video;

[digophelia]

[ She tilts her device into better view, looking down at it with a frown. From that angle, it's easy to see what she's wearing. It may even look a little familiar. A blue pinafore dress, with a white apron -- though, her apron has splatters of blood. Alice presses her long dark hair behind her ears as her frown persists. ]

Curiouser and curiouser.

[ She think it's working. She's not sure if she hopes it does. Then again, Alice is so very used to talking to herself. ]

For all of that commotion, I never really gotten an explanation of what a "red threat" or a "communist" is, other than they sound like some silly bogey men from the way they were carrying on. Oh, a red threat- certainly, perhaps, if it means red checkers pieces and knaves of hearts.

[ It was the first thing she thought of! How can she not think of that? ]

It all sounds like nonsense, really. What unusual standards that this city has of a "hero". I've always attributed heroes to the knights of the round table and King Arthur, not miscreants like me. What a poor standard.

It is a bit mad, isn't it? Ah, maybe... just a bit, though not enough.

[ Unless magical trains pop up and people shrink size, no one will convince Alice otherwise. ]

Comments

[mightthinkthat]

Do you actually want an answer or are you happy calling it mad? I'm not saying that's not a valid interpretation, by the way, I just don't want to bore you with something you don't actually care about.

[digophelia]

[ After fiddling with this thing and finally understanding the basic functions of it, she is somewhat happy she's gotten a response. ]

So it does work.

[ Calm and placid, Alice gazes down at it, a little whimsical. ]

Experience has taught me to never be happy calling anything mad. An answer, perhaps, but ultimately I wanted to see if this would work or not.

[ She's impressed with it. It's nice not speaking to people in person, and it takes off a level of anxiety for her. ]

[mightthinkthat]

Yes, it works.

It's a matter of political leanings and everyone taking it all very seriously. Not that running a country isn't serious business, but I don't appreciate having lives lost for the meagre prize of being right when I'm not entirely sure there is one.

[digophelia]

Anyone in their right mind wouldn't appreciate that, especially after being brought to a place against their will.

[ She can't stand Whitechapel, London. If this means she can never go back, she's content with it. ]

So then, is it commonplace to have strangers wave papers in your face, carrying on about "threats"?

[mightthinkthat]

I admit, I hadn't really connected the two, for whatever reason.

That may have something to do with the fact that one of our fellow abductees, or ImPorts, to use the local jargon, set off a gas attack to make us driven mad through fear. His name is Dr. Crane and he's currently held, unfortunately unofficially, in a man's basement. Goes by Batman, if you want to know.

Some ImPorts decide to go by codenames here. Some are... obviously better than others.

Anyway, none of that had anything to do with you. I'm sorry for the inconvenience.

[digophelia]

Doctor Crane.

[ In a man's basement. She doesn't bother hiding the visible cringe. A doctor, she hasn't had a good history of doctors. His "work" almost sounds like Bumby. Alice almost is tempted to ask why anyone would do such a thing.

Never mind, she doesn't want to know. ]

Of course, a doctor, of all people. I'll remember that, thank you.

[ And make a point to stay very clear of him and other doctors, for sure. ]

On the contrary, I deeply appreciate the warning. I've been acquainted with a man like that before, and well- it doesn't matter, he isn't alive to hurt anyone anymore.

[Video]

[hands4healing]

They like to talk about the red threat a lot on the news. It's a nickname for another country, Russia.

[Video]

[digophelia]

The news? Is that some sort of Saturday post?

[ Alice hasn't been here for even a full day and keeps hearing terms she's never heard of. ]

Why? [ It's not like she knows a lot about Russia. ] More importantly, why red?

[Video]

[hands4healing]

Ah...the news, the newspapers, the television programs that offer up daily news articles through reporters, too.

[Winry's lived here over a year now, she sometimes forgets not everyone has this same tech, even though she didn't in her world.]

I'm not sure why red. And it's some sort of disagreement - they call it the 'Cold War' but I don't know why for that, either. This isn't my world. I'm an ImPort, too.

[And frankly, she hasn't paid much attention to their war - except that people get hurt.]

[Video]

[digophelia]

[ Televisions, reporters, and cold wars are all terms she is not familiar with. The more she hears, the more questions she has. ]

What bizarre terminology.

[ She's heard and seen much weirder, but it is so different when it's not a conjuring of her own imagination. A look of concern crosses her face. ]

Is that it, then? Some sort of war? Is that why they bring "ImPorts"?

[Video]

[hands4healing]

It is! [Winry agrees. Completely.]

That's what it seems to be but if you don't want to fight their war, you aren't asked to.

I don't fight. I'm a healer.

( audio )

[chancetoatone]

[Thane certainly isn't a wonderful source of information on the topic.]

I know little of Russia, and there is little to be found on the topic that isn't so...one-sided.

( audio )

[digophelia]

[ After getting a vague explanation from Winry Alice is, of course, curious. ]

Yes, I have gotten that feeling!

[ Or maybe she doesn't want to know. ]

Oh, they were ridiculous, waving papers about, shouting at any innocent passerbyer. And naturally, they would not let anyone talk or ask questions. Is it always like this?

( audio )

[chancetoatone]

Things have escalated recently, but their level of hatred has always been high, yes.

[He sounds almost regretful.] I have a difficult time sharing their beliefs. I've never met a Russian.

( audio )

[digophelia]

Neither have I. [ The way things are going, Alice would really like to meet a Russian. She's always envisioned big, burly men with bushy beards and big fur hats. Scary, big people with tempers. Though, hearing this, Alice is convinced that "scary" may not be the case. ] Irish, Scots, and French, but never any Russians.

How has it escalated? What happened?

( audio )

[chancetoatone]

I believe there has always been tension between this country and Russia. There was another group of ImPorts before our arrival, but I don't know any specifics of that time.

Our renewed presence has make the Russian government...paranoid, I believe. There have been terrorist strikes, displays of power near the borders, but no open conflict. If I am to consider the implications of the public opinion here though, I would say they are looking for a war.

video

[melavasomniar]

I'm afraid I'm mostly as confused about all the communism nonsense as you seem to be, but on the other topic...

You know, I've found "miscreants" can make quite fine heroes. Sometime brash, crass, loud, obnoxious, and troublesome heroes, but heroes none-the-less. [Yeah, he's got a few people in mind.]

video

[digophelia]

[ Being the pessimist she is, Alice crosses her arms and stubbornly shakes her head. ]

Truly? I doubt it.

[ She refers more to herself, not that anyone knows. ]

How wonderful to be spewed such nonsense and to never receive an explanation or a view of another. That's perfectly fine, it all sounds ridiculous, these "red threats" and "communists".

video

[melavasomniar]

You have a very strange sense of what's 'wonderful'. [He knows she wasn't being sincere, but it's fun to tease.]

Though, you're fairly likely to get an explanation or some sort asking around on this network. Within my first day here I got a fairly decent idea about what's going on. Not enough to be able to explain it to you unfortunately, but decent enough.

Re: video

[digophelia]

[ He has really no idea. Alice takes it a bit more literal, tilting her head in confusion. ]

Maybe? Perhaps.

[ Contrary-wise wonders, mostly, she almost says/ ]

Anything will do at this rate. Insofar, there are more rational people on this "network". It's much more bearable than what I've dealt with so far.

permatext

[hypnotherapy]

Poor standards? I should say so, certainly. [ They classified him as a hero. Very poor choice! And more recently there's been rashes of not-so-heroic imPorts, of course... ] Should I simply greet you normally, or say welcome back?

[digophelia]

I apologize, but what do you mean by welcome back?

[hypnotherapy]

You were here before, for a short while. Nevertheless, you don't seem to remember, so the greeting is pointless.

Welcome, then. You'll find that there's a high population of miscreants among us, so you shouldn't be bored.

[digophelia]

[ Alice isn't sure how to take that. For the sake of being polite, she won't ask too much about it and for her own stability. ]

Boredom isn't an issue. Confusion, mostly. I was hoping for something a little more solid. They must be desperate.

[hypnotherapy]

[ SORRY, DID HE MAKE THINGS AWKWARD FOR YOU? He doesn't realise. Oops. ]

The Porter brings people in on a whim, so if you have any inquiries as to the selection process, I suppose you could try asking the machine. Not that they'll let you, probably.

What do you mean by solid?