01 | Video

[monster_san]

[There are a few clicking noises.]

Hm, modern technology is far too modern... [the video feed turns on, displaying a blonde Japanese girl who looks like she didn't mean to turn the video feed on, but she quickly replaces that with a wide, friendly smile.]

Hello there! Please allow me to introduce myself; my name is Fuu Hououji. I have read through the official pamphlet, but... I still believe that there's been some kind of mixup.

I'm not intimately familiar with American law, but I had thought that the minimum age to join a military service was seventeen, and I would have assumed that drafting foreign nationals would be out of the question... to say nothing of taking them out of the past.

I'll be looking for a Japanese consulate, but I've never been involved in a diplomatic incident before. I don't suppose anyone has advice?

Comments

[illuminescent]

I am sorry to say that I do not think that a consulate will help you, miss.

[monster_san]

Ah... are you sure? I would think they would raise strong objections.

[illuminescent]

I do not think that we have the same political rights as citizens of other countries, I am sorry to say.

video;

[amadaman]

[This is the most proper response he's heard to this in about a year and Ken has to laugh a little despite himself. He doesn't show her that though! The boy who shows up on her feed in this response is very... small. Like the age Hikaru Shidou usually looks, rather than the age Hikaru actually is.]

You won't find one here. Each city has an imPort ambassador, so you might be able to get in contact with the one in your city but that's about it.

It's a really strange world, but we're not technically from this Earth if we're from an Earth at all, in some cases. Citizenship gets muddled.

[monster_san]

[oh, he's cute! but precisely because of Hikaru she wonders if maybe he's actually her age. either way, though: also too young to be drafted!]

An Ambassador sounds like a step in the right direction. But is there at least a phone number I could call, or is that not allowed? After all, this operation is hardly a confidential one.

You mean, like a parallel universe? [how sci-fi...] I suppose that would explain why Russia is still the USSR... does Japan still exist?

[amadaman]

ImPort ambassadors are imPorts, too. They're on this network like you and me, so you'll be able to find them quite easily.

Yes, parallel. Japan does exist, but it doesn't have the same international relations as it did in my world. There's a number of people from Japan here, but most of them are from different versions. For example... have you ever heard of the city Iwatodai?

[mightthinkthat]

My name is Francis Urquhart and I'm ImPort Ambassador for the City of Nonah.

I'm afraid I have bad news. You've not just been taken out of the past, but a different universe. I believe that means your legal status as a citizen of Japan is… murky.

So far no one has been made to act as part of a military campaign. Some don't even register, though I don't necessarily recommend that.

[monster_san]

It's good to meet you, Mr. Urquhart; thank you for speaking with me.

I suppose that would make it difficult to prove my Japanese citizenship. [HOW INCONVENIENT.] It could well be there's no Hououji family registered at all.

But it's reassuring to know that such hasn't happened yet. [Although she mentally underlines that "so far." Several times.] I must admit, I wasn't prepared to be pulled into an alternate future today, much less as a potential soldier.

[mightthinkthat]

No one has been and I'll certainly fight for anyone who doesn't want to become a soldier, I don't think conscription will quite work for our good anyway. [ Not that he's never used National Service himself but that was to deal with the unemployment and crime issues his draconian policies had created. ]

But there is room and board and a civilian job for everyone, should they choose to take it. And you are not alone.

| audio |

[chancetoatone]

[Thane has come to realize his appearance can be distracting to new arrivals, and this girl needs information, not a topic of curiosity.]

I'm afraid your previous government ties mean nothing here.

[monster_san]

[well she's already met St Walker, so she's at least primed to politely not stare or ask questions about it.]

That seems to be the consensus. I'm sure it's more convenient for the government to take foreign nationals from alternate universes.

[video]

[lightandglory]

Seventeen? Goodness, that old?

[Yes that's the part that stands out to her.]

[monster_san]

[OH. YES. she was looking for horses... and a princess... she would have different standards.]

Ah, well, the age of adulthood is quite different from one place to another.

video

[huntergames]

Pardon, but what do you need a consulate for?

[monster_san]

I'm hoping I can lodge a formal protest and get some help from my country's government in detaching me from this... obligation that the Americans seem to have conferred upon me.

video

[khajidont]

I think everyone's covered your political position pretty well. When it comes to whatever rights we were used to back home, we're pretty much out of luck here.

[He offers her a sympathetic smile, albeit an incredibly calm one. He's gotten used to the way things are here.]

But since you're stuck here, is there anything else you'd like advice on?

Re: video

[monster_san]

Isn't that contrary to America's Cold War propaganda, though? Taking away people's legal rights sounds like something they would accuse Russia of doing.

[Sigh. How rude, America.]

A great many things, I'm sure. How do you balance schoolwork with people trying to take over the city?

text; comm tag is "Tadashi"

[tadeadshi]

I'm sorry to say there's not a Japanese consulate I've seen anywhere.

But registering or fighting is completely optional. You don't have to do it if you don't want to.

text

[monster_san]

[a Japanese name!! HOW NICE TO SEE even if it's more bad news. well, half-bad.]

I see. This appears a very, very alternate Earth.

Still, it's a relief to know that I'm less conscripted than I thought. May I ask if you're registered, Tadashi-san?

[video]

[timecapture]

Hello, Fuu! I'm Max.

[She smiles.]

Well, this place is... weird. For one thing, I don't think this is an Earth any of us are from. For another, moe than a few of us have been pulled out of time.

[Herself included.]

[monster_san]

How nice to meet you, Miss Max!

Yes, I was quite surprised to end up in 2015... the last I knew, it was 1993. It's quite interesting to see what's different and what isn't. I suppose "when are you from" is as relevant as the question "where."

video;

[performance]

Nice to meet you, Fuu. I'm Dick Grayson.

How far in the past are you coming from?

[monster_san]

Likewise, Mr. Grayson. It's nice to see how welcoming people are.

I'm from twenty-three years ago.

video;

[fistofthejoestar]

[people have already addressed the political minefield that is this world, so Jonathan settles for discussing something he's actually got some experience with: this ridiculous newfangled technology. the smile he wears is quite sympathetic.]

They've really made wondrous leaps when it comes to technological progress, haven't they? Every time I think I've finally gotten a handle on things something new manages to surprise me.

[monster_san]

It's going to be interesting getting to grips with all of it. When I left, cellphones were a novelty--now it seems they're indispensable.