cop_an_attitude | 01 | [Voice/Action]

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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

[This doesn't exactly fill Sally with confidence, but she tries to shake it off and focus on what's important.]

This has been done to other people? Are you one of them?

Pretty much anyone you'll meet here is. Here...hang on.

[she hardly ever uses the video function, but she manages to turn it on now with minimal fumbling. With a face to match the voice, she seems even younger, her smile more youthful than her actual 25 years let on]

This place has a way of taking what you expect and turning it on its head.

In the meantime, though...have you found the village yet? Or could you use a guide?

[Sally turns on her own video function in reciprocation.]

Hello...yeah, I'm starting to realize this place is...

There's a village? I - usually I've a good sense of direction, but I haven't got the slightest clue where I am. Uh, sorry, what's your name?

I'm Jilly. And there definitely is. It doesn't compare with a city, but it's a bit better than being stranded out in the woods.

I can come out and find you if you can give me a landmark to work off of. Do you see any watch posts? Or streams or bridges?

Sergeant Donovan, but call me Sally. I'm...I assume I'm off the clock.

I'm near a stream now; I thought it might lead me out of the forest. It's about five feet wide here, and - hang on...yeah, I think that's a bridge up there. To the north of me.

I... [she hesitates as she checks her map, confirming her guess] Right. I think I know where you're at.

If you give me fifteen to twenty minutes, I could meet you. Or, if it's too cold, keep following the stream north. If you're where I think you are, you'll be heading towards the village. I can meet you halfway.

It's not too cold, thanks - I found my clothes, and I was dressed for the weather when...whatever happened to me happened. I'm heading north now.

...And thanks very much for your help, miss.

Just Jilly. Please. [there's a quick smile before she picks up the journal, the image shifting sideways with the movement as she heads for the door]

We've all been there. Literally. It's the least I can do.

I'm turning off the video now, but if all goes well, you should see me in about ten minutes.

Jilly, then. I'll see you soon.

[Even though there didn't seem to be any particular need for urgency, Jilly sets a fast pace heading into the woods. Being a new feather stranded in the woods was bad enough without night settling around them.

It wouldn't be too long before the artist would become visible. The illusion of being little more than a kid was even stronger in person, with her tiny frame dwarfed by an oversized sweatshirt and large construction boots. Unruly curls, even more tangled than Donovan's currently tousled hair, framed a pixie-like face.

She smiled brightly, welcoming and relieved, when she catches sight of the Sergeant] ...I'm glad that worked.

[she came to a halt when she was only a few yards away, waiting for Sally to catch up before turning back and pointing in the direction she'd come from] We're pretty close, here. We can get you settled, soon.

I bet I'm gladder than you are.

[Sally's impression of Jilly's age has had a few years knocked off with the addition of every new piece of information; she's now under the assumption that the other woman is about sixteen, but has decided that's all irrelevant until a later date. For the moment, it's just nice to see a friendly face and to know that she'll soon be out of this godforsaken forest.

She isn't sure she likes the term "settled", though, as it implies she won't be leaving anytime soon, but Jilly is being very helpful and kind and Sally pushes that worry aside.]

Thanks for coming to meet me. I feel a bit dim now; I probably could've gone all the way myself without making you come out in the cold.

[she laughs at that--a light sound.]

Just because you could doesn't mean you should have to. And I don't mind. This is nothing compared to New York winters.

[As she falls in step with the officer, she gives her a slightly wry smile] Welcome to Luceti.

Luceti. [She tests the word; it stands to reason this place would have a name, but she suspected, perhaps childishly, something more on the sinister side.]

You're from New York, then? I've never been. [It seems a safer topic of conversation for the time being.]

I am! The state, though. Not the city. I'm from a smaller city called Newford. [she smiles] Don't worry if you haven't heard of it. It's not exactly one for world renown.

There are people from all over, though. [including other worlds entirely but she'll leave that alone for now] Including quite a few from London and the rest of Britain.

Never heard of it, no, but I'm not exactly a scholar of American geography. [She gives an apologetic smile.]

I've been talking to a few people on...this. [She waves her journal a bit.] Some of them are British. My boss is even here.

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.]

01 | [Voice/Action]

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