Themes: ethics and crime, secret affair, abuse victim
Zhenya had still been a teenager when their family arrived in La Cage, grief-stricken by the loss of their little sibling in a deal gone bad back in Yugo-Graad. In a short time, their family crumbled, and Zhenya was hungry for any affection, which came from an outside source: Luka, a fellow Yugo-Graadian whose family had emigrated to Revachol. Zhenya quickly fell into Luka’s arms and, overwhelmed by all the changes and encouraged by their parent Matija’s fondness for Luka, they married fast. It wasn’t long until Luka’s temper started coming out, uncontrolled and irrational. Zhenya used to try to cover up the bruises, but it was too much work, and it turned out nobody cared much anyway. Now, as desperate for any hint of kindness or softness as when they first arrived in La Cage, Zhenya finds ever more reasons to spend time with someone from work: someone who makes their heart beat faster, that makes them feel a giddy sense of hope. Zhenya isn’t sure why, but they’re afraid of what would happen if Luka were to find out… or Matija. Zhenya may not enjoy the hard work at the sweatshop, but they feel a sense of belonging there; they want this part of their life to stay the same, and they want never again to speak of the kind of shady dealings that caused their sibling’s death. Will they give in to the demands of their overbearing spouse and parent or finally become their own person?
FULL GROUP TEXT
(mandatory for members of the group and Immigration Officers, optional for others - for example various other foreigners)
The immigrant housing occupies one whole wing of La Cage, the more decrepit one, hosting families that are far from home. People love creating distance between one another. Migrants from Graad and Oranje and some undocumented poor souls live here, stuck between horrible jobs in local sweatshops and old dreams. All together, squashed under one roof, the various cultures are clashing and mixing with each other, while everyone is still trying to maintain a sense of belonging. But is it even possible to call La Cage home?
The Den used to gather local elders to play card games - a good excuse to gamble, drink beer, and of course, gossip. A few years ago, card games became suddenly trendy, and many local youngsters joined the Den. But the way they played was totally different: they were loud, bold, aggressive, seeking for adrenaline, wagering way too big. Now, the elders have all left the Den to these gambling freaks. Stakes are high and are becoming even higher. And soon it will be too late to back off.
In the darkest of places, people often seek solace in the Innocences. Order of Dolores Dei the Merciful offers a shelter or helping hand to those seeking it, trying their best to cater to the poorest with their charity work. They are apolitical and oppose violence, but their lot is hard and thorny. Most people visit the masses just for the sense of belonging and social aspect, some of the members are true believers, very few are of pure hearts and others just see it as a way to feel better about themselves. Can a real change be made for the people in need, or is it destined to be drowned out by idiots who want to give out pamphlets about Dolores Dei and chess tournaments?
