001 | voice

[hardedged]

[ the network post begins with a disgruntled exhale. great way to start, jones. nice first impression. clearly, this mysterious new arrival is glad to be here. ]

I'll make this quick and painless. The name's Jessica Jones, and I'm looking for answers.

They brand us like cattle. Expect us to play house. Assign crapass jobs.

And of all the places to wage the Cold War 2.0, they pick fucking Florida. [ she scoffs, as if that's somehow the worst offense of all. ] How do we leave this shithole?

[ there's a pointed beat of silence, as she presses her lips together in contemplation. almost as an afterthought, she adds: ]

And where can I get a drink around here? The cheaper, the better.

Comments

[snoobs]

[ Now that's just — oh, she's back. ]

Are you from a small town then?

[hardedged]

Nope.

[ the truth is that she does have an unfair grudge against the place, though she's unwilling to share the reason with anyone here. ]

[snoobs]

Then a big city.

I thought Florida's problem was too many alligators.

[hardedged]

Also on the list.

[snoobs]

Then the solution is to move.

[hardedged]

That's the plan.

[snoobs]

Maurtia Falls is surprisingly quiet for a city.

[hardedged]

Heard it's got cheap booze too.

[snoobs]

It does.

Why go cheap when you could get something fancier?

[hardedged]

Drink more, pay less.

[ alcohol costs money. not always a perfect system, but overall it's a win-win to her. ]

[snoobs]

[ She wonders why this woman wants to drink so badly. ]

There are a few bars I could name.

[hardedged]

[ because she's a well-adjusted adult, clearly. ]

Yeah?

[snoobs]

Yes.

But what do I get out of it?

[ A brat, this grown woman. ]

[hardedged]

You get to not be hung up on.

[ fine by her, either way. ]

[snoobs]

How cold.

[hardedged]

[ can you hear that apathetic shrug? ]

Your choice.

[snoobs]

[ :( ]

You're in a rush to drink.

[ And she gives the address/name of one in Maurtia Falls without relaying one important fact: it's in a more dangerous part of the town and its clientele is more of the violent sort.

Of course, she doesn't know Jessica can handle herself. ]

[hardedged]

[ well, won't that be a fun surprise? ]

Special occasion. Not everyday I wind up kidnapped.

[snoobs]

I've tried not to see it that way.

[ Whether it's working... remains to be seen. ]

[hardedged]

If you're gonna spew some crap about silver linings, save it.

[snoobs]

Do you prefer misery?

[hardedged]

[ yes. ]

I prefer reality.

[snoobs]

That's fair.

[ Jessica seems a bit smarter than Hemali was giving her credit for. ]

Their [ the military ] reality is supposedly this Porter machine can't be controlled, so it brings in people whether or not they want it to.

[hardedged]

[ she snorts, detecting the implied message. ]

Sure.

[snoobs]

What do you think the reality is?