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

[akito]

Over a year.

[magnitudes]

That seems a long time. ( A long time in a war, and also, impossibly short to believe the world could change so much. )

Is that normal? Standard?

[akito]

Seems about 50/50. Sometimes people are here for a fucking hot second and others are here for a year or longer.

[magnitudes]

Which ones we consider lucky might be a matter of debate. ( Thoughtful, though she does not appear to dwell on it overlong. )

Any advice for new arrivals?

[akito]

Don't go to Swear-Ins, unless you leave them super fucking early. Shit almost always happens at those. And you already know there's probably some kinda conspiracy somewhere, so other than being aware of that there's not much else I can tell you that you haven't figured out by now.

[ a pause, where he glances down at the cat on his lap. ]


...If you end up wanting to adopt an animal, there are contingency plans available for if you up and fucking disappear, so you can have some actual intelligent company if you want it.

[ while she's not in screen, Cat lets out a grumbly miaow and suddenly the end of her floofy, jet black tail is in Agito's face.

he valiantly ignores it, clearly used to her bullshit. ]

oof so sorry for my slowness, this week has Been A Thing

[magnitudes]

Swear-Ins— the big meetings, of ImPorts and so on, yes? Official events?

( She rolls her eyes. ) Easy targets. People never seem to learn though, do they?

( Ah, well. Her mouth twinges slightly at the side. )

I grew up on a farm. We did not have animals for company. They earned their keep.

( why is your cat inside dude what on earth )

np the same thing on my end tbh

[akito]

People are idiots.

[ well. 99% of them are. ]

Different worlds, different times, whatever. Animals are companions as well as workers. Dogs herd sheep, cats catch mice, and there are dogs who warn someone if they're gonna have a seizure and cats who make sure you don't have panic attacks.

we can be strong

[magnitudes]

They have been so in my home as well. I just never saw the point.

( Although her tone isn't entirely dismissive - more thoughtful. She had always had a large family, before the war. During the war it was whittled and whittled all the more. Her team had not been something she happened upon immediately. )

They can help people about to have a fit, you say? That is not like anything I have ever heard.

[akito]

Animals have a keen enough sense of smell that they can detect chemical imbalances in a body, or some shit like that. People have been using them for decades where we're from.

[magnitudes]

Impressive. That will be useful to people after the war. ( She debates saying more, being specific - that she knows grown men and women who struggle day by day, that they have to drag each other through. That when the immediacy of what must be done is past and adrenaline and necessity are not longer pressing upon them that they seem—

imbalanced was what he said? It seems a good word. But these are not things to discuss. Not with strangers. )

[akito]

Tch. Yeah, for PTSD. That's one of the things he [ a quick gesture over to his sleepeing 'twin' and his dog ] fundraises for here - getting soldiers and other people who could use them therapy dogs.

[magnitudes]

PTSD?

( Her expression is complicated - thoughtful, like she's got some idea what it could mean from context and what they're discussing, but is trying to piece together a puzzle with maybe half the pieces missing. )

What is that? ( Hold that other thought, though, she'll come back to it because she likes it. )

[akito]

Fuck, you're from like... The 1940's? You'd probably know it as Shell Shock.