[Video]

[breakablegirl]

[Looking annoyed and more than a little irritated, Claire’s pacing in her room with her communicator, the video focused on her face from a lower angle.] Usually when you’re drafted to fight a war, it’s at least in the right century.

Look. I need to get back home. I know that everyone's probably saying the same thing. But the entire world was about to change, and I'm needed there. You can't just take people against their will like this. I don't care about your war, I need to be fighting my own.

[A sigh. She lifts the camera for a clearer view of her face.] In the meantime, I guess I should say.. My name is Claire Bennet. And I guess while I'm here I could use a little training.


[Action, Open!]

[Claire's standing near a bench in the courtyard, fearlessly twirling her Kamas in her hands. It's a good thing she did all of that baton twirling in Cheerleading camp that one summer, otherwise it would have taken her a lot longer to figure it out. She still can't quite figure out what sort of technique she's supposed to use with these things. The sharp and pointy part she gets, but the fighting discipline is is way over her head.

Wearing new clothes and being much cleaner and well put-together than she was when she first arrived, the expression on her face suggests that she's either bored or deep in thought.

She wonders if there's a way to send a message back through time to Hiro, or to her dad, or Peter. Then she'd be able to get out of here, get back where she belongs. Though.. A part of her is a little relieved she doesn't have to see that heartbroken look on her dad's face right now. She's not really looking forward to having to explain her actions to everyone.

Maybe the temporary kidnapped state will be a good thing.]

Comments

[breakablegirl]

Claire.

Any information you can give me that wasn't in the welcoming ceremony?

[hostage]

Uh... I guess the first thing is there ain't no law here, so better watch out for yourself.

And second is the Initiative'll scratch your back if you scratch theirs. They don't always know what they're doing, but they wanna make you happy while you're here and doing shit for 'em.

[breakablegirl]

...That's really good to know. Thank you.

[hostage]

Yeah, no problem.

I know it's kinda scary just showing up like this outta nowhere, but most people here mean good. Everybody's just trying to survive.

[breakablegirl]

[A humorless chuckle.] Would you believe me if I said I'd been in weirder and scarier places? I just usually wasn't completely stuck there.

[hostage]

I would, actually, yeah.

[...considering he's like the only normal person he's seen around here.]

We'll get outta here someday. And, hey, field trips through history. That's pretty cool, right? In like a nerdy way.

[breakablegirl]

[Slow smile. SHE'S A LITTLE NERDY SOMETIMES.] I haven't had a chance to think about that side of it yet.

Where- Or I guess when have you been lately?

[hostage]

Russia? Like... medieval times Russia. I forget what year they said it was. We were fighting some Mongols. It was pretty badass.

[breakablegirl]

[That makes her smile, nearly laugh.] Wow.

..Would it be tempting fate if I said I really wanted to see a dinosaur? ..From a safe, secure place with locks.

[hostage]

You know what, I bet we'll totally see dinosaurs. But with the way it usually turns out with these guys, they'll come crashing into our apartments or something.

[breakablegirl]

...Great.

At least it's never boring here.

[hostage]

That - Yeah. That is one of the perks. Totally.

[breakablegirl]

Hey, we're looking on the bright side. Even though I wouldn't say no to a big dose of boring right about now.

How's the food?

[hostage]

Better than what I was eating back home, but that ain't saying much.

Oh - I made cookies, if you want some.

[He reaches offscreen to pull one off the plate on his coffee table. It's... a really nice-looking chocolate chip cookie, actually. Gooey-fresh.]

[breakablegirl]

[Oh. Maybe she is better at the making friends thing than she thought.. Maybe.]

You just met me and you're offering me cookies? I'm seriously lucking out here.

[hostage]

Paying it forward. A bunch of people bought me food when I first showed up here, so I figure, gotta keep up the karma.

Plus, you know, I got way too many. We went a little crazy here with the baking.

[breakablegirl]

Well, in that case, I'd be happy to take some off your hands.

[hostage]

You know your way around yet? I'm in 409, but I can try to find you instead if you want.

[breakablegirl]

Not exactly? But I'm the learn as I go type.

If I'm not there in twenty minutes, send a search party.

[hostage]

Got it.

[Actionnnn?]

[breakablegirl]

[Claire arrives in just under ten minutes. She'd only been turned around once or twice on the way. Thankfully the numbering system was pretty simple to figure out. The search party statement was intended as a joke but on the way here she remembered that it was probably a good thing to say. Claire had a tendency to get into all kinds of trouble, and here among strangers she wasn't any better off.

Wearing an almost entirely new outfit because of that, uh, incident a few days ago where she sort of bled all over her shirt, Claire knocks on the door.]

[Actionnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

[hostage]

[Jesse answers the door right away with a bright smile. This might be the best day he's had since he got here. Mostly because he got to do something that didn't involve killing people or otherwise being a scumbag, but getting to meet a cute blonde girl helps too. It's like he's a regular person for a while.]

Heyyy, come on in.

[He gestures with a dorky flourish as he steps aside. The apartment's nice, considering he's the one living in it. He keeps it in good shape for his roommate's sake.]

[awwwyeeeahAction!!!!!!]

[breakablegirl]

[Claire smiles back, though hers is a little slower, and a little less bright. Jesse's cheered Claire up considerably from where she's been since she arrived. Looking on the bright side, acting like a normal guy regardless of if he is one or not, and of course the selling point, offering her cookies. One thing Claire has a weakness for is sweets.

The flourish does make her grin, amused, a hint of a laugh in her voice.] Thanks. [She walks in, taking a look around.]

I guess this is the part where I ask if your roommates are, uh. [Not a vampire like mine that killed me the other day. Er.] If they're nice.

[hostage]

[He shuts the door and shuffles along beside her, raising his shoulders in a shrug.]

I only really know one of 'em. Ain't seen the other around. But yeah, she's real sweet. Little kid, like thirteen or fourteen. She likes to sing.

She's the reason for all the, uh, the baking. I was never really into that back home, but there ain't a whole lot else for me to do here, so I picked that up. I thought it'd be nice for her.

[He gestures to the living room, where the cookies are still waiting on the coffee table.]

[breakablegirl]

[Oh. One of the little kids Mystique had mentioned. It makes her heart sort of ache, and she can't keep her face from falling a little at that news. But, still.] That's really sweet of you.

[Aaaand that's probably all she's gonna wanna say about that. The idea of kids here is a subject that can make her quickly turn into ranting-Claire. Right now she's trying to be sociable and friendly Claire. So she goes ahead and takes a seat next to the coffee table. She teases him with a smirk.] Just so you know, I'm kind of great at cookies and cupcakes. Lots of bake sales.