[Video]

[flamescout]

Hey. Seems like we got a lot of new people at once, so allow me to welcome you to the city. My name's Raye. I've been here about...probably a year now? Close to it, anyway. If you have any questions, I'll do my best to answer them, but Harry's fliers next to the Bay cover most of the basics.

Let me know if you need help with anything.

[Private to Harry]

I'm guessing I was the only one of us that wound up in snoozeville. Knowing you, you're probably moping around acting like the loneliest scruffy wanderer in the world. Well, I'm up now, so it's time to start shaving again!

[She grins a little and winks. Just teasing! Probably. ...He does need to shave, though.]

Comments

Private, Video

[no_love_potions]

You weren't the only one out. I was starting to talk to myself.

[And he takes offense to the shaving thing. It hasn't been more than... three... four days.

Okay, maybe he was due.]

Private, Video

[flamescout]

[Well, it's not as bad as she thought. She kind of expected to see a badger-like growth on his lower face and neck.]

Just glad you're okay. You weren't the only one who stayed awake, were you?

[no_love_potions]

[Give him some credit, Raye. It only got that bad once under... severe circumstances.]

As far as I know, I was. Unless somebody else was up and we just kept missing each other.

... It's been a long year.

[flamescout]

A YEAR?!

[Wait a minute, no one told her THAT!]

[no_love_potions]

The better part of one at least.

[flamescout]

[She eyes him suspiciously.]

...When did you last shower?

[no_love_potions]

[Really, Raye? Really?]

This morning.

[FROWN.]

[flamescout]

That's a relief. I'll come by to say hello, then.

[no_love_potions]

Make sure I'm actually home first. I doubled up on the wards awhile back and I want to make sure that talisman I gave you can keep up before you try opening the door.

[Video]

[onecream_fivesugar]

Hello, Raye!

I'm Ruby, Nice to meet you!

[flamescout]

...How about I let you try out the talisman? I'll observe the results.

[Video]

[flamescout]

[Wow, pretty outgoing kind of girl. Nice enough too. That's enough to get Raye's polite side for now, and she smiles.]

Nice to meet you too, Ruby. That's my favorite gemstone. You settling in okay?

[Video]

[onecream_fivesugar]

Oh really? Rubies are pretty great, and well I like to think I am too.

[She laughs nervously.]

Me? Settling in okay? Yeah, just great. Still kind of overwhelmed by the whole waking up in a strange place and possibly never seeing my friends and family thing again. Other than that everything's going fine.

[Video]

[flamescout]

Yeah...I still have trouble with that part myself.

[She folds her arms, her head slightly bowed.]

There's a solution for that. I'm not crazy about it myself, but if you establish an Archway, you can at least see your friends and hang out with them.

[Video]

[onecream_fivesugar]

...You said you've been here for about a year, right? ...I can't even imagine being away from home for that long.

[An archway?]

I don't really know anything about architecture or construction, how am I supposed to build an archway?

[Video]

[flamescout]

It's not easy. But there are some good points about this place that make the wait a little more bearable.

[Like having a sort of wizard foster father figure. Either way, Raye's not letting on how much of a hard time she's having with it.]

Anyway, this is the big problem with the Archways. If you want to make one, you have to be willing to give up something important to you. It can be an item you carry with you, an ability to do something, or even a treasured memory. It just has to be of personal value. And the people inside aren't really real. They act like it and all, but they're just not really them.

[Video]

[onecream_fivesugar]

Yeah. I have a friend who showed up here too. So it's not so bad knowing two of us are stuck here. Kind of?

...Do all construction workers go through that when they're making on Archways? Wow... I never knew the job was so damanding. No wonder they're so grouchy and unionized.

[She is totally missing the point on just what these Archways are.]

[Video]

[flamescout]

You're one of the lucky ones, then.

[She hesitates at Ruby's response. Then squints. Why...does this girl remind her so much of Serena?]

You don't actually build it with your own hands. The city computer takes care of that for you.

[Video]

[onecream_fivesugar]

Yeah I guess so.

[That depends, why does Raye remind her of Weiss?]

Oh right, of course. Well I think I'll pass on giving a computer any of my stuff, it doesn't seem worth it.

[no_love_potions]

That's the idea. It should be fine, just better to make sure.

[Video]

[flamescout]

[Raye relaxes slightly. She's of the opinion that no memory of any worth should be surrendered just to indulge a false fantasy, but after having been here so long without seeing anyone she knows, she can at least understand why someone would make that choice.]

I don't think so either. Well, good luck. If you need help, let me know.

[flamescout]

[Raye smiles. Not much time has passed for her, but it still feels really nice to see him again.]

Meet you at your place, then?

[Video]

[onecream_fivesugar]

Right!

Thanks.

...I'll do just that.

[no_love_potions]

Uh, sure. Give me an hour or so to finish playing chauffeur for the new kids and then we'll get this figured out.

[Video]

[flamescout]

[Raye pauses. Rubyy still seems a little insecure, so Raye blows out a breath and smiles.]

It's going to be fine. Seriously. I'll watch your back.