A drop here, a drop there (a one-shots/snippet book)

A Sense of Home 5-10 (WtNV/HP)

Listeners, if you wish to give him the traditional friendly greeting of pointing and shouting 'INTERLOPER!' please do so gently. He's shy and easily startled.

I'm getting reports that the hole between Summerset and Hellfire Road had disappeared and been replaced by a giant pit. Intern Ben, who happened to be in the area, say that Erika (who is definitely not an angel) was seen dancing to the sound of the wind near the edge of the pit."

Later, when going out with Dave to buy a few sticks of uranium, a man wearing a straw hat called out to him, "Interloper," and waved a hand in a friendly greeting.

Harry smiled shyly, and waved back. The man tipped his hat and went on his way. Random people in the streets continued to do the same as they walked, some waving, some pointing, all calling out but not shouting menacingly, and Harry had a grin on his face once they arrived back at the lab.

Dave snorted at him and gently pushed him towards the stairs, saying that they're working with something dangerous than normal today so he can't stay at the lab for now.

8.

There are rules to surviving Night Vale, ones that the scientists had to learn the hard way when they first arrived with no one to teach them (they had lost some of their colleagues those first few months, but Harry didn't press for more details after seeing the expressions on their faces). Harry was lucky in that he did have multiple people to teach him and explain things to him.

That first morning the day after the Adoption ritual, which was a surreal experience that Harry would be glad not to experience again, Nils dragged him around town for a proper Night Vale tour. The others were in the lab doing experiments or off doing science somewhere else in town, the latter ones being on the agenda in the "places I'll show you" list.

And for most of the morning, Harry kept trying to suppress a huge smile on his face. Even the huge glowing cloud that appeared out of nowhere, dropping dead animals and making people (himself included) chant praises at it, only removed his smile for a few minutes before Nils explained the Glow Cloud (all hail) to him once it had passed.

Late in the afternoon, once he and his now legal guardian arrived back in the lab, they sat down and wrote a list of things to remember.

2. Listening to the radio is a must. Bring a portable radio (or other devices that can create sound) wherever you go.

3. The Dog Park is forbidden. Do not mention it or act like it exists. Don't look at it.

4. The Secret Police and government agents are always watching. Be careful of talking about things that are supposed to be forbidden.

5. Writing utensils are illegal. Use one of the nonpens to write.

6. Do NOT go into the Library.

7. If lost, either ask for directions or go to the radio station by following the radio tower ("you know, that tower with the blinking light?" Harry nodded in answer.). Don't enter the radio station, wait for Cecil or ask an intern to get him.

And so on and so forth. The rules were a lot and very confusing, sometimes a little scary (always watching?), but a day out in town made them easier to believe. There was something else though, and Harry fidgeted in his seat.

Nils noticed after she closed the little notebook. "What is it?"

Harry hesitated, then shook his head.

"Why, are you afraid I'll get angry?" A pause, then a slow nod. "I doubt you've done something that would make me angry, Harry, we've been together all day!" Nils chuckled.