OO1 }{ AUDIO }{ CALLSIGN: MZ114C }{ DAY 17

[somethingintangible]

[ The voice that comes over the network is a young woman's - late teens or early twenties. A little deep, throaty, but still obviously belonging to someone quite young and female.

It's shaky though, like the person on the other end of the radio is really struggling. Maybe like she's even been crying, although it's hard to tell. She definitely sounds distressed, though.

This is also clearly someone who has never actually used a walkie talkie before, as the message periodically cuts in and out. Maddy was mostly able to figure it out by playing with it, but she's not used to having to keep pressing the button down. You don't do that with touch screens! ]

Um... Hey...

I don't know if anybody can hear me. Or if [ brief silence; she has lifted her finger off the walkie so whatever she says is missing; her voice picks up again later-- ].

--name is Maddy Perez. My mom's name is Sonia Perez, my dad [ she lifts her finger again, so her dad's name isn't heard ] -- I go to East Highland High School. I think I'm lost. I don't know where I am. I need help.

[ There's a pause; this time, it's not because she lifted her finger. There's distraught breathing on the other side of the radio. ]

Please, somebody help me! I'm lost. I don't, I don't know where I am. I -- I think I'm in a jungle or something? I'm not sure where to go next.

[ Then there's a quiet, sound -- sniffling, and a mechanical huff of someone breathing into the walkie too hard. ]

Comments

VL121R | voice

[meadqueen]

Maddy, my name is Randvi. I'm at the settlement that Zam mentioned. We are near the sea on the southwest coast and have seen a storm gathering. None of us have experienced a true storm on this island yet, but I have seen evidence of severe lightning strikes, so please be cautious.

Avoid open spaces and be careful near trees. Try and touch as little of the ground as possible when you're resting. If you can, crouching on your feet is safest.

If you can determine your location when the sun sets, I may be able to let you know if there are any structures near you. I have been working on a map.

[somethingintangible]

Hi, Randvi. [ She's a little calmer now, a little less sniffly. Still on edge though, her voice a little hesitant.

That's a lot of advice... Fortunately, at least some of it mirrors what the other people say, so Maddy just sucks in a breath and listens along. ]

Okay... Rest on my feet. I'll try.

Where are you from?

[meadqueen]

I grew up in Norway, but I live in England now. When I was a girl I used to go sailing often and hunt alone in the mountains. It happens sometimes, getting caught in an unexpected storm. You can get through it.

[somethingintangible]

You...you went sailing? And hunting? Holy balls! [ Maddy claps a hand over her mouth, not that anyone can see it. She swears all the time around other teens, it's not like she's that innocent, but around adults who aren't her parents, she usually tries to watch her mouth unless she's really angry ]

Your family must have been rich, girl! I'm jealous. I wish I could live like that someday. Maybe not, like, hunting, but I'd love to go sailing someday!

[meadqueen]

Yes, I suppose so. [The connection between sailing and wealth eludes her but as a jarl’s daughter there hadn't been many wealthier]

There's a freedom in sailing that you can't feel any other way. I hope you get the chance to try it.

[somethingintangible]

[ "Yes, I suppose so" is the most ice-cold, bad bitch reaction Maddy can imagine to being told that you're rich. So cool. Her response is almost breathless: ]

Hey, I know we just met and everything but you're, like, totally my spirit animal. But in a weird way where I kind of, like, want you to be my mom, but also I want to be your mom.

You know?

[meadqueen]

[Randvi is a bit defensive at first because she's not old! If she’d had a son back when she’d intended to he would only be four by now! But the rest of the statement just leaves her confused]

You wish to be my mother?

[somethingintangible]

Yeah! But, like, also your wife. I want you to step on me.

[meadqueen]

Oh.

[Okay, joking about wanting to marry a rich person at least kind of makes sense. The rest of it, though?]

Why?

[somethingintangible]

Because you're cool. [ And Maddy usually receives compliments! Not gives them. So like, stay #blessed, Randvi. ]

[meadqueen]

Thank you.

[At least she seems to be feeling a bit better]

Are you from America?

[Sorry, kid, immediate airplane person diagnosis]

[somethingintangible]

Yeah. I'm from California. In America. But you probably knew that! I hear you guys have better schools than we do. I mean, not that I care. I hate school anyway.

[meadqueen]

California. [That’s a new one. It seems that Vinland is larger than they’d expected]

I did not go to school, though from what I've heard here that may be for the best. Do you play a sport?

[somethingintangible]

Kind of. I'm a cheerleader. I don't know if that's a sport, though. Wait. Why don't you go to school? Are you homeschooled?

[meadqueen]

What does a cheerleader do? [Somehow the name is both descriptive and meaningless]

I suppose so, yes. My older sister taught me to read and write, and I received further education from my father and my father-in-law.

[somethingintangible]

Wait. They don't have cheerleaders in Norway?

Like... You receive education? From your husband's dad? Uh...

[meadqueen]

I think you will find that we didn't have many of the things you're familiar with in Norway when I lived there.

[Or like, after that. For centuries]

I did have lessons with Styrbjorn before we left for England. I had not expected to marry and had no idea how to run a household on my own, and at that time we stood to inherit.

[somethingintangible]

"When" you lived there? Wait. [ It's like something clicks. ] You're the viking people were talking about...!

[ It's a lot to take in. This whole situation is a lot to take in. It was a lot to take in when she just thought she'd been kidnapped; it's even more to grapple with now. ]

So you weren't just rich. You were, like, a princess.

[meadqueen]

[Ah. She hadn't realized people talk about her, though she probably should have]

Yes, my father was Jarl of the Reindeer Clan, but I'm not sure that would mean much to you.

[somethingintangible]

Sorry. No. [ In fact, she now thinks Randvi's father's name is Jarl. That is how little that means to her. ]

Thanks for talking to me, though. I'll see you soon. When the storm's over.

[meadqueen]

All right. We can coordinate when things are more certain, if you need help getting to us.

Be safe.

[somethingintangible]

I'll try.

Thanks.