02 - Public / Video

[domesheriff]

[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]

Comments

[domesheriff]

Ohhh. [understanding dawns on Linda] So you're kind of...working overseas for a while. [it's a concept that makes sense to her now but not one that she'd thought of when she was first faced with the idea of coming here. in her mind, she's been assuming most imports were like her--refugees. but Jade has just opened up a whole new possibility] Well, I'm sure you'll surprise them when you get back, reappearing right when you left with everything you get from here!

[ratkicker]

[Jade can't help but laugh at that.} Yeah. It's not the first time I had to leave for a while to work. And this isn't even close to the most dangerous project I've worked on either!

I'll need to bring a lot of souvenirs to make up for lost time. Maybe some toys, or some of the food. It's some of the best I've eaten in a while.

[domesheriff]

[ooc: Sorry I'm so slow right now! Work has gone insane...]

[Jade's comment piques her curiosity] What kinds of work have you done back there?

[but this response confuses her a bit] Wait. They're not going to know you were gone, are they? You'll go back when you left. Isn't that how it works?

OOC: That's totally understandable.

[ratkicker]

I traveled a lot for photoshoots. Not too far from the city, but they took a while. [She pauses, wondering if it would be safe to tell Linda that most recently, she was the investigative photojournalist for a rebel group, but decides against it.] I did a bit of investigation from time to time, so that took a few days.

[She shrugs.] Who knows? I won't bet against it. And besides, with all the extra money I'm making here, they deserve something nice.

[domesheriff]

That sounds like it must have been...exciting. [as a police officer, she's seen what journalists--and photographers--are sometimes willing to get themselves into for a story. and in a world facing a war...well, she can hardly imagine]

I'm sure their faces when they see you again will be worth it either way. [she smiles]

[ratkicker]

[At this point, the waiter returns with their lunch.]

It sometimes is. But most of my jobs were pretty quick and boring. The exciting ones paid more, anyway.

[She also smiles as she grabs her bowl.] I'm really looking forward to that.

[domesheriff]

[Linda grabs her bowl, still smiling back] If you can send me a postcard somehow once you get there, I'd love to see it.

[ratkicker]

That would be pretty great. Does your place at least have a planetary mail system?

[domesheriff]

Planetary? [Linda looks surprised by the concept. she shakes her head] No, we don't have anything like that. [focusing on the positive, she adds:] But I'll probably be staying here for a while, so I think you'll be able to reach me.

[ratkicker]

[That look makes Jade curious.] So how do you send things to other planets? I mean, you're in the government, so you'd at least have that kind of privilege, right...?

[domesheriff]

Uh, we don't. I mean...we don't have contact with other planets.

[it'd be amusing to her that Jade finds contact with other worlds so natural if it weren't so mind-blowing first]

[ratkicker]

Not where you're from? But, I thought everyone that came knew did...

[She leans on her elbow, wondering why would the resort bring in workers from systems that primitive.]

I mean, my planet's only been in contact for a few hundred years, but you know other intelligent species are out there, right?

[domesheriff]

[Linda isn't sure whether to be affronted or just bemused, so she settles on the latter for now] I mean--I know that now. But before I met the agent from here? We thought there might be, but we didn't know.

[ratkicker]

Huh. [She takes a few bites of her food.] Must have been a surprise when they brought you here.

[domesheriff]

[she can't help her smile at that] I think that's an understatement.

To be honest? I'm still getting used to...well, all of it. [to other worlds, other species, and even something as simple as a life outside of Chester's Mill. her smalltown upbringing definitely hasn't helped with the sudden broadening of her horizons] Before this, I'd never even lived outside Chester's Mill, so...it's been a big change.

[ratkicker]

But it looks like you're taking it just fine. I don't have any memories of living outside of Hyllis before a few months ago, so traveling's still new to me.

What kind of place is Chester's Mill, though? [That name sounded like it was meant for a tiny town, so Linda's surprise at all this was even more understandable.]

[domesheriff]

[she shrugs; she's not sure she is, but she's trying] I'm just doing what I need to. [she's surprised by Jade's comment, though] You didn't travel for your photography?

It's a small town up in Maine. [it takes her a second to remember that Jade, being from another world, isn't going to recognize the name, so she changes veins] Like, in a wooded area. Plenty of farms, hunting is popular. It's nice. Usually quiet, and a lot of good people. [her tone is clearly fond]

[ratkicker]

Well, we weren't allowed outside the outer perimeter of the city limits. It included some of the country and the bay, so there was a lot of places to visit.

[She nodded. Small town. Probably not very crowded. The thought of being surrounded by was a charming notion.] I'm lucky to live on an island with some trees.

[domesheriff]

Because of the war, you mean? [Linda's expression is sad at the thought of people trapped in a specific place--it rings too much of the dome to her]

Is it pretty barren where you are? [that's another thing she can't imagine; she's way too used to Chester's Mill. even a regular city on Earth would be strange to her]

[ratkicker]

Yeah. They said it wasn't safe, and they were right. [She shrugs.] But they also didn't want anyone outside their control.

It wasn't too bad. We always had synthetic food and plenty of water, so to me, surviving wasn't that hard.

[domesheriff]

[she frowns] "They"? The government?

[Linda doesn't think to stop herself before she says:] Synthetic food? I wish we had something like that.

[ratkicker]

Kind of. Mostly the military, actually.

The food's okay, but it's what you expect for something cheap.

[domesheriff]

Are things getting better now that the war's over? [she's hoping for a positive answer to that question]

Still, better than going without. [not that Chester's Mill is anywhere near that point just yet, but it's still not something she wants to imagine happening anywhere] But I'm glad you've got the chance to have real food more regularly now. How are your noodles? [she takes another bite of her own]

[ratkicker]

It really does look like it will. The public's aware of everything behind the invasion, and the governor's free to make actual progress now that we're demilitarized.

[She takes another bite of her own food.] It's really good! You get a lot more flavor in these kinds of dishes!

[domesheriff]

Good. [her relief is clear] Maybe it'll be easier to travel again soon, too.

It definitely has a lot of flavor. The spice is great! I'll have to remember this place. [she smiles, grateful for Jade's recommendation--and this opportunity to get to know her better. today is a day that she really needs to feel like she has friends here]