001 ☭ video

[nadezda]

[ The bright posters of Nauru island resorts and beachside scenes in Tuvalu on the wall behind her stand in stark contrast to Elizabeth's gray blouse and tired eyes. Ambiguous messages and leaked encryptions that may or may not be a trap don't exactly call for restful nights for people like her; A Soviet spy in the guise of a stressed housewife cum travel agent who clears her throat as she moves back from the camera to take her seat in front of it. ]

Hi-- I'm Elizabeth, your state tourism agent, here to make sure that you, our heroes, have the opportunity to rest and relax between the often perilous yet essential missions assigned to you.

[ Her smile is taut, clearly unaccustomed to speaking to a machine like it's human, and she swallows nervously. ]

As you know, the holiday season is still some months away but that also means we can offer great low-season prices. Our latest promotion is for trips to the beautiful Micronesia: 25% discount for one-week holiday packages to the lovely Nauru island, 30% off for Tuvalu and, get this, 50% off for tickets to the amazing Gilbert islands.

This offer won't last forever, so stop by the counter soon or give me a call.

[ A pause as she considers what else she's supposed to say in this instance, before-- ] Thank you.

Comments

video;

[tooscience]

Which of those places offers more crystals? Or bombs? Preferably both.

video;

[nadezda]

[ Now that's not the question she expects from a potential tourist. She pauses in thought, eyebrows knit together. ]

Nauru used to be rich off of phosphate. Tuvalu too. But that's not what you're asking me, is it?

voice;

[scission]

Were you assigned this job? You sound a little more nervous than one might expect when discussing Micronesia.

voice;

[nadezda]

[ Elizabeth seems thoroughly miffed that he dares to point out her incompetence at seeming... calm. ]

In my time, travel agents get referred to by friends, manage corporate clients and not-- do our own TV commercials.

Text; Encrypted

[hydraated]

Micronesia has a tourist trade?

Text; Encrypted

[nadezda]

You won't find glitzy resorts like you'd see in the Maldives, but the beaches are just as beautiful. And you can't beat the price.

video

[liverletdie]

Really? 25% off a trip?

Why don't you tell me a little bit more about the package? I'm really only interested in the first, I've always wanted to go, but never got the chance.

video

[nadezda]

Great. The first one only includes return flights and accommodation for six nights, seven days. I'll find you a booklet detailing activities, attraction sites, everything.

The Gilbert islands offer, however, that's 50% off and includes complimentary water sports. [ The red herring, of course. ]

audio

[vaccination]

I've never heard of any of those places.

audio

[nadezda]

[ Ask your parents, she wants to say, but that would be rude. ]

Have you ever been to the beach in the summer?

VIDEO → private

[sizetwelve]

[ Mary might normally just respond with text because she's paranoid, but this woman looks so tired and so unimpressed with the job she's been given, it seems rude to dismiss her and act anonymous.

She's got on her red jumper, wrapped around her as if she needs the warmth (but the nurse's station really does have a lot of A/C), and a smile that could almost be construed as warm, even with weariness also tugging at the edges of her eyes. ]

Nice to see tourism never dies, no matter the timeline.

[ Even if it's...Micronesia... I mean, really? Nice enough views but what else there is worth visiting? She's curious about the differences in this world. ]

You been? To any of those islands?

VIDEO → private

[nadezda]

[ Elizabeth has an issue with overtly shown maternal sentiments. Let alone any form of pity. Her mother was always cold and unforgiving, made so by circumstance. Kindness makes her suspicious. There's a pause as she stares the woman down and tries to read through her intentions, forever assuming the worst.

The polite smile that comes after doesn't reach her eyes. ]

You'd think tourism agents get to travel a lot, but-- the farthest I've been is to Boston, for a tourism convention.

Have you?

text

[lyingheart]

[ Nauru, hm? Interesting she's bringing that up in particulars... at the moment. ]

Seasonal sales start early, don't they? What's the difference in weather in Micronesia compared to the United States this time of year?

text

[nadezda]

You know we double the prices before we offer you 25% discount for holiday seasons, right?

Micronesia is tropical. Summer all year round.

text.

[immigrantpunk]

any discount flights to russia
haha jk


this is jayden btw

[In case you can't read his name display. He remembers you, hi!!!]

text.

[nadezda]

For that, you could've stayed pat.

[ Thank goodness text doesn't broadcast how curt she means those words to be. She's just teasing, like totally, right? ]

audio

[boobwindow]

[ ID reads Karen Starr. ]

God, I'd love a vacation.

audio

[nadezda]

[ yo Karen Starr wassup. ]

Have you been saving?

audio;

[shittybirthday]

What's the catch?

audio;

[nadezda]

The catch?

[ And she does seem reluctant to say. ]

No travels from December 17th onwards. The promotion is valid through the end of the month. [ A pause. ] And strictly registered ImPorts only.

video.

[selfequipped]

And how do you intend to get us permission to go to these locales?

[She doesn't know if anyone else has asked the question.]

If we leave, we go AWOL. Is there something in the system you have worked out that allows us to do this?

video.

[nadezda]

If you're registered you can go. That's the benefit of getting your deals from us, we can clear these things with the guys upstairs.

[heartboxer]

What are these locations like? [ There is not a single recognizable person place or thing that's on sale as far as Armstrong is concerned. ]

I'm not very familiar with the destinations of travel in this world but I have heard fantastic things about Hawaii and Oslo! [ ......what two remarkably different places tbh. ]

[nadezda]

They're a lot like Hawaii except you'll probably see fewer weddings and more of the natives. [ And as an afterthought. ] They're nothing like Oslo.

voice. private.

[altercate]

Can you send people anywhere else?

voice. private.

[nadezda]

I can't send you anywhere but I can book you the tickets.

Where do you want to go?

[xpostate]

[ david has seen those codes, and now his new roommate drops a very interesting name. that's too soon to be a coincidence. ]

Is Micronesia usually a pretty hot travel spot for the holidays?

[nadezda]

People tend to swerve to Hawaii instead, but that would cost you about twice as much.