Video, UN: Kassandra

[metoikos]

[Kassandra had spent the better part of a day figuring out just how to use the Omni before doing this. She's not technologically inclined, but once she had certain things pinpointed it wasn't difficult to work out some of the basic functions. Including ill-advised videos introducing herself, though she clearly hasn't mastered the Art of the Selfie.

The video feed opens at an odd angle showing a tanned woman, thankfully right-side up, staring at it with furrowed brows. Deep in concentration for a moment more, she simply stares at the camera in silence until she seems to come to a conclusion. Nodding, the woman exhales, and finally speaks up.]

...Hello. If other people are able to hear me, please say something so I don't keep talking to a rock and wondering if it really is magic or if I am crazy.

[Her voice has a heavy Greek accent, and if her attire is any indication she is not of the modern era.]

If I am talking to a magic rock, then know that my name is Kassandra, and I am looking for my family and my crew. Men named Alexios, Nikolaos, Barnabas and Stentor...and women named Myrinne, Roxana, and Odessa. I have hope that I am not alone in being reborn in this strange land, yet I have seen no sign of them.

[There's a pause as she fiddles with the Omni one more time.]

Aletheia, if you can hear this, show yourself.

[And then the feed drops.]

Comments

[metoikos]

[Kassandra waits patiently, and when Delilah arrives, her gaze focuses immediately on the other. There's a hardness in her eyes that fades after a few heartbeats, replaced with something warm and welcome. She is a mercenary used to being hunted by a cult, and is little paranoid by necessity. It would fade with time and distance, but for now she felt it wise to truly consider everyone she met before committing to anything.

Delilah, with her bright smile and eager mannerisms, passed muster.]

I...cannot tell you a when, as I do not understand how dates are kept in this world. But if you are familiar with Greece, then I am from a time when Sparta and Athens were at war. Pericles and Archidamus were the rulers of Athens and Sparta. If that helps you place me, any.

[She moves to follow, watching Delilah for a reaction.]

[delilah_dirk]

[She notices that well enough, and doesn't blame her. Live by the sword, and all that - one has to be wary.]

Oh, I should say I'm familiar. I'm half-Greek myself. [She smiled.] Half-Greek, half-barbarian - Albion, if you know it.

[She can adjust her terminology easily enough.]

And oh, it does. Peloponnesian War. About...two thousand, two hundred years back, from when I am. I grew up on all the old stories. Been to half the sites the war was fought on, really, in my travels.

[metoikos]

I'm afraid I don't know Albion.

[Following is easy, her demeanor much, much more relaxed now that she was moving and comfortable. Kassandra hated being stationary for too long, her body longing for movement.]

Two thousand years is a long time. I can't imagine that most of the sites are more than ruins. Though, I can say that as someone who has been there...it was not much prettier than I'm sure it is now. Battles are ugly things.

[delilah_dirk]

Island, far away. Past Gaul? I'm translating from time periods, obviously - soggy little place, but it turned out alright.

[But as for the rest...]

Ugly enough, oh yes. And ruins...well, perhaps. But they're quiet and beautiful now. Which is better than a battlefield generally.

[metoikos]

I will just take your word for it that it's far away, then. We aren't there now, I'm assuming.

[Generally, she's not much of one for geography. Or scholarship. She is a big musclebound oaf.]

So, you travel when you're not here?

[delilah_dirk]

[She grins.]

Oh, no. It's much more gloomy and far drier. And I do indeed. The Mediterranean is...well, my oldest friend, really.

[metoikos]

Oh? Why do you say that?

[Poseidon was a fickle asshat, Delilah. Don't talk too nicely about the sea.]

[delilah_dirk]

[That he may well be, but he hasn't seen fit to try to screw with her yet.]

Travelled every inch of it. Island hopped from Gibraltar to the Aegean, down to Africa and 'round again.

I've flown over quite a bit of it, too.

[metoikos]

You've...flown?

[Oh, Delilah. That's new to her.]

[delilah_dirk]

Mmhmm.

[She nods, slowly realizing that, and thumbs over her shoulder.]

I've got a flying boat, you see. Moored down at the docks.

[metoikos]

Then you'll show me, yes?

[Food first maybe but...]

[delilah_dirk]

[She makes a great show of thinking about it, tapping her chin with a finger.]

[As if, for one moment, she doesn't want to show that particular thing off.]

Oh, I suppose.

[metoikos]

Food first, then?

[She'll wait. She's trusting you!]

[delilah_dirk]

[She nods]

Absolutely - adventure needs to happen on a full stomach. This way!

[And she'll lead, in her way, to a dim-looking little bar-ish establishment. The place where the operative word for the meals is 'hearty' and it's best not to investigate too much further and, instead, look at the bottles.]

There's a dozen like these are here, I'm sure.

[metoikos]

Oh, certainly. There are places like this anywhere.

{Every port she's ever been in has several.]

What are the foods like here? Similar to your home?

[delilah_dirk]

[She pauses, pursing her lips.]

I find it's best not to think too carefully about that. Things here are...ersatz. Often not in their original form.

[metoikos]

So don't expect quality?

[She snorts.]

...have you ever eaten Spartan cooking?

[delilah_dirk]

And an odd variety of things made out of mushrooms, yes.

[She slides into a booth, carefully keeping a sword free, because of course she does.]

But it looks like meat, isn't wriggling, so I'm carrying on. And I haven't, actually. Well, I've eaten in Sparta, but not...well, the classic variety, I suppose.

[metoikos]

Well, you aren't missing anything. Spartan dishes are foul.

[She's spoiled by Kephallonian cooking, and Athenian dining with Pericles.]

So, if it's better than rat stew, I'll take it.

[delilah_dirk]

That I think we can manage.

[And she bangs on the table, whistling with two fingers in her mouth afterwards.]

What-ho! Two tankards of your best ale!

[metoikos]

Best...? Do you have the money to pay? Because I certainly do not.

[She's...well...she's used to drinking swill.]

[delilah_dirk]

[And she doesn't trust this place not to serve actual, literal swill. But she pulls out a bag of some rocks, rummaging in it.]

Probably. If not, well. I'm sure you'll be a fast enough runner. I know I will be, even on a full stomach.

[She has a...straightforward nature when it comes to solving problems. Namely, solve them immediately. But the words are barely out before she's off again.]

I mean, rocks for currency. Blood rocks? Some sort of nonsense like that. Trust me, this place is strange. Which I'm sure you're seeing.

[metoikos]

Blood rocks?

[Now that has her peering over, looking at the stones...]

What in Zeus's name...? Where do those even come from?

[delilah_dirk]

[She shrugs, offering over the bag to allow a better look.]

Damned if I know. Probably blood, somehow. This whole place runs on it, like a lurid novel.

[metoikos]

If only I'd known. I'd be a wealthy, wealthy person if I had all the blood I'd spilt saved...

[She's only half joking.]