001 ✗ video + action.

[soldiernoclass]

Oh, hey - I bet it's working, this time!

[ To the technologically impaired, these terminals are a little daunting - who knew you had to take your gloves off to work a touchscreen? Not to mention the thought of hooking up to some nebulous and well-populated network. He may or may not have spent the last ten to fifteen minutes talking to nobody, slowly realizing he was talking to nobody, and then trying again to figure out how to get to the Help tab.

Anyway, it's definitely broadcasting, now. Maybe. Probably. He's not trying again if it isn't. (He might.) ]

Am I really talking to all the other, uh, visitors out there? I guess that's pretty handy. Though... It feels like I've been doing a lot of talking, lately, and not a whole lot of actually getting to know the people I'm stuck with. [ Which more or less translates out of polite doublespeak to: he's tired himself out trying to figure this place out one way, how about FAQ round #2? ] So I thought, why not just ask? A little old-fashioned, I admit, but... I've got nothing to lose.

[ He shrugs, smiling thinly. ] So tell me about yourselves, okay? Or your 'worlds,' or whatever. And just 'cause it's no fair if I don't start, I'm Zack. I used to wanna travel, when I was a little younger. [ A pause, and a little more genuine humor leaks into that smile. ] I guess I sure got my wish, huh?



[ There's only so much aimlessly (but alertly) wandering around a foreign city a guy can do, so Zack's taking a break from that to ...aimlessly wander around the common floor of building #1 (having significantly more luck with the video games than with the terminals) and along the walkways between buildings (for the view, naturally).

He's not in great shape - it's actually a lot harder to remember to maintain contact with total strangers than he would've expected it to be - but he isn't exactly falling on his face, either (not that he'll be turning down any free hugs, regardless). And, of course, anybody who crosses his path - and doesn't make themselves too busy for him to accost, post haste - will most likely be finding themselves in a conversation. However one-sided. (He's not picky.) ]

Comments

Action

[ribbonbon]

[It's on her way home from her part-time job that Pilouette comes across Zack. Aside fro the whole "being stuck in another world" thing, she's been feel pretty good lately. She's been getting lots of contact through her job at the sweets shop and she's been learning a bit about making sweets.

She's balancing some small paper grocery bags when she bumps into him on her way back to building 2.]

Oops! S-Sorry!

Action

[soldiernoclass]

Ha, don't worry about it! [ He's quick to react when somebody plows into him (should've been quick enough to get out of the way, but everybody has an off day), hands up to catch any bags or bag-contents in danger of toppling. Running into him is a little like running into a brick wall, although he's considerably more considerate. ]

I didn't smash anything, did I?

[ribbonbon]

[She peeks into the bags, to check on everything.]

No, no, everything is okay, I think...It's all just sweets from work. Nothing really important.

Are you just out for a walk or something?

[soldiernoclass]

Or something, yeah. Just out looking to get the lay of the land.

[ For the most part, though he's been paying more attention to the people, this time - which is probably what's so embarrassing about running full into one. At least nothing's ruined, though. ]

I'm Zack. I came in a couple of weeks ago with that big group.

[ribbonbon]

That's a pretty good idea...Some parts are still closed off, I think, but even then, the city is pretty interesting.

[She does her best to be friendly, though, she's still a little uneasy, both about meeting people in general and about more people being brought in.]

Um, my name is Pilouette! I-It's nice to meet you! ...Are you settling in okay? This whole thing is probably pretty weird, right? I know when I first got here I was like, totally freaked out.

[soldiernoclass]

It's definitely different.

[ A lot less seedy and polluted than the big cities he's used to, for starters. Another not-so-bad thing, comparatively. ]

Oh yeah, sure. I guess it is pretty freaky, but I'm used to some pretty freaky stuff. [ He shrugs, covering the momentary gloom that thought gives rise to with another bright smile. ] The people are pretty nice, anyway. That helps.

[ribbonbon]

It doesn't really get much freakier than this, though, does it? I mean, dragged off to a different world to be living batteries...? Freaky doesn't, like, even describe it.

You're right about the people, though. I guess it's because we're all kind of in the same boat. But even the locals are pretty nice! Some of them are even willing to give us other worlders part time jobs! ...It still feels weird to say I'm from another world. I mean, until I came here, I thought mine was the only one...!

[soldiernoclass]

I dunno. There's not really a scale to measure that kinda stuff on, right? [ And he actually does have to think about it. You spend several years of your life dealing with a whole bunch of bunk about goddesses and clones and people dying and then not being dead and then the endless bossfights and

your perception of weird goes a little pear-shaped, sure. ]

I hadn't heard they were employing around here, too, though. Uh, and if you meet anybody who did used to think there were other worlds, out there, you'll have one up on me. I guess I'm glad the space program never really got off the ground...

[ribbonbon]

I guess you're right...Compared to this, all the stuff I thought was weird before looks really normal.

W-Well, I didn't know anyone was hiring either. But since there's no school...well, someone said a part-time job would probably be a good substitute. And I think there were people who thought other worlds existed, but...you know. No one ever took them like, seriously. They were like, total weirdos who watched too many movies or whatever.

But maybe they weren't such weirdos after all...

[soldiernoclass]

Nah, they were still total weirdos. [ But he says so kindly, if nothing else, clearly amused. ]

But looking for work doesn't sound like such a bad idea. Better than sitting around and waiting for something to change, huh?

[ribbonbon]

[She can't help but laugh just a little bit, before nodding in agreement.]

Yeah! I mean, just moping around being miserable about being here will just make it worse, won't it? Besides, I'll probably learn something by working! [She's very proud of the fact that she managed to get a job. After all, working is a very grown-up thing to do. But she adds, sheepishly:] ...It's nice to have some extra money, too, though.