01; Video... sort of.

[trickstar]

[The video feed starts with the face of a young man looking... very confused at the phone in front of him. Squinting, almost. Soon followed by a...]

HELLO?

[...He is literally yelling into the communicator, and pressing it to his cheek. Entirely unnecessary, since this is a video post... But whatever. Say hello to Joseph's cheek, fellow users of the Network. This is all you get for the rest of the video.]

There's no receiver end on this thing, how am I supposed to know where to talk into! Or who I'm talking to?

[Yeah. You're getting one of these guys again. Sorry. He's from 1938. This has been a rough journey for the technologically inept.]

Whatever! I have to go back- it's really important. I'm going to be done for in six days if I don't get to Switzerland! It's a really long story but I don't have time for another adventure, I'm already in the middle of one right now. I don't want to hear any of those excuses I've already been told! I'm being really serious here! I should have memorized Lisa Lisa's phone number...

Comments

[trickstar]

All I know is surgery won't help. It's a ring, and breaking it without the antidote will just release the poison. Can the future doctors can get around that?

[He knows that's not how he intended to get the antidote. He was supposed to fight Wham and win it, fair and like a warrior. But well, Wham. Maybe you should get your ass here so he can kick it without feeling guilty about breaking his promise.]

[godly]

If I was to base my answer on the medical progress of my current world, estimating what it would be in 2014, then... no.

[But!]

However, this is hardly my world at all. The technology is much more advanced than what I would expect in the not-too-distant future from me. So, I wouldn't be surprised if they could get around a... ring. Though I feel obligated to ask how you ended up with a ring inside of you in the first place...?

didn't notice til just now my phone autocorrected things

[trickstar]

'World' this, 'world' that. What is everyone talking about!! We're on EARTH, aren't we?

... It was put in me by an ancient vampire. It's his wedding ring. It means we have to do battle in 33 days, but since I'm not in the past anymore, it's kind of already a broken vow, isn't it?

no worries! mine does that all the time

[godly]

[That's... quite a fantastical tale.]

A broken vow by far, if we are to go by this world's calendar. [That's right. World.] And to clarify, yes, this is Earth. But only one version of it -- different than the one you come from.

[trickstar]

... "Version"?

[Sorry Light, no one's really explained it to him yet. Or rather... no one he's listened to.]

[godly]

[Well, Light shall explain.]

Ah... think of it as there being multiple Earths in existence, and we each come from a specific one. Some share flagrant similarities, others cannot be more different from another. But regardless, we imPorts regard our respective Earths as our "worlds", or "homes".

In other words, this Earth isn't yours as you know it. Nor is it mine. We're all foreigners, in the grand scheme of things.

1/2

[trickstar]

[Joseph pauses, putting a hand on his chin and looking deep in thought.]

Different from another...

[trickstar]

... So is it possible there's a world out there where my friend Caesar is a total babe instead of just an asshole?? Ha ha ha, that'd be great to see!

[godly]

[ u m ]

That's really... the first thing you think of when I tell you about the multiverse?

[trickstar]

[Poor Light.]

Are you judging me? Because it sounds like you're judging me.

[godly]

No. [Yes? Maybe.] It's just -- given the situation, that would have been the last thing I would have wondered.

But, if you want a legitimate answer to your question: yes. Perhaps it is viable, in some other world.

[trickstar]

So you're point is because this "world" isn't the same historically as mine or yours, the scientific research might be on a higher level, and they can take care of this ring for me, right?

[Look, he was paying attention.]

[godly]

It's very possible. [Oh good, he was listening. It's a pleasant sort of surprise.] Thus I'd recommend you check in with the doctors here first, before you go running off to Switzerland for something that will likely not be there. Not to mention leaving the country is off-limits without special permission from the government here.

[trickstar]

Since when do we need permission from the government to go out of country?

[godly]

Since you arrived. Just ask any government official, or any imPort that's been here long enough.

If it's not incentive enough to stop you, then that's fine. Your priorities are your own. But you'll be marked as AWOL.

[trickstar]

I don't have a reason for leaving right now. But I don't understand. Why? Because of the war?

[godly]

That is part of it, undoubtedly. But more to the point? The government doesn't want imPorts running around unaccounted for. Whether it's due to a matter of safety or trust is debatable -- likely both.

[trickstar]

Tch. They might have good food here, but the policies are really starting to piss me off.

[godly]

This place... it does have its failings. Of course, from a perspective of us imPorts, being torn from our homes with no way back, it's only to be expected for us to think that.

Have you given any thought to registration?

[trickstar]

No way I'm registering! I'm staying out of this, or any war, as much as I can!

[godly]

That's completely your decision to make, of course, but I feel obligated to ask if you know what exactly that entails?

[trickstar]

...

Not really.

[godly]

[Welp.] Generally speaking? Less government support. You'll have to find your own job, and you can use the housing given to you as long as your other roommates aren't inclined to kick you out.

[trickstar]

Let me get this straight. They brought me here, but if I don't sign up for their war, I won't have any money??

[godly]

[He looks just as about as pleased with it as you are.]

That's right. You'll have to find your own job, independently of what the government has assigned you. But many here have made that choice; and many will empathize if you decide to make it yourself.