o1 ⚢ video//action

[choseherownway]

[There is one very scowly looking blond looking at her surroundings, visible both on the network and in person outside the apartments. She mutters under her breath:] You piss off one mage...

[Clearing her throat, she tries and fails to force the scowl off her face] My name's Lena. I need to be - not here. Look, I'm grateful for the rescue, but it's a little too late. I made a deal, and I have six months - I have six months. None of which I can afford to waste here.

You people need to stop making other people fight your battles for you and learn to stand on your own two feet. It's not my job to hold your hand into a better future.

Comments

[andhishat]

Not any of our jobs really, and yet there's always a world full of people who feel entitled to your time and energy, expecting you to risk life and limb because they're too lazy or scared to go into the sewer and get the damn ring themselves.

[Whew, sorry, bit of RPG Protagonist frustration there]

Anyway, apologies, that's not what you were hoping to hear. Unfortunately most of the people who will respond to this are as stuck as you are.

[action?]

[latkje]

[Look who is happenstancefully walking towards his apartment, when he comes across some angry scowling. There's a word that catches his notice—]

Lena? [But it's obviously not the Lena he knows.]

You can keep speaking, milady, but the people you're talking to aren't going to answer.

[choseherownway]

[Hi she would have listening to what you are saying but she's too taken aback by your appearance for a second]

You followed me here? For the love of - this is above and beyond the call of duty. Which, need I remind you, isn't even your duty.

video

[workout]

[ scott can't really do anything about her various accusations, but he can definitely ask her inane questions about the rest of it. ]

Rescue? [ that's a unique word for 'kidnapping'. ]

[action!]

[choseherownway]

[She whips around, one hand going to the sword at her hip. When no attack is forthcoming, she relaxes very slightly] That's what I said.

I'm not - just Lena is fine. Don't call me that. [She shoves a hand back through her hair] What do you mean?

video

[choseherownway]

[A tight pause]

I was in the middle of something I would rather not have been in the middle of. Who are you?

[andhishat]

[Looks like another thrilling episode of Reya attracts all the crazies. Sigh.]

I think you might have me mistaken for someone else. Unless I've been carrying out duties in my sleep again.

[action!]

[latkje]

That's fine, I'm just Nash. [He raises both of his hands slightly, open-palmed. A peacemaking gesture.]

They monitor those things, they'd be foolish not to. But they don't jump in. It's just people like me.

[choseherownway]

[Judging by the way the camera's moving, Lena has started pacing]

You're telling me you're not here for me?

[action!]

[choseherownway]

Nash. Okay.

[There's a beat before a flicker of fantasy character uncertainty runs across her face. She stares down at the netbook] So what are these, then?

[andhishat]

No. Not unless you have a recipe for chocolate chip cookies that are gooey on the inside, but don't fall apart in your hand. If you do, then I am here for you.

[action!]

[latkje]

I don't know what they call them. I prefer messenger birds.

[Fantasy character uncertainty bros.]

video

[workout]

[ touché. not gonna drop it now that she's being so weird about it, dog with a bone, etc. despite pushing it, he doesn't sound unfriendly - maybe just a bit rude, in a uniquely teenager sort of way. ]

Scott.

Why do you want to get back there if you didn't want to be there in the first place?

[choseherownway]

[Aaaaand pacing as stopped. Lena is scrutinising the screen, and that's when she notices the ears. A shuddery sigh leaves her, and she closes her eyes for a moment]

I suppose she'd be more likely to disguise herself than her intentions.[Her eyes open and the woman receives a sardonic look from Lena] Sorry. All of my recipes are for metal.

[action!]

[choseherownway]

[That makes Lena wrinkle her nose. She has some Issues with messenger birds] That depends on who's sending the message. And if you can get the damn things to leave you alone once they've done their job.

video

[choseherownway]

Scott. Well, that's extremely helpful.

[Her eyes narrow. Sorry dude, if there's one thing she can't stand it's people poking at her past] Why is that any of your business?

[workout]

[ wow okay, the game is on lady. not that scott's particularly skilled at verbal face-offs, but he is pretty good at being stubborn when he wants to be. ]

Just asking, didn't know it was off limits. Who are you, and why six months? [ actually, there is something he has to say about that that could even be helpful, but hey, no rush. ]

[choseherownway]

Lena. I said that already. [She raises her eyebrows at him] Why do you care?

[workout]

... oh. Yeah, sorry. [ oh right, she totally did. master of debate, scott. luckily, he has very little sense of embarrassment at this point in his life, so he's unfazed by the mistake. ]

Maybe if you told me a little more, I could try to help. I can already tell you that there's no way back home, at least not that anyone here is willing to share. [ he's still working on that one himself, because there's got to be a way. problem is, it would probably involve some serious future-government infiltration to get to it. ]

[action!]

[latkje]

I train my own. Makes things go more smoothly. [He shrugs.] I like letters, too.

These things, though— [he means the netbooks] I think it's awful inconvenient to be able to talk to people whenever you want.

[choseherownway]

If we're trapped here, how does you knowing what I was doing before I got here help you help me at all?

[workout]

[ he's almost derailed by that, but after a short pause he just circles back to the question. ]

What do you mean by six months? Like, "I have six months left to live" or you've got some kind of deadline?

[ he is actually trying to be helpful now, he's just doing it in an absurdly roundabout way. ]

[action!]

[choseherownway]

[She looks visibly startled] You do? [A beat] I don't know a lot of people who can read. [Her body language is still extremely defensive, but she's at least invested enough in the conversation that she's not about to walk off]

[choseherownway]

Do you have some sort of obnoxious curse on you that makes you incapable of taking a hint?

[action!]

[latkje]

[He's not going to try any sudden moves. He doesn't blame anyone for being scared after a bout of kidnapping.]

I know I don't look it, but I've been to school. My dad was very strict about education.