001 | Video

[applewatcher]

[He's not looming over the communicator. Not intentionally, at any rate, his bemused expression should make that clear. After a moment, he adjusts it to a more respectable angle. The thing looks like a mirror again, he can see a miniature picture of himself. And those little symbols signify he's...?]

Aha. Finally. I hope the other three attempts didn't work. If they did, my apologies. I'm not familiar with the workings of this... [He settles on a word] device. It's been quite the menace all morning.

To introduce myself: I am Lucien Lachance, [he smiles, slowly easing into a more relaxed baritone,] and as you can no doubt guess, I am very new here. I would like to learn more about my new neighbors, this fascinating new world... everything, really.

[His smile falters, though his voice remains smooth. Why hide that some of the cheerfulness is forced?] Especially regarding how long we might expect to stay here. I'm sure it's a wonderful adventure for a little while, but... Well, I am a family man. I must confess, I miss them already. I'm sure many of you here know that feeling. Any advice on how to make the most of all of this in spite of it would be most appreciated.

I look forward to getting to know you all.

Comments

[restingstitchface]

[The person on camera is some amazingly nondescript middle-aged man. Who is wearing clothes that aid his impression of dryness; a brown tweed suit, tie and frames. His image streams from the communicator on his desk; which is supporting stacks of books and papers.

His voice is an equally arid drawl.]

Well, I'm sure some people would spin this more positively, and I don't want you to take this badly, but you could be stuck here for the long haul. I have been a prisoner here three long years. And that's not even the record.

[applewatcher]

[He's stabilized the communicator now, though he's still not sure where to look on this blasted thing.]

I suppose that's why the little pamphlet didn't say anything on the subject. At least I won't miss anything at home, it would be... well. I was worried at first that the world would end before I came back. [There's no way to smile about that except oddly.] At some point I'll return to my family and we can prepare, at least.

Pleased to meet you, by the way.

[restingstitchface]

[Crane doesn't acknowledge the man's comment about family, but his penchant for melodrama earns a slightly raised brow.]

Likewise.

[Social protocol. He's observed it enough that he can follow it for now.]

Well, I guess you'll be in good company here. You're not the only gentleman who desires to know a fair deal about this fascinating new world, as you put it.

[applewatcher]

[In truth he's not much bothered by the daedric goings-on back home, but he imagines the common citizen is. The Family's been through this sort of thing before.]

And you've certainly been here long enough to know yourself. Do you have any thoughts you would be willing to share?

[Sithis knows the man certainly doesn't look to be the sharing type, but there's no harm (yet) in asking.]

[restingstitchface]

Let's see. Three years, all very painful I'll say, and I've figured for all the people rambling on about culture shock and its challenges, they've grown not to face adversity but to deny it. Better yet, most of them have remained the same person now as they were back then. Home, I mean.

[Not quite the sharing type, but just enough.]

[applewatcher]

What a wasted opportunity. Even if we might return home with no memories, actions taken here aren't inherently futile. To remain unchanged is the only way to achieve purposelessness.

[It presents an interesting challenge, though, when he's stuck here without his Listener. He should think more on that.]

And you've found ways to productively occupy yourself?

[restingstitchface]

Obviously. I have my work.

[He does an admirable job of keeping his tone dry and polite; without humor. He smothers any further spark of interest and smooths down his cuffs, starting with his right.]

audio

[devoutish]

My sympathies, mate. Have you been told about time not moving yet?

video, because by gods he found something that works and he's sticking to it

[applewatcher]

The pamphlet they gave me mentioned that, yes. I'm not sure how much to believe it. [He sighs.] But if more knowledgeable individuals can confirm, then I suppose I'll just have to accept it.

Oh, and pleasure to meet you, whoever you might be.

video

[devoutish]

Solomons. I-- oh, here you go.

[He'll be polite and switch to video, tipping his hat to Lucien.]

Yeah, Alfie Solomons. And it's true, unless the many people who have left and come back have been lying to the rest of us. Doesn't make me happy to be here, personally, but it does make the experience just a bit more palpable.

video

[applewatcher]

[A broad smile.]

Ah, there you are. I thought I'd done something wrong with this thing again.

I've resolved to make the most of it, though I'm very lost here at the moment. I certainly don't need to tell you how overwhelming it is.

Or perhaps I shouldn't assume, given how diverse this place seems to be. Is your world at all like this one?

video

[devoutish]

There's text, and there's audio, and then there's video - this one. You'll get used to it, mate. Now, my world - my world's like this one, but a hundred years in the past.

[applewatcher]

Really? What an odd feeling that must be, to see a way things could go. Do you have a family waiting for you there?

[devoutish]

No wife and kids, but yeah. Yeah, I've got parents, brothers and a sister, nieces and nephews.

Yours will stay in your head, no matter how long you're here.

[beyourzoomer]

The device isn't so bad once you get the hang of it. [She's kind of fascinated by it now, actually. As for the rest, she doesn't really have an answer. Personally she hopes she never has to go back to her world.]

I recommend the beach, personally.

[applewatcher]

I'm sure I'll reach that point eventually. At the moment there's so much to learn that I'm almost not sure where to begin.

[Somehow he hadn't thought that children might have been taken by this thing.]

Pleased to meet you. And I might take that advice, thank you. It's been a while since I've seen a coastline, and longer still a safe one. No dreugh crawling about here, I assume? [They tended to like sandy shorelines just as much as land-dwellers, unfortunately.]

[beyourzoomer]

Yeah it's kinda weird at first. It can do a lot of stuff.

[She lifts her hand in a wave of greeting.]

Uh, I don't know. What's a dreugh?

[applewatcher]

I'll take that as a 'no', then. Dreugh are beastmen that live in coastal waters. They're territorial, but not aggressive until they molt and crawl from the water. Nearly took a foot off one of my sisters when I was younger.

[Bless Shaleez, by all accounts she was a fantastic swimmer, but she'd never been in ocean water before.]

Though I suppose there's no need to worry about them here. Almost everything I could care to mention is different. Are you in a similar situation, or is your world closer to this one?

[beyourzoomer]

If they're here, I haven't seen any.

[It sounded kind of neat right up until the molting and foot eating part...]

Well, minus the whole superpowers and working for the government thing, it seems pretty similar.

[applewatcher]

Despite what I've heard about this place, it seems... a little calmer, compared to Tamriel. I do wish the rest of my family could be here.

[He didn't, not really. He'd rather be back at home, with the latest scourge upon the world distracting the Family's adversaries. Chaos put his family in their element.]

I'm not quite sure what to make of either of those, but the opportunity to use them for a good cause is interesting. I'm just not sure how they got all that information about us. It's troubling.

[To put it mildly. The idea that the regime here knew who and what he was left him feeling shaken.]

[beyourzoomer]

They might show up. [She doesn't want to give him false hope or anything, but if half of Hawkins, Indiana, can end up in this dimension, why not his family? She's just praying her family doesn't.]

So it's new to you, then? Having powers?

[Really she hasn't given much thought to the file they had on her. It was short, and not all that revealing, and she was pretty glad about that. She knows it's weird, but not that much weirder than anything else these days.]

video

[k31rfree]

[K31 appears on the screen in a blink, pushing dark hair out of her face as she lifts the camera to a more comfortable position. She's sitting, rather stiffly, much like a soldier- for someone who is dressed somewhat casually. She greets him first with a smile.]

I am still struggling with the technology myself. Though, you do get a handle for it through repetition... Do not get discouraged.

What sort of activities do you find yourself enjoying normally. Knowing your habits opens you up to suggestion.

video

[applewatcher]

[Well now. That's a remarkably forward question he's not about to answer truthfully.]

I beg your pardon? What do you mean, 'suggestion'?

video

[k31rfree]

[K31 tilts her head, her cheerful expression unfaltering.]

If you are attempting to wait out your time here, wouldn't you rather do it participating in something you like, rather than be bombarded with things that do not interest you in the slightest?

[She raises an eyebrow, smiling enduring.]

Have I misunderstood your initial question entirely. Or are you attempting to become familiar with the people you are meant to be social with through your open ended question and not answer questions of our own.

Re: video

[applewatcher]

[He just smiles and radiates polite bemusement.]

Neither assumption is entirely correct, I am truly interested in learning more about the people of this world, regardless of whether I would find them pleasant company.