( shortly after sundown ) ( voice ) + ( private to Mina Barrett )

[indiscreet]

[ This is her first time posting with her communicator wholly on her own, and for a moment the feed statics, then flashes to a blurred image of a face— ] damned contraptions [ —before switching properly to the AUDIO setting. ]

Ah— good evening. I suppose it is becoming increasingly apparent to all of us that we're either stuck here or else need to begin acting as though we are. [ Her voice is young and pretty-sounding, the accent mostly American but subtly tinged with Russian. ] As such, I was wondering if anyone might have...well, weaponry. Specifically, weaponry I might be able to call my own. I know my way around a bow, so that would be my preference, but beggars can't be choosers.

I can't precisely offer payment, but I can promise to shoot various beasties of the edible or dangerous kind.

PRIVATE to Mina Barrett
The dire wolf population seems to be thinning. For the kine that's a good thing, but for me...

Mina, I don't know how you're doing it, but I need a source of blood, and between the two of us — hell, even with one of us — it won't be long before we make everyone here anemic, or worse. I can keep trying to hunt animals, but I can't catch them without the Huntress's abilities. So, unless you have any better ideas, it seems like the lesser of two evils.

Comments

[VOICE; LOCKED]

[primogen_vampirate]

[Mina does not sound like she's in a particularly good mood. All the same, she responds. Without any of her usual gusto.]

Contact a man named Castiel. He's volunteered to be a donor before and anemia won't affect him.

And he knows what I am.

[VOICE; LOCKED]

[indiscreet]

[ She frowns a bit at the tone: Mina sounds... deflated, wholly unlike herself. ]

It...won't affect him? Why? Is he one of your angels?

[ The fact of this Castiel's apparent anemia-immunity probably marks him as supernatural himself, so for the moment she sets aside the still-irksome matter of Masquerade breaches. After all, she needs to eat. ]

[VOICE; LOCKED]

[primogen_vampirate]

Yes, Anna. I haven't told him about you, you'll need to explain your situation for yourself. Just make it clear that you have no desire to harm any of the human inhabitants.

[VOICE; LOCKED]

[indiscreet]

[ She makes a small scoff; of course she doesn't want to harm others; in Chicago she fed on animals whenever she could get them. But she'll still do it if she has to. ]

How am I meant to find him? Summoning would be counterproductive; I need vitae to do it. And, well, it's not the best first impression.

[VOICE; LOCKED]

[primogen_vampirate]

Try phoning him, darling.

[ VIDEO ]

[beenunmade]

[ Oh another archer. RESPECT! Clint's video turned on and he was smiling a bit -- beaming even. ] I could always build you one. Not really that difficult. [ Well it was, but he could deal with it. ]

( voice )

[indiscreet]

[ Unfortunately she can't respond with the video setting herself, given that she doesn't show up properly on camera and all, but there's obvious cheer in her voice all the same: she likes feeling liked. And she likes the prospect of a bow. ]

You could? Truly? That would be wonderful.

[ VIDEO ]

[beenunmade]

[ Oh it's fine. It just adds to the level of ~mystery~, Anna. He grins despite himself. ]

Yeah, I was already workin' on one. Another shouldn't be too much trouble.

( voice )

[indiscreet]

Fabulous, just ducky.

You know, I saw you fiddling around with that bow over the communicator network, but...well, I wasn't certain whether I'd be bothering you by asking about it.

We've spoken before, but only briefly, and I don't think I ever got your name. I'm Anna, if you don't recall.

[reluctantsword]

[Now, here's a voice he recognises. Still no real picture, which is curious, but he can accept that.]

I have my sword, but I can't exactly lend that to you, either. I could offer a lesson, maybe, if we could find something.

( voice )

[indiscreet]

[ She smiles involuntarily to have him contacting her again. ]

I'm useless with a sword, but I can't say I'd say no to lessons. Even basic hand-to-hand fighting... [ a small pause; the last person she'd practiced fighting with had been her lover, but that time has passed — she needs to let him go ] ...wouldn't go amiss.

Re: ( voice )

[reluctantsword]

A knife, maybe, might be a good option for you. Shouldn't be too hard to find a knife that would do the job.

[It's an idea anyway. After a moment's hesitation -- he's curious about her, but he can't quite shake a small feeling of guilt, because he is married -- Wallie asks a question he's been meaning to bring up anyway.]

I did find a place to stay, if you were still interested in paying me a visit?

( voice )

[indiscreet]

[ The pleased smile in her voice is audible. ]

I could stand to learn how to handle a knife with you. [ Was there a bit of a euphemism there? A mystery! ]

And I absolutely remain interested in paying you a visit. Perhaps... in an hour or so, even? [ She has a bit of business to take care of with Mina, apparently, but beyond that the night is young, in her opinion. ]

Or in the next day or so, sometime in the evening, if you prefer.

voice;

[wandandsickle]

I see you've already got an offer, but you know I'm happy to build nearly anything or make any [There's the slightest of pauses—] improvements you require.

voice;

[indiscreet]

Thank you — I was hoping I might be able to count on you, even if I may well turn out not to need your help this time around.

It's nice to know that there are other people around here who are familiar with archery... and of a more, you know, normal kind.

voice;

[wandandsickle]

Indeed! You might even be able to learn a thing or two from them so that you can... rely on your own abilities somewhat more. Perhaps I could take it up as well... it seems prudent to be practicing some kind of martial skill.

( voice ) → ( private )

[indiscreet]

Yes... that sort of thing can only help both of us.

[ Then, just to be on the safe side, she switches the setting to PRIVATE. ]

Personally, I'd prefer to avoid showing off, as it were, unless it's truly necessary; I'm not so comfortable with Mina's philosophy.

[agentx13]

If you can use a weapon and get your hands on some - we have some people who know how to make bows, I think - then I'd be interested in utilizing your skills to protect the inhabits, should the occasion arise and if you're willing.

[Yep. That's Sharon's idea of beating around the bush.]

( voice )

[indiscreet]

I don't believe I've yet learned your name. I'm Anna Demirovna. [ ...which would be her idea of a hint. ]

You're not another SHIELD person, by any chance? I'm willing to do what I can to help, provided you can give me reason to trust your expertise.

( voice )

[agentx13]

Agent Sharon Carter. I also go by Agent 13. I'm acting director of SHIELD while we're here. I've been managing the strategy component for several years now.

I have to ask, Ms. Demirovna. Are you really only willing to help people so long as I can convince you to trust me?

( voice )

[indiscreet]

A pleasure, Agent Carter. [ The words have the neutral deliberate pleasantness of etiquette: she has not, in fact, yet decided whether it actually is a "pleasure." ]

And perhaps I should have been more specific. You caught me somewhat by surprise; what I mean is that I will work with you, so long as you're someone who ought to be worked with.

Of course, "acting director of SHIELD" is none too shabby as a qualification. Could you tell me a bit more about what you might have in mind?

[goodluckkobra]

All I got is a kitchen knife. I used to have a ray gun, but they took it. If you wind up with a spare gun, I'd trade you something for it.

[He grins.] Name's Kobra Kid.

( voice )

[indiscreet]

A ray gun? That sounds like something out of the pulps. You really had a ray gun?

...Ah, I'll keep you in mind, Mr. Kid. [ a pause ] Is...that your real name?

[ Video ]

[goodluckkobra]

[The pulps. Shit, he kind of feels like he is out of a cheesy old book sometimes.]

It's not the name my parents gave me, but it's as real as any other name.

( voice )

[indiscreet]

So you... made it up yourself or something like that? Strange.

A pleasure to meet you all the same. And you're going to have to tell me more about this ray gun of yours; I had no idea they even existed.