hadriel | 001 [video]

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001 [video]

[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.

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[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.

[ 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.

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.

[ 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.

[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.

Yes. But you and your Barnaby should steer clear of the caves here.

[ He's been there; he knows. He has no desire to see either Miriam, or her little dog, made a meal of by one of the creatures inside. ]

The people who warn of danger are not wrong. There's more to fear than the chests we saw in the arena. You will be careful, won't you?

Don't worry, I'm not going over that way. [People are one thing and caves are another. Miriam doesn't like the idea of getting eaten by anything. She nods, more seriously this time.] Uh huh. I don't wanna die. So I won't. You should probably get a gun or something, Damen, you only have the sword.

[ Damen’s eyebrows lift. Emotion is easy to read on his face, and his confusion is clear. ]

Only the sword? I’ve rarely heard it described like that.

I know nothing of guns. What are they?

Ohhhh boy. You're from, like, ancient times or something? [This is really weird. Miriam frowns, considering the best way of explaining. How does one explain guns?] You got bows and arrows, right? Well, guns are -- pretty much the next evolution of those. You hit people with bullets from a really long way away.

[ That term makes Damen smile, which is a step up from the irritation it had caused the first time he heard it. ]

You are the second to suggest that. Ancient times. I'm from the only time I know.

But we do use bows and arrows. Guns are meant for shooting, then. I'd like to see one - though, I never favoured the bow. Where you are from...swords are no longer used?

I guess. This whole....thing is just weird. [Miriam nods with true enthusiasm.] Yeah! I mean, you can hit people with 'em too, but mostly for shooting. People mostly use knives now, if they don't have guns. Or sticks. Like these. [She holds up her stun baton, flicking on the activation switch. It crackles with electricity. Barnaby whines, not liking it that close to his ears.] You hit people and they go all twitchy.

[ Damen's eyebrows lift. Clearly, her baton has more use in it than he'd realised. Perhaps he'd judged it too quickly. ]

That's a useful thing. I didn't know it did that.

I can use knives, but a sword has better reach. Any weapon is better than none. These guns you speak of interest me. I wonder if they can be found here.

[Miriam giggles.] I got lotsa tricks. Maybe I'll show you what Barnaby can do sometime. There might be some in the armory? I heard people talkin' about it, but I dunno if they have much ammo.

You need lots of ammo, for guns. Especially if you're not a good shot, which you might not be. No offense! But it's hard when you've never done it before. I can shoot stuff, but -- [she makes a face] -- the recoil gets me pretty bad. I'm too little.

I'm an excellent shot.

[ With...you know, spears and knives and that sort of thing. It can't be so remarkably different. He fully intends to get hold of one of these guns and prove that fact. ]

And you're little, but you're brave. That counts for plenty. A good blade may serve you better. Isn't Barnaby your dog?

[ And not a weapon. Maybe she has him trained to bite people, that wouldn't be terribly surprising. ]

[Miriam gives him a dubious look.] Sure. All right. I'm just gonna stand....outta the way. When you practice.

[Because of the ricochet. And stuff.

She brightens instantly at the praise.] Hell yeah! I'm -- I'm alive. And lotsa people aren't!

[She fluffs up Barnaby's ears for the camera. The dog huffs, clearly used to this.] But who said he's just a dog, right?

[ She doubts him. Damen, who has never doubted himself, is only amused. ]

You can stand behind me. You’ll be telling me how to shoot.

[ In fairness, finding an actual teacher would be better. He’s not sure who, though. He doesn’t yet know these people well enough for that. Assessing their skills is something he needs to do.

Her next words mystify him, though. ]

What else would he be? Or, should I ask what more he is?

[Well, he's big enough to be a human shield. Probably.] Ummmmmmmm okay. But with a pistol or something. Not the big guns. 'cause they're loud and they make Barnaby howl.

[The dog snorts at this, as if listening. Miriam grins. She likes surprising people.]

Well, let's just say if you tried to shoot him, that wouldn't be too good for you.

[ Damen's attention shifts from Miriam to Barnaby then. He's clearly interested, but he also likes the sound of this. A dog that reacts poorly to being attacked will only be helpful to Miriam. He'd feel better knowing she was a little safer than he'd thought. ]

He's a good attack dog, then? That's good to know. A strong animal like that will only help you.

I'm glad he came with you. I'd like it better had you a sword at your side, even so.

Oh yeah. The best. Aren't ya, buddy?

[Barnaby sneezes on the phone. Miriam grimaces. It takes her a moment to get the screen clear again.]

He's better than a sword, trust me. People notice if you've got a gun, but they never look at him.

[ Yes, that definitely seems like a normal dog. Still, Damen doesn't look put off. It doesn't doubt that it's a good protector. ]

If they don't, they should. He's not small.

Why did you call him Barnaby? It's not a name I've heard before.

[ Neither is 'Miriam', but one thing at a time. ]

No, he's really not. [Miriam presses her face against Barnaby's neck for a moment, making him grunt.] I named him after this movie I liked. There was a character named Barnaby in it. He was pretty cool, so...yeah. Anyway, his full title is His Royal Highness Sir Barnabas Barks A Lot the Third.

[ She needs to stop being so cute. It makes him horribly protective. ]

Have there been two before him? That's good, I hope he lives up to his name.

I've seen few people who were able to bring animals with them. I left several horses and a wagon train behind. I think you were lucky.

There were two other babies in the...litter? I dunno if they were Barnabies, but he was the third. [Miriam nods proudly. Then she gasps.] You had a horse? Really? What're they like? Are they nice? Are their ears really soft?

[ She's never seen a horse. How do people get around in her world? ]

I was with my army. We travel by horse, and yes. Their ears are soft. I've been riding since I was a boy. Don't your people use them?

[Miriam gapes at him. There were horses! Multiple horses.] No! I mean, not on Echo Six. Maybe some other places, but I've never been there. Can they go really fast?