have you been up to?

[notsoneedy]

Hanging out, mostly. Hunting the occasional monster. Since, you know. That's what they've got here. With plenty to spare.

[interns]

[ her eyes widen a little bit at "hunting the occasional monster" ]

Is- that how you're making a difference? Hunting monsters? [ her brow furrows ] I want to be excited for you, but I'm mostly worried. Just lie and tell me it's not as dangerous as it sounds.

[notsoneedy]

It's not at all dangerous, it's like regular pillow fights and cuddling with kittens. [So much deadpan.]

[interns]

[ she's just going to press a hand to her forehead and sigh, like she's sad the most stressful thing in the world. not quite momming her, but. she's momming her. ]

I hope you really are cuddling with kittens, I feel like that would be the best after spending time on this boat. [ a pause ] Not that it's all bad, but it's certainly something that deserves some kitten-snuggling time.

[notsoneedy]

I promise I'm taking occasional time out to stop and smell the roses, too, Auntie Gwen.

[Not going to actually call her out on the momming by calling her 'Mom', but close enough.]

Seriously, don't worry about me. I swear I'm fine.

[interns]

Good. Okay, good.

[ she nods through it, at least somewhat convinced that Needy would be pretty honest if she wasn't happy there. there's no reason to believe she wouldn't be ]

To be honest, I'm a little jealous. I know being here is important, but I kind of miss going to school. I'm so bored here, sometimes.

[notsoneedy]

Oh, I'm not -- going to school anymore. I mean. I'm over nineteen now. Technically, I should have already graduated.

Cassel said the Admiral would make sure my having a high school diploma was at least on the record books.

[Which is weird, since she missed most of senior year in her own world - being on trial for murder.]

I might look into college eventually though.