01/video

[flightlessbird]

[ a flurry of leafy outdoor motion! and it seems to have cut in mid-sentence, or at least mid-shout— ]

—wanted was to know if I had found North yet! [ oh a face!! big dark eyes, huge scowl, and like the biggest, fluffiest hooded jacket ever. ] They were very rude and I would not have minded hurting them, or maybe I would kill them, but they ran away, and now my back hurts. Raafa says people who run away are cowards, and not worth anything. I do not want to see any of them again.

[ a pause, one heavy, frustrated sigh, and then she looks a little bit less pissed. it's good to have that out of her system. no onto what really matters, in the middle of this violent occupation. ]

Also, I want someone to teach me to write.

Comments

reluctantly... voice...

[boughtabookstore]

You should go to the clinic.

VIDEO ALL UP IN HERE

[flightlessbird]

Why?

permavoice you can't make her show her face

[boughtabookstore]

Because you were chipped, and I sincerely doubt they're for anything good. Getting it out would be your best move.

[flightlessbird]

[ blank staring!! awright!! ]

I was what?

[boughtabookstore]

They put something in your back that they can use to see where you go.

[flightlessbird]

Oh. [ well, that's easy enough. gosh why couldn't she just have said it like that in the first place. ] Why do they care where I go?

[boughtabookstore]

We don't know yet. It's probably not good, though. Best to get it out.

[flightlessbird]

It is not doing anything bad there.

[boughtabookstore]

Not at the moment, no. I think it's likely it will be soon.

[flightlessbird]

It is too small to be very important.

[boughtabookstore]

...

[ somebody send help. and patience. ]

It's up to you.

[flightlessbird]

Then I will leave it.

Who are you?

[boughtabookstore]

I'm Agent Small.

[flightlessbird]

I'm Artika. [ pause! because she can never keep track of this... ] ...Do I call you Agent Small, or only Agent?

[boughtabookstore]

It's good to meet you.

Oh. Agent's only a - title. You can call me Small, if you'd rather not say Agent Small every time.

[flightlessbird]

Oh. [ suspicious... stare....... man she wishes this lady were using video. ] Are you so small you made it a name?

[boughtabookstore]

... No.

It's just - a name. Doesn't mean anything in particular.

[flightlessbird]

But Martin means warrior, and Small means — small!

[boughtabookstore]

It's true that names do have some meaning behind them, but in my time they're no longer literal meanings.

They're just names that have been passed down in a family.

[flightlessbird]

Oh.

You did not get your own name?

[boughtabookstore]

Small is my family name, which everyone in my family has. Agent is a title that refers to my job.

My personal name is Roslyn.

[flightlessbird]

Then you are Agent Small Roslyn? [ making a face! ] That is very many names.

[boughtabookstore]

[ quietly crying inside ]

... Yes. Yes, it is.

[flightlessbird]

Then I am [ BIRD WHISTLE HERE ], but my personal name is [ HALF OF THAT BIRD WHISTLE. which kind of sounds like "Tika", if you're comparing it to "Artika" ]

[boughtabookstore]

Oh. [ and actually sort of quietly interested ] That's a lovely name. What does it mean?