tushanshu | 01

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Hello..?

[Have yourself a twelve year old girl testing the water on the shiny new thing and mumbling to herself a little as she does.]

...I hope I'm doing this right.

[Oh right. The people can hear her. Sarah takes a deep breath and gets to talking.]

I uh, gotta say, this is some real crazy stuff going on. I don't even know where to start makin' sense of any of it. The Kedan people, the ones that work here? I think they work here. Live here? I dunno. They explained a lot of stuff but I'm still trying to wrap my head around even being here.

[Sarah pauses. When she speaks again it's with a little less certainty.]

Do they ever make mistakes with who they bring here? I'm not sure I'm the monster fighting type.

[Not real ones anyway.]

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[She's twelve. Babbling is one of her many skills.]

Nooot really. There's people that know my dad here and they seem nice enough. But personally, nope.

[Wowee! This is great! Sarah can't help but grin at him.]

Yeah it's cool! What's your superpower? Real heroes have superpowers right?

[The kids at school would be so jealous right now. He's got to be legit. He's got a mask and everything! But... she still wants to see what he can do.]

Blue squirrel-thing. Got it. And I know Ellie! ...Kinda! We've talked a little bit. She knows my dad so, I dunno. It's almost like having someone from home, you know?

[Or something like that. Sarah's still working it out.

The more Sarah hears from Julie, the more she likes her. There's just something safe about the older girl. She nods her head and is about to reply when she looks down at her clothes. Oh right. Blood all over these ones. Also they're pajamas.]

Uhh... you wouldn't know any clothes stores near where I'm at, would ya?

He's always runnin' late.

[More like he's always trying to do more than time allows for the good of them both. Sarah shrugs.]

I got him a new watch though. Maybe that'll help him along.

[She smiles, but it doesn't meet her eyes. In twenty years would he even have that watch anymore?]

Yeah, see, that's kinda what I'm talking about. It's really fucking annoying, but you gotta have money. And that means doing a job for most people. But I go hunting instead, because I'm probably not gonna be that good at a job-job.

[she'd remind her not to worry, but there are weeks when money is really tight for herself. But she has friends that help her get by there on the Turtle, so, she figures Sarah will get some to, or she could share the wealth]

But no one's gonna let us starve, you know? And I'll help you out, too.

[Oh, good Christ. This kid is from Ellie's world? Welp, big sister mode is almost a go. Julie's curious as to how Sarah doesn't know Ellie but Ellie knows her dad. She's now concerned and that may show briefly, but back to the topic of food and...shopping in general.]

Yeah. I know a few places. Clothes are on me, so is food. Consider it a welcome gift, okay?

[One that will repeat as necessary.]

So, while I get my shoes on and grab one of my extra winter coats for you, tell me about home. What's it like? What do you and your dad do for fun?

[Julie's cautious in her curiosity. A gentle nudge to search for answers that will hopefully quell some concerns. And possibly bring up new ones.]

She who doth protest too much...

[ But the angel seems to let that train of thought slide at the second remark. ]

Why thank you! It's not easy to look this good, you know.

It's broken these days, so I don't think it'll help him much.

[Tess is the one who keeps him on a schedule, usually.]

There has to be something worthwhile for you to do.

[ She comes from a world that doesn't believe in child labor laws. ]

Farming when the weather breaks, or go into manufacturing. There's a clinic, if you're smart enough to convince them to take on an apprentice. An army doesn't get far without support.

[ A brief pause, then: ] Or learn to fight.

That's up to you. I've been here long enough that I know my way around. You're still learning. I'll meet you wherever you want.

As for the when...is 20:00 alright?

[Another kid. Still, Bean seems to remain the youngest on the turtle at only eight. He turns on the video feed, slowly becoming more comfortable with showing people who he is.]

Believe me, there are plenty of people here who can do the fighting, and plenty who can't. You can find another way to be useful. [For instance, Bean teaches people to read English.]

[Oh sweet deities, what are they doing bringing more children like this to Keeliai? Bryn gets to this entry a bit late so it's a day later before she gets around to opening a feed.]

Hi there, I'm Bryn. I just saw your post and thought I'd check in. Did people answer all of your questions okay? Or did anyone from home touch bases with you?

[It's one thing with the ones like Damian, who can obviously take care of themselves, but the girl looks pretty damn young and it's kicked up Bryn's protective instincts pretty hard.]

Well, that's kinda how the world works, isn't it? I mean, that's what it's like in 2013 at least.

[The more they talk, the more Sarah realizes how bad she needs to pick Ellie's brain about the future.]

...How'd you learn to hunt? And thanks! I seriously mean that.

[Her mouth falls open in surprise. That is a huge thing Julie just offered.]

A-are you sure?

[Someday she'll find a way to make it up to Julie. Even just something to say thanks.]

Thank you! You're really nice, you know that?

[Sarah smiles at Julie, relief at having another person on her side showing clearly. It's like a bit of the weight just got taken off her shoulders. The next question however draws a pause.]

Well it's... September, 2013 on good ol' planet Earth. Do you know it?

[Julie looks human enough, but with all she's seen today alone, Sarah's playing it safe.]

I'm not! There's kids in my class shorter than me.

[So there. Who cares that by 'kids' Sarah means to say she's slightly taller than one and equal height with another.]

Uh... huh. Are you going somewhere or..?

Broken!

[Her face falls a little a that.]

Well... I hope he got some use out of it at least. I only just gave it to him a few hours ago.

[For her, at least.]

It was a birthday present.

I... really don't know much about any of that.

[But suggestions are good, and Sarah's already debating which one sounds the most fun.]

No choice though, huh? So... I dunno.

[Thanks almost makes it from her mouth when Annie speaks again.]

...Fightin'? Me?

Well, I ain't really got much else on so, yeah, sounds good to me!

[Though Sarah does pause to work out the time given into something she better understands.]

That's eight... right?

[Way to look stupid in front of your new friend, Sarah.]

Why not? It doesn't matter what work you did back home. You can choose your own fate here.

[There's no hiding her surprise when Bean appears. She'd been starting to think she was the youngest one here.]

Yeah, I just don't know what. Not yet anyway.

[She tilts her head to the side.]

Are you from around here? A local or something?

[Surely they didn't bring a kid that young here to fight. It's bad enough she's there.]

Whoa, hello!

[It's late, but a welcome thing. Sarah's a little less shocked at being here too.]

Yeah, everyone was real helpful. It's... a lot to take in though. But, I'll work it out, I guess? Oh, and no one from home. Well, not my time, anyway.

[Better than nothing though. Sarah smiles and promptly realizes she's missed a vital point.]

I'm Sarah by the way!

I am positive. You just gotta do me a favor. If you ever come over, you have to promise me you'll draw something on my walls.

[Yes, Sarah. That is an adult actually encouraging you to draw on the walls. If Sarah looks close enough, the walls behind Julie are a mess of color and pictures. She prefers it that way and probably did a lot of it herself.]

Ah, yes. Planet Earth. [A teasing smirk.] That's the one that's three planets from the sun and out if nine is the only inhabitable one, right? [A nod, quickly followed by a small laugh.]

I'm from there. Seattle, specifically.

[A beat.]

I guess I didn't think about it like that.

[It's definitely an interesting perspective. Sarah holds out her arms to better show herself though.]

Physically though, I dunno if I'm any good for it. I'm fast and tough, I think, but I've never fought anything before. It sounds scary.

[If only all adults were like this. Julie is officially up with the coolest people she's ever met.]

That is so awesome! I always wanted to do something like this back home but my Dad said I couldn't and that looks so cool!

[Excited? Well yes she is. Sarah forces herself to calm down a little and parks her backside back on her chair. As she speaks, her eyes continue to roam the walls.]

You got it. [Sarah laughs lightly and raises a hand.] I live juuuust outside of Austin.

[Her smiles fades a little. Oh right. Things were getting pretty crazy back home.]

Well. Lived.

[Different Worlds. Honestly, even in her world, there were some who might not be used to Military Time. Midii didn't even give it a second thought.]

Right. Eight at night. It'll be dark out, but the streets are lit well enough that the main roads should be fine to walk along.

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