genessia | video | alphie, no.

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video | alphie, no.

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[He's already gone over the given reading material five times, and that doesn't include restarting the hologram of Weiss at least three. He wants to be sure he's hearing this correctly. There isn't a way home. And what was that about keeping the necklaces on? He chalks it up to a local custom and wears the thing, which looks absolutely goofy against his uniform (green versus a royal dark blue), but he has made greater sacrifices in the name of fashion.

So when he finally tries out the 'videophone', he finds it's really quite similar to a linkpearl except with pictures. He can get behind this. Despite having an extremely youthful face, he is calm and collected. That doesn't mean he's accepted his fate... and there are many, many unfinished things he has yet to do.]

Good morning. I hope this message finds all of you well. I am Alphinaud Levilleur-- recently arrived-- and I am in possession of a few brief questions if you have the time.

Firstly, I cannot be sure of how many people there are in this place-- those who have been kidnapped-- but an estimate would be very helpful. Additionally, I seek clarification on the notion that we must wear our given necklaces to differentiate us from those who are "real". I understand the necessity of tracking foreigners and their activities, but so far I have seen nothing that would indicate one's neighbor on the street is a facsimile of any kind, unless somewhat reticent behavior indicates that aught is awry. I would know the true nature of this distinction if you are willing.

Lastly, though I dare not give myself completely to hope, anyone who recognizes the name Eorzea: I would speak with you, privately, about the current state of affairs in our world.

[He breathes in, lets it out.]

Thank you for your consideration. I do not mind answering questions in turn, though I doubt I have much to offer; I have been [exiled] away from what I consider my home for quite some time.

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[Levy isn't feeling well but she has trouble not wanting to help people. So she flicks on the screen and replies.]

The necklaces actually let us go through the different archways. I haven't seen them used for identification, more so consider a lot of people just keep them in their pockets or out of sight.

[She tries to think of a rough number of people in Genessia but she can only come up with 'a lot' which doesn't feel like a good answer.]

[Poor Levy.]

I wonder why there was an emphasis on differentiating ourselves, then. Perhaps the brochures given are a touch out of date? I am happy to keep the necklace on my person but I fear what would happen if it were to get caught on something. [Also, it looks terrible on him.]

Thank you for responding, regardless. What is your name, kind stranger?

My name is Levy McGarden and you'll find there are many different sorts of people here. The necklaces aren't the sole factor.

I'd see more of this place before you begin to make judgements. As for the brochures, most likely, I hadn't had a hand in making them.

[She doesn't see all that bothered by his frankness and answers to the best that she can.]

A pleasure to meet you. [He nods, listening.] I will keep close your counsel, Levy.

[He smiles.]

How long has this-- er, relocation-- gone on? Do you know?

A long time....

[She exhales a slow breath.]

I've been here for at least a year and I know others who've been here a year before that. I've been trying to make records but some things are so far in the past they've become forgotten.

I see... I may yet join you in your record-keeping, or at the very least, record-searching. Surely the history is not so far back that it has become ancient.

I haven't been able to find much.

[She admits this in a small voice.]

All the histories here end in the same pace.

That is... suspicious, to be sure. Where does it end?

It's easier if you read it yourself.

[She doesn't know if he has a basis of comparison for where the history books do end so it'll mean very little for her to try and explain it.]

But there is no record of this worlds creation.

What Levy said- it's more like they identify you for the CPU and the archways than people here. Though I think it may be easier to get a job if you have one too. I keep mine in my purse.

Olivia Moore, by the way. Welcome.

I will keep that in mind, then. I am not given to being idle in any case. What is 'the CPU'?

[He smiles, warm and diplomatic.]

It is a pleasure, Olivia. I wish it were under better circumstances.

The device you're talking on right now is hooked up to a network that connects you to everyone here and something called the CPU. It stands for.. Central Processing Unit, I think. [ She's not a computer expert, but she can remember that much. ] Assuming that's the same as what CPU means in my universe, anyway. But it's basically a computer system hooked up to the network that you can talk to. It won't answer every question, but it'll help when it can and let's you do a couple of things.

Same. I hope this isn't being rude but do you mind if I call you Alph? You're welcome to call me Liv in exchange.

[ Alphinaud is harder to say for someone who doesn't speak whatever language that's from. ]

[That acronym is actually fairly explanatory, all things considered.]

I have not heard of this! What an astonishing use of technology. [Maybe the Allagans had something like that.] Does it have any measure of self-awareness?

-- Ah, you are welcome to call me whatever you like. [IT'S FRENCH which is like half the problem.]

Edited 2016-07-07 20:05 (UTC)

Not sure, but you can probably ask it.

[ Yeah Liv doesn't speak anything unless she's eaten someone who does. ]

Alph it is. Nice to meet you.

I suppose I could.

[Eating people, what is this. He smiles though, and it's warm and polite.]

Do you know if there are any tasks for adventurers to be had? I am... reluctant to try my hand at diplomacy so soon, but I have other skills that may be useful.

I'd recommend you keep an eye on the newspaper. There are a lot of bounties listed, but when they discover new areas they usually have an article in there too. [ She pauses. ] But don't blame me if the paperboy breaks your window. He gets everyone eventually.

I'd say about one hundred, maybe two, for the amount of the the adorned. [He's really hoping that term takes off.]

As for not noticing, well...that can be a frightening prospect, not being able to discern. I could tell you the differences, but I think if you spend some time with the adorned and the unadorned, you'll know intuitively. Or so I hope.

[The adorned. He rather likes that term, aside from erasing the whole kidnapping thing.]

That is a fair amount of people. And yet I do not see the kind of conflicts that displaced refugees usually cause... I should hope I have little trouble finding a source of employment, but still, I worry.

[He thinks a moment.]

I will have to take your word on the differences until I spend more time with them.

Employment's unusually easy here, at least by my standards. That's no worry. But yes, one would think with so many disparate bodies and minds there'd be no little amount of tension. We still have our troubles, though deracination doesn't account for most of them. There's even some debate whether we are refugees at all, and not simply natives with un-native memories. But then, I don't know if memories can be transplanted like that.

All conjecture, of course. If anything more practical rears its ugly head, doubtless I could assist you more materially.

[His eyebrows go straight up. That's a terrifying prospect.] Memories may fade with time, but something always remains in the heart. I should think someone would have noticed by now if his life were a lie!

Though your answers have given rise to more questions, I welcome the challenge. It will be a suitable distraction while I ruminate on what to do next.

[Ted looks cheerier and fiery with every positive proclamation]

"That's the spirit! It does my heart good to see another so concerned with truth.

Speaking of which...you wouldn't happen to be an elf, would you?" [He's just now noticed the pointy ears.]

[Alphinaud's smile dims just a little.]

Believe me, I have had enough of lies and deceit to last for a lifetime. [And that is the truth. He made what he thought was a force of good, and then... it all went very, very wrong.]

I am Elezen, though if I bear some resemblance to a race on your world, that should be very curious indeed! What is an elf?

Oh, why an elf is...[He runs through what he knows, and comes up with a very long list of descriptions, some contradictory]

...a lot of things, most unflattering. I'd much rather know what an Elezen is; you can probably give a better answer, seeing as you are one. I hope all of them love the truth so much; seems we're both fed up with its opposite.

[At least Ted is honest. Alphinaud finds it refreshing, and his smile returns.]

Elezen live to be a couple hundred of years, and they are very tall and slender with long, pointed ears-- as you have most likely observed. [A small noise of amusement. He's not very tall, though.] They were the original inhabitants of Eorzea. They were also territorial and did not take kindly to the other races who came from over the sea. Such battles are now lost to antiquity, but Elezen, Hyur, and many others are friends today-- even in the closed walls of Ishgard.

Edited 2016-07-03 06:27 (UTC)

[Ted's endless curiosity grows more ravenous with each new proper noun he doesn't know]

"Yes, I dare say you're the spitting image of one. Anything about their souls? They sound private; what else? Wise, snooty, long-suffering, etc.? And what's a "Hyur"? And an "Ishgard", while you're at it."

[Slightly bashful pause]

"Please."

[Alphinaud takes it all in stride. He was much the same when he first stepped outside of Sharlayan.]

All of the above and more, my new friend. They are as varied as the places they live, which counts for the other races in Eorzea as well. The only generalization I can make is that Elezen tend to be very passionate even when it is not obvious. A fire burns fiercely in all of them, and they are often found in positions that demand valor-- be it knights or healers.

[patiently] The Hyur are those like yourself with pink to brown skin, an average stature, and round ears. They are just as varied as the Elezen in terms of personality, and perhaps richer still for their indomitable spirit and strength.

Ah, Ishgard... I have much to say about it, since I have traveled there. It was a mystery to most, a frozen land so deeply reclusive they would not answer our call for aid when Eorzea needed it the most. They have been besieged by dragons for over a thousand years ere now. My initial impressions were of a wasteland, but the country is vast and wild in ways I cannot adequately describe and there is still so much more to see. Its long history is tangible not only in the ample ruins and ancient records, but in the great city itself.

[He quickens a little at "friend." So soon! He really wanted more friends like this. Play it cool...]

Knights! Fiery, valorous, knights. I am very glad to have met at least one of their members. [He's been raised on tales of King Arthur's court, so the "K word" reliably sets him off]

Ah, they sound much like men, then. [He hopes he has strength and an indomitable spirit too]

A thousand years...goodness, that's difficult to imagine. It's rare for any kind of conflict in my world to last longer than a decade, and even that's regarded as extreme. They must count on dragons as regularly as the weather. Even so, that does sound like a fantastic place. I'd like to see it one day.

[But then again, he doesn't want to inflict nostalgia on anyone. For all he knew, neither of them would ever see it again. The here and now is what's important, isn't it?]

Not to say that the present world you're in isn't equally fantastic. I'd probably kill you out of weariness recounting it all. But it's a familiar kind of fantasy; I've lived in it for going on two years now, though it still has its fair share of surprises.

[His smile is noticeable, but it's obviously shy.]

I am not quite the vision of a knight, but I am fortunate to have the acquaintance of several incredible warriors. They are so much more than I could ever aspire to be.

[Most likely, Ted has all the spirit of any Hyur. Being short-lived means you're tenacious as hell.]

Dragons are not mortal and their memories do not fade like yours and mine. Therefore, the war will continue so long as there are still dragons to fight it. It is a sad state of affairs and soon we may be in a position to ease it. I certainly hope we can do something.

[He nods, solemn as appropriate.]

There are other cities connected to this one, correct? What are they like?

Heh, something else we have in common. You can't take two steps without running into some legendary warrior here. It's very awe-inspiring. You almost can't help but become one yourself through sheer osmosis.

Ah, dragons. May they all be happily slain, the scaly pests.

Certainly. I like to describe them by their "souls", if you will. Attleton is idyllic and quiet, where the supernatural interferes least. Fayren, by extension, is where sorcery abounds, and chivalry is still in its heyday. That one is the most spacious. Nova City is a sprawling, noisy, soulless machine, though it does produce the most handsome conveniences. If only it did not inconvenience all art.

Everglade is a riddle. It lies somewhere between Attleton and Fayren, absorbing the crabbed nature of the former and the black magic of the latter. Rather got the worst of both worlds. And yet, one gets a hopeful feeling about it, as though it might one day shake off its manifold sins and dazzle us all with light eternal. A diamond in the rough. A worn cliche, but I hope you're not too refined for cliches.

[It's pretty obvious which city has Ted's romantic attention]

Number wise, there are quite a lot. We never actually ever had a count since for all we know there could be many more hidden.

[She paused for a moment.]

I don't have many questions to ask you except have you been able to find a place to stay permanently? Or do you need an inn?

Why would they hide? Is it simply out of the desire for a quiet life, or is there danger here?

[He is honestly curious; though he can defend himself, he needs to know what sort of challenges he'll be facing here... Everyone's made it out to be all happy and perfect, but even the Alliance's great capitals had their shadows.]

I have not, though I cannot say I have been looking very hard; I only arrived an hour or so ago. An inn would be splendid!

Who knows, for all we know they have there reasons. Maybe hiding from people or the reasons you mentioned.

[She smiled only slightly.]

Then you should come to my inn. We have deals for new arrivals.

[That's................. not really comforting at all, but he tries to keep it calm.]

Perhaps I shall! What is it called? Surely I can find it on this map.

Amagi Inn. It's actually pretty close to the Bay.

Ah! Then I will head there soon. I would like to get my bearings first, perhaps walk about until my spirit has calmed somewhat. That could also take some time, however...

[Oh, is he being rude? He's being rude.]

I would like to thank you for the invitation. Your name is...?

That is the best thing you can do, walk around see what there is and make yourself comfortable that way.

I could if you'd like tell you the most popular places.

[She bows her head slightly toward the feed.]

My name is Yukiko Amagi.

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