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

[coppelganger]

Don't touch me. [ As she snatches her hand back. ] I wasn't making it a joke. Just trying to figure out what the hell this means.

[magnitudes]

( Eunike just slowly exhales the smoke in Sarah's face. )

It means, little girl, that your family is more complicated than you thought.

( And she holds out the file to Sarah. )

You are worried about her. From what I hear, I shouldn't have her file. That is a new occurrence.

[coppelganger]

But this doesn't make sense.

[ She takes the file and uses it to wave some of the smoke away, an absent gesture. Eunike is from the 1940s. There's no reason she should look anything like Sarah, unless, like Sarissa, she's some sort of... random fluke of the multiverse. Except what are the odds she'd end up here at the same time Sarissa ports out, and why would they give her Sarissa's file?

She doesn't say any of this out loud to Eunike, just goes silent, frowning and clearly thinking hard about something. ]

[magnitudes]

It's funny though, no? Cosima, Sarissa - they are Greek names. Greek origins, at least. We have that in common.

( She sips her coffee, and her gaze drops to look at Sarah's hands, assessing, looking for signs of work and wear, where the callouses are, if they are pale or tanned, soft or rough and raw. )

At least we are all good looking, eh?

[coppelganger]

Yeah, thank god for that.

[ Sarah can't help but roll her eyes. That shit sounds like something Sarissa would say. And—suddenly there's a flash of something, not quite a memory. She leans forward. ]

What did you say your name is again?

[magnitudes]

( Her gaze ticks upward. )

Eunike Karahalios. It mean "good victory."

( Dryly, that last part, and she tips back the rest of her coffee. ) Another?

[coppelganger]

Oh, fuck.

[ Suddenly the pieces are starting to fit together. The time period and the name and the accent and the scar. Oh, fuck. ]

[magnitudes]

( That was not the response she was expecting, and her brow quirks with equal measures of amusement and concern. )

What is wrong?

[coppelganger]

I just figured out who you are.

[magnitudes]

( Eunike treats Sarah to a look. )

I know exactly who I am. Thank you for your insights.

[coppelganger]

You're her grandmother.

[ And stop giving her that smarmy look, Yia Yia. ]

1/3

[magnitudes]

( uh )

[magnitudes]

( let's play that again, perhaps she misheard )

[magnitudes]

( nah she didn't did she )

Excuse me?

[coppelganger]

They gave you her file by accident. You— [ aren't supposed to be here. She bites it back. ] It makes sense, I mean, she's Greek, you're Greek, you've got the same name, the timeline sounds right.

[magnitudes]

The same name, being Greek. Your detective work astounds me.

( Her tone is withering; the looking a lot alike is, granted, something tangible. Even so - Eunike looks incredulous. )

Every person called Sarah and being English, looking alike, they must be related too, mm?

[coppelganger]

[ Christ. Okay, yes, she realizes this sounds completely stupid, but— ]

You've been transported to an alternate universe, and you're from 1943 and it's 2017 here, but the idea of someday having a granddaughter with a weird name is where you draw the line? [ She leans back in her chair, but her muscles are tight with tension, and there's a hard look in her eyes. ] By the way, did they assign you a place to stay? Is it a place outside Nonah?

[magnitudes]

( Eunike draws a piece of paper out from the breast pocket of her shirt, unfolding it, and reads the address of Sarah and Sarissa's place out, holding the paper between too fingers and watching Sarah closely.

She is uncomfortable. That is good; Eunike can work with uncomfortable, though she's not sure exactly what it is she should be trying to gain in these circumstances. )

It has been a strange day. Surely you don't take everything on faith simply because of where you are?

[coppelganger]

[ Sarah figured it would be their place. Doesn't make hearing it any more welcome, though, and she sighs as Eunike finishes reading out the address. ]

I don't really care whether you believe it or not. Means nothing to me.

[magnitudes]

I think you're lying. You do care, but you like to make a show of how much you do not.

( A shrug. )

[coppelganger]

Well, I think you're pretending that you're not freaked out about all of this, but you don't fool me. Yia Yia.

[magnitudes]

( At that, Eunike leans forward, and there's something of a smile that plays over the corners of her mouth, though whether its amused or played or conspiratorial or slightly dangerous is a little harder to pin down. Maybe pieces of all those. )

What did you call me?

[coppelganger]

Yia Yia. [ She manages not to wilt under Eunike's stare, but only through sheer strength of will. ] It's what she calls you.

[magnitudes]

( A long inhale, and a slow exhale. Serene. So. Se.rene. S.o sEreNne.

Really. )

Is she as bratty as you?

[coppelganger]

[ wow excuse you yia yia ]

She's worse.