cop_an_attitude | 01 | [Voice/Action]

[For a moment, nothing happens. The camera is focused on a patch of grass. There are rustling sounds and a woman's voice mutters indistinguishably to herself, and eventually the journal is righted so that the camera focuses on Sally's face. There is a leaf in her hair. She does not look happy.]

Right, I think I've worked out what this thing does, and I just want to say that if this is someone's idea of a joke, I'm not laughing. See this? [She lifts up a police badge containing her ID.] This is a police badge. It's my police badge, yeah? It says I'm Sergeant Sally Donovan of London PD, which means that when I find out who's responsible for this, for...this [She gestures down the length of her body, at the dress that isn't hers] and for this [She turns the journal to take in the unfamiliar surroundings] and I don't even know how to start about this [She jerks her thumb over her shoulder at the pair of dark brown wings that definitely aren't supposed to be there] that person or persons are in a world of trouble.

My advice to you, whoever you are, is to come forward immediately. That's less trouble on my part and a lighter sentence for you, so it's in everyone's best interest. Do not make me find you.

[Sally fumes silently for a moment, and when she decides her point has been made, the recording ends.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Your boss?!

[she looks relieved at that] That's great! Having people from home can help a lot.

...the village isn't bad. Not usually. But it helps to get your feet under you if you aren't doing it alone.

Yeah, and...someone else I know. [This time her smile is a little forced and sickly.]

Not usually. I've heard it's not always peaceful...

[the shift in tone catches her attention, blue eyes regarding the officer consideringly...before she smiles again and lets it go. Or, rather, sets it aside for further consideration. From her tone, this other person is obviously a complication...but she doesn't seem afraid, so they're probably not a threat. She's hoping, anyway. You never knew in this place.]

Is there anyplace that is?

[she shakes her head] But...you're right. The not-peaceful that happens here isn't exactly your run-of-the-mill mischief. Which you probably figured out from the wings.

[her expression goes more serious, then. She's not exactly dismayed, but she won't make light of a truly worrisome situation] We're...prisoners? I mean, we have a lot of freedom in the village. And we're cared for well enough. But we definitely aren't free.

There's a barrier that keeps anyone from exploring too far, and there's a war going on that the people here are regularly drafted into. And with a war comes all kinds of complications. [like captors who have no problem experimenting on their prisoners]

But there are a lot of us here...and nearly anyone here is willing to help. No one is dealing with this alone. [a small, serious smile. It doesn't reach her eyes] No one should have to.

No. No one should have to.

...Sorry; I've a feeling I'm in for a long few days getting used to this.

[she nods] It's a lot to take in. Still...you'll adjust faster than you might think.

And it's not permanent. Some people are here longer than others, but people do go home. We just haven't figured how to get everyone home, yet.

[and there were people who wouldn't want to go home, even if they could, but that was another matter entirely]

Well, I've been told I'm nothing if not resilient. [She hasn't, really, or at least not in those words, but nobody needs to know that.] Sorry, I never asked, did I? How long have you been here?

[the smile she gives Sally is apologetic at best] ...a little over a year. I promise that's not always the case, though.

[She decides it's best not to dwell on that.] Do you like it all right? You know, considering everything.

[it's a loaded question, and she takes a minute to answer it]

If you mean the place itself...no. Day to day, it's fine. It's even nice. But I can't just accept a place or a people that kidnap and use people at will. There's no excuse for a lot of what happens, here.

But I don't regret being here, either. And if I had a choice to go back home tomorrow...

[she hesitates] I'd go back. I have promises to keep there. But I have people I care about here, too, and responsibilities to them. It wouldn't be an easy choice.

...I guess it'd have to be a hard choice. You get to know people, you form attachments, just like everywhere else.

Sorry. Didn't mean for the conversation to take a turn like that. [Not that it was altogether pleasant before, but nonetheless.]

[she's quick to shake her head, her smile reappearing. Around them, the forest is starting to thin as they get closer to the village]

Don't be. Really, there are questions you'll need to ask eventually and I don't mind answering.

And I don't want to make it seem worse than it is. For some people, this is a second chance. Flaws and all. For some, it's better than where they've come from. It's one of the reasons I wouldn't want to just walk away. The good here is worth fighting for.

[a small laugh] Now it's my turn to apologize. Your first day here isn't really the time to worry about righting wrongs.

[At that, Sally smiles.] Righting wrongs is a daily occurrence for me, if I'm doing my job right. Don't worry about that.

[It seems the trees are thinning out, so she glances around expectantly.] Not far now, then?

[she laughs] Well, I'd think you deserve at least a day's vacation, finding yourself here. At least until you have a place to stay and you can meet up with your boss to see a familiar face.

[she motions ahead] You'll see the lights, soon. I'll take you to the welcome center tonight. New feathers...new people tend to arrive all at once, so they've got plenty of beds. And tomorrow, you can have your pick of housing. If no one's living in it, it's free for the taking.

There might be a price. There probably is. But as far as I know, it's a price we'll pay whether we take advantage of the things here or not. Even if we wanted to earn our way, there's no money here. [it's not a fact she's particularly happy about. She doesn't like writing blank checks]

[Sally laughs back.] I haven't had a holiday in ages, so it's about time. [It's nice, for a moment, albeit a little weird, to be able to joke about it.]

New feathers? [She glosses over the bit about the price, although it's nice to know she won't need money here, considering she didn't find her wallet in her clothes.] That's a little twee, isn't it? ...I wonder why it is we all show up at once. I guess they pick us in batches.

[a quick smile. She's used to colloquialisms, but that's one she didn't know] Twee?

Hmm? Oh, erm... [Sally's been to America all of once in her life and didn't manage to absorb much, so she scours her brain for references from American films.] "Cutesy"?

Oh! [she laughs] It's definitely not the most original. But apt enough.

I have to say I like it better than "fresh meat".

01 | [Voice/Action]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject