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

[ubiquitously]

Oh, good. Hope that power is working here, then?

[He's back to being unusually calm about the idea of a living doll.]

I haven't met any others like you in Genessia yet, but I could just be blind to it. Are there many others dolls like yourself in your home world, or are you a unique case?

[childsized]

It is. Does this place often take away people's ability to do things?

[ That's refreshing, Uai, Robert approves. ]

I'm not familiar with many other dolls, but I'm not completely unique. I've been called an 'anomaly', grouped with the undead - those who used to be human at some point, or were created by humans.

[ubiquitously]

Not that I know of specifically, but some of my spells don't work here. So I wouldn't be surprised if anyone else has had things 'watered down,' so to speak.

[He smirks, trying to hide a chuckle.]

We should start a club for that. I get grouped with the undead too.

[childsized]

Hmmm. I'll have to keep that in mind, thank you.

[ There is unfortunately no safe way to test how durable he is. Oops. He's curious when Uai says that though. ]

Do you, now?

[ubiquitously]

Mmhmm. The form you see on camera is an illusion. Fortunately that power still works fine.

Anyway. I got us off track. Did you have any other questions about Genessia and the hologram's tutorial?

[childsized]

That sounds convenient. Does it work in person or only over camera?

No, nothing in particular. Unless you have any idea about that 'impending threat outside the barrier'?

[ubiquitously]

It works in person as well. I'm grateful cameras aren't smart enough to see through it yet.

And unfortunately, no. Though it does raise the question of why that barrier is there. If it's keeping something out, or keeping us in. Or perhaps, a strange mixture of both.

[Uai pauses, then realizes that at some point he started smiling.] Seems I'm getting excited about the mystery of it. I hope I don't come off as taking the situation too lightly.

[childsized]

Sounds fortunate. It's always easier if you can lay low and blend in.

It might be worth visiting the research foundation that Miss Schnee mentioned, if they're trustworthy. [ It might be worth it even if they aren't trustworthy frankly. ]

It's fine. I suppose it is interesting, and it's not as if I've been inconvenienced by all this.

[ubiquitously]

Agreed. The foundation may be worth checking out. If for nothing else, then knowing what efforts to leave have failed thus far.

And I'm glad you understand. I'm not thrilled to be here, but a challenge can be refreshing. Hopefully this puzzle is cracked before I get frustrated with it.

[childsized]

That reminds me - I was starting to wonder if everyone was brought here at an opportune moment for them. Being abducted didn't help you escape anything horrible?

[ Might as well rule that one out right away if not. ]

[ubiquitously]

The opposite, actually. I was doing a fine job looking after my mistress, Alyce, when I ended up here. Now she's going to be alone without me. Hopefully I don't get fired from my job in an absence.

Yourself?

[childsized]

That sounds unfortunate. Good luck on getting back eventually.

[ It actually does, and Robert's not completely unsympathetic, though he doesn't commiserate further and there's no way he can really help. Oh, well. ]

Since my head had just been crushed, I am in a better position here than I was.

[ubiquitously]

Well then.

[Uai's expression does flicker with concern. He isn't sure how appropriate it would be to press on that matter.]

I met a girl here, Noah, who said some of the new arrivals here have had their lives spared... She called this a second chance. I take it that's the case for you? Or am I assuming too much?

[childsized]

No, that's a fairly safe assumption. I'd wondered if that was something we all had in common. [ But that didn't seem to be the case! ]

I suppose I should say I owe the spirits for this, but I don't appreciate being forced into things.

[ubiquitously]

Our original lives are something we were forced into as well.

At least this one starts us off with money and a roof over our heads, hm?

[childsized]

You could think of it that way.

[ But not purposefully and by a specific person or people... usually. ]

Whoever leaves us these things does seem generous.

[ubiquitously]

Certainly does.

Ah, that reminds me. We're supposed to get jobs here within the first month, and settle into apartments. So that generosity will end abruptly. What kind of work do dolls prefer?

[childsized]

I'll have to consider that. I haven't had a job before. [ Unless you count doing odd and often illegal jobs for a Ghost Mad Doctor. ]

Have you found work here?

[ubiquitously]

[Feeling a bit called out.]

Ah, not quite. I have applied, at least... I'm unfortunately something of a work hazard.

[childsized]

[ Ahhh. :) He wasn't even trying to call Uai out but that's somehow satisfying. ]

How so?

[ubiquitously]

I break computers.

Kind of hard to hold a job in the digital age when you break things by being near them.

[childsized]

Hmm.

There might be a job you can do in Everglade. There are undead there, apparently, and some ghosts have the same problem.

[ubiquitously]

True enough. Kind of amazing how different all of the cities here are, huh?

Which is closer to your home, based on what you know so far?

[childsized]

I'm not actually familiar with most of the cities. Genessia doesn't seem too different from where I came from... at least before it was mostly destroyed.

[ Robert's pendant is blue, but he's not actually completely lying either. ]

[ubiquitously]

Destroyed? Was that a recent event in your world's timeline?