video | day 74

[voliere]

[ Because she's still trying to get the hang of this thing (she much prefers to talk to people face to face if she's going to talk to them), Elizabeth's expression is determined and a little frustrated when she comes on the recording. It takes a moment - and then she figures out that she's recording and looks pleased with herself. ]

Hello. [ A pause, as she pulls the camera back away from her face. ] My name is Elizabeth. I've met a fair few of you, before. [ She speaks a little louder than she would normally, if only because she's so used to the distant and crackling way recordings generally sound in her time. ] I haven't been able to find a way out, like I promised, but what I can do is try to help in the best way that I can.

[ She has no idea how she's going to show this, since she has to use both hands to open the tears - so she doesn't quite yet. Instead, she begins to pace, walking slowly back and forth along the sand of the beach. ] Is there anything that the people here need? Supplies, maybe, such as bandages or ammunition. Or anything, really. I can bring it through.

I can't exactly promise that all of it will be in good condition, or that I'll find it at all, but I have to do something.

Comments

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[If he were at all a demonstrative man, he'd probably throw his arms around her and hug her right now. As it is, he simply smiles widely and genuinely, already studying the crate of cigarettes eagerly.]

I can't thank you enough. Things were getting rough around here without them.

[voliere]

[ She's pleased that she's able to help! She clasps her hands in front of her and smiles widely back. ]

It's absolutely no problem. I'm happy to help, Meyer. I would like to keep a few of the packs to pass them to others as well, if that's okay with you. Just a few. I'm not sure I can bring this tear back, once I've closed it.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Well, I didn't think I was going to get to keep all of them.

[Although he'd sure have liked to. Still, she's the one with the powers, so it's only fair that she gets to call the shots.]

[voliere]

I'll see if I can find more, in the meantime.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

People might start asking you for a lot of favors, now they know you can do this.

[voliere]

I expected they might. I don't mind, so long as they know there is a limit on how much I can do. I suppose I should make that clear from the start.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

What're the limits?

[Like anything strange, the best way he knows how to understand something like this is through facts and figures.]

[voliere]

[ She turns to look back down at the opened tear, running her fingers along the edge of it. ] Once I've closed a tear, here, I can't seem to open it again. Things come through unfinished or broken, when they didn't, before. And of course, I can't create tears. I can only open them.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[He looks at the tear thoughtfully, many questions in mind.]

Where does it open to? Is it an alternate dimension? A different place? And how big of things can you bring through them?

[voliere]

It's a little like an alternate dimension. [ She confirms, nodding. ] A window to a place where there is something that was, for whatever reason, in that universe but not the one I stand in.

I've never brought anything bigger than a balcony through.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

A balcony? That's pretty impressive.

[A pause.]

And you can only bring things in, right? You can't send anything out?

[It's not an escape route out of this damn town, in other words.]

[voliere]

Thank you. [ She likes being called impressive, that's nice. Just let her swish her skirt back and forth a little with a pleased expression. ]

And... no, I can't, though not for a lack of trying. I've looked for ways out, but there don't seem to be any here.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[A frown.]

So whoever brought us here can prevent us from leaving in more ways than one. Anyone who has powers that could be used to get us out seem to be... prevented from using them in that way. Great.

[voliere]

That does seem to be the case... [ She trails off, with a sigh. ] But it doesn't mean I won't keep trying, you can be sure of that.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Good. And I guess those of us without powers will just have to try in other ways.