intro >> marnie burrell

[brightlywound]

This is Marnie! Most of you guys know her already and, while she might act very differently in this setting, she's still the same character deep down.

Marnie is a British actress who's been working in L.A. for the past several months on a SyFy fantasy series, Arcanus. (No, it's not like Game of Thrones.) Once the series went into post-production, she agreed to go on a book tour with one of her producers, Ms. Cook. They start their journey in Sydney, or, well, they would have.

Polite and cheerful, Marnie might seem like the perfect little ingenue, but she's just good at suppressing her true feelings. She'll espouse working as a community, respecting one another, keeping a stiff upper lip, but if you catch her when she thinks no one is watching, you'll see how unstable she really is.

Between projects, she takes care of her elder brother. Her parents are so very proud of Marnie, but treat Allen no better than a stray animal they'd taken in on a whim. The number one reason she's desperate to get off this island, more than her career, more than Ms. Cook's, is the desire to keep her brother from breaking down with worry.

She's got a handful of somewhat useful skills. She's nimble, coordinated and has an excellent memory. Her singing voice is quite nice as well, but what's that worth? Still, Marnie loves to entertain. Ask her for a song or a monolog and she'll probably try to organize a choir or a play.

tl;dr: Marnie is repressed, overly sweet, a caretaker, talented, and a ticking time-bomb.

Comments

[asimplemistake]

Wow, your parents suck. Why'd they like you better?

[brightlywound]

They aren't the most compassionate people, no.

My brother can't live on his own. It's a frustrating situation for everyone involved.

[asimplemistake]

Oh, that's it. My sympathies for the situation.

[brightlywound]

Mm. It doesn't bear thinking on, anyway. There's nothing I can do from here, unless I learn how to chart a course for a message in a bottle. If we even have bottles.

[asimplemistake]

We have nettles, but I haven't seen any bottles. One or two'll probably wash ashore. You could try spelling a message out in rocks...

[brightlywound]

A message in a nettle. I suppose that's just as effective.

A beacon on the beach, though, that's a wonderful idea!

[asimplemistake]

I'm full of great ideas. [this is where 'do not attempt anything mari says at home' would flash up on screen if this was a tv show]

We could also try growing the nettles into a shape. Roots might hold stronger than rocks on a beach.

[brightlywound]

You're very fixated on these nettles, you know.

Mr. Lin ought to be able to help us with that. Are you certain they can grow in sand, though?

[asimplemistake]

We are old enemies. I have done battle with them before.

They could grow on walls if they could find enough grip, probably. If they can't then we'll find or make a clearing and plant them there. Whatever can be seen from the sky.

[brightlywound]

I can't say I've run into many of them.

Yes. It's worth the effort. Though I expect flaming wreckage is much more visible than a field of nettles...

Perhaps if we shape them into something rude.

[bricolaging]

So long as you don't explode all over me. Best not to make a mess now, right?

[brightlywound]

You needn't patronize me. I know how to handle myself in public.

[bricolaging]

That was, what we on Earth like to call, a joke.

[brightlywound]

Sorry.

But... now you really are being patronizing...

[bricolaging]

You're right on that. Don't worry about it.

[brightlywound]

I won't.

[pause]

Your jokes ought to be funny from now on.

[bricolaging]

You're not the queen yet, Starlet.

[brightlywound]

It wasn't a command, only a suggestion.

[bricolaging]

Funny how you make the two sound alike. Nevermind it; we're both from the same country, now both stuck in La-la land. Might as well make the best of it, hm? Find some common ground.

This would be easier with a pint.

[brightlywound]

You're right. [shocked face of 'I CAN DRINK BEER AGAIN AND NOT WORRY ABOUT MY FIGURE']

I hadn't even thought of liquor... It would make all of this much simpler.

[bricolaging]

They keep champers in the plane, don't they? Champagne, little bottles of whiskey, that sort of thing. Makes me almost want to swim down and get some. I suppose we could try fermenting our own, like the cavemen did...eurgh.

[brightlywound]

Yes. From First Class you can see the metal cases they keep it in. It's hardly worth risking the sharks, though.

How desperate we've become. I suppose it is a project that we can occupy ourselves with.

[bricolaging]

Well. There's no guarantee of sharks. Unless you've got a cut or something, I'd think they might leave you be.

It's something, at least.

[brightlywound]

I'll help you with the distillery if you promise not to swim out in search of liquor.

[allbarkandnobite]

No entertainment is going to go unwanted. Beautiful sunsets will quickly lose their appeal

[brightlywound]

I'm certain my voice will lose its appeal even more quickly, but thank you. Keeping a few activities from our daily routines will help us all to cope.

What is it that you do, sir?

[allbarkandnobite]

Creativity is a wonderful thing.

Study plant ecology.

[brightlywound]

Well, we'll certainly be exercising a lot of it, I'm sure.

We have a doctor and a, well, I don't know what a plant scientist is called. But that's very lucky!

[allbarkandnobite]

It comes out best when under pressure, and it's not like we will have much in the way of competition.

[spickandspan]

It's impractical to organize a play, Marnie.







Hmm, there's probably an elevated rock or two somewhere. No need to build a stage. Costumes can be made out of palm leaves. Dye might be difficult, but maybe some shells can be ground for pigment. Did you have a play in mind? Best to have a comedy - it'll sell well with all these depressed people in need of a pick-me-up.

[brightlywound]

I was only planning on-

Oh, it's gone in one ear and out the other. Would you take care of all that, Ms. Cook? I'll teach everyone their lines, but you know how I can be when it comes to logistics!

[spickandspan]

Just leave it to me. This will be the best damned play this wretched island has ever seen.

[brightlywound]

I've heard that monkeys can be very unforgiving critics. Perhaps I should bribe them with some fruit...

[spickandspan]

YOU'RE DOING THAT ON PURPOSE

[brightlywound]

Mango is much more expensive than coconut at home, but it wouldn't matter out here, would it? What am I thinking?

Coconut it is.