001 [ Action / Video ]

[childsized]

[ A C T I O N ]

Sleep was not actually alien to Robert, but he was well aware upon waking up - at least after a few moments - that he hadn't just been sleeping.

Waking up in a cocoon, in a watery cave, wasn't what he would have expected from death if he'd had any expectations.

With characteristic lack of apparent alarm (and he really didn't feel alarmed; after all, the worst had happened, and so far this didn't seem terrible), he examined the white box he'd woken up with, read through the pamphlet, and thought about things.

After a few minutes of consideration and looking through all the items, Robert slipped the pendant around his neck and everything else into his pockets, and splashed his way quietly out of the Bay, grabbing a brochure once there and half reading it, half listening to the white haired woman's speech. He had to appreciate her attitude.

If you are a child and are not of working age yet, please follow the thick, green line on the provided map to the Kusanagi and Haller Home for Children on 3rd and Dogwood to find a safe place to stay.

It wasn't a terrible idea, but he didn't head directly there. He meandered in that direction, looking around, getting a feel for the area. So anyone in that part of the city was likely to see him, really - especially those around the Cinemaplazaplex, Genessia Public School, Library, Garden Park or its apartments - apparently a boy the size of a ten year old child, dressed in an old-fashioned sailor suit, with a blue pendant around his neck, either wearing a creepy doll Halloween costume or... not. And not seeming incredibly perturbed about his situation.

[ V I D E O ]

Hello.

[ The boy has blond hair, lifeless black eyes, and a mouth that doesn't even move when he talks, as if he's wearing a mask. He's dressed in a faded, but neat, sailor suit, and his voice is calm.]

This seems like a very calm and regulated situation for being a kidnapping.

I have a question about these pendants. [ He raises his own, like Weiss had, to indicate it. ] Does anyone know what the pamphlet means when it says they'll identify us as 'real'?

[ Weiss Schnee had said it identified them as kidnapees, but she'd also said that her company didn't provide the items in the pod, and Robert was curious. ]

Comments

video

[ubiquitously]

[Uai is only minutely terrified by those lifeless black eyes. He's going to do his best to be polite, but be forewarned: polite isn't always his strong suit.]

Um... From my understanding, at least: The regular citizens of this world as not considered 'real.'

[childsized]

[ Oh, it's okay: polite isn't always Robert's priority.]

How so?

[ubiquitously]

I can't tell you why others think that way, especially since I don't agree with the viewpoint.

My best guess is that because the citizens cannot travel between archways, that somehow makes them less real.

[childsized]

It does sound like it could be circular reasoning.

Does anyone know who's responsible for giving us the pamphlets, if it isn't the Schnee Company? [ SOMEBODY paid attention to the hologram!! ]

[ubiquitously]

I'm afraid that I have no answer to that either. Whatever source it is, it is either powerful enough to interfere with my magic or powerful enough to rewrite the laws of physics.

Annoyingly powerful, either way.

[childsized]

I think I can agree with 'annoyingly powerful'.

[ Not that he'd rather be dead... or not exactly, anyway. ]

Ms. Schnee did say something about 'the spirits'.

[ubiquitously]

Yes, I've heard that word thrown around as well. I haven't figured out their role in this mess yet.

I do know there is a shrine somewhere. Perhaps you should visit it?

[childsized]

[ Ohh, he gets it. The shrine, because spirits. Of course, the hologram had also mentioned that people with questions could come to the Research Foundation, but there was no reason not to go to both anyway at some point. ]

I don't see why not.

My name is Robert.

[ubiquitously]

And I'm Uai. Nice to meet you, Robert.

You're quite calm about the situation. I'll admit, I find that impressive.

[Uai was the least calm ever, not that he'll admit that.]

[childsized]

It's not a significantly worse situation than the one I just came from, on the face of it.

Besides, I'm used to various disasters, and panicking doesn't tend to help. [Both disasters and people who were disasters. :|]

[Video]

[wonderland_vogue]

[There's something that seems off about this one, but she's caaaaan't quite put her finger on it. Oh well.]

Ifffff I remember hearing right, it's something to do with the fact the people that were born and raised here are, well, from here. Dunno why they're not considered real, admittedly I wasn't paying much attention as I don't really care about their existences.

[childsized]

[ That's two people who really do make this sound like circular reasoning. Robert's not 100% convinced it's just that, but he's not as interested now as he had been when he'd thought it might have some significance. ]

Neither do I, particularly. I thought it might mean something, about why we were brought here, or how.

But for the moment it seems to be meaningless.

[wonderland_vogue]

[Someone who actually cares about others might have a legitimate answer, but it certainly won't be Lydia.]

If it were related, I'd think it'd be in that whole... welcoming... thing... [Which she also didn't pay much attention to, but she's been doing well enough on her own at the very least.]

Either way!~ Welcome to this hellhole of a cityscape, every city that isn't Everglade is trash.

[childsized]

[ That's true, too! Robert's not going to immediately stop paying attention after a couple of answers, either. ]

That's always a possibility. And that Research Foundation might be worth talking to.

Thank you. This city does look overwhelmingly normal. What's different about Everglade?

[wonderland_vogue]

[Research Foundation, pffft.

Oh, Everglade, she can wax poetic about that for a little bit.]

Everglade is a place that most seem to fear for some odd reason, perhaps has something to do with it tending to have a population of the things most people are scared of during the night or the day. Vampires, werewolves, zombies, liches, undead, things of that nature! It's a very... interesting city to say the very least, so it's such a shame that most are terrified of it.

[childsized]

[ Hey, he has questions. No reason to just take the word of random people who might be idiots. ]

An overwhelmingly abnormal city, then. [ Robert is undeniably intrigued, though, interest noticeable even with his... blankfacedness. ] I assume the 'things of that nature' can't normally travel through the gates? It might be interesting to see what it's like.

Video

[youfool]

I believe that means-

[Y'know Ted, maybe children aren't ready for disturbing metaphysics just yet. Maybe wait till they're drinking age; they might need it.]

Er, hello, young man! Welcome to Genessia! What's your name?

[Nailed it.]

Re: Video

[childsized]

[ ...Ah yes. This is one of the negatives of dealing with Normal Human Adults.

But this could be to his advantage, too. ]

My name is Robert.

I've been told that those people aren't considered real because they come from this world, and they can't use the gates. Is that also what you believe?

Re: Video

[youfool]

Hello Robert; brilliant name.

I'm...not quite sure of the logical connection between those two things. Why would one's origin or function determine authenticity?

[Formal logic is a subject children will get way better. Ted's oblivion eventually gives way to notice the way Robert's talking.]

Speaking of strange functions, I can't help but notice the stillness of your mouth. Are you...throwing your voice?

[childsized]

I've always liked it.

There wouldn't really be a logical connection, but sometimes people don't make sense. Whoever wrote the pamphlet could be using circular reasoning - or just trying to make us believe it. [ Robert is TOTES FINE with formal logic! ]

Sure. Let's go with that. [ Robert. ]

[youfool]

[He laughs, dimly aware that he's being messed with. Robert plz. At least he's dodged the topic; he really doesn't like doling out uncomfortable truths when it isn't necessary, especially to first-timers. It might lead to treating the fakes very badly, and who wants that?]

Well, Robert, would you like someone to accompany you to the Children's Home? I'm sure your trick would delight the others.

[Or creep them out and give them nightmares.]

[childsized]

[ Robert's aware this young man never did say what he 'believed' it meant, but that was fine. He can find out later, or from someone else if it wasn't just more of the same.

And for right now... children's fear. Robert is so down with that. ]

Why not? If you really want to chaperone, I'm on Iris between 4th and 5th St.

[ Outside the Library, in fact, near the park. ]

-> Action

[youfool]

[Forgive him, he knows not what he does]

Wouldn't do to let a child alone, eh? All right, I'll come to meet you anon.

[Ted, who dresses not unlike a clown, isn't hard to spot. Robert is, owing to the wanting of Ted's perception and Robert's height. The latter might have to find the former.]

Action!

[childsized]

[ What's a few harmless nightmares between friends?

Ted is somewhat entertaining and, good grief, apparently completely imperceptive. The doll dressed in a sailor suit does in fact end up approaching the young man dressed like a clown. ]

...I'm right here.

Re: Action!

[youfool]

[Sight and sound combined are just strong enough to catch his attention]

Ah, there you are! And-

[He snorted. That seemed like the getup a fastidious mother would've put him in.]

Such a seafaring suit! Well, let's cast off towards the green line.

[Hope he enjoys nautical terms cause he had a few lessons and boy is he happy to use them. Speaking of odd words that no child would ever grasp, Ted thinks of another to pass the time for the trip.]

You confound physiognomy.