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

[vengeance_driven]

Yeah, ah... good to meet you.

You seem maybe first generation immigrant? Second maybe?

[domesheriff]

[she nods. and then she eagerly latches onto a conversation about a familiar topic, knowing that he's asking not just based on her appearance but also her voice--because while she doesn't have an accent exactly, there's a hint of a childhood spent with two languages] Second. My parents moved from Puerto Rico before I was born.

[and since both his accent and his interest have made his own immigrant status clear, she asks:] Where are you from? Originally and before...here, I mean.

[vengeance_driven]

[That gets a big grin out of him. He's happy to have another couple of immigrants around (or at least people with them in their history), even if he's far from the US here.]

My cousin-in-law, Mallorie, she is second generation Puerto Rican. She has more of a city accent now but you can kind of tell in how she speaks. Bilingual from birth.

I'm from the Balkans.

[domesheriff]

[she smiles back] Really? Small world.

I can't say I know anyone from there, but what city? Where were you living?

[vengeance_driven]

Liberty City. Which I think some people here don't have, for some strange reason. But it's pretty big so that surprises me.

[domesheriff]

[she frowns, not understanding] I'm...not sure what you mean, but I haven't heard of it. What state is it in? Or country? [she's trying to cover all her bases]

[vengeance_driven]

Liberty State. It's the city that has the big statue holding up a cup.

I have a postcard. [He leaves his screen to go rifle through things.] Things are a like, but they're a little different.

[In the meanwhile, a big Quadratus hound sticks its four-eyed face in front of the camera, and blinks two sets of eyes.]

[domesheriff]

You mean the Statue of Liberty? [she's still frowning, not sure what to make of this] It's New York. Maybe...they changed the name? [she can't think of how else to account for this difference]

Oh! [the dog catches her by surprise, and she blinks at its odd appearance briefly--but then she smiles at it] Hey, you. [to Niko, she asks:] Is this guy yours?

[vengeance_driven]

It's the Statue of Happiness where I'm from. It's all the same thing, just ah... is like one of those stupid TV shows where the evil double has a beard or something like that.

I don't know. A lot of TV is dumb. But that's the way it is I guess.

[Finally he looks at the doggish thing.] Yeah, ah... His name is Pas. [Which is serbian for "dog".] If you have one, they protect you no matter what and I figured in my line of work it would be helpful.

[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?

[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!

[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.

[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.

[domesheriff]

They latch on that fast? [she's surprised] Well, it's good that they're so loyal. If they have a talent for guarding, I suppose we're lucky they're not more feral.

[vengeance_driven]

Yeah. I guess. They only seem to want to eat or attack a couple of animals out in the wild, and then just for food. If you hurt one that's not tamed, it will come after you, and its pack, too. So be good to them or just ignore them.

[domesheriff]

[she nods] If they're not attacking the people here, then I wasn't planning on it. And Pas looks friendly enough. [she smiles at the dog] I'll have to actually meet him sometime. Huh, buddy?

[vengeance_driven]

[Pas ruffs and shakes himself, and he looks like he's probably at least St. Bernard big. Niko gives him a big heavy pat- the ones meant to thump the dog like a drum as much as pet it. Obviously it doesn't mind.]

Sure. I think he'd like that.

[domesheriff]

[she smiles] Then that's a plan. Good to meet you, Niko.