01 - Public / Video

[domesheriff]

[for a moment, a woman's face is simply staring out at the broadcast, consideringly, as though not sure it's started yet. she's in her early twenties, Hispanic, her dark hair braided, and dressed in the uniform of resort security]

[realizing from the display on the screen that the broadcast must have started, she says:] Hello. [the word is a bit uncertain. she swallows, trying to mask her nerves, and continues more calmly:] I'm Linda Esquivel. I'm from Chester's Mill, Maine. [there's a beat of hesitation, as she wonders if she should give more information than that, but she ultimately decides to leave the description as it is] I just got here a couple days ago, and I've joined the security patrol. I was a sheriff's deputy back home. [and sheriff, but she doesn't think two days of that job due to the disaster that happened really counts, so she leaves her credentials at that]

I thought you should know who I am in case you see me around. And, uh, I'd like to start meeting people, too--and learn a little more about this place. I've never seen anything like it before. [another pause as she debates how to end an open message like this. finally, she goes with:] I'm here if you'd like to talk.

Comments

[thumbsdown]

No, these ones are bigger. Not sure how it works. Guess it must work kinda like a regular spawner, but I'm not really sure how those work either.

[He's not smart enough to understand what goes on when he tells his spawner to make something. All he knows is that it makes food appear, and that's fine with him. He's less fine with the skeletons appearing every night, but there's not much he can do about that.]

They're not off-limits, no. Probably not a good idea to go wandering around them without a guide though.

[givessweetness]

Right, ok. [He gets them both the same thing and settles the two foamy yellow drinks on the table.]

Uh, 'imports', you mean? [Of course, there a few security people he's been introduced to. And Narvin.]

[timesbureaucrat]

Ah, yes, that. A common concern, I think.

When I returned to my own universe, no time had passed. I've heard of some exception, but it usually appears to be able to return people to precisely at or close to the exact time and place where they left.

Afraid you left a kettle on?

[ratkicker]

I haven't run into any trouble yet. [Not related to the wildlife, anyway.] But I had a lot of fighting experience back home. I can handle whatever happens.

[domesheriff]

Happiness? [she blinks] Okay...if you say so. [she doesn't understand, but she has a feeling in this case it's better just to let it go]

Hey, Pas. [she's still smiling at the dog, but she can't resist asking curiously:] What line of work is that?

[domesheriff]

So whoever did this the first time could do it again. [she scowls] Great.

"Checked" how? Is there a way to...identify the communicator that was used? [her tone is hopeful that they can do something like that, but this sort of technology is far out of her scope of experience]

[domesheriff]

Yeah, I've...never really seen anything like them. [or like many of the things that she's encountered since she's gotten here, but she has a feeling that goes without saying]

[she shakes her head] I wasn't planning on it. But it'd make our job easier if the public doesn't regularly venture out into them unprepared. Guides would guard against that, so that's good to hear.

[domesheriff]

[she gives the drink a considering look before giving it a try. she makes a bit of a face when she does; it's not good, but it's drinkable]

Yeah. Are there a lot of us here? Do you know?

[domesheriff]

[curiously, she asks:] Have they ever explained?

[she cringes at his initial answer, but then she just looks uncertain. at his odd turn of phrase, she blinks, but she shakes her head] More the opposite. If I ever went back...it'd have to be after I left. [but she doesn't elaborate. the situation she left behind isn't one she's ready to think too much about]

Anyway, I'm glad you were able to travel when you needed to.

[domesheriff]

[she nods; she certainly wasn't trying to question her capabilities] I guess I'll be learning more about that--how it works with the wildlife here, I mean. We had help with that sort of thing back home, so I'm more used to dealing with people, really.

[thumbsdown]

Not sure many people head out into the caves on their own. Got more to worry about than cave spiders out there.

[Like criminals using the caves as a hideout.]

Not really much we can do except warn people about how dangerous it can be. They still wanna go after that, it's their call.

[most_feared]

That's the problem. When they turned this one on, they all came on. They've already done it.

No. Just their alibis. [He doesn't sound too happy about that.] I think this is one of those messes where our best leads will be in talking to each other.

[vengeance_driven]

I'm one of the guides. I go into the spaces with the explorers and check things out.

[Niko comes back with his postcard and holds it up to the screen. It says "Welcome to Liberty City" and has a picture of the statue. He has to push Pas's big head away from licking it.] Престаните!

[givessweetness]

N…not really. Enough to cause trouble, apparently, but we're not exactly swamped either.

[domesheriff]

[she doesn't catch what he's implying] Yeah? More wildlife?

[but she nods at that. that problem, at least, is familiar] Sounds about right. Thanks for the info.

[domesheriff]

Wait, you mean there are more of those things out there pouring out those creatures now? [she stares, horrified at the thought] Is that why they said there's been more of the wildlife around lately?

Okay, then I'll start doing that. [she nods resolutely, glad to have a purpose even if she's not at all fond of the situation] I'll let you know what I find out.

[domesheriff]

Oh, yeah, I bet a dog would be helpful out there. [she's no stranger to people in Chester's Mill with dogs they take hunting in the woods, after all]

[she frowns at the postcard, a little unsettled by how it's so familiar and different at the same time. after a pause, she says:] Yeah, that's...not New York. Not...exactly.

[domesheriff]

[she frowns, not sure exactly what to make of that] What do you mean? Just security trouble in general?

[because it sounded like he could have been referring to a specific problem]

[timesbureaucrat]

Explained, no, but I've been studying the teleport technology.

Once you break through the interdimensional barrier, you're entirely outside of the fabric of space-time of your own universe. Therefore, if or when you return to your own time, it should be possible for them to drop you off at absolutely any spatio-temporal point in your own universe, hypothetically.

[ratkicker]

That's fine. [She crosses her arms and taps a finger.] Most animals don't live inside the town anyway.

[vengeance_driven]

These dogs are especially good at it. [He pats it heavily.] I think they were bred for guarding. Some of the animals here, the ones that will let you get close to them- they were once owned by the natives that are gone now. They were gone long before the town was made, but their animals still seem to be okay with people even after many generations.

I am not used to stray Earth dogs being so trusting after one feeding.

[most_feared]

Basically.

When I first turned up, we were dealing with spiders and the first division of import security were people that could lay into arthropods pretty hard. Now it seems like they're changing it up after that mess.

[He rubs his temple. He wishes that Tauriel and Charon were still around. Not that he doesn't like the new guys, but it would be nice to have them, too.]

Thanks. I appreciate it.

[thumbsdown]

Guess there are probably creepers and skeletons in there too. Got criminals who hide out in them too, though.

[He nods back once.]

No problem. Figure it's better we're all on the same page.

[domesheriff]

[she doesn't react to that explanation immediately--admittedly, a lot of it went straight over her head. but she gets the gist of what he's implying and brightens a little, nodding] That's good to know. Thanks, Narvin.

[domesheriff]

Yeah, well, from what I've heard some of them are trying to. [she makes a face]

[but at Jade's obvious impatience, she decides not to keep her with pleasantries] Anyway, thanks for the introduction. I'm sure I'll be seeing you around.