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

[Video]

[ratkicker]

[A young, brown-skinned woman in her early twenties shows up on Linda's feed.]

Hey. This is Jade. [Her voice is curt, as if she's making a conscious decision to be reserved.] I'm a photographer and an explorer here.

[domesheriff]

Hi, Jade. [Linda can sense annoyance in the woman's voice, but she's not sure what it's directed at, so she ignores it for now] Nice to meet you. [she pauses, thinking about what she's read about the area] You explore the ruins?

[ratkicker]

Yeah. [A puase.] I help out with documenting what was discovered at dig sites, mostly.

[She seems pretty nice for a law enforcer, but she never can be sure.]

[domesheriff]

[Linda just keeps trying to be conversational] Sounds like a busy job. I've heard the wildlife out there can be...intense.

[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]

[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.

[ratkicker]

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

[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.

[ratkicker]

We'll be able to handle that. [Animals were simple to control and to fight back. People? That takes much longer.]

Nice too meet you, too. [She hopes that Linda meant that in a friendly manner.]