Paul
Just Shot a Polar Bear
plg%%Paul Steiner, Mikhail Bakunin, Sayid%%
Posts: 262
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Post by Paul on Apr 19, 2007 8:00:34 GMT -5
"I am not your interrogator, nor do I wish to be. My only question is whether you would like any food or water?"
If you're not, then who is? Paul refused to believe that his simple pleasantries had completely won all of the survivors over. There were bound to be other tests of his authenticity. An unpleasant notion, but at least he could relax. He uncrossed his arms, smiled and said, "I would appreciate something to eat and drink very much. As I said, I haven't eaten or drank much since the crash. I'm starting to wonder if I imagined the boar that was chasing me." He looked over at the tall African man again, as if to say, But if you say that's boar blood on his hands, it must have been real. Right?
"And I only speak enough German to get by."
He began walking over to the main crowd of the survivors alongside her as she talked.
"I grew up in Rwanda but we fled to Belgium before the genocide. My father wished for us to learn the language of our neighbors, which I suppose he was right to do, although Dutch was always a problem for me. And then I returned to Rwanda several years ago to help rebuild my country.
"Ah." He nodded in understanding slowly. "It must have been hard. Growing up away from 'home'. I can empathize, to a degree. My parents dragged me all across Europe as a child. It was hard fitting in to school or finding a sense of belonging in any one country at a time. But at least my home wasn't in the middle of that... well, genocide, as you said." He looked back up at her from staring down at the sand as they walked and smiled. "But you have the opportunity to help rebuild it, ja? As soon as our rescue arrives and we get out of this place."
"My name is Etana Beauchamp, by the way."
"Paul Steiner. A pleasure to meet you. I wish the conditions and premise of our acquaintance were a bit more, ah, comfortable."
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Gwen Havers
Help Translate Rousseau's Maps
Ready to Fallplg%%Gwen, Shannon, Etana%%
Posts: 2,010
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Post by Gwen Havers on Apr 19, 2007 9:05:26 GMT -5
ETANA
"Paul Steiner. A pleasure to meet you. I wish the conditions and premise of our acquaintance were a bit more, ah, comfortable."
"Don't we all, Mr. Steiner?" she remarked with a weak smile. "Though I suppose travel always helps to broaden the mind, perhaps increase tolerance. It was very difficult at first, leaving everything we knew. Having to fear for the friends and family we'd left behind. It was harder on my sister, I think. She wasn't old enough to understand why we had to leave. But yes, now I have the chance to start anew. To make it a place where Tutsis and Hutus can live together in peace. Perhaps I should consider my time here as intensive training..."
Once they'd rejoined the others, she regained her officious tone. "He says his name is Paul Steiner," she told them, "and that he's willing to answer your questions." She turned back to Paul. "I'll go and see what provisions I can find for you."
She began to walk away, giving Kyle and Compeyson a look that asked them to keep the peace in her absence.
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Compey
Searching for Transmitter
Oh, happy day.plg%%Arthur 'Compey' Compeyson%%
Posts: 80
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Post by Compey on Apr 19, 2007 10:23:43 GMT -5
This wasn't something he needed. A position of responsibility, for this man who may or may not be one of them.
The circumstances were suspicious indeed. Then again, he was dressed much differently then the other people in the jungle, he barely spoke English and seemed genuinely confused. It wasn't a great situation, either way.
"Oh, and, erm...here's your gun back." he said, handing the gun gingerly to Kyle.
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Paul
Just Shot a Polar Bear
plg%%Paul Steiner, Mikhail Bakunin, Sayid%%
Posts: 262
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Post by Paul on Apr 19, 2007 17:14:25 GMT -5
"Don't we all, Mr. Steiner? Though I suppose travel always helps to broaden the mind, perhaps increases tolerance. It was very difficult at first, leaving everything we knew. Having to fear for the friends and family we'd left behind. It was harder on my sister, I think. She wasn't old enough to understand why we had to leave. But yes, now I have the chance to start anew. To make it a place where Tutsis and Hutus can live together in peace. Perhaps I should consider my time here as intensive training..."
Paul had to blink for a moment. Until Etana began mentioning her sister, Paul's mind had lapsed and forgotten the conditions of the present situation. Her words seemed to apply to himself. As if she was also with the project. But the mention of a sister and repairing relations between the Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda and its neighbouring countries pulled him back from his introspective mindset.
"He says his name is Paul Steiner and that he's willing to answer your questions."
The declaration confirmed some suspicions and intrigued him further. Etana was a woman and a visible minority. The probability of her becoming leader of the average group of humans in a high-stress and dangerous situation was extremely low. But the fact that she had defied the odds was either a mark of just how extraordinary this woman was and what kind of skills she possessed, or it indicated that there was some other unknown variable at play that multiplied the odds. Perhaps a vairable which could be discerned through protracted contact and factored into The Equation?
"I'll go and see what provisions I can find for you."
He nodded absently. His thoughts were no longer on her, though. His eye caught the flicker of metal in the limited light that remained. A gun being handed over inconspicuously from the man who had first encountered Paul to the one who appeared to be wounded. It was only a very brief glance, but he recognized the weapon instantly. Special police issue. American police. This spoke volumes.
"I'm sorry for the scare everyone. We are Freunde, ja? Ah, friends? If friends have questions of one another, they ask. So... ask." He smiled in mock nervousness. It was a painfully butchered 'speech', if it could even be called that. But, hey, he was a German with limited ability in English and a fear of public speaking. What more could one expect?
He expected nothing short of success. He'd answer their questions. And they'd answer his. One way or another.
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Willo
Found "Adam and Eve"
Interesting/Dangerousplg%%Willo, Mason, Walter, G, Maxine, Tom, Brooks%%
Posts: 813
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Post by Willo on Apr 19, 2007 17:33:34 GMT -5
BROOKS
Aaron got up from the ground, and looked at Compey and Kyle. He moved his hand to suggest that they go first as he just stared at Paul. He set his stick down on the ground, but not out of reach as he examined the face of the stranger. He looked around. waiting for someone to ask a question.
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Jack
Collecting Info for a Census
plg%%Jack, Boone, Ben Henry, Kyle, Neil, Goodwin, Pickett%%
Posts: 1,725
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Post by Jack on Apr 19, 2007 19:56:38 GMT -5
KYLE
"Oh, and, erm...here's your gun back."
Kyle grabbed the gun, "Thanks," he nodded. "...And I didn't mean to demand it from you earlier, it's just, well what with our new 'friend' here, and people uptight about the mysterious island folk, it would seem sooner or later something is gunna go wrong, and in case someone ends up doing something stupid, I'd rather it be me who had the gun... no offense."
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Willo
Found "Adam and Eve"
Interesting/Dangerousplg%%Willo, Mason, Walter, G, Maxine, Tom, Brooks%%
Posts: 813
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Post by Willo on Apr 19, 2007 21:38:00 GMT -5
BROOKS Aaron couldn't wait any longer. He stood up slowly and handed his stick to Compey.
"Hold this for a minute," he said. "I'm going to have a talk with the new guy and I don't want anyone freaking out about me having a weapon." He glanced at Kyle and then turned back to Compey. He went over to his sack, which he had around his neck. There was very little in it, but among it was a baseball...
He lobbed the ball at Paul, walking over and looking at him with a curious eye.
"My name is Aaron Brooks. I'm a psychologist. At least I was four days ago. Don't talk. Just listen. That baseball is special. It was supposed to be fore my son. Three weeks before he was due a man came and killed my wife in a parking lot. A week and a half later, he was dead."
He paused, looked down. He took a step closer to Paul, his body language was well selected-relaxed, but he seemed ready to jump at any time.
"The other day a couple of children were stolen from this camp in the middle of the night. So if this seems a little harsh, I'm sorry. But we're all getting treated very harsh."
He took the baseball back from Paul and wispered to him.
"If you are who I think you are, go home, and don't come back."
He threw the baseball in the air and caught it.
"Have a good night."
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