maskormenace | voice;

[It takes Terra a while to investigate his new little communicator device... and then a while longer to remember everything he was told about how to use the thing... but eventually he gets an audio recording going.]

Hm. That definitely did something. [Or he's pretty sure he got an audio recording going, anyway.] Yeah, looks like it's working now. Okay. Uh... Hello?

[There's a brief pause and then he clears his throat and starts again.]

Hello. My name's Terra. I'm new to this area.

[This whole situation is an unimaginably big problem in regards to the keeping of the World Order, and he is probably duty-bound to Do Something About It, but while he figures out exactly what one is supposed to do about a whole world full of people knowing there are other worlds out there, he'll just not contribute to the problem. You will get no acknowledgement that this is another world from him, no sir/ma'am.]

I was wondering if anyone's figured out why they're here? I've read a couple times now that it's just... an accident, some random happening, but I don't buy it. There's gotta be a reason this power has been bringing people to this place. Some purpose or purposes it means for us to serve?

[Another pause. What else was he meaning to ask? Oh, right.]

And does anyone know anything about the games played around here? Sports games, specifically. I was given a job as a sort of coach... [Wait, let him just read the job title off the paper-] An 'Athletics Counselor'. For troubled kids. I'm told I'll get some training for the job, but I'd like to go into it knowing as much as I can... and right now, I really don't know anything. [Ah.] Except that they don't use fruit as balls in any of their games.

[A good thing to know, that.]

That's about it, I guess. Thanks for your time.

[Now to remember how to turn this device off.]

Hope that worked.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Look at the tiny moving picture -- ah, video -- of whoever this is answering him. He's gotta try that option out sometime.

... But not right now because no one needs to see the distressed and disappointed faces he's making.]

A year and a half? [Sigh.] That's a long time. I was hoping to get it figured out in maybe... a week or two. If no one could just tell me.

[Like a month tops would've been great. Ideally including time spent fulfilling whatever purpose the Porter had in mind.]

What have you been doing for a year and a half? Just... being a hero, like the rulers of this place have asked?

Yeah. It IS a pretty long time to be stuck here, but... it's not been all that bad. And to be fair, I AM only 14, so I'm still deciding what I want to do with my life. So maybe you'll have better luck finding out the reason you're here.

I've just been trying to live my life as normally as possible- you know, go to school and cook for a hobby and that kind of thing. Nobody will punish you if you decide not to do the hero-ing... thing.

Right, I'll keep that in mind.

[He's probably doing the hero-ing thing, though. It's the living 'normally' part that's going to be tricky.]

Did they put you in a house with other people, too? Or with anyone else brought here from where you're from?

[He has to ask, she's only 14 and, even though it sounds like she's settled in and has things figured out for herself, that's a little young to be stuck in a new and different world without some kind of supervision or guidance or support...]

Uh-huh. I was kind of... adopted, I guess, by the people I was placed with. A lot of them have left, but the ones that are here still do look out for me. And my mom got here about a year ago, too. So I'm doing well in that regard.

[Whew.]

That's good. A friend of mine was brought here, too. He's just a little older than you.

Oh, I'll have to talk to him. I need to make more friends around my age... there aren't a whole lot of teenagers here. At least not younger ones like me.

His name is Ven.

[Except that really isn't the name of the kid in question here. Oops.]

If you see a boy around who has short, spiky blond hair sticking up in all directions, that's probably him. He's a good kid, but he's been through a lot lately and it's got him feeling pretty down. I'm sure he'd like talking to you sometime, though.

If nothing else, I can make him a nice meal. That's my superpower... that I can cook really well.

Your power is cooking? [That's different. Different but useful.] I don't suppose you'd ever consider giving cooking lessons to someone, would you?

Yeah. I've never been much of a hero-ing type, so I'm glad I have something practical. I also grew up helping in my dad's restaurant, so it's fitting.

Oh, I have, in fact! I used to volunteer at the youth center in Maurtia Falls and gave lessons.

Really? That's where I work as a counselor, at the Maurtia Falls youth center... Or at a Maurtia Falls youth center. Maybe we could arrange to have you come by one of these days. The kids would definitely appreciate it.

[Pause.]

And I would, too.

I'd like to. I've since moved to Heropa so I've slacked off, but... it's a good thing to help me keep busy. And I'm teaching a valuable skill.

You certainly are. But I don't think I caught your name?

I'm Tina!

Nice to meet you, Tina. I'll try talking to my bosses and see if we can't set something up for a cooking lesson. Or if you hold any lessons anywhere else, please let me know.

[The boy will travel to learn how to stop burning his food.]

Sure thing! I can even do one on one if you'd like. It doesn't take long to learn a few basics.

That wouldn't be too much of an inconvenience for you?

Nah, I really enjoy doing it.

That'd be great, then.

Awesome. We can work out a time when you're feeling up to it.

Yeah, I've still got some things to get sorted out, but just as soon as I do, I'll send you a message over these phone things.

Looking forward to it!

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