video;

[entrapments]

[ the feed begins in audio, and on the opposite end of the communicator, hayley chews on her bottom lip. the pause only lengthens after she clears her throat, and discovers that she's managed to find the video function. the lens remains pointed at her knee for one beat, then another- before the image is righted, and she turns an apologetic smile to the feed. ]

Sorry. I'm not really used to the. You know, [ cue the demonstrative finger wiggles ] future stuff yet.

[ a small crease appears in her brow, but softens as soon as the communicator is set on the table, so she can settle down to look into the feed directly. her shoulders hunch, and she plays with her fingers anxiously as she begins again. ]

Anyway um, so I know I should be really freaked out about the dimension hopping spaceship thing, and the mutiny thing, and I will be. Once it like, processes. And I don't mean to sound super insensitive or anything? But um, I don't suppose anybody's managed to find like, some books or anything just hanging around, have they?

I'm pretty desperate for anything at this point, especially since it's only a matter of time before we get back into the jell-o baths, you know? And I know that all you super cool space heroes are like, up to your eyeballs in shenanigans, but there's just not a whole lot of stuff for- kids around here.

The whole, no tv, no internet, no ipods thing is kindof like, [ a sheepish laugh ] hell on earth for a teenager. Or. Not earth. Since we're in. Space now.

Comments

[puppydogeyes]

[She shrugs again.]

Like I said. You're right.

[entrapments]

[ her fingers drum quietly offscreen ]

-What were you in for?

[puppydogeyes]

For being me. The Cartazonos Academy for Young Women of Passion.

[A pause. She's trying to be careful about who she talks to about this stuff, but she's come too far in this conversation.]

My passion is that I can talk to dogs.

[entrapments]

[ her brows crease for just a moment ]

Wait so is like "passion" code for "super powers"?

[puppydogeyes]

We call them pathoses, but yeah.

[entrapments]

So your pets onboard- you can- talk to them?

[puppydogeyes]

Yeah. And understand them. Make them do stuff, sometimes, but I've been training them since they were puppies, so they usually listen to me without that.

[entrapments]

[ her head cants ]

Like- does that work on all animals? Even supernatural ones?

[puppydogeyes]

I'm only dogs. There was another girl who could do birds. [She shrugs.] And I've never met any supernatural dogs, so I don't know.

[entrapments]

Given what this ship likes to throw our way, you might get that chance.

[puppydogeyes]

Guess I'll let you know, then.

[entrapments]

Hey um- I didn't-

What's your name?

[puppydogeyes]

Tyke.

Yours?

[entrapments]

Hayley.

Nice to meet you, I guess. Though I reserve the right to say that again if we like, meet in person at some point.

[puppydogeyes]

[That gets half a smile.]

Yeah, sure.