( 1 ) ( VIDEO )

[stillbetter]

[Sorry, guys. She's one of those newbies.]

For God's sake. Really? This has got to be a first. Do these people even know who they're taking in? What am I even going to do here? I'm just a radio host back home, not - whatever you think I am.

[She is no soldier worth kidnapping, no, not at all, thank you very much.]

I can't do this.

I won't do this.

[Look. She's even throwing in a pause to show how serious she is.]

Besides, Fred wouldn't begin to know what to do without me. My fiancé? I have a life back home, you know, and it can't wait. So - you ought to put me back. As soon as possible, if that's not too much trouble.

[She has spoken. ... Then she starts to press random buttons because what am this technology.]

... Hello? Can anyone hear me?

[...

beep beep beep]

Comments

video;

[velveteened]

( aahaha, oh dear )

Yes, we can hear you!

video.

[affections]

( What in the name of drunken hopscotching Christ? )

Poppy?

( Poppy. Poppy. Of all the-- right, well, not myriad, but certainly a handful of people who she'd rather have here, there's Poppy? )

Where are you?

( But what does she mean, fiancé? They're married, for fuck's sake. )

[stillbetter]

Oh! Good. Who am I talking to?

[velveteened]

Oz! Oz Vessalius. And you?

( he could check the device, but politeness! and not freaking her out by seeming to suspiciously know her name )

[stillbetter]

[What. What. What.]

Julia. [Of all the people they could have kidnapped -

... actually, no, she isn't surprised Jules was one of them. She probably had it coming.]

I'm in - a room. It was assigned to me. Is Fred with you?

[stillbetter]

Poppy Chadwick. I'd say it's a pleasure, but I'm not quite sure that's the case.

[affections]

No, Freddie is not with me.

( She hopes she's assigned housing with someone who snores loudly and deals with their toe nail clippings in entirely disgusting ways. Despite herself, her voice sounds strained, painful. )

Yes, well done, what room? I'll come and find you.

[velveteened]

Well, ( not without some wryness ) even considering the circumstances, it's nice to meet you.

Permavid

[governorkang]

[If the deeper-than-human, oddly accented voice doesn't give away that this isn't a human, the bronze-ish scales and horns on the screen do.]

We all have lives back home, ma'am. And I wouldn't recommend asking them to put you back; the last time that happened, the United Earth followed and destroyed that person's world.

[stillbetter]

[Yeah, there's no way she's inviting Jules into her room. She has trouble inviting her to her own house, and it's not because she knows the woman will have a sneezing fit with Whiskers pawing about. She doesn't even properly consider this cot thing her room. Just no. Better idea. Insert a small sigh:]

You can come find me in the main entrance of the building. [SHE PROCEEDS TO SAY WHICH ONE IT IS it's where the training rooms are whateva whateva] Do you know where it is?

[stillbetter]

[That's a nice thought. If only she could share it.]

Are you one of the people taken to this place, or-?

[stillbetter]

[Good. God.]

What in the world are you wearing?

[Sorry, you were saying something relevant?]

[velveteened]

Yes. Everyone who uses these tablets is. I don't think the Exiles have ever used the network.

( it's happened a couple of times, but that was before his time. )

[governorkang]

[The hell?]

Is that really the most important question right now?

[stillbetter]

I just don't understand. Why would you - what is that?

[stillbetter]

So they just - want us to talk to each other? Over these things?

[governorkang]

[He frowns.]

Clothes, ma'am.

[stillbetter]

What, are you making some kind of fashion statement with those?

[Sorry, her too normal too function brain is having a hard time.]

[affections]

( Really. Poppy, really? )

Yes, I do. Try not to be overcome with shock by my capacity to navigate.

( Ugh. )

I'll be there in five minutes.

ACTION.

( And sure enough, thar she blows. However, this Julia Grumley is rather less prim and polished than the one Poppy is familiar with. If Jules knew, she might have thought to cover the scars that dapple over her skin, but she doesn't even spare it the consideration; Poppy has seen them before, hasn't she?

What she is worried about is Peter, and how he's going to deal with Poppy being here. If Poppy knows, if maybe this is Poppy's fault somehow, although she can't quite think that. Freddie Grumley, just what have you done? She's agitated, hanging out just outside the doorway so she can smoke. )

audio.

[clario]

Sorry, but that's the way it works here. Best get used to it.

[velveteened]

Convenient, isn't it?

( brightly. )

[stillbetter]

That's the way it works here. [Oh no it ain't. She's just going to laugh humorlessly.] They send us in to this - war - completely unprepared, and they expect us to just accept it? I will not get used to this. It's not right.

[clario]

That's right. Before you ask, there isn't a Human Resources department to complain to.

[ props, poppy. fight the power. ]

[stillbetter]

I'll try. [God, Jules, always so unpleasant and ironic. How are you ever going to find true happiness that way?

Surely enough, Poppy is waiting outside the building, arms crossed and lips pursed, checking her nails every now and then just so she has something to do. Checking the messages on her tablet is proving to be an increasingly frustrating task, what with people telling to get used to it. How is that ever productive? Pfah.]

Julia! [There she is. Poppy's arched brows give way to something that could be mistaken for a concerned frown when she approaches, seeing as Jules looks a little... worse for wear. She has definitely never seen those scars before. Oh dear.] ... Are you all right?

[stillbetter]

I'm sorry, but - how is this convenient?