I am the master of my fate

[The feed clicks on when the PCD is tossed aside in disinterest by its user, probably because it isn't any good to eat.

Its user is, at the moment, a pale, malnourished adolescent - maybe fifteen - who moves with predatory purpose, examining his surroundings. He looks in desperate need of a hot meal, a full night's sleep, and maybe a haircut. But probably not a hug. He is holding a long pole whittled down to make a functional spear, and passes it from hand to hand every few minutes, moved by restless energy.

A few minutes' looking around later, though, that energy seems to desert him, all at once like a physical blow. With a long, quiet sigh, he crouches down next to the nearest wall and puts his hands down on his arms. His voice, when he speaks, sounds older than his appearance suggests.]

It doesn't matter. Across the border, all places are the same...


((OOC: No teen icons. Cope. No Ads memories either. Might age him further down as the week goes if I feel like it.))

[The feed clicks on to a view blurred by heavy rain. In the not-so-far background towers the wall of the Inner City. The figure that peers down at the PCD, shaking the device, is at first shadowed and difficult to make out. A few hard taps later, however, the view clears.

Saul grins at the camera. It's a bit of a shaky grin - he looks exhausted, underfed and somewhat battered, generally the worse for wear. But there's a scary sort of light in those eyes. He looks very pleased with himself.]

Ah - still working. Good, good.

[He chuckles very softly, glancing back at the wall, then again at the device.]

Well, then - doma Bao. I'll be seeing you, I believe.

[That said, Saul's hand drops to his side, affording a brief view of him standing, braced against a building wall, head tilted back and eyes and mouth open to the rain, before he starts moving - slow and stiff but purposeful - and the feed switches off.]

( [Private to Carmen//difficult to hack] )

[The feed is switched on by a random crackling of electricity, the origin of which is soon revealed. The place is Unohana's clinic, one of the rooms; the video shows Saul sitting next to a bed, tattered and wounded, his head in his hands. He doesn't look percisely sad or broken, more tired - and focusd. There's a very faint buzz in the air around him, like static electricity, giving the air in the room a soft eerie low.

In the bed lies Carmen's body - if only she'd been breathing, she'd have looked asleep. But of course, she isn't.

Saul speaks very quietly.]

Spirits of this land, powers of this world... I've kept true. I have stayed my blade when you wished me to, I have always spoken in your favor. My fortune is yours to decide.

We've only just begun to understand each other. Don't take her... not yet.

[The prayer spoken, he lets his hands drop to his sides, and leans back in the chair, eyes closed, calm now.]

[The video comes on, patchy and blurred, as a hand lands on the PCD obviously by accident. A moment later it moves to reveal the view - a man of indeterminate age, tattered and bloodied, working his way from a prone position to his knees with slow, stunned caution. He peers at the PCD for a moment - obviously not understanding what he's seeing - then turns away from it and looks around for something else.]

... snow? Kaibern was sunny... this isn't my snow.

He must've had backup...

That woman...

[With a faint call of approval, the man staightens, holding up what he was searching for - a grappling hook and long line. Clutching it, he starts working his way to his feet, still slow, cautious and visibly dazed.]

Where am I...?