thisavrou | 001; video;

[ When the recording begins, the only thing viewers will see is a flash of red hair (with perhaps a bit of grey), and the only thing heard will be - well, not English. He's obviously cursing quietly to himself, though hard to say if anyone will be able to recognize it as Gaelic.

Finally, his face will appear - handsome, high cheekbones, blue eyes, slanted a bit almost like a cat's, and a couple days' worth of stubble on his jaw. He's dressed old-fashioned, and when he speaks again it's English this time - but English heavily accented, to the extent that those unfamiliar with Scots might find it difficult to understand him at first. ]

Och, is this it then? I'd not like to be talkin' to myself, but I was told this is how to find work.

[ A pause. He taps the screen for good measure, then shrugs. ]

My name is Alexander Malcolm, lately of Edinburgh. There, I was a printer, but I've also experience as a soldier, and in animal husbandry. Though I dinna ken if anyone has any stables here worth the name.

[ He waves that off. ]

I'll work to earn my keep, and happy to do so. [ Here he pauses, and rubs his jaw a bit. ] And if anyone kens where to find shaving implements, I would be much obliged. I thank ye, for your time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A massacre, is what it looks like. Butchery.

[ He shrugs. ]

Perhaps. Or perhaps I've no desire to fight for another man's cause.

Right. Sure, that sounds about right.

[ She frowns. ]

We aren't at war. It's been peaceful since they took us in. On the ship, the Moira, that was another story.

That's good. I've had enough of war. I'd do it if there was no other way to earn my keep, but it seems there may be some farms here after all.

I hear there's plenty of land for anyone to take over. Plus side on that is that you don't have to pay rent for where you stay, you pay with what you grow.

Aye, food rent. Sounds a bit like home, but with foreign settlers.

I thought you were a printer from Edinburgh?

Aye, but a Highlander by birth. [ He could never pretend otherwise. His accent is far too recognizable, especially back home. ]

Ah. Makes sense.

How did you get into printing?

Almost by accident, really. I came to Edinburgh a few years ago, to find work. Where I come from, one must meet people, make connections, in order to find employment. I found my way to a printing press, which was no verra expensive, and decided to try it. Somethin' new, ye ken?

[ He needed a front for his smuggling business. ]

New experiences are always the way to go. There's never really been a limit to how much a person should know or learn.

Were you happy as a printer?

[ That's quite a question to ask - especially of a stranger. But also not one he gets very often at all, really. It's probably been years since someone asked him if he was happy. ]

I suppose. I had employment, I had the means to support my family.

And that's all that matters, making sure your family has enough to get by.

All that matters to me, aye.

[ Hey, he's not about to make generalizations about others, here. ]

What about yourself? Have you a family, here or in your home world?

Funny you should ask that, almost all of my family is here. Now.

[ She smiles at the TAB, at him. ]

Friends and family.

I take it that's a good thing?

[ She seems to be happy about it, anyway. ]

It's a very good thing.

Not sure how I would've handled being on a ship for all those months on my own.

Aye, family can give ye strength, in times of adversity.

[ He's used to going it alone, though. To protect them. ]

And your family hasn't come through the Ingress with you?

It's just a guess.

Nay, and they're better off that way. I'm glad yours gives ye some comfort, though.

Considering the ship invasion, the ship crash, the captain swap, being stranded on a planet— yeah, yeah they're definitely better off staying at home.