@blckmcsa ♡
a lot has changed, since chell last found herself on the surface. the date, for one. decades passed while she remained the same. location, too. lucky She spit her out where She did, because while making her way through an unfamiliar continent is jarring, chell prefers it to navigating what remains of north america. and, one can't forget the alien invasion and subsequent rebellion.
( overthrowing a facist regime is overthrowing a facist regime, alien or no, so she can depend on one constant. )
oh, right. the kicker is, there's a new god around. deity. revered figure. savior. secret weapon. ( take your pick of phrases that would pump up any person's ego to the size of a hot air balloon. ) looks like a normal guy when chell tries squeezing by and clips him with her shoulder.
unexpected contact makes her jolt. it shouldn't, with the base growing more crowded by the day. it does, so she adjusts the strap of her pack, rolls to a stop in preparation to apologize. a pivot on her heel to face him, a once-over, and then she pipes up. ❛ sorry, f-r-e-e-m-a-n, ❜ she fingerspells. ❛ they don't make hallways like they used to. impossible to get anywhere without bumping into half the population. ❜ the corners of her mouth twitch up in a sardonic smile.
( hey, when you're dozens of years out of your true time, you can sound like a grumpy 'back in my day'er all you want. )