001 | Accidental Video

[whatsbackup]

[ The why and the how, Ronan would focus on later. He was breathing, his clothes at seven bullet holes clean through them with dried blood clinging to the edges, but he didn't and he was in a cave.

So, the initial examination had given him some pretty startling information: someone had retrieved his body from the morgue, found a way to what? Resurrect him? Then they'd shoved him in a coffin with a cell phone and how-to manual, and stored his new bed in a cave somewhere.

He fiddled with the settings on the phone per the instructions, and accidentally turned on the video transmission as he continued to think out loud. His attention to detail was usually more thorough, but give a guy a break. He was dead the last time he checked. ]

...didn't even have the decency to give a man a change of clothes.

[ He shook his head and looked around for something in the pod he'd just vacated for a moment before reaching in and pulling out a weathered fedora and placing it on his head. ]

At least they remembered th- [ His eyes dart toward the communicator he'd set down, noticing the blinking. ] What do you know? I did get it working.

[ He runs a hand over his face before he picks up the device, giving a slight, if-lopsided, smile. ]

I can only assume there's others out there, right? Why give a man a cell phone if there's nobody to receive it? [ He rubbed at his eyes with a free hand, then begins patting first the clear side of his chest, then the side with the bullet holes before reaching into a pocket with a hole in it and retrieving a box of ruined cigarettes. ] Really? Come on. [ He shakes his head and looks back to the feed. ]

My name's Ronan O'Connor. I'm a detective with the Salem Police Department...in...Salem, Massachusetts. Tell me that rings a bell with somebody.

[ And, more directly, as though something suddenly occurs to him. ]

Can any of you even see me?

Comments

[youfool]

Yes I can, and yes, that rings a bell. The same Salem that dabbled with witchcraft, right?

Fortunately there's no Salem here. And if you need a fresh change of clothes, you've only to ask. As far as I know, I'm the best dressed man in this entire world.

[whatsbackup]

That'd be the place, yeah. [ Ronan nods. ]

Fortunately? Salem's my hometown. [ And Ronan scrutinizes the video feed, for what it is before looking doubtful. ] Yeah, thanks, buddy, but yellow's not really my color. You wouldn't happen to know where a guy can pick up some smokes, would you?

[youfool]

"Smokes, smokes...". A few blips sound as Ted fiddles with his map function.

"Ah! There we are. On Thistle and 12th, south from you, you'll find Pan's Grocery. They'll sell it for a song, if their advertisements are credible. Oh, no offense to your hometown. I was thinking of the sinister Salem of yesteryear, but your getup suggests contemporaneity.

Just for fun—if you have time for fun—have you ever managed to solve a crime with a disappeared victim months after the event?

video;

[behindthefakesmile]

Someone's idea of a joke, maybe? But no there are many others like yourself who found themselves here.

[The name didn't ring a bell with him anyway, so he knew he was from another world compared to him.]

I'm Fai D. Flourite and I'm just an Owner of the Cat's Eye.

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[whatsbackup]

[When in a situation you can't understand in a place you don't recognize, it made a lot of sense to just...learn as much about it as possible, right? And the people in it?]

Fai D. Flourite of the Cat's Eye, huh? [So noted.] And what's the Cat's Eye?

video;

[behindthefakesmile]

It's a cafe that is close to the Bay actually. So the full name is Cat's Eye Cafe.

[He smiles slightly.]

Since you are new though, I'm sure you have many questions, which I will try and answer to the best of my knowledge.

video;

[sizedoesntmatter]

I can see you loud and clear.

[He was currently behind the counter of his store waiting for more customers if they do come.]

Since you asked that, you must be new which means I should ask if you have found a place to stay yet?

video;

[whatsbackup]

That's a- [Wait. No, Ronan. Don't go telling people you were a spook the last time you checked. At least not right off the bat.] That's good to hear.

I haven't left this weird...cave thing yet.

video;

[sizedoesntmatter]

Ah, that's the Bay. It's where everyone wakes up.

[He does admit it is weird.]

But when you leave there is a place you can go to so that you can sort yourself out.

Video

[greenmagick]

[Terra doesn't use the phones often but the last question he says peeks her curiosity. She looks at the camera and the answer is yes.]

I can. I don't think we've met...

[At least not that she can remember.]

Are you okay? Oh, I'm Terra Branford. I work at a flower shop in Attleton.

[They are saying jobs right?]

Video

[whatsbackup]

[He looks a little relieved.]

Oh, that's good. And uh, I'm...fine. [And he seems a little confused at that realization.]

It's nice to meet you, Terra. [I was saying I was a detective more as a show of authority, but cool.]

Video

[greenmagick]

[Terra's idea of authority is a little off considering there aren't really detectives in her world. At least not like his profession.]

Are you okay?

[She assumes he just arrived.]

There's... this world is a little strange.

[Video]

[azaleafae]

I can see you just fine. I've never heard of a "Salem, Massachusetts," though.

[Can this world get any weirder?]

[Video]

[whatsbackup]

[There's a talking faery...thing...on the screen.

You know what? Why not? It's...not the weirdest thing that's happened to him tonight.]

Glad to hear it, uh...you. You got a name?

[Video]

[azaleafae]

Oh, yes. I am Azalea. I take it you've just arrived?

[At least she's gotten used to a world full of humans and other creatures.]

video

[schrodingersghost]

Oh yeah, I know Salem all right.

[Tough to forget being accused of being a witch's familiar and nearly killed by way of anti-ghost vegetation.]

...Is there a reason I shouldn't be able to see you?

video

[whatsbackup]

Yeah? You a tourist or something?

[He shrugs slightly.]

It's a long story, kid. Glad to know it's not the case.

Re: video

[schrodingersghost]

Let's just say I'm not really interested in going back there. Ever.

[And definitely staying far, far away from time traveling there. ]

video

[eastdetective]

Nice to meet you Detective O'Connor! [Conan sounded positively cheerful at the prospect of meeting law enforcement.]

video

[whatsbackup]

[It's always nice to meet someone happy to meet a cop.]

Hey, you too, kid. You got a name?

Re: video

[eastdetective]

Conan Edogawa. I'm an elementary school detective from Tokyo.

[aspacepirate]

...Yeah, there's quite a few people out there. But, no one's got any real answer to how we all ended up here.

Well, how much do you know so far. Did you listen to that weird hologram thing?

Also, Salem? I'm from Chicago, but yeah, sure...we're both from the U.S...

[whatsbackup]

Chicago, huh? Big city boy. [He chuckles.] And yeah, I listened to it. I don't know how much I buy it, but the exit isn't exactly plotted out, now is it?

Video

[innocent_royal]

[A young blonde girl who looks like she belongs to a well off family appears on the screen. She seems gripped by curiosity.]

"Ah, pardon me, sir? ...What is 'Police,' if I may ask?"

Video

[whatsbackup]

[Ronan's usually a lot sharper than this, but her question throws him off so much that he just stares in confusion at the video feed for a moment, blinks, and then finally speaks.]

Seriously? Uh...we're...law enforcement? Does that make sense?