énska [experimental video]

[onen]

 [The woman who has pressed record on this tablet looks as though perhaps she has made a mistake because she does not speak for a long time, and seems to make no effort to find any words. It has taken her some time to come to terms with where she is, how she has come to be here, but it does not mean she has to like it and there is no doubt in her mind that she does not like it here with its ruined land and cities.

And ruined people.

She has yet to venture into the room that has been set aside for her in the Initiative hold, wanting nothing from these people who have taken everything from her, and instead she is sitting by a fire she's set for herself in the shell of a building where someone- her son, her adult son- has set up a camp, curiously studying this tablet which is somehow able to allow people to communicate. Ratonhnhaké:ton- and it is still strange and hard for her to associate a full grown man with the four year old she left behind- had shown her how it worked, and she puts this newfound knowledge to the test as she looks at the device.

For a while that is all she does, wondering what it is that people say on such a thing... why they would want to even. Nothing about this world makes sense.

The fire crackles some, she seems to poke at it with a stick causing sparks to fly, and then the sound of the almost omnipresent rain is accompanied by the low grumble thunder. While she glances out at the gloom she shakes her head and speaks, the corner of her lips quirking up just a fraction as she does, though her voice low and calm.]

With weather like this I can see why the British would have wanted to take other lands for their own. Does it do nothing but rain in this place?

[It is hardly the most scintillating way to introduce oneself to the neighbours, but Kaniehtí:io does not have much experience with small talk.]

Comments

[video]

[goneonenight]

Unfortunately, going on a mission is the best way to get good weather. And even that's not a guarantee.

[video]

[onen]

[Someday she will have someone explain to her exactly this business of talking to people with moving paintings that are somehow able to speak is accomplished, as it surprises her to get a response even though it is what was supposed to happen.]

That would mean helping them.

[video]

[goneonenight]

[Yoruichi would explain, but she's not much for the technical details.]

It doesn't have to. It could just mean a free trip.

[Yes, she has no problem just tagging along for a free vacation if the opportunity comes up.]

video;

[givetheslip]

[That actually gets a small chuckle from Maria.]

It didn't rain this much when I lived here. Occasionally, we even had sunshine.

video;

[onen]

[Ziio tilts her head.]

I did not think it was possible for men to ruin the weather, but seeing how they have ruined the land here it should not surprise me.

video;

[givetheslip]

There was much that surprised me when I arrived. It's very different from the land I remember calling home.

[video]

[mentore]

[Ezio chuckles at the question.]

Sometimes there is wind with the rain.

[video]

[onen]

And I suppose that is said to be an improvement.

[video]

[mentore]

It is a change, not quite an improvement.

[of_the_lake]

[There's clear distortion in the video feed. Berserker's armor hisses a black miasma silently, which gets into his tablet and keeps his voice destabilized and inconsistent.]

It used to be that the rain was cool and pleasant.

Albion has been tarnished. That much is certain.

[onen]

[...okay obviously this thing is broken. She taps the tablet to see if that helps.]

I am not talking about Albion, wherever that is.

[of_the_lake]

[The dull hum of his armor, creaking as if it's being stretched intently from the inside, is only brief. The static and distortion continues.]

'England' is what one would call it today.

action;

[skennen]

[Ratonhnhaké:ton returns to the building with a large bundle in his arms. It's been a few weeks since his mother's arrival and he's only just now starting to leave her side for more than a few minutes at a time.

He was gone for approximately half an hour this evening. A new record.

... And she set a fire while he was gone.

Of course she did.

Pulling off his hood and walking to a nearby counter to set the wrapped package down, he turns to the side to frown at the flames and make helpless gestures at his mother.]

I told you that was not necessary.

[He stays sideways as he works to untie the bundle and eventually produces several thick blankets and some bagged food. His supplies are dwindling. Grabbing up both the blankets and the food, he heads over to her and takes a seat at her side - albeit it about another foot back from the fire. He rolls out the blankets to try and invite her to scoot backward. He's not looking to argue about it, though, as his bowed head and averted eyes suggest.

Noticing the tablet on, he switches to English.]

Is it working for you now?

action;

[onen]

It's cold and this place feels damp. It may not be necessary but it was wanted. Come closer to the fire, you're soaked.

[It's still taking time for her to wrap her head around this fully grown Ratonhnhaké:ton hovering around her anxiously, the way she had once done for him when he was so much smaller, a tiny new thing asleep in blankets and rabbit furs who she could cradle in one arm and would not let down into his crib for fear she might wake him. But she's no newborn, she's his mother, and the juxtaposition of roles amuses her to no end.

Perhaps he's always been this protective, maybe it was something she didn't see when he was smaller and still trying to be grown up enough to be allowed to play with his friends without his mother around to cramp his style. It's endearing, in its own way.

She's glad he's back, she was starting to wonder at how long she'd been without a shadow.]

I still do not understand how it works, but it is working at least.

action;

[skennen]

Iáh, I am comfortable here.

[He doesn't budge from his chosen spot and busies himself picking at the food packaging. People from different times store their food in strange ways, he has learned. Small bags that make a lot of noise, tins called 'tupperware' made out of a glass-like material that isn't actually glass, box machines that are cold inside.

He sticks to Kanien'kéha as he goes on.]

Did you put a message in it?

[have_hat_will_travel]

The rain does seem to be pretty much eternal.

If this were like my world, I could easily say one of the gods switched the weather tables from hundred-sided dice to single-sided.

I'm sure the reason why that is here is a lot more complex.

[onen]

I keep hearing that about reasons around here.

[have_hat_will_travel]

I liked my world. The mechanics weren't always realistic, but when you put it together it made at least some level of sense.

voice;

[bloodyantivan]

[Ah, Zevran is happy to hear she's still getting along okay since she arrived.]

Sometimes it does not rain. Sometimes there are bombs and explosions.

voice;

[onen]

[Oh, she recognises this voice.]

In that case I will take my chances with the rain. Is that you, Zevran?

[bloodyantivan]

Indeed so. Aside from disliking the weather, how is it you fare, my friend?

video;

[ringwizard]

Sadly, I don't think I've seen days where the rain lets up much, and I've been here for months.

An umbrella helps make it less miserable, usually.

video;

[onen]

It is fitting. Miserable weather for a miserable place.

Video

[khajidont]

That's more or less what it said in that orientation e-package.

They really weren't lying about that, at least.

Video

[onen]

It will take more than one truth for me to trust them.