re_alignment | [Video

Entry tags:

✘ his dark materials | lyra belacqua

[Video | Junk Pile]

[Yep. Lyra's been hanging out in the junk pile. And by hanging out, when she tells people that, she really means camping out there because the temple reminds her too much of being with Mrs. Coulter.

So, yeah, it's really just not comfortable being there.

She's got herself a pretty nice little place established, though it's not really that great for a kid and her daemon, but she's stubborn.

Right now though..]

It ain't real easy to find food people can eat around here. So, um, anyone know where I can get some stuff to bring back to camp?

[Arms crossed, she acts all cool and collected as she asks but she's really hungry at this point.

So much so that it's showing in Pan who's curled up in her arms as a rabbit looking quite down trodden.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Strelok....I'm Lyra. And this is Pan.

[She motions to the rabbit in her arms, still eyeing the man a bit warily.]

No, it wouldn't.

A pleasure to meet you both.

[He raises one hand in a wave, and does in fact notice the way that Lyra is eyeing him. His video jostles as he flops to sit against the wall of one of the temples.]

You look at me as if I am a bogeyman or a bandit, Lyra.

I ain't sure if I can trust you or not yet. Never had good luck with adults back home. Ain't nothing personal, mister.

[Because it's really not. She's just naturally wary now given the fact that grown ups tried to separate her from Pan, kidnapped her, killed her friend..you know, a laundry list of bad things.]

Ahhh, I understand. There are people I feel that way about too. And adults, they can be tricky sometimes. I will let you decide if I am trustworthy or not.

[Normally he would make promises on stalker's honor at this point, but he knows that rarely helps when someone is wary of a large group like that. Hell, even he would assume he was lying about it.]

[She eyes him for a moment, considering him and how he comes across before relaxing just a bit, eyebrow lifting some.]

Where are you from, mister?

The Zone, in Ukraine. Do you know of them?

[Not every human he's met here did, he thinks - point in fact, he can't quite remember - so it's best not to assume.]

Ukraine? I ain't never heard of that.

[She looks curious though, really just unable to help herself.]

What is the Ukraine? I'm from Oxford, in Brytain, by the way.

It is a country, on Earth. It used to be a part of Russia, a long time ago now.

[He brings up a finger to trace its outline in the air to indicate.]

I have heard of Oxford. There is a... university, yes?

Russia?

[That's..another weird name. What the hell dude?]

Yes--well, a college. Jordan College. I lived there.

You do not know Russia? Ah, what I would give for a map or a book about it; I would show it to you.

[Now it's his turn to be perplexed. What even.]

Jordan? I am not familiar with Jordan College.

Never heard of it. Maybe we're not from the same place?

[Wouldn't be the first time.]

Wot? But it's--yeah we have to be from different places.

[She shakes her head, frowning some.]

Nothing you're saying makes any sense.

I suppose we are not. Ah, it is okay; that is the way of this place. It takes a little bit from everywhere.

Even humans from different worlds.

Strange, yes?

Really, really strange. But there are some decent people here, I guess.

[And by people she means robots because she really only gets along well with the giant robot types.]

Does everyone where you come from talk like you do?

There are. Though I know few of them here, now.

[Of course he doesn't remember who he knew before.]

Ah, no. My English, it is only fair; it is not what I usually speak, but... it is more reliable than the translator many times.

[Lyra stares at him a bit curiously now.]

...What language do you speak then?

Russian. And Ukrainian. In the Haven the translator usually catches it, but... I am not here all the time.

What is Russian? Never heard of it before.

And what are you doing if you aren't here?

[Having changed into a ferret, resting around Lyra's shoulders, Pan peers at the link device curiously.]

Are you an explorer?

It is the language of Russia. Many other countries use it too, though.

[Strelok does notice that and gets a little suspicious... and a bit curious. Pan can't hurt him over the Link, so he's less worried about having to shoot him.]

Your friend changes his shape.

I am; they call us stalkers back home. Here I go out of the Haven to see what the planet has to offer.

...Huh.

[Now she wanted to hear it but she knew she probably couldn't. At least not while he was in Haven or whatever.

His mention of the shape shifting has he reaching up to touch Pan's head, use to the notion that others don't have daemons in this place.]

He's a daemon. When a kid has a daemon, it ain't like when an adult does. They change forms when you're young until they pick a form to settle on that matches what's inside you.

Whatever represents Lyra's soul best is the form I'll take.

[Okay. Shapeshifting animal is friendly. That's good to know. It lets Strelok's natural curiosity override any concern he had. It's less worrying over potential monsters and more exploring the new base for secrets, as it were.]

So a sort of a... spirit animal, you might say? That is interesting. It is good, that you always have a companion with you. Everyone could use someone watching their back.

Especially here.

Ah--I guess? That sounds about right. I dunno. It's just how it's always been for Pan and me.

Yeah it's nice not being completely alone. I always got Pan to talk to and stuff.

How odd, these different universes, isn't it? The things we take for granted as normal suddenly become unusual.

Having someone to talk to from home is especially good, too. [He chuckles.] It gives you someone to... commiserate with, yes? About how strange all of this really is.

Yeah..ain't no such thing as giant robots where I'm from so that's really weird.

[Lyra frowns a bit as she listens to him continue on, tilting her head.]

You're all alone ain't ya'?

They aren't where I am from either.

[Oops, found out. Strelok nods, but shrugs slightly.]

I am. But that is often how it is, with stalkers. We do not all have groups that we work with, and we do not work with them all the time.

That sounds really lonely. Ain't always good to be alone.

[Video | Junk Pile]

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