001 [video]

[dogsanddaughters]

[Have a wide-eyed teenager fussing with her phone. The video is a little shaky. She's sitting in one of the apartments, Barnaby's head in her lap, and seems to be sincerely cheerful despite waking up someplace far from home. Miriam waves.]

Hi! Looks like we're all stuck here for a bit, so I figured I'd introduce myself and what not. It kinda sucks right now, but that doesn't mean I don't wanna meet you guys! Anyway, I'm Miriam, and this handsome dude is Barnaby.

[Barnaby sneezes.]

He's my guy, so don't shoot him or anything. He won't do anything bad.

Two things.

First, uh, I know it's a long shot and all, but anybody seen a lady named Bethany? She's really tall and she's got brown hair and she's my mom, so it'd be really cool if I could find her. Maybe she's not here, but I gotta ask.

Secondly--

[Miriam holds up a crude drawing to the phone. It's the logo for the Sons of Plunder - a human skull with blue roses for eyes.]

--anybody walking around wearing this? Asking for a friend.

Comments

[video]

[tongueamok]

[This just in: Carlisle has learned to work his network device all by himself. More at eleven.

He turns it on and is ready to take a look at what's happening, but as soon as he clicks the feed on, he nearly drops his phone. His voice cuts in off-camera.]

Desth, where'd it go?

[His hand appears, then his face as he scrutinizes the screen. He goes from scared to relieved with a sigh.]

Oh! Oh, that's a dog. Big dog. Thought it was, ah. Something else for a moment, but that is indeed a dog.

[video]

[dogsanddaughters]

[Ooh, new person! Miriam giggles, angling the camera so that she can show off Barnaby's giant head. The dog looks entirely unamused by the whole thing, but allows it.] Yeah! He's my dog. Who're you, mister?

[tongueamok]

Nice dog, Barnaby. Good dog.

[Annnnnnd that's the extent of his knowledge on how to deal with dogs.]

My name is Carlisle. I just arrived here a couple of days ago. Not exactly a fantastic predicament to find myself in, but I suppose it could be much, much worse. That freshness unfortunately means I haven't seen either of the people you're looking for, but I don't mind keeping my eyes open when I am, er... out and about.

[Not that he intends on being "out and about" much, but it's something.]

[dogsanddaughters]

[Barnaby lifts his head and sniffs at the phone. Miriam pulls it away before he can smudge the screen.] Yeah, it could be worse. I mean, nothing's on fire, we got food and stuff, it's all right. And thanks, Carlisle. That's a cool name, by the way. You're the first Carlisle I've ever met.

[tongueamok]

[He lets out a nervous laugh.]

Well, that makes two of us. I'm the only Carlisle I've ever met. I never did think to ask where that name came from, but I suppose it doesn't matter now.

[And there's a pause here, something resting on the tip of his tongue.]

Does he... know any tricks? Dogs can learn tricks, right?

[dogsanddaughters]

[Nervous little dude, isn't he? Miriam settles back against the wall, her hand on Barnaby's head.] I think it's cool. Means I'll remember you.

[She grins.] Oh yeah! He knows a ton. Barnaby, Barnaby, speak!

[The dog gives a long-suffering bark, then puts his head back down in Miriam's lap.]

[tongueamok]

[Oh Miriam. "Nervous little dude" doesn't even cover half of it.]

Hah! That's fantastic! He just barked, just like that!

[This might be the happiest he's been since he got here. Scratch that -- this is definitely the happiest he's been since his arrival. This might be the happiest he'll ever be in Hadriel.

He seems to catch his over-enthusiasm and dials it back a notch.]

Ah, sorry. I've just never really... you know, dealt with dogs much. Seen hunting dogs, but never handled them myself. Always thought they were a little intimidating and whatnot.

video

[barbarus]

[ Damen responds with an uncertain look, and a flat tone. ]

Your friend is searching for a skull?

I've not seen it. [ A pause. ] Or your mother, Miriam. But I will search, and if I find her, I will bring her to you.

[video]

[dogsanddaughters]

[Oh, Damen! Miriam beams at him.] No, no, it's a symbol.

[She lowers her voice a little.]

's called the Weeping Woman. Dunno why it's called that, but it is. And the Sons wear it on their armor.

[And then she brightens instantly, as if the previous words hadn't been said at all.]

Thank you! You're really nice, Damen.

[video]

[barbarus]

[ She’s nice, too. A remarkably cheerful girl, for one who has been kidnapped and separated from her mother. He wants to help her. ]

Don’t thank me yet. I’ve yet to find her.

[ What she says gives him a new view of the picture, though. It’s not a skull, it’s a sigil or flag. Damen’s own is a lion. His instinct towards someone who would use a skull is not positive. ]

The Sons are the ones you believed did this to us, but the people here blame the gods. I don't know that the Sons are here at all. They may have nothing to do with this, for good or ill.

[video]

[dogsanddaughters]

But you're looking.

[And he didn't even ask her anything for it. That makes him special.

Miriam shakes her head, rubbing at the back of her neck.]

Oh, no, I don't think they did this after all. Seems a bit, uh--big? Even for them. But I wanna make sure none of them got here too. Just in case.

[video]

[barbarus]

[ He will look. He wants to help her. She's too young to be going through any of this, especially alone. ]

If they are here, and they threaten you, they will have me to deal with.

We will find the way out of this place. I do not care how big it is. A doorway in means a doorway out, no matter what these so-called gods say.

[video]

[dogsanddaughters]

[Miriam beams at him.] Thanks, Damen. And I got Barnaby too! He protects me.

[The dog in question is currently snoring on her lap.]

That's the spirit! We just gotta stay alive and it'll be okay.

text;

[dedikated]

That's... one hell of a dog.

[text]

[dogsanddaughters]

I KNOW RIGHT!!!!!

[text]

[dedikated]

How long you had him?

[text]

[dogsanddaughters]

Few years now. He's my BEST FRIEND.

[text]

[dedikated]

Lucky that you got to come together, then.

[text]

[dogsanddaughters]

do you have friends here?

video

[dragonbite]

You could probably decorate some skull with some flowers.

[ Totally not getting it. ]

[video]

[dogsanddaughters]

[Miriam just stares at him.] Dude. No.

[video]

[dragonbite]

Eh? What?

[video]

[dogsanddaughters]

It's not a real skull. That'd be weird.

[You're not weird, are you?]

[video]

[dragonbite]

It would?

[ He's super weird, ok? ]

[video]

[dogsanddaughters]

Why would you put flowers in a real skull? It used to be a person!