touchscreens | 001 ✗ video + action.

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.) ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Granted, the kidnapping thing sucks. He's in no way trying to deny that - but there are more important things to focus on. Like ]

You met somebody you knew, here?

Yeah! His name's Emil. He's a little shy so you probably haven't met him yet. There are other people I know here, too, but they don't remember me and Emil for some reason...

I'm not entirely sure why, but I think it has to do with the people who bring us here.

Emil? Ah, yeah, can't say I have.

[ But, uh, that other part's a little more concerning. ]

They forgot you? You don't think - however we all got here messed with their heads or something?

[Marta frowns.]

I don't know. It's not like what they remember is different. They just don't remember what happened after a certain point.

Like it... Just hasn't happened to them, yet? It sounds like a pretty nasty bump on the head might just as likely be the culprit, but I'll bet it has more to do with this place.

I still don't like not knowing how we got here, especially if it's screwing with people's memories.

That's what I was thinking. I'm sure they aren't telling us everything, even though some of us really want to help.

I guess... they don't trust us.

Well, we're strangers to them, too. We'll all just have to find a way to trust each other, as long as we're here.

[She nods, and manages to smile a little.]

Yeah. You look like you could handle yourself in a fight, but I'd rather it didn't come to that, y'know?

Right! That's exactly how I feel. Things might look bad, but starting a war's only going to make them worse.

Mm-hmm.

[A little headtilt.]

Oh, I forgot to ask! Are you doing okay? It's hard for some people to adjust.

It's not easy, but... Yeah, I think I'm okay. Much as I can hope for, anyway.

[ He smiles again, only a little subdued. ]

[He looks lonely, she thinks.]

In that case, would you mind a little company? I've been meaning to check out the coffee shop but I haven't had the time.

[ If he is, he'll never admit it. His brief melancholy (if it was ever there, to begin with) dissolves in the way of more of that hearty good cheer. ]

Sure, I don't mind. A cup of coffee almost sounds good, right about now.

001 ✗ video + action.

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