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02 - Public / Video

[Linda comes onto the network today actually dressed casually rather than in her patrol uniform; she's wearing a red T-shirt under a gray sweater jacket over jeans and boots. her hair is pulled back in a braid, and the ever-present engagement ring is on her hand. today of all days, she wants to be wearing it. because despite the dome and her relocation, she's still counted the days, and she knows that if none of that had happened, this would be it--this would be her wedding day. and having realized that, it's a thought she can't get out of her head]

Hey, is anybody free today? [her tone is casual, but there's something a little anxious in the way she's standing. she has her hands in front of her and is unthinkingly playing with the ring as well] I'm off, and I don't want to spend the day sitting around alone. I'll take you to lunch--my treat. Or...I don't know, a walk in the gardens, or even some games in the arcade? Maybe a drink at Pugsy's tonight. Sound good to anybody?

[she smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes. still, despite the feelings she's fighting, she's determined not to spend today moping. she's going to distract herself with new friends and fun instead]

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[Una catches the conversational ball neatly and runs with it.]

Most recently, London. Twentieth century. I travel quite a lot, however; though London is what I generally call home.

Oh, so not that far off. I mean...relatively speaking.

[a couple of months ago, London wouldn't have sounded "close" to her at all, but now she's both surprised and glad to hear that Una is, as far as she can tell so far, from her world. she's still struggling to get her head around some of the very different places people at Blackway are from, so she's glad to have a little familiarity in this case. and thankfully Bertie's situation at least started to get her used to the idea that people might be from her past]

I'm from Earth, too. Chester's Mill--in the U.S. But from the twenty-first century, and...I've never actually been overseas.

[Una is holding off on diving into the fact that the twentieth century London she last inhabited is probably not the one that exists in Linda's world. A little at a time.]

I've been to America several times—I've a dear friend who lives in central Texas. I don't suppose Chester's Mill is anywhere near there?

[this is probably wise as Linda is still very overwhelmed by the shattering of her worldview. but at Una's question, she gives a short laugh]

Not exactly. Chester's Mill is in Maine--in the northeast. But we're just a small town out in the country, so I'm not surprised you haven't heard of it.

[not since she assumes Una is from the past. she wonders if, because of the dome, the whole world might know the name of Chester's Mill now--now from her point of view, at any rate]

Ah, New England. No, I'm not familiar with that area at all—closest I've been is Canada. I was in Toronto some time back—politics, essentially.

[To wit: trying to negotiate with her old friend Nestor Makhno after the Ukrainian invasion of Canada.]

Ohh. Well, if you ever get the chance, it's a nice place! There are beautiful woods and lakes nearby. I'm not really sure what you'd think of it if you're used to cities, though. We're one of those small places where everybody knows everybody else. I think some of the residents would be surprised just to meet somebody from England!

[she looks amused at the thought, resolutely forcing herself not to think about her present, when the residents of Chester's Mill are about to cease to exist]

Oh, I like the countryside. [Mostly. The people in it can be a problem, in some parts.] It sounds lovely. If you're ever in England, you should visit Yorkshire. Dales and vales and the most wonderfully dramatic scenery. Especially if you're keen on hiking.

[the people are certainly a problem sometimes--a fact Linda herself would know well if she weren't so intent on seeing the best in people even when proved otherwise]

I like hiking, yeah. That sounds like it would be beautiful. [she pauses to take a drink, smiling at the thought] Gotta admit, I don't have a lot of travel experience. The closest I've come to leaving the country is visiting family in Puerto Rico, and even that's still part of the U.S.

Now I've never been there, myself. [A pause; something just occurred to her.] You know, I never did ask you what it is you do here. Or did back home.

It's gorgeous there! Even more than Chester's Mill, especially when you consider the weather. My parents moved back there about four years ago.

Oh, I'm on the security patrol. [she's surprised to realize she didn't already mention that] Back home, I was a sheriff's deputy, so it made the most sense. And I like the job. I get to work with good people here.

Agent Kay's a solid fellow. Not that we're close, but the times I've talked to him, I've quite liked him. I'm glad to hear you like it, anyway. I hope it just doesn't get too terribly exciting, for your sake.

[It's a bit of a joke, except for the part where she does actually mean it. There's interesting, and then there's far too interesting, and while Una generally thrives on the latter, she knows not everyone does.]

[she nods] Yeah, he seems like a good person to have in charge here. I've worked with Boone quite a bit, too, if you know him.

[at that, she makes a face, thinking again of the recent problems with Niko and Belloq] Hopefully not. It seems like that kind of thing is pretty out of the ordinary here, at least.

I know who Boone is, though I don't know him well. It's a small town; you start to recognise people eventually, even if you've never properly talked.

[She sighs.] Apart from the recent unpleasantness [Belloq, damn him; and a frown crosses her face for a moment] and the wildlife, it's not too bad. As holidays go, I'm rather enjoying myself.

[she smiles at the familiarity of that concept] Yeah, I know how that goes. But he's nice, if you ever do get the chance to meet him.

I wondered if you knew about that. [she frowns, pausing to take a drink, and staring into it briefly, still bothered that Niko wouldn't press charges against Belloq--that his almost-killer is free] I'm just glad Niko's okay.

[but at Una's words, she raises a curious eyebrow] Is that why you're here? For...a vacation?

It's a very peculiar definition of vacation. But it's well away from the sort of work I usually do [fomenting revolutions, fighting wars, diplomacy, politics, and the occasional temporal rescue], and don't they say a change is as good as a rest?

[She smiles wryly, then sobers.] I'm glad Niko's all right too. Belloq's a right bastard. [This said with a certain amount of ire that she can't quite modulate, because the particular way he took advantage of her sympathy still rankles, petty revenge notwithstanding.]

[she nods] I guess, as long as you feel like it's a good change--at least temporarily.

[Una's vehemence toward Belloq gets no complaints from Linda. she scowls] He is, yeah. I don't understand why Niko won't press charges, but if that's how he wants it... [she sighs] But we'll be keeping an eye on Belloq. [she pauses, adding firmly:] I will, at least.

[Una hesitates. She's already going to be in enough trouble, and she shouldn't be admitting—bragging?—about her little adventure to anyone, much less someone on security. But maybe it's the whiskey, or the fact that she's just happy to be chatting with another woman, one she finds she already likes; she glances aside, slightly embarrassed, but with the slightest smirk too.]

I confess—I've had a few words with him myself. Rather...emphatic words.

[her eyebrows go up at that. even though she's security, so far Una hasn't admitted to anything she wouldn't do herself, so her reaction is appreciative. she already likes Una, too] Yeah? Good.

[she frowns] You know, I didn't know him before all this, but...I don't think I'll ever understand how people can do things like that.

Greed and cowardice make a man do dreadful things. Particularly if he's weak-willed. [Una shakes her head.] He'd deny the weakness, I don't doubt. But if he's so easily swayed and willing to be treacherous, even toward someone he likes—he's weak, as far as I'm concerned.

[she nods her agreement] There's nothing strong about selling out a friend. And if his only motive really was money... [she lets the thought trail off, shaking her head. she can't understand it] I don't know how he could do it, but even if I did? Niko should never have had to go through that.

Edited 2015-03-28 02:36 (UTC)

He'd gotten on the wrong side of the wrong people, apparently. So he was trying to save his own skin, in spectacularly craven fashion. I'd almost say "let them have him", but that's not really right. No matter how abominable his actions.

[this surprises Linda as Niko very carefully didn't mention anything about the criminal organizations to her] ...damn. But they were after the treasure, right--not Niko?

[because she doesn't want to think that Belloq tried to take Niko out on someone else's behalf. after what he went through, she hopes he's at least safe now]

[Una's not quite sure what to say about that. Belloq told her that the "dangerous people" wanted Niko out of the way. Assuming Belloq was telling the truth. Not that he had much reason to lie to her at that point, but she didn't trust him. So she tries to cover all the possibilities.]

Maybe. Or they might have had something against Niko—though I can't imagine what.

[that answer doesn't fill her with confidence. she sighs, her expression darkening as she continues her drink] We'll have to watch out for him. He's been through too much already.

[Una nods in agreement.]

It's not in my job description but—if there's ever anything you or Kay or the rest of the team need help on, you've only to ask.

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domesheriff - 2015-04-01 15:09 (UTC) - Expand

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