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[It took him a little while, but he decided. He's registering. He's going to be legitimate and law abiding: school, job, steady housing--for now. Until he figures out what's really going on here.]

Hi, I'm Kerry.

[He's sure to smile. Smile, but look a bit nervous. Act like a normal kid. He's sort of a normal kid, so it shouldn't be too hard.]

It's nice to meet everybody. [He studies the communication device as he talks, a little bemused. He's still not used to it, to the thought that he can talk to all the other people in his position this way.] We don't have this stuff where I come from...

[Gather information. That's the most important thing, to start. You need to know where you are, what's going on, and who you're with before you can know what to do. Natalia taught him that intel is the first step, and he's going with her teachings. He always does. He wishes she were here, but she isn't, and now he's the one in charge of the operation.]

I was wondering if, you know... there's somebody who can help me out. I've never been to any America, and I don't know about this America, and there's a lot I don't understand, about the politics and everything. So I wanted to know if you had any ideas about it.

[He isn't sure why his father never took him to America, but he didn't. Maybe it wasn't a good place to hide from the Mages' Association. But that would have been the America in his world, in 1976. Not this place.]

I don't mean what they say, I mean what you think. Since I'm trying to figure it out, I want to know what other people think.

[Really, what he wants isn't more information from them. Not that that isn't potentially useful, but what he wants most is to know more about the people who were brought here with him, the other "heroes". That's something it's not so easy to research. He wants to hear how they explain things, and what they choose to say, to him or to anyone.

Are they good, or are they evil? That's important for him to know. It's a matter of life or death, but he keeps smiling, like he used to. He brightens.]

Oh yeah, and where's good to eat around here?

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Good day, young man. Where are you from originally?

Hi!

[Kerry smiles, amused now, offering a wave. It's still so weird to see people on this video phone, and he hasn't gotten over the novelty of it.]

I was born in Japan, but I haven't been there in a while. My guardian travels a lot. We don't stay in one place long.

[He's leaving a lot out of that story, but that's okay. It's complicated]

Also, I'm from 1976.

[Somehow, he ended up a time traveler.]

Edited 2014-04-22 22:52 (UTC)

Hm. I see.

So you wish to know of the politics of this place?

[ what......... ]

I can offer my assistance.

[What are you so surprised about, Kirei? Kiritsugu studies him carefully without seeming to. He's interested in everyone.]

Okay, thanks.

[He smiles.]

Who are you, exactly?

[ It's enough of a shock that his face revealed his surprise, but he reins it in now. This has happened before -- Kirei himself was pulled in years out of time -- it's simply... surreal, to see Kiritsugu Emiya like this. ]

Father Kirei Kotomine. [ He offers a formal bow to the camera. ] I've been in this place for a year. I believe I may confidently answer any of your questions.

[Kerry noticed that reaction, but he can't interpret it. Still, he won't forget about it. When it comes to priests, he's wary, but he doesn't let that get in the way.]

Nice to meet you, Father.

[He supposes he should return the bow, so he does. He doesn't want to speak openly on this communicator, but he's not sure about meeting in person, either. It's not that he's afraid; he can handle himself, but he's cautious nonetheless.]

That long? Do you like it here?

Nice to meet you as well, Kiritsugu Emiya. [ His smile is a bit too wide; amusement too evident. ]

My time spent here has little to do with preference. [ He clarifies. ] It's impossible to leave by your own design.

Although, I have found my time here favorable enough.

[Kiritsugu pauses at this unprompted usage of his full name. That's... a little odd.]

You can call me Kerry.

[Most people do. It started because people couldn't say Kiritsugu, but he's used to it--although he knows a lot less people now.]

I know. I looked that stuff up, but I wondered if you liked it here anyway. Do you think it's true what they say, about why they bring us here?

[He asks this earnestly. He figures that, as a child, he can get away with asking more questions--not that there seems to be much censorship here. People have been questioning things openly. It really seems like kidnapping to him, and that's not good.]

... Kerry, then. [ That only furthers his amusement. There's an undercurrent of a chuckle in his tone. ] I find there is some truth involved.

Do you not believe yourself to be a hero?

Yeah...

[Contrasting Kirei, for a moment, Kiritsugu's face is absolutely blank as he regards him. It's temporary, and he shake his head.]

That's what they call me. But I didn't do anything heroic, so I'm not gonna call myself a hero.

Some truth? But some not-truth?

Mh, it's early to say that yet, don't you think?

As for not-truth... I don't mean to frighten you. [ That's a lie. ] But they claim to bring heroes to this place. Simply said, many men and women here do not fit that mold.

They're dangerous.

I didn't say I wouldn't be. I won't go around calling myself a hero because of what they say.

[But even if that's what he wanted, if that was his dream, is that what heroes even do? It's not like something Natalia would say. He doesn't know. He does the right thing, but it doesn't make him feel like a hero.

I'm not afraid, I just want to know.

So you think they bring the wrong people here? Dangerous how?

Edited 2014-04-25 05:20 (UTC)

It's interesting, isn't it? The technology.

[ Though Norman's tone is rather dry and to the point as he sits at his desk. He isn't exactly sure what specifics a kid like this would really be interested in. ]

What exactly are you trying to figure out?

Yeah, it is. It's useful.

[He's sure he'll be able to find some good ways to use it. He just wishes he had access to more. And more money. He needs to get more resources somehow...]

Oh, you mean besides the names of good restaurants?

[He smiles.]

Like I said, I don't know about the government here, and why we were brought here--what do you think about it? Do you work with them? They say there might be a war soon.

[He basically has a lot of questions.]

Very useful. Particularly if you're used to doing with much less -- I find them easy enough to learn.

If you're competent with that sort of thing.

[ He smirks tightly, raising an eyebrow. ]

Hm. Well, what do you think of what you've heard so far? Surely you have to have some thoughts.

I'm used to a lot less.

[Even for the 1970s, the places he lived were very much behind the times.]

Yeah, it wasn't too hard to figure out.

[He'd messed around with the phones for a while, but he's quick to pick up on technology, despite not having much experience with it.]

I asked you first. [But he shrugs.] I just got here, but okay. They brought us here for a reason, but they didn't really tell us what it was. So that's why I want to know more. If I'm supposed to fight for them, I don't want to fight on the wrong side. I'm not gonna believe anyone who brought me here without asking me first.

[This is all sort of true, but, he doesn't want to say too much. His tattoo currently reads "registered hero", but he's not sure if it's going to stay that way, and he wants to be careful.]

As long as you're smart enough. Sometimes we get people in far enough from the past the concept of learning is too foreign for them. Imagine that -- must be a terrible way to live.

[ His smirk softens into something more like a placid smile as he props his chin on his hand. ]

They want us to work for them -- fighting is debatable. Some go that direction, others would rather not. So far no one's asking us to enlist in an army.

What do you wanna know? Just our general opinion?

Right, in general, but--I should start somewhere... Let me think.

What do you think about the government? Are you working for them?

I'm not stupid enough to just take their word for having good intentions, but...

Although asking before taking us here would've been nice, I can't really say I mind being brought here all that much, and they've provided a lot for nothing. It's better than leaving us to fend for ourselves and still ask something of us. The whole "hero" thing was a choice, even if being here wasn't.

So I've nothing bad to say, really. I registered, and if they need me to play hero every so often, I won't say no to that either-- though on a case by case basis, obviously.

[If they do anything suspicious looking of course he's not going to lend a hand.]

Same here. I like to help, but I didn't want to be kidnapped like that. They have been pretty nice so far, though.

[He nods. He's very suspicious of them, but he tries to seem less so.]

Yeah, that's why I registered, too.

[Although this is a lie.]

Right, we don't have to do whatever they say. If we keep an eye on them, it should be okay. But what's going to happen if there's a war?

[The Cold War's still in full swing in the year he's from, so it's not an atmosphere that's entirely foreign to him.]

[Well, he registered to take advantage of the benefits truthfully, so he can't judge.]

If something like that were to happen, then you do what you think is right. If it means your actions fall in line with the goals of one of the factions at war with each other, so be it, even if it just means preventing casualties.

But a man can't afford to hesitate in that kind of situation.

I don't want to be presumptuous but I can certainly tell you about my own little slice of America!

Edited (pretend i totally specified a subject line at first) 2014-04-23 20:24 (UTC)

You're not presuming. [He laughs a little.] I meant it when I asked for everybody's opinion, so go ahead.

[He does want to know--even if he regrets it later.]

What's it like?

Well, I'm certainly not from a city quite this big! It's just a little town, but it's wonderful, and very productive. We work hard and efficiently every day! It's a blessing. [ His tone is unusually dreamy here.... ] Why, I bet a city this large could quadruple our daily earnings!

What is it like where you're from?

That sounds good to me. I never lived in a city this big. I like to work hard, too. That's what I do here.

I'm from a lot of places. I was born in Japan, but I didn't live there long. I last lived on a little island for a while. There weren't many people. A lot of them fished for a living, but they worked hard, too.

[ His tone is thoughtful, but still excitable. ]

It looks like we're both in the new, big city life together!

A little island... that sounds quaint. Was there much to do on the island? Other than the fishing?

I'm kind of biased since I've lived in America my whole life, but I do genuinely think it's a great place. No country is perfect.

[ She sounds friendly enough, masking her concern for the young boy. Damn Porter. ]

Depends. What do you like to eat?

[Regardless of how he feels, Kiritsugu seems cheerful enough.]

Yeah, I like it so far. There are some great things about it. I've always wanted to go, but not like this.

[Not being taken against his will.]

Are you from this America? Do you think it's okay to work with the government here?

[People seem to be discussing things like this openly, so he's sure it's fine to show curiosity, especially as a kid.]

I was wondering, because they kidnapped us. So--I want to be careful.

I like yakitori and kare-kare--but American food like hamburgers is good, too.

[ She switched the feed so he's not talking to a disembodied voice. Kids are more likely to trust a face than none at all. ]

No, I'm from a different one. [ She purses her lips at the mention of working alongside the government. ] I think you're a little too young to be worrying about something like that. But you're right: you should be careful.

[ Another pause. ]

There's a fast food joint in downtown. Are you by yourself right now?

Is yours really different?

They said they brought me here to help, too, so they might ask me to do something. I'll be careful, don't worry!

[He smiles. Perfectly normal kid right here!]

All I'm doing so far is going to school and working at my job. Yeah, I'm by myself now, looks like the other people who live here are out.

The country's technology isn't close to what they have here.

They shouldn't be asking something like that from you. How old are you?

[ If he had been sixteen or seventeen, familiar at all with the situation, then maybe she wouldn't be this concerned. ]

Are you hungry? I'd tell you to wait around for someone to come back, but if you're hungry...

Yeah! I don't think we have anything like these phones back where I'm from, in the whole world. They're amazing. And the floating cars and everything.

I'm eleven and a half. [The half is obviously very important. Can't leave that out.] I don't mind, I like to help out.

I'm kind of hungry, but I can make food if I need to. It's okay.

You should focus on something else for the time being. Don't stress about this registered business.

[ She looks to the side for a moment, narrowing her eyes before she leans forward again. ]

You sure? I know we don't know each other, but I could always bring over some burger meat and the buns if you don't want to make the trip downtown.

Right, I'm focusing on school right now.

[Most adults like it when you say that. His actual plans are entirely different.]

And learning English.

[Fortunately, the communicator translates for him, but he wants to learn anyway, because he can't depend on it.]

Yeah, I'm sure--I can really make it. Look!

[He holds out his hand and concentrates for a moment, and a hamburger materializes in his grasp.]

See, it's easy.

[It's a good thing they told him all about his useful powers.]

[ Her jaw drops. ]

Talk about instant delivery.

I can make as many as I want, and they give me free food at the malt shop.

[So clearly, he's set. What more could an eleven year old need?]

How did you do that? The Porter?

[ Or is there really a universe out there where people are born with hamburger creation powers? ]

Right, I got it when I came here.

[Sadly, he can't normally create hamburgers from thin air. There are probably people in his world who could create hamburgers, but they wouldn't use their powers for anything so fun.]

I can't do that at home.

Could be worse, I guess. At least you'll never go hungry?

[ She scratches the back of her head sheepishly. ]

Kerry, is it? I'm Karen.

[He's young. The fact that younger kids end up here isn't a surprise at this point, but it's still a bitter pill to swallow. It does, however, make it far more likely that the government is only accidentally pulling people in.

She does see that much.]

The politics here are a little different from what most people are used to. So, there's at least that.

But I've been doing some reading, so if you have any questions, I'd like to try to answer them.

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