008. video.

[magnitudes]

G'day g'day, this is Sarissa Theron, local hero and devastatingly good looking rural.

( She seems in a better mood than last time she posted, and better form - and sure, she is, but it's also Sarissa trying very very ahrd to be Okay, and definitely not actually being Okay. Still, there's a healthy flush to her cheeks, and unlike last time she's got a smear of mud on her cheek and is looking like she's been working outside. Wherever she is, she's definitely in a field, and there's a shed nearby. )

I know, two posts from me, in one month? Overkill, definitely. But this is so important. Or, should I say,

( and she grins, brightly, before turning the camera... ) sow important?

( Yes, viewers. In-frame is a very large sow, pink with black patches. Around her are nine little piglets, varied from all pink to speckled to covered in patches, and one that is totally black. )

I just rescued these guys from a bit of a situation. Got them a special shed and I just finished the fences on the fields a couple days ago, so good timing, but I gotta head back into town to pick up some more supplies and that. If anyone has any fruit and veggies or pig feed or straw or - I mean, anything that you wanna donate to the rescue pig extravaganza, lemme know.

( A thumbs up; she is so excited. Pigs!!! ) And I need help coming up with names, because they can't all be Hamlet or Francis Bacon.

Comments

[magnitudes]

( Uh oh, Sarissa usually means she's in trouble. )

Well, there was this real shady place, person wasn't looking after 'em right. There was a whole lotta animals there, I helped this animal welfare place get it sorted, but they didn't have anywhere to foster the pigs, and I said we had a place with plenty of space, so—

[coppelganger]

Right, but we're not keeping them.

[ Her voice drifts up on the last word, making a statement into a question. ]

[magnitudes]

( :c )

But we have a really great place for pigs.

[coppelganger]

There are ten of them.

[ Sarissa..................... pls ]

We aren't pig farmers.

[magnitudes]

Yeah, well, Rosalind here is their mum. They're a family unit, it wouldn't be right to split 'em up when these guys are so little. And they're herd animals, so they're happier together. And we don't gotta be pig farmers, just pig looker-after-ers. I— I grew up rural, I know how to look after animals.

[coppelganger]

[ She attempts a laugh, to lighten the mood, but it comes out as a scoff. She's pissed, is the thing. Pissed that Sarissa didn't ask her about this first, but even more pissed that it's something Sarissa would consider at all. ]

Come on. You know this is a stupid idea.

[magnitudes]

( The scoff is what makes Sarissa's expression change. It goes from uncertain to harsh in a moment, the corner of her mouth curling to expose her teeth in an unpleasant smile. )

You alright with leaving animals someplace they were getting treated bad, are you? People are the only ones that deserve your time, I guess. Fair go, Sarah.

[coppelganger]

Yeah, you know me, I'm a regular animal abuser. Piss off. You know that's got nothing to do with it.

[magnitudes]

( Sarissa stops scritching behind the sows ears, and vaults over the fence. Clearly this is a conversation to have in person, or at least Not Near The Children, because it's still video when she replies. )

Look, I know I should've asked you, but it was a time sensitive situation, and I could help. You don't have to be fucking condescending about it.

[coppelganger]

If I'm being condescending it's only because you need to hear it.

[magnitudes]

What the fuck is that supposed to mean?

[coppelganger]

It means you're being an irresponsible shit, and I don't like that.

[magnitudes]

I'm irresponsible?

( She stops walking, then, looks like she's been slapped. It takes her a second to gather herself.) All the shit I've been trying to do, and you, you of all fucking people call me irresponsible?

[coppelganger]

It's bad enough you got that thing— [ And suddenly the camera is spinning to settle on Mendel in his aviary— ] Now you want more animals? What next, are you gonna start fostering kids too? Better start now so they'll really feel abandoned when you port out and never come back.

[ She spins the camera again so her face is visible. She doesn't really care about how hurt Sarissa looks, in this moment. ]

The shit you do here matters. These things aren't just a fun project you can take up and then abandon later, and you will, no matter what, because someday we're all going to go home and not come back. They're alive and they have feelings and they're gonna wonder where the hell you are. And fuck you if you think that's fine.

action.

[magnitudes]

( She's speechless for a second, and finally pushed through the doors of the house, though she doesn't walk inside with her muddy boots. )

Like you're one to talk. Fuck you, Sarah. You-- you make it sound like we shouldn't do fucking anything here, ever. You said any of this shit to Cosima? And hey, why not just isolate yourself completely, if we're gonna leave anyway. Why bother having a fucking house, right?

[coppelganger]

No, fuck you. You aren't listening to a word I say.

[ She stands up and walks to the stairs. ] This has nothing to do with Cosima, either, but nice try.

[magnitudes]

She has a kid! She and Clara have a kid, but I bet you haven't said a word about that because it's convenient for you to ignore it when it's your real family and not some bloody stray you found.

( SHE IS SO UPSET )

Hey, where are you going?

[coppelganger]

Cosima's kid is dead. She's gonna port out herself at some point. It's not the same thing at all.

[ With that, she starts climbing the stairs, stepping carefully around the hole halfway up. ]

I'm going to my room.

[magnitudes]

Yeah, and I'm a bloody stray you found in the street, but I guess that's not the same either.

( Sarissa watches, helpless. )

Good thing you're so bloody good at walking away. I'm getting used to it.

[coppelganger]

Maybe if you stopped feeling sorry for yourself for two seconds you'd realize I have a point.

[ This is called down from Sarah's room, and followed by the slamming of her door. ]

[magnitudes]

( She doesn't have a response for that. Can't make one come out that isn't a lie or spiteful or both, and she looks up the stairs for a couple minutes before leaving again, heading back down to the pigs. )