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

[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.

[monster_san]

I do appreciate that.

It does seem they allow us a considerable amount of latitude in movement... and certainly the job I've been given is nothing ominous. [She sighs.] It is helpful to know that there are people here experienced with the situation.

[mightthinkthat]

They could have done a lot worse, I agree. So what is your job, may I ask?

[monster_san]

I'm supposed to review video games. [.....................] I suppose it's not that unusual to be paid for doing that, but it does sound odd.

[mightthinkthat]

[ Brief 'looking this up' pause. ] It's a male dominated field, it seems to me, you could be a trailblazer.

[monster_san]

That's not surprising. [nerd boys] I could be... it seems my plans of being a trailblazing software engineer are rather outdated, anyway.

[SO FAR BEHIND IN PROGRAMMING KNOW-HOW.]

[mightthinkthat]

Which explains the logic of giving you the job, I assume.

[monster_san]

Yes, Miss Porter seems to be... quite well-informed of my interests. [a little disturbing tbh.] May I ask if you were similarly a governmental official before you were brought here?

[you know, an ambassador to the UN or a deposer of idealistic kings or something.]

[mightthinkthat]

Yes, I was prime minister of Great Britain. [ Though he had to earn being an ambassador. ]

[monster_san]

Goodness! I had no idea I was speaking to such an eminent figure.

[mightthinkthat]

Well, I'd be missing out on some lovely conversations if I just announced off the bat.

[monster_san]

Very true, I imagine it would quite intimidate most people.

[mightthinkthat]

It does a bit. [ Even if their response is scorn, it's out of fear. Afraid of… what, the CIA or some such nonsense. ]