[0001]: Still Alive [Video]

[redacted_error]

[There is a series of pops and crackles from the feed, only temporary as the video flickers online. At first, there is a bright orange glow and the soft hum of some other device, however, the communicator device is jostled about a moment before resting on the face of a rather battered looking young woman. You would be too if you didn't realize a certain AI had booby-trapped a certain Stalemate Resolution Button. Her lips are pursed in a straight line as she turns the device about in her hand, her brows slightly knit in confusion.

This device is archaic in her standards--old Aperture archaic.

She looks up from the camera to examine her surroundings before speaking, hesitant, her voice not more than a hoarse whisper.]

H-hello?

[A pause as she looks up again. Maybe a noise caught her attention. She waits before looking into the camera again.]

Where this place?

[Red suddenly blots the video, followed by a somewhat annoyed grunt. Blood from a head injury, apparently. Both audio and video are cut off.]

Comments

Re: [Audio]

[redacted-error.livejournal.com]

[There is a noticeably lengthy pause. She really hadn't expected the thing to actually, well, work. And for another, it is someone else's voice. A good chance it is pre-recorded. In her mind. Hrn. Is it worth answering?

The silence is broken by a few moments of loud rustling fabric--her attempt at cleaning off the camera device while having accidentally pressed the audio button.]

[Audio]

[dragon-savior.livejournal.com]

[The rustling fabric is not the first sound he expects.]

What the heck was that? Can you hear me?

[Audio]

[redacted-error.livejournal.com]

[Chell draws the fabric away from the communicator. Oops.]

Yes. I can. [A pause.] I was cleaning blood off a lens.

[Audio]

[dragon-savior.livejournal.com]

Blood? [Now his voice was a little more urgent.]

Are you injured? Give me a moment, and I can find you. Are there any possible landmarks nearby?

Oh, and... Don't be afraid when you see me.

[Audio]

[redacted-error.livejournal.com]

Not badly. [Of course, "badly" to one person could easily be something else to another. There is another long pause as Chell looks around.


Er. Well. There is a lot of vegetation, apparently.] Not quite potato trees. [This is mostly meant for herself but said loud enough to be picked up clearly on the microphone.] But there are things hanging from them.

[Audio]

[dragon-savior.livejournal.com]

Well... I know what you look like, so just stand somewhere I can see you from the sky. It shouldn't take me long to find you.

[Audio]

[redacted-error.livejournal.com]

[Sky?]

...okay.

[There is occasional snap of twigs and leaves as she makes her way out of this strange chamber. The potato trees are cleared into a wide expanse of... flat nothing.]

[Action]

[dragon-savior.livejournal.com]

[He was already darting through the air, although the thick foliage spread around the village did little to assist in his search. Thankfully, Chell stood out against the green that surrounded her.

Lowering himself to land, Ryu shifted back to his human form as his feet touched the ground.]

That was a little easier than I expected.

[Action]

[redacted-error.livejournal.com]

[Chell tests her weight against the considerably softer ground, finding that the spring supports at the back of her boots sink if she leans back too far.

Problematic. Perhaps.

Her eyes moves to the blue expanse hovering above her.]

..s..sky.

[Not much time is taken to revel that she is, in fact, outside. Her eyes narrow as she watches a dark shape slowly descend towards the ground. Towards her.

Instinctively, Chell takes a step back, portal gun in hand, but not raised to fire. As if it would really do anything here, anyway.

This one...a boy? But, he doesn't seem human. Entirely? The voice is familiar though.]

You fly. [A curious observation, nothing more.]

[Action]

[dragon-savior.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes. It's kind of a long story. In the meantime, I'd rather make sure you're okay. If you'll allow me, I'd like to examine your injuries. I'll also try to answer whatever questions you have about this place.

[Now that he actually got a good look at her, he was curious about... Well, everything really. He had never seen anyone dress like her before.]

What's your name?

[Action]

[redacted-error.livejournal.com]

[Chell blinks several times. So unusual. A small part of her wonder how long she has disappeared/been asleep/locked away/whatever you like to believe. Or does she just not remember? This is unlikely. Or perhaps part of it is the disbelief she is interacting with another living, sentient being.

He seems very un-turret-like, at least.

Wait, he is speaking again.]

Chell.

[Action]

[dragon-savior.livejournal.com]

It's nice to meet you.

[It had been so long since he really interacted with any new arrivals, he was used to people seeing his healing magic at work. The boy silently willed a gentle green glow to his hands.]

This should deal with any immediate injuries for the time being. Do you know where the worst of them are?

Re: [Action]

[redacted-error.livejournal.com]

[Chell visibly tenses at the green light and shifts a half-step back.] What is that? [Soft, uncertain, a little demanding.]

[Action]

[dragon-savior.livejournal.com]

[His gaze shifted back to her face, looking a little puzzled at first, and then it hit him.]

Oh! They must not have magic where you come from, right? Myself and a few others are skilled with healing magic.

[Action]

[redacted-error.livejournal.com]

[Magic? That only exists in stories...right?

Her brows knit slightly as she gives a shake of her head.]

No. [Only science.] How does.. [pause] does the healing magic work?

[Action]

[dragon-savior.livejournal.com]

Well, almost anyone can learn it where I come from. It just comes naturally to me. Just as well, I don't particularly like hurting people.

It won't sting or anything, I promise.

[Action]

[redacted-error.livejournal.com]

[Her gaze moves to his hands, then back to his face. Well...]

Just a few cuts. Mostly bruising.

[As far as she knows. She has never been too entirely concerned about injuries, so long as she could still move around. Evidence is shown by the small, but multiple scars on her exposed arms--gifts from the turrets.

The blood from the cut on her forehead is slowly dribbling to a stop; the worst of the damage are minor burns and a scattering of cuts on her upper body, the lower generally spared.]

[Action]

[dragon-savior.livejournal.com]

[He offers her a grim smile, uttering a few words for the spell. The light around his hands grows a little stronger, then begins flowing around her in the form of warm, softly glowing orbs.

As they pass around her body towards her feet, the light concentrated towards parts of her body that were injured, dulling the pain and speeding up her body's natural healing.]

You'll still need to check your injuries and clean them to prevent infection, but that should hopefully get you feeling a lot better.

[He didn't feel it his business to ask what she had been through. The poor thing seemed bewildered enough already.]

[Action]

[redacted-error.livejournal.com]

[Chell stands still, even if her initial instinct is to distance herself away from this "healing magic." Maybe this is one of those things where moving around too much might cause more problems than benefits; she has no idea. She simply cannot wrap her head around such an idea.

Her breath catches in her throat as her body begins to tingle--strange sensation indeed. A quick glance down her arm confirms that the cuts are now scabs, and it is easier--much easier--to breathe.

That other girl mentioned getting her injuries examined as well.]

Thank you. [Errrrr..] Where would I find a medic? [Somewhat unusual that this boy does not have the qualifications, as he seems to have the skills.]

[Action]

[dragon-savior.livejournal.com]

I can take care of that as well. I just felt it might be easier to manage your injuries after a bit of magic. I've learned a lot by traveling. You spend a good deal of your childhood trying to find out who you are, you can learn a lot on the side. Although Myhrta is way better at it than I am.

If you don't mind me saying... You look a little rough. If you want, there's good food at the Inn, and I'm sure you can find some fresh clothes, and I bet the bath house would have you feeling like a million zenny.

[Action]

[redacted-error.livejournal.com]

[Chell gives a slight nod of her head, mentally storing the information for later. Though she does not know--or perhaps does not remember entirely--what an inn or a million zenny are, she imagines it is most likely she'll find out with a bit of walking about.

Her fingertips reach up towards her hairline, finding that a scab has closed up the cut. She doesn't feel much in pain. .... Good enough.]

Thank you. I will be fine. [Wait. Err..] What is your name?

[Action]

[dragon-savior.livejournal.com]

I'm Ryu. I'm usually fishing or on the Watch, so I'm not a hard person to find. If you need something, a lot of people here are perfectly willing to help you out.

[Action]

[redacted-error.livejournal.com]

Ryu. [The pronunciation does not come easy. It sounds a lot more like R-ew. Or something along those lines.]

What is the Watch?

[Action]

[dragon-savior.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't worry so much about how his name is pronounced. After all, Chell needs help settling in before worrying about something as silly as that.]

It's a patrol that serves to keep an eye on things outside of the village, so everyone can sleep a little easier. The Fae can be kind of tricky at best, and malevolent at worst, so it pays to be careful.

Anyone is welcome on it. Oh, that reminds me... Did you happen to have a crown made of rowan near you when you woke up? It's kind of an important ward to have. It's not foolproof, but it can save you a lot of trouble.

[Action]

[redacted-error.livejournal.com]

[Hn. These fae, whatever they are, sound a lot like a certain AI. She frowns a little at that.

At the mention of a crown, Chell blinks.] I..am not sure. I had this nearby. [She holds up the communicator device.]