[Video]

[testtuberebel]

[With the communicator set up on an old crate in an alley, Raina leans against the brick wall opposite, arms loosely folded, holding her blaster in one hand. She's not smiling, but she seems calm enough, and cocks her head faintly to the side.]

I know we're expected to relax here. And wait.

[Her lashes lower fractionally.]

But I can't do that unless one of you has proof that we return to our homes exactly at the point when we left. So if any of you have gone home and come back to tell the tale, speak up. Please.

[Her shoulders rise slightly and fall again as she takes a breath and releases it.]

I'd also like to know if those who have returned home retain any of the skills and knowledge they picked up here. Items too. Thanks.

[Her free hand gives a casual two-finger salute before she settles back and waits.]

Comments

[Video]

[petergraham]

We go back at the same time we left? I haven't heard about that.

[Unhelpful but it attracted his interest.]

[Video]

[testtuberebel]

Supposedly.

[She shrugs.]

I'd like confirmation from someone who's actually done it, though.

[Video]

[petergraham]

I just got here a few days ago. I'm still... trying to figure this place out.

[Video]

[testtuberebel]

That's probably something you've got in common with everyone else here.

[She quirks the corner of her mouth, smiling wryly. The hologram and info center had a lot of knowledge, but not all of the answers. She lifts her head with a jerk of her head.]

What's your name, ace?

[Video]

[petergraham]

Peter.

What about you?

[Video]

[testtuberebel]

Peter.

[She repeats it, since that makes it easier for her to remember.]

I'm Raina. Nice to meet you.

[Video]

[petergraham]

[He nods in return.]

So you just arrived here too?

[Video]

[testtuberebel]

[She inclines her head.]

About a week ago.

[Which means she's been skulking around gathering information before deciding the communicator is probably okay to use.]

This place is surprisingly...

[She gestures vaguely with her hand, chewing on her choice of words for a moment.]

Docile. Makes it hard to know why we're here.

[Video]

[petergraham]

Yeah, we just get here and they're like: 'hey, get a job. You have a month!'

[He sighs.]

I need to be back in school...

[Video]

[testtuberebel]

If that's what you want, they have schools here. Good ones, too.

[Far better than the rudimentary group instructions they usually give to children on her planet.]

You should look into it, especially if we're able to take back the knowledge we gather here.

[Video]

[petergraham]

It's not the same.

I don't know if I should get too comfortable here.

[Video]

[testtuberebel]

That's fair.

[She doesn't really plan on relaxing much either, especially if she doesn't get the confirmation she's looking for.]

What are you going to do instead?

[Video]

[petergraham]

[He shrugs.]

I mean, I'll check out the schools, I guess. Attleton sounds nice.

[But so far he's been sitting in his Genessia free commonspace room, scrolling through his device and trying not to think about both what was going on here and what went on back home. Either way it was a scary situation.]

[Video]

[testtuberebel]

It does. And it is.

[For the most part. She's heard rumors of gangs and 'mobs' but since she didn't run into anything like that while conducting her initial investigations, it doesn't seem likely that they'll cause much trouble for an anxious teenager.]

There's no rush, though. Move at your own pace. Decisions made in haste can easily turn into regrets, so it doesn't hurt to explore your options.

: [Video]

[petergraham]

I guess. I just wish that... I don't know. That there was somebody I knew here?

[Video]

[testtuberebel]

[Her head tips back slightly to regard him for a few moments. Then she shakes her head, exhaling.]

Then you'd best get started knowing the people here. Over that much, at least, you have some control.

Re: [Video]

[petergraham]

What about the old saying? Never talk to strangers?

[He shows he's half joking with a nervous smile.]