02 | [Written/Voice/Action]

[cop_an_attitude]

[Early enough in the morning that it's clear someone couldn't get back to sleep, a series of doodles appear on the page: they're Sally's best estimate of the floor plan of her apartment, with little rudimentary sketches of furniture in various placements. Over the span of a half hour, several are drawn with different configurations and crossed out before one ends up circled. A check mark is drawn next to it for good measure.

She was too lazy to get out of bed and find real scrap paper, but she figured no one would care.

Much later in the morning, at a reasonable hour, Sally makes a voice recording.]

Right. I've got a question, much as I hate to ask it: since I've been a bit of a dosser when it comes to actually talking to people since I've come here, what with the rampant madness of...everything, and being busy with a few things, I've run short of friends who're willing to do me favors. That being said, I've several articles of heavy furniture that need to be moved up seven flights of stairs.

My usual find-help-moving-house tactic of offering free beer and crisps is moot here, but if there's anyone who can help me out, I'd be happy to negotiate some sort of payment. A favor in return, or something. As I said, I wouldn't ask, but...well. Some of you lot have magic and super strength, and I'm just a regular copper with one very slightly weak ankle. [A self-deprecating laugh that's a little more rueful than she intended. Sally really hates asking for help, but she also really wants her flat not to look like a room in a mental institution, so something had to give.] Thanks, everyone.

[In the afternoon, Sally can be found poking around the item shop, looking for home decorating items and some things she's hoping will show up from her world, and in the evening she'll be at the library doing some cursory research of other worlds and waiting for something interesting to jump out at her.]

Comments

[cop_an_attitude]

[Now Sally feels slightly guilty for possibly wigging out a little kid. Oops.] Do you like to draw? Ah, this one would be good for the sky.

[flickerflash]

I love to draw! [That gets a smile out of her, and she nods enthusiastically to Sally's suggestion. She turns back to picking out pencils.] And this one is good for valleys. And this one for sunlight!

[cop_an_attitude]

I bet you're a very good artist. You've an excellent command of color.

[flickerflash]

I'm the best in my class. My dad says I should be an artist when I grow up, but I want to be a policewoman.

[And now her eyes shift back to Sally again with a cautious look.] Sanji said he talked to you. That was you, wasn't it?

[cop_an_attitude]

That was me, all right. [Apparently Katie can't or won't tell the truth, but the policewoman thing seems to be sticking. Sally wonders what that means.] I'm a policewoman myself.

[flickerflash]

He said that, too. [She fidgets.] I'm sorry I don't remember you. But I don't remember lots of things right now.

[cop_an_attitude]

It's all right. You meet lots of people here; it's tricky to keep track of them all. [But that just sounds worrisome.] Do you know why you don't remember things? You didn't hit your head, did you?

[flickerflash]

I don't know that part, either. I just woke up in the forest. I'm okay, though! [She does hasten to add that, totally earnest.] It's just I'm missing things. Um. Buffy said I might have been kidnapped.

[Which, as she can't remember it, doesn't actually worry her too much.]

[cop_an_attitude]

[Oh, for god's sake. Someone has had just about enough of the Malnosso for like, ever.] Right. You're sure you're okay, though? You've got someone to look after you, right?

[flickerflash]

Oh, yes. I stay in the attic with Mr Sparrow down at the beach. He's a pirate captain, you know. [...erk. And then hurriedly:] But he's a very nice pirate! I'm sure he hasn't broken too many laws.

[cop_an_attitude]

[Fortunately for that story, Sally has only met the variety of pirate that doesn't do much actual pirating, here.] I'm sure he is. You live in an attic? Is it a nice attic?

[flickerflash]

Oh it's very nice. It's big and it has lots of space to draw on the walls.

[cop_an_attitude]

I bet all the other kids are jealous of you. I was never allowed to draw on walls when I was your age.

[flickerflash]

[She grins a little and ducks her head.] My mum would probably have a fit if I tried at home.

[cop_an_attitude]

[She makes herself smile back, even though it's rotten depressing that this little girl was taken away from her mother.] I bet she would. I remember when I was about your age and my brother scribbled all over the kitchen wall. Our mum gave him such a spanking.

[flickerflash]

[Katie giggles at that.] I bet that taught him a lesson. Is he a policeman too?

[cop_an_attitude]

No, he's in the army. He's younger than me, but he looks very grown-up in his uniform. [And Sally misses him.]

[flickerflash]

I bet he looks very dashing. My uncle was in the navy, and he always looked really heroic.

[cop_an_attitude]

I'll bet he did. [It's still weird, not knowing if what Katie says is true, but that seems to happen with most children at one point or another.]