VIDEO: 002

[fource]

It’s funny how time works here, isn’t it... Even disregarding what happened with the missile launch.

[Quatre’s sitting on a beach outside Heropa-- one of the meteor-viewing party spots-- as the sun sets; his eyes keep drifting away from the camera to watch the light off the water.]

For example, my birthday was a few days ago, by this world’s calendar. Back in my world, it was December, but I arrived here in March. I want to say that it’s hard to believe it’s been a year... but it hasn’t been, not really. Ten months, give or take. In the end, I suppose it’s the date that’s more important than how much time has passed, especially when no one else in this world would know that it matters.

[After a second, he visibly catches himself, smiling apologetically at the camera.] I'm sorry, that’s pretty dramatic for a birthday, isn’t it? I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s had to deal with this, for birthdays or holidays or important dates back home. I’d like to know what people normally do, or if it’s not something that’s worth worrying about.

...Well, in either case, it's been a year or ten months since I first came to Earth. I was mostly in Europe and Asia before, so I’d like to see more of this country while I can. If anyone has any recommendations for places to visit, I’d love to hear them. [His eyes are wandering off to the horizon again.] It really is beautiful here.

Comments

[continuousgroaning]

Yeah. I don't know how or why it happened, but... well, I grew to age 13. My siblings grew up with me, too- I'm the oldest and I remember both of them being born and growing older- and at some point everyone in my world just stopped. We'd have holidays and stuff every year but we never aged, and we never noticed it was odd. I didn't think it was weird til I came here and someone mentioned it, in fact...

[fource]

That's so... [He can only conceive of it, just barely, because of what happened last month with the missile.] ...Did you ever find out why? Was there something supernatural happening in your home world?

...I don't mean to pry, it's just so different from anything else that I've heard.

[continuousgroaning]

Nah, it's okay. I wouldn't have brought it up if I minded.

No, I never did find out why. My mom's here, too, and she never noticed, either. So if it was something supernatural or whatever else, we have yet to find out. Either way, I started aging normally here- I turned 14 last month. And I'm growing physically.

[fource]

Well... I guess that would make you the expert for this sort of thing, wouldn't it? Happy belated birthday.

...Do you think you prefer it this way, or how things were back home?

[continuousgroaning]

Thank you! I don't really think of myself as an expert, though... I try not to think about how it was back home too hard.

Oh, that's a good question. I think both have their good points. Here, I feel like it's harder because I don't know how long I'm going to be in this world, and if I'm going to be stuck for a while, I have to start thinking about my future. What I'm going to study in school and do for a living, you know. And aside from the time thing, being separated from my family was and is hard for me. At least back home, I had all of them, and we weren't aware time was weird.

[fource]

Mm. Thinking about the future here is hard, isn't it? Figuring out what you want to do for your time here, however long it may be, when things are so different from home. I'm glad you've got family here.

[continuousgroaning]

Mmhmm. I've just tried to live my life as normally as possible, even if it can't be the same as it was where I come from. I've had it pretty good here, at least. Been lucky to have some great people come into my life.

I'm glad, too. I've been here for almost a year, but Mom only got here a few months ago. My mom and dad and siblings are the most important people in the world to me, and it wasn't easy getting used to them not being around.

[fource]

Wow, so you've been here for that long... [And at thirteen, too, even if it's some strange perpetually repeating thirteen.] I think you've handled it better than I would have, if I had come here at your age.

[Mostly because he was a dumb jerk at thirteen. He smiles when she mentions her siblings, and looks up at the sky when he responds.]

You said you have two siblings, right? Do you mind telling me about them? I hope my sisters would mention me if they were here instead.

[continuousgroaning]

I get that a lot. I figured it was better to adjust as best I could than just spend the whole time moping, you know? I mean, it's not been entirely easy here, but I've also had an easy time connecting with people. And I got placed with some older guys who helped take care of me and fill in for my parents, until Mom got here.

[She brightens up at the question- good thing her siblings are one of her favorite subjects.]

Well, like I said, I'm the oldest. My brother Gene is 11 and my sister Louise is 9. We're all really close because we grew up helping out in my dad's restaurant. They can be a handful sometimes, though. I try my best to set a good example for them, but they don't always listen.

[fource]

That's good. I'm glad you had some support. [It raises questions about what would have happened if she hadn't been placed with people who wanted to help, but... he thinks she might have been able to figure something out.

His smile grows a little softer as she talks.] Don't take it personally. Little siblings are supposed to ignore their elders sometimes. I'm sure they're grateful for your help.

[continuousgroaning]

I'm really lucky. And we're still good friends, so it all worked out.

[She nods.]

And I figure I'll be there to help get them out of trouble if they DO get into anything serious. ... plus they can usually persuade me to go along with them anyway, because I'm a big softy when it comes to them.

[fource]

Speaking as a little brother, I'm sure it means a lot to them, if you support them and they can depend on you. [He's likely thinking of a very different sort of trouble than she is-- trouble like disinheriting himself from the family in order to run away and join a war-- but the sentiment is there either way.] Do you think you'd want them to show up here?

[continuousgroaning]

[Tina smiles in reply.]

And I know it means a lot to my parents to be able to trust me, too. That way they can have some time to themselves every now and then.

[There's a long pause as she considers that.]

... I do and I don't. I miss them, and Dad, a lot, but... we had a pretty easy and simple life back home. My family is close and we always have each other, and I'm finding that a lot of people here had it... tough, to put it mildly. And Gene and Louise are so young. I think they might get overwhelmed.

[fource]

Ah, that's right, they're younger than you. [He's not sure where the line is for 'too young to be here,' but he's pretty sure he draws it younger than most people do. 9 is very young to be here alone, he thinks, but maybe not with family support.] Well, you're here to support them, aren't you? You've managed it so well that I'm sure you'd be able to help them through it.

...Not that my opinion matters either way, regarding if they'd show up here, but still.

[continuousgroaning]

[She smiles at the vote of confidence anyway.]

Yeah, and I know Mom would go out of her way to make sure they were safe too. And despite what I think, I'm sure Louise would love getting powers and everything. She'd do whatever superheroics she could get away with.

[fource]

…By superheroics, do you mean getting involved in things like the missile incident? [Okay, that’s a line that he’s very certain about; 9 year olds should not be allowed to take an active role in nuclear warfare. Successfully identified that one.] Would your sister really try to do that?

[continuousgroaning]

She would. I think she doesn't really have a good grasp on the concept of danger and consequences of it yet, she just thinks of the thrill. And despite being the youngest, she tends to be the leader of the 3 of us.

Of course, here she'd have a lot more people besides me and Mom looking after her and making sure she doesn't get into trouble, too. The guys who helped take care of me before Mom got here are big on making sure I still can be a kid. They'd do the same for Louise.

[fource]

Ah, yes. I suppose I also saw the excitement in going out and helping people when I was younger, even if it was dangerous. [Again, he thinks that he was probably a bad judge for this sort of thing.] But you're right, everyone here is very kind, and quick to look after each other-- I'm sure there will be plenty of people to protect her until she understands the consequences. Will you let me know if she does arrive her?

[continuousgroaning]

Louise just likes the rush of it, I think. Like the time she rode a rollercoaster she was too short for; she enjoyed the thrill and didn't seem to be thinking too hard about what would happen if she fell off. But I do her worrying for her.

[Tina nods.]

Believe me, the whole network will know.