1.0 : video

[because_its_cool]

[A face comes into view, an older gentleman, wearing a white lab coat over a flannel shirt. He's studying the screen with one part curiosity, one part confusion, and one part terror.]

[He clears his throat.]

Ah, hello. My name is Doctor Walter Bishop. I just arrived here, and I'm not quite sure where I am. I know I'm in Saeng Seong, but I ... I seem to have gotten turned around. I was heading toward the apartments, but now I'm in a market of some sort.

[It's hard to place his accent, though there are hints of Bostonian and possibly London.]

I would very much like to find my way home now, if I could find someone who will stop trying to sell me things long enough to point me in the right direction.

[His tone is full of annoyance, but it drops away to leave him vulnerable again. His eyes dart from the screen nervously, then back.]

Yes, I would very much like to go somewhere quiet now.

Comments

[Action with a dose of wibbly wobbly etc.]

[someonetowatchoveryou]

[Hold up... right there, next to that stall selling whale uvulas... Is that...?

Nah, can't be.

But it is. It's that same Observer. He watches Walter amble by and continues watching him. If the older man doesn't turn round, he'll just follow him.

What. Old habits and all that. Besides, he's just as surprised to see Walter there as Walter is to see himself there.]

[actiony goodness with a bit of whipped cream]

[because_its_cool]

[Walter passes right by him and stops to stare at what he's certain is the bone from a blue whale's penis. It would be marvelous if he weren't so worked up. Instead, it's merely interesting.]

[He reaches out to touch it, to anchor himself. Yep, whale bone.]

[Even with his anchor, he feels like he's being pressed in on all sides by people and noise. With effort, he does not panic.]

[Until he sees September. Even then, it's not quite panic, but the Observer only appears to him when things need to be seen, remembered, and experienced.]

Oh. Hello.

[He's not able to say anything else. Too much stimulation.]

[Mmm, best kind.]

[someonetowatchoveryou]

[Well, this entire town is something to see. The Observer in question draws closer, looking down at the whale bones, then back up at Walter.]

I suspect that you have many questions. There are not answers to all of them, but I can answer some of them. [Such as...] The apartments are in that direction. [A pause.] Do you wish me to lead you there?

[because_its_cool]

[Walter stares at him for a beat, then nods. He looks resigned to whatever fate September is willing to lead him to.]

Did you bring me here?

[someonetowatchoveryou]

[September turns and walks down the sidewalk in the direction of the apartment plaza. He doesn't pay any attention to the stall owners, only Walter's question.]

I did not. I was brought here, as well. [A beat.] Did you arrive at the Welcome Centre?

[because_its_cool]

[Walter has someone to focus on, someone he trusts. He's still flinching a bit from the sounds and the people mulling about, but he's much calmer now.]

I did. I was heading over to the hotel facilities and ... I'm not sure how I ended up in a marketplace.

[He sticks his hands in his pockets and shrinks into his jacket.]

Do you know why we're here, save for the explanation I received earlier?

[someonetowatchoveryou]

I do not. The scientific community is... reticent concerning their energy crisis and our part in solving it. [He sounds almost a shade irritated.] Furthermore, I have been informed that in most cases we are not allowed to aid in the resolution of this crisis. I suspect that they regard their technology and procedures to be... 'top secret.'

[At least the apartment buildings aren't far away.]

[because_its_cool]

I would think if we have the resources and the equipment to --

[Walter stops, his momentary focus on September stealing his fear. In fact, he sounds angry.]

Why are we here then? Why did they take us from our homes

[More anger.]

if they didn't want help?

[video]

[unionjackoff]

[England would recognize a British accent anywhere, no matter how dilluted it was. hmhm, and since he's in a good mood right now, he decides to reply to him]

Hullo there, doctor. [the bushy-browed man has an accent of his own, distinctly from London] If you're in the marketplace, you just need to head west to get back to the first district where the flats are. If you need assistance, I would be happy to direct you.

[sorry for lateness!]

[because_its_cool]

Oh, I... oh! I ...

[Walter looks toward the north.]

I don't see it.

[England gets a good view of Walter's lab coat as he stands on his tiptoes to see over peoples' heads. Still facing north.]

Oh... I don't see anything at all.

[The worried face returns, looking even more nervous than before.]

I think there's someone selling fried rats.

[no worries]

[unionjackoff]

...Yes. Right. I know where that is. [thinks about it for a moment] Ah, across the way there should be a rug stand. If you keep walking in that direction, you should come to the next district. I'll stay on the line.

[because_its_cool]

Rugs? I didn't see anyone with rugs.

[Walter looks around, obviously getting more anxious.]

A rug stand, I don't see a rug stand, there's no--

[there's a pause, during which Walter's demeanor changes from nervous fear to nervous elation.]

I found it! I found it!

[The excitement passes quickly after he locates the stall.]

Did I need to buy a rug?

[unionjackoff]

[poor guy]

N-no, of course not. You don't need to buy one. Just keep heading in that direction, my good man.

[because_its_cool]

Oh. All right...

[So, he keeps going. As he walks, Walter is mumbling.]

... 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233...

[He stops, halfway between the government center and the hospital.]

I don't like hospitals. I hate hospitals. I don't want to go there.

[He's fixated, and he sounds terrified. Too much has happened all at once, and it's not going well.]

[unionjackoff]

[oh dear. now what? it's become apparent to England that there may be a few screws loose with this one. either that or he's just taking things really hard. he doesn't know, he's trying to be patient!]

You don't have to go in the hospital. Just walk around it.

[video]

[phoenixashe]

[Ashe doesn't know yet about September's acquaintance, so she mostly sees an Einsteinean type looking like he is fighting an anxiety attack as hard as she can.] Okay. Okay. [She picks up her communicator, red hair pulled back messily and potting soil smudged on her jaw and burgundy t-shirt.] Dr. Bishop, my name is Ashe and I was brought here as well. I'm going to suggest that you take several deep breaths. As the gentleman said, it sounds like you're in the marketplace, and it's very easy to get turned around.

I've spent a lot of time there and can probably figure out your location with a few landmarks. What's the last really weird thing you saw for sale?

[hi sorry for lateness, I do live!]

[because_its_cool]

Ashe... Ashe! What a lovely name. I...oh.

[Walter turns away from the screen to survey what's nearest.]

There's a ... a woman selling beads. A skeevy looking man with ... are those penis bones? I do believe that's the largest I've seen of that species.

A woman with two little girls, not sure what they're selling. And a food cart (is it a cart?) with a man selling dubious looking chunks of meat with fried onions and rice and I haven't had anything to eat since I was performing the autopsy on a woman with Epidermodysplasia verruciformis. It was so far along...

[pause]

Oh. This is where Peter usually interrupts me. I think it may have been the man selling penis bones.

[that's ok, I ended up in the same boat]

[phoenixashe]

Thank you! Oh yeah, ok. Bead shop, food cart--OH YEAH that place with the giant whale's dick!

...sorry. [Ashe has few unexpressed thoughts.] No, that's fine, my boyfriend runs around writing everything down about everything he sees, so I've gotten used to people being very detail oriented. To help you make sense of your environment, Mom's a local acupuncturist who is teaching her kids, and I think that might be shawarma. Or something similar.

Regarding food, my fridge is full, and I just baked bread. I'll make you eggy toast or something. As for my interest, I'm a professional first responder, a healer, and kind of everybody's den mum when they let me.

Just keep in mind that the environment here is largely not hostile, and neither are the people. I'm on my way. Just keep an eye out for a big yellow dog and a redhead in a purple coat.

[because_its_cool]

No, no. It's fine. It is a whale's penis. Amazing how large it is, yes?

[He seems cheered a bit with something to focus on.]

Did you know indigenous peoples of the far north use penis bones for clubs and for sled runners? Very useful! Although I see no need for one... here...

Oh! I love eggy toast, and warm milk with a touch of honey. I used to make breakfast for my son, and he usually wanted ketchup on his. A horrible addition, but he wouldn't eat it otherwise. And french toast...

[He's not going anywhere, not while he's yammering on about food.]

[phoenixashe]

Well yeah. Whales and dolphins are ridiculously hung even for their size, and got all the accessories. If you talk to a whale or dolphin spirit and it's male identified, you bet they'll find an excuse to bring it up. It's not to be gross--they're ridiculously proud of it.

[...so apparently he's not the only ridiculously eccentric person in this conversation.] The Inuit are badasses of extreme survival. I studied with them for a season and believe me, you will learn more about inventive uses for what you've got around than you imagined possible.

[Good, engaging him intellectually seems to be calming him down. Also, who doesn't like talking about food?] It's a good, simple protein hit. And yeah, I was going to suggest chamomile with milk and honey after this mess.

[A faint bark echoes over from somewhere nearby, audible through a brief break in the local noisiness.]

[because_its_cool]

[Walter doesn't notice the barking, as he's focused with laserlike intensity, at the screen.]

You're in communication with spirits? Souls? How fascinating! I studied the hypothetical existence of the soul while I was at Harvard, but I found no true evidence that such energy leaves the body at the point of death. Even so, I did think it could be proven. I never finished the study, unfortunately. It was a very busy period for me.

[Oh, how he wants to revisit this work now!]

[phoenixashe]

Oh man. Here unwilling or not, sometimes I really, really love this place. Yes, actually, Doctor, I am a practicing shaman and medicine woman on top of the degree. I like to hit problems from all angles, you see. And yes, I'm perfectly willing to talk openly about it now that I am in a place where it is relatively safe to do so.

Only certain scientists have been able to begin to quantify the spiritual. It can be done, but on my world that research was faced with violent resistance. Also, to fully grasp it, you have to activate parts of your brain that don't normally function.

[Shuffling.] Going to be a delay of a few minutes while I get over there.

video

[shadowsgambit]

[The face on the screen probably doesn't help matters, considering the horns and tusks. Still, she speaks with a gentle, even tone; that might be some good.]

Are you all right, Doctor?

video

[because_its_cool]

Not particularly... I've lost my way, and I just...

[Her voice is soothing. He doesn't seem bothered by her appearance at all.]

I'd just like to go home.

(frozen comment) video

[shadowsgambit]

I think we all do. This place looks nice, but it isn't home. [A pause, as she checks the conversation history to see if anyone's on their way already.] It looks like you've already got help finding your way to the apartments, but I can keep talking to you if you think it will help.