[feed01: video]

[redripoff]

Is this on?

[It is, and giving a nice shot of a wide-eyed little guy bundled up and sitting outside by the fountain. He watches the camera, but occasionally (just occasionally) takes a skittery look out to the side.] Hey, I--uh, hello.

Has anyone started catalogueing the wildlife around here? I mean--beyond robot bears. Natural wildlife: deer, rabbits, regular bears--uh, birds? Owls, maybe?

Comments

[redripoff]

It's certainly not a one-person job, but it sounds like you've already done a chunk of the footwork. Student?

[preytosociety]

... yep. [Sure. Yes. Student. But he didn't specify. Maybe he'll just assume she's in university as opposed to being a high school senior that knows far too much for her own good.]

How about you? You don't look like your typical biologist. And there's no beard, that rules out park ranger.

[redripoff]

What does your typical biologist look like? I'm...in between schools. But. I do a lot of work outdoors with my dad.

[preytosociety]

[A grin.] Taller.

[redripoff]

Do you think I'm short? [EXCUSE]

[preytosociety]

Shorter than your average biologist, for sure. But it's a little bit hard to tell from here.

[redripoff]

Well, you could take an objective measurement, if you wanted.

[preytosociety]

Oh, could I? That sounds a lot like an invitation. [And this sounds a lot like amusement.]

[redripoff]

Sure, unless you've got other hot plans for the afternoon.

[preytosociety]

[And this sounds like laughter!] Hmmm. I can cancel. Where am I headed?

[redripoff]

Come around the library. I'm pretty sure I saw a yardstick we can use behind the counter.

[preytosociety]

My second favourite place. Alright. I guess I'll see you soon.

My name is Lydia, by the way.

[redripoff]

Tim. I would say holler for me when you get here, but it is a library. I'll be at the front desk.

[ACTION?!]

[preytosociety]

[This is nice. This could be good. Someone to talk to that's seemingly intelligent and around her own age. She's isolated herself lately, and the people she does still talk to are only sources of drama right now. She just wants to have a normal, regular, human conversation.

Which is why she's so happy to see him standing near the front desk when she arrives.]

Maybe I was mistaken. You're actually a decent biologist height.

[WELL SURE WHY NOT]

[redripoff]

I can peruse most biology from up here, yeah. [He closes the ledger he'd been reviewing and sets it on the desk. Here, have a camera-ready smile and an out-stretched hand.] So: Lydia. Nice to meet you, by the way.

[preytosociety]

Of course it is. [Just a hint of her ego shining through as she takes his hand. It's still light. A joke, really!] Just so you know, suggesting the library being of any use whatsoever over the network tends to start pointless arguments with macho meat heads and nothing ever really ends up getting done. No one puts much stock in research anymore.

[redripoff]

I'll keep it in mind if I see a macho meat head. [A look up and around the dry room, and he breathes in deep.] Honestly, I came here to see if I could find anything on the history of the place, but I'm not pulling up much. Do you know if there's anything in the town hall? Court records, anything like that?