first roll, first exposure

[strangeandunusual]

[the morning of the 18th, before Aziraphale's little "miracle", the mirror turns on to show Lydia, sitting outside on the balcony of the apartment she shares with Mal. those who met her at the arrival ceremonies saw her with her hair down, but today she's pulled it up into a wild, riotous ponytail like a gothic palm tree]

Um, good morning. I'm Lydia, and I've never used anything like this before. Mal says it's like a "smart phone", but I'd never heard of that, so bear with me.

[there's an awkward pause. the morning breeze ruffles her hair and the black poncho she's wearing. which she may or may not have made out of one of her spare bedsheets because she didn't want to wear the same thing two days in a row.]

Anyway. The Dreamfinder, he said we have to get jobs in order to buy stuff. I know there's a decent amount of food in my kitchen, but we're gonna eat through what I know how to cook, pretty fast. So I'm going job hunting. If anyone wants to join me, I'll be downstairs in like, half an hour? I just need to finish my cereal and brush my teeth. Or you can meet me here at room 3A. Just knock first.

Comments

[strangeandunusual]

Where I'm from, people don't eat them, they just kill them for their tusks, which I think is pretty awful.

... But it turns out the island is owned by antother hunter named Zaroff, and he's such a good hunter that he doesn't think animals are a challenge anymore.

[she drops her voice into her best campfire tale register]

So he made Ship Trap Island on purpose, to hunt the people who washed up there. Because he's convinced humans are the most clever animal. And he gives the American three days to survive.

[ace_of_hearts]

Yeah, that's pretty fucked up.

Sounds familiar...

No, I take that back. Not the hunting people part, that's also fucked up. Your world's really fucked up sweetie.

[strangeandunusual]

Yeah, I think that's why the author wrote the story, honestly. To point out just how awful it is to kill something just because you can.

[ace_of_hearts]

Hey, for the record. I have never killed anything just because I could. Besides, you have to be like fifty times stronger to prove you don't need to kill them.

Unless they committed the unforgivable. Then you have to kill them.

[strangeandunusual]

[crud. her eyes widen in surprise and embarrassment]

Oh, no! I didn't assume you did... I'm so sorry if it sounded that way!

... What's unforgivable, where you're from?

[ace_of_hearts]

Nah. Just saying. Hunting for food isn't the same as hunting... like I mean, okay I have hunted people, but only because they deserved it. Marines hunt all pirates, and cipher pol hunted babies not for the challenge, but because they told themselves it was to save the world. [Okay, so maybe it's more Ace's world that's fucked up.]

Betraying your crew and murdering a brother. Mutiny. Backstabbing.

[strangeandunusual]

Babies?! WHY would killing babies save the world? That's awful! ... I mean, so is mutiny and fratricide, but... babies!!

[ace_of_hearts]

They believed certain children would grow up to destroy the world. Just by existing. By being born.

Does your world have anything called an Antichrist? That's not a term in my world, but I guess it's the same meaning.

[strangeandunusual]

I saw a movie about it, once. And some people believe in it, but they're fanatics. Religious nuts. I never believed in it. There's no way someone can break the whole world by just existing. The universe is too random.

[ace_of_hearts]

[Shrugs.] Well, that's why.

[strangeandunusual]

That just makes the people who'd do it even worse. They're not just awful, they're gullible, too. And awful, gullible people can do a lot of damage.

[LOOKING AT YOU STEP-MOM]

I'm almost done with my breakfast, do you still want to come with me?

[ace_of_hearts]

Yeah, definitely.

Got any ideas on what kind of job you want most?

[strangeandunusual]

I'd love something to do with cameras, since I've been studying photography ... Otherwise I guess I could wait tables or work in a store like most girls my age do, back home. There's bound to be plenty of that.

[ace_of_hearts]

No worries, I'm pretty sure we can find something with cameras! That should be pretty useful everywhere.

[strangeandunusual]

We can hope.

[she stuffed the last bite of cereal in her mouth and spoke around it as she picked up her bowl to bring it to the sink. he was a pirate...what manners?]

Whabout 'oo?

[ace_of_hearts]

What, you think places are hiring shirtless narcoleptic pirates?

[strangeandunusual]

[she speaks over the rush of the sink as she washes up, then checks her reflection in the bathroom mirror to make sure she doesn't have food in her teeth for interviews before heading out into the hall.]

There's gotta be something. Besides, if you go around without a shirt all the time, you'll get sunburned.

[knock, knock]

[ace_of_hearts]

I can't get burned I--

[Gets the door, oh hey you!] I'm made of fire. Usually. Will be again soon.

[strangeandunusual]

Oh.

[she's not sure what to say to that first part, but... hi friendo]

What about groundskeepers? Like, garden work or fixing roofs and stuff? People who work outside a lot. You wouldn't need a shirt for that. Lots of summer workers don't. And with being on a pirate ship so much, being high up on a roof probably isn't anything for you.

[ace_of_hearts]

Oh yeah, I slept on roofs all the time!

[Takes her hand and marches along.] Not so good on the construction thing. I mean, better than Luffy, but a wild animal is better at it than Luffy.

[strangeandunusual]

[o-oh. holding hands is a thing? okay. she focuses on keeping up, since his legs are longer]

What about gardening? Mowing lawns. That's pretty easy. You just push the mower around all day and keep the lines straight.

[ace_of_hearts]

I guess so... [Glances around.] Is that a thing around here?

[strangeandunusual]

I don't know, but we'll find you something, no matter what. I don't want you going hungry or without anything important

[ace_of_hearts]

I'll starve if I don't get a job?!

[strangeandunusual]

I don't think they'd let you starve, no. But ... food would definitely be easier to get. I know that little book says some places give you free food ... but I don't know if you'd be able to live off it.

Seriously, though, Ace, what do you have against work?