ataraxion | 001: [video]

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001: [video]

[A solemn young face wearing a disapproving expression appears on screen. She has on the issued jumpsuit, but with a man's overcoat that's clearly many sizes too big on over top of it.]

I am told we are on a ship and cannot leave it, and though we admittedly do not have much sailing in Yell County, I have seen pictures of ships and am not so easy as that to fool.

[A deep breath. There are no trials that cannot be overcome by a strong will and a sense of justice.]

It would seem I have also lost my traveling companions, and nearly all my money with them. But I have a good revolver and a California gold piece, and I would consider bartering them for a guide who knows his way around and possesses some skill in tracking, and who has half a head of sense.

And does not reek of whiskey.

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Can't see how anyone would track anything when there's no land to speak of. No trees or rock, just ...

[ Theon doesn't have the words for anything the ship is made of, or the device he's using. Nor does he have the words for why this little girl is the one that's caught his attention long enough for him to bother speaking with over these things, though the truth of it is she reminds him a little of how his sister was at that age, and a little of Arya Stark. ]

[ He gives a slope-shouldered shrug. ]

[Mattie understands perfectly what he isn't saying -- every single thing here looks strange and unidentifiable.]

If there are folks here who understand how things work, then there must be some with the skills to track. Perhaps it is more like finding one's way through a maze, than through the woods. Unfortunately I do not possess the knowledge necessary to successfully do either, else I would not need to hire out.

[Wha...

What's with all these kids?!]

why do you have a revolver?!!

[It takes a good while for Mattie to put together her response. Stupid little letter buttons.]

it belonged to my father

You be careful who you go offering that gun to now, sweetheart. The only people who are going to claim to be able to find you a way out of here in exchange for it are people who definitely shouldn't have it.

Out of curiosity, what is it exactly you're hoping to track?

I will of course solicit references before entering into any agreement. [Which means it really would be useful to ascertain who comprises the local law enforcement.] Can you direct me to the sheriff or other officer of the law?

A murderer. And those who are responsible for the operation of this...place. They must exist even if they are too cowardly to live in the open, and I aim to find them.

Give me woods any day.

[ Because Theon's been lost in it and isn't certain the rooms don't go on forever, no matter what anybody else says.

And just what is it you're going to be tracking in this maze?

[she flips over to a private channel. girl talk, right?]

Law's a little thin on the ground around here. There's an official security detail I don't trust and a nascent unofficial one that I do. Ish. Don't know Tommy, Tillman's... got his hands full. You're what, thirteen, fourteen? You should be fine around Winchester. I'd recommend you seek him out immediately.

[and keep him busy busy busy, please.]

As for the crew, I hear the lovely Resnik has been showing her equally lovely face recently. You may just be in luck.

And your murderer? Who'd they dispatch?

I find it much preferable myself.

[For one thing, the simple lack of sky is disturbing.[

People. A man I believe to be a murderer and a coward, and the person who is in charge.

I have made the acquaintance of Mr. Tillman, and find him to be trustworthy and respectable. I do not know these others, but I admit I have kept mostly to myself since arriving. [It's been a difficult adjustment, and childish fears are not as easily put aside as she would have others believe.] And I am fourteen. What kind of work does Miz Resnik do?

My papa, Frank Ross.

Edited 2012-04-20 22:13 (UTC)

[Another child.

One who speaks a bit like her, too. Word-wise. Chase can't help the light smile. ]

Excuse me, miss. Where I come from, this is indeed a space ship. However, I'm afraid your monetary goods mean little here. The revolver might be useful, however.

[Mattie is still uncertain whether this is an appropriate place for children -- she doesn't count herself, of course, that's entirely different -- but it is nice to see them regardless. She smiles back, encouragingly.]

I am told it is for traveling into the heavens, but I do not yet understand how such a thing is possible, and therefore am of a mind not to entirely dismiss the possibility of trickery.

It is real gold, not paper scrip.

[yes indeed. So trustworthy and respectable she could just spit. That wouldn't precisely help matters though, so she smiles gently.]

You won't find Dean Winchester quite so respectable as Tillman, I'm afraid, but he's good at what he does. And whatever else may be said about his moral code, it's certainly distinct.

Resnik's the chief engineer and Commander of the ship. Pretty much by default, I hear. She and our ever-absent captain probably have the best idea of any of us what's happening, if you can pin them down.

I'm sorry to hear about your father, Miss Ross.

I would put a great deal more stock in skill than in respectability, though it is ideal if the go hand in hand. Mr. Cogburn was not respectable in the least, but that was not the qualification for which I hired him. Can Mr. Winchester kill a man, or track one at least? I have no use for him if he cannot.

[Making friends does not top the list of Mattie's priorities at present.]

...There is a lady Commander here?

[The expression of sympathy has her going quiet for a moment, eyes downcast.]

Thank you. He was a good man and we sorely miss him.

[ Chase shakes her head, voice gentle. ] Keep it, miss, but I'm afraid there's no monetary value aboard the ship. Simply teamwork.

Umm...

Space ships don't go to Heaven. They travel in space. I'm from Heaven's Fence.

[Well, she's certainly taken to the use of the device rather quickly. That's something.] I'd be happy to show you around, kid, but it's like I said before. There's nowhere to go. Nothing to track.

Mister Winchester can kill just about anything he sets his mind to, I believe. And he's an excellent tracker. Maybe you should engage him for that skill alone?

[And here she pauses, looks down herself, makes sure her eyes are dark and hurting when she looks back up.]

My father was taken from me when I was just a little older than you are. I was too late to avenge him myself. It's a heavy burden to bear.

[ It was one thing to deal with adults aboard the ship, it's another for children, so easily susceptible that Erik doesn't need to see them making the wrong decision. Human or not, she's just that, despite the seemingly mature manner with which she talks that has him quirking an eyebrow before he speaks up. ]

You're better off keeping the gun to yourself. The ship isn't that hard to explore.

You know how to use the gun?

[The very picture of sardonic] So she found a weapon after all. [He's still unconvinced she's actually going to use it, least of all on him.]

Edited 2012-04-21 03:13 (UTC)

[Tillman is currently the one person Mattie trusts to tell her the truth, so his words prick at her confidence a little bit. Nonetheless, she's nothing if not determined to have her way.]

Your offer is gracious, Mr. Tillman, and I accept. But there must be places you have not yet looked. It is a big place, or so I am given to understand.

It is an utterly foreign place and I do not yet possess the understanding necessary to find what I am looking for on my own.

...Perhaps, however, you are right about the gun.

It is not a complicated concept, one aims it in the direction of the person one wishes to shoot, and pulls the trigger. I have seen it done many times, and handled my papa's rifle when we went on a coon hunt. It is much the same, I reckon.

I do not see as where I gave you reason to doubt me.

[ Erik nods in agreement, as the ship itself can be daunting at first glance, particularly to someone who isn't seemingly aware of what sort of threats lurk aboard the ship. ]

If your companions were not around when you woke up, perhaps they were not here in the first place. [ He'd say she was alone, but children didn't need to hear that - no one needs to be alone. ]

Who are you tracking, if I may ask? [ If there's one thing Erik was good it, it was hunting men down, what with spending the past number of years going after Nazis. ]

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