00? ( video. ) not sarissa, tho.

[magnitudes]

( There is a woman on screen who looks remarkably unconcerned.

She also looks familiar, possibly, given that the family resemblance between Sarissa and her grandmother is staggering. Notable differences – this woman is obviously wearing something a little more era appropriate for this place, but still not quite right, in faded green and brown cut to match World War II era demands, all practicality. A scar, or an injury in the process of becoming a scar, cuts down from her left cheekbone towards her jaw, and it creases into something like a dimple when she speaks.

Between the knuckles of her fore and index fingers rests a cigar, white smoke curling upwards and blooming outwards like a drop of ink twisting through water. Her accent, when she speaks, is markedly Greek. )

I have always heard America called the “Land of Opportunity.” Opportunity— ( A small gesture with her free hand, palm flat and facing down - so-so. )

Maybe. Feet draggers, I think, more likely. And poor filing, ah? That is definite.

( There is a little smile, though it’s not a very mirthful thing, as she picks up a file. ) I was giving the paperwork for a Sarissa Theron. They insist it’s mine, but— no. If anyone knows this woman, I think it better these papers get back to safe hands.

( Her smile widens, sharpens. )

My name is Eunike. For the record? This is— cock and balls. Bullshit. Dragging us from our own wars, to fight theirs? That is convenient, no? Cowardice, I think.


( Note: this is related to the Dial Straits plot. Sarissa ported out on the 1st March and this is set on the 3rd – for those two days Sarissa’s device would have been disconnected. Now is back in action, but in the wrong hands. )

Comments

[oddbod]

Clara. Her sister's my fiancée.

[There's no need to mention the lack of biological connection between them. Sisters are sisters.]

[magnitudes]

( eAe )

And you talk about something like that so openly? Careless. That is a quick way to get killed.

( There's a trace of tightness to how she speaks. )

[oddbod]

Lighten up, it's not like that here.

[She looks irritatingly positive about it, too.]

Practically the whole country knows how I feel about women, and I've not once been hassled for it.

[magnitudes]

Lighten up?

( A hiss, almost, as she casts Clara a withering gaze. )

That is lucky for you. I have seen others - less lucky. Do not tell me to lighten up when I see what the Axis are doing in my country.

[oddbod]

[Oh. Wait. Shit.]

When you said "wars"... [Clara had barely paid mind to the phrase, not at the time.] What year, exactly?

[magnitudes]

( A slightly condescending upward tilt of her head - there you go. )

Nineteen forty-three.

[oddbod]

[The number brings a pang to her heart. She knows some of the worst is yet to come, but she childishly regrets not having the psychic forethought to learn more about Greece's role. Instead, she tries to think about what she might like to hear.]

There are only two years of it left. It might get worse before it gets better, and it will probably seem like the world is going to end, but just for two more years.

[magnitudes]

Only two years. That is very reassuring.

( Her bitterness comes with a side of bitterness. Sharp, blunt in ways that seem beyond what someone of her age should be.)

You have not lived in a state of war, have you?

[oddbod]

I've been in wars. I've fought in wars, dozens of them, from infantry to high commander. I've brought down emperors, and I've cared for the dying, and I've seen the beginnings and the ends time and time again. War is something I know. There are some on other worlds that last for millions of years, weapons that wipe out a whole planet in half a second. But humanity will see the end of this one, and the Earth will survive. There's hope for you.

[She doesn't even realize the deep, painful flaw in her argument, ironic to the very heart of her heart - Clara Oswald has not lived in wartime. She's always been able to put down the sword or the gun, to heal her wounds and wash her face and jet off to a new destination. She's brought down ruthless rulers, but she's never suffered under one; she's tended to the wounded, but she's never had to mourn them. Clara is a visitor of war, and a volunteer, but never a victim. Once, years ago, she would have chastised the Doctor for such a rant, sent him scrambling for his notecards. Now, it isn't even a thought.]

[magnitudes]

Dozens of wars, huh? ( Eunike smiles, but it is sharp and unpleasant, as she grinds out the cigar against the table surface. )

How old are you, little girl? Because you are either a liar, or your wars lasted only short bursts. You speak of other worlds, and lasting millions of years - so either you are speaking about wars that are removed from you, or that you only know in theory, I think. I watched my parents farmhouse be burned to the ground. I had three sisters and two brothers when this war began, and now I have none of them. The Earth might survive, but they didn't. The statues and mountains might still stand, but I've seen good men and women die, and the Earth surviving means nothing to them. You might be a commander, you brat, but my team and I do not have the luxury of command or resources or your many worlds. Don't speak to me about hope. You are arrogant, and you are condescending. Fine qualities in a high commander.

[coppelganger]

[ wow excuse you yia yia ]

She's worse.

[magnitudes]

Is that possible?

( B) )

[coppelganger]

Believe me, it is.

[ She stretches and stands, looking down at Eunike expectantly. ] So should we drive home together, or should I expect you later?

[magnitudes]

( Eunike sighs, rolls her shoulders - the gesture might be familiar - and nods. )

We go together. I must make a leap of faith, sometime. Now will do.

[coppelganger]

[ And one (probably awkward) cab ride later, they pull up to Casa De Chaos, and while Sarah is paying the driver, Eunike will have a chance to look at the place from a relative distance. It's on bigger property than the houses she's seen inside Nonah, and it looks... well, like a work in progress, because it is. But the atmosphere is nice, secluded without being creepy.

Sarah straightens up as the cab backs down the drive, puts her hands in her jacket pockets, and seems to appraise the house herself. Then she says, ] If you hear screaming coming from the shed out back, it's only the pigs.

[magnitudes]

That's fine. I know how to slaughter pigs.

( Her smile seems easy, but is too sharp, as she starts to move to the house. )

This doesn't seem very "you." ( The house - and she pauses. ) Nor do pigs.

[doubleblind]

Oh Wow...

[Wait Cosima, that is the opposite of helpful. She shakes her head as if to physically dislodge her surprise and offers the clone (????) a smile and wave.]

Hey. You have Sarissa's file? She's our sister. And, this might blow your mind, but I'm betting you are too.

[magnitudes]

( Surprise! When Cosima gets a reply, Eunike is sitting outside, still, but outside somewhere else. Her reply might take a little while - she was busy. )

You are the Cosima girl. The American.

( Her tone is Withering. ) I am not very impressed with the Americans I have met so far, you know? ( She takes a drag of her cigarette. )

[coppelganger]

You don't know me well enough to say that.

[ Sarah shakes her head as she walks to the front door, rummaging for her keys as she does. ] And we're not slaughtering the pigs.

[trouvaille]

Well, what it means when you translate it from the British is that this looks like a clusterfuck someone has tossed gasoline onto and lit a match, but I like the understatement. I think it adds a certain something.

[doubleblind]

[Cosima's smile drops slightly. One day, she thinks, meeting a new clone will be easy, but it's definitely not today.]

That's me. Yeah? I hope you're still willing to give this American a chance.

The women of this family, they are difficult

[magnitudes]

I don't know. Your fiancée is obnoxious and your countrymen here have been childish. Your sister, she is bratty. I am concerned by the company you keep.

( And her head tilts to the side. )

But perhaps you are not all bad. Your parents are Greek, yes? Sarah said you had different parents. ( And Cosima's and is Greek, so: hope. )-

[incogneto]

[ He smirks to acknowledge the humor in her words, and then gives a short pause. ]

They will give you work in exchange for housing, but you're free to quit and find something else.

[ He'd say, they had him working in retail selling fedoras. ]

What did you do before, at home?

[magnitudes]

Before? A farmer's daughter, and all that entails. Since the invasion, Greek resistance.

( She holds up her cigar with a vicious sort of pride. )

Nazis like nice cigars. I confiscated these. He was very surprised when I cut his throat, but--

( A shrug. ) Blood demands blood. You?

( "you" is so light and casual, as if murdering Nazis were more akin to arranging display windows. )

[incogneto]

I worked in a steel mill. For ten years, near somewhere in Poland where I spent some of my childhood.

[ And before that he was in jail for a decade for assassinating the US President but, more importantly-- ]

You know, there are many different timelines of Earth, you'll be able to hear it from the others if you stay long enough. But I haven't heard of one yet where Germany wins the war, if it's any comfort to you.

...Thank you, by the way.