tushanshu | 01

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01 | Video

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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Oh...

[It's sad to hear.]

Man, they really need to work out their magicky stuff so this doesn't happen.

Mm, you'd hope so.

But, still, it seems like there are a lot of people here willing to fight. Maybe they'll be enough to make up for mistakes like us.

I'm noticing that. I kinda wish I could help though? Maybe not to fight but just... do something.

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.

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?

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

[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.

[ Annie is quiet just a moment, assessing. When she speaks this time, there's a certain obvious consideration in how she picks her words. ]

When it stops being scary, something's gone wrong. Fear isn't a reason to rule anything out.

[That was not the response Sarah expected. The girl stares a moment, knowing full well that Annie isn't your typical person.]

...Where'd you come from?

[There's just something in her manner that makes her want to ask, and even then her words are a little hushed.]

A mountain village. I lived there with my father, once.

[ She'd been about this kid's age when she'd left home, maybe younger. It's hard to tell. ]

But it was a world filled with monsters.

[She stares in silence. This conversation got heavy. Fast.]

Was? Does that mean they're gone now?

Maybe. [ If the subject matter got heavy suddenly, Annie doesn't seem to notice. ]

I won't be able to return there, I know that.

[She should probably stop there, but Sarah's too curious and honestly a little worried.]

...Why not?

I said it before, didn't I? I'm not the type of person meant to fight monsters. That life back in my village is gone.

Right.

[She looks a little sheepish.]

Sorry. I didn't mean to pry or nothin'.

I don't mind. [ She shakes her head faintly. ] I wouldn't have answered if you did.

I guess so.

[A pause and a shrug.]

I dunno. I'll work somethin' out. Maybe learning how to fight isn't such a bad idea. If there's something else I could do though, I'll probably do that first.

Maybe the clinic like you said. ...What are you gonna do?

I'm...

[ Even though she'd been giving that advice so easily, she hasn't thought this through yet. ]

Something where no one has to get hurt, maybe. There's a woman named Bianca at the clinic. She's kind. If nothing else, I don't think she'll let you go hungry.

[Sarah tilts her head to the side and then nods slowly.]

People not gettin' hurt is good. Helping them get better is too.

We could go together? I-if the clinic is something you're interested in. Though, sounds like you've already checked it out a lot.

You'll have better luck if you go alone. People are disarmed by children, so they'll be more generous.

[It's truth, but Sarah can't help but look amused.]

Guess I'll keep that in mind when I'm in the market too.

[She's kidding. Mostly.]

It's not a bad idea to keep in mind. Use what you have to your advantage.

Yeah. I... Hey, what's your name?

[She likes you, Annie.]

I'm Sarah.

Annie. [ A brief pause, then: ]

Hey, if you run into monsters, make noise about it. There's always someone out there that knows how to fight them.

[ That she's talking more about the kind of monsters humans might not be entirely clear nor is the fact that it's an offer from her, but it's the closes she gets to something like that. ]

[The girl nods, a little uncertain but sensing the importance of what Annie's telling her.]

Yeah, I will. Promise.

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