video

[lightbranded]

 [The video opens to show a boy, no older than twelve or thirteen, peering into the communicator with some confusion. In appearance he is rather unremarkable. Although he is slightly pale, as if he was just recovering from a long illness.]

Ah, hullo?  Can anyone hear me?

[He pokes at the communicator with some curiosity. Being a country boy from the mid-1970s, Will was more familiar with payphones and house phones.

He sighs.]

If what I heard was right, I don't suppose I've made it anywhere near to Tywyn. There isn't a way to send a message home, is there?  Only there was supposed to be someone waiting for me at the train station, and Mum will worry if I don't call to tell her what happened.

Comments

[Video]

[youfool]

[His heart goes out to all the children, with some concern in an otherwise merry tone]

No young man, I'm afraid we're stuck here for a while. As for your mother, don't worry, she isn't really kept waiting. Time stands still for us while we're in the world--this world, and so there's no need to worry about appointments.

[He brightened into a smile.]

Anywho, I'm Ted. And you are?

Re: [Video]

[lightbranded]

I'm Will. Will Stanton, that is.

[Will frowns. That was... Logic told him that it shouldn't be possible for time to simply stop like that. And yet there was a part of him that said of course it would be like that. That it was natural and maybe even expected.]

Is it? It does help a bit, that.

Re: [Video]

[youfool]

[He didn't look well; better see him off to the Children's Home.]

Well then, Will! It's standard procedure to escort young ones like yourself to the K&H Children's Home. It's about a 40 minutes walk, less if you consent to be carried. Shall I meet you there?

Re: [Video]

[lightbranded]

Forty minutes?

[Will thought he should be able to do that, if he was careful to take some rests. He'd been doing much better recently.]

It's okay, I think a walk would do me some good.

Ah, if you like? [Will didn't like being a bother to people. ]

Re: [Video]->[Action]

[youfool]

I do like! Hold on a little while.

[One super-speed jog later, annnnnd...]

Hello! [A colorfully-dressed blonde in a good mood appears.]

Ready to go? Need or want anything? Where do you hail from, anyway? [While conversing, Ted would lead him to their destination, walking and talking.]

[Action]

[lightbranded]

[Will blinks at him, a little surprised by all the brightness. ]

I don't think I need anything? Or if I do, I don't think I've been here long enough to know.

I am from a small village in Buckinghamshire. Not far from the Thames. Although I was just on my way to Clwyd Farm. Near Tywyn in Wales. One of Mum's old friends owns it, and I was supposed to stay there for the summer.

Re: [Action]

[youfool]

Mmm...[Those names sound vaguely Earth-y. Once he heard 'Wales', he slapped a fist into his palm.] Ah, an Earthling! Me too! Good to meet another. American, myself, though that doesn't mean as much as you might think. You're English, then?

Re: [Action]

[lightbranded]

That's right. I've never really left England before. Just to Cornwall before. I thought Wales would be terribly far away, but I think I have come even further than that now.

America? [Will's tone becomes a bit vague.] One of my uncles is American now. He emigrated years ago. He's in the pottery business in Ohio.

Re: [Action]

[youfool]

Noble profession. If and when the pots complain, does he remind them that, they being creations and he being creator, they haven't the right? [Ah, Bible allusions. Never gets tired of them.]

Yes, we're all some distance from past inns. Shall I tell you about this one, or did you get the gist of everything back at The Bay?

[blackcrowsings]

[Hm, here's a child who is the same age as his master, and a newcomer. Poor child, having separated from his parents and is now wandering around the city.

Speaking in a kind British voice, therefore a British native as well.]

Greetings. You must be new. I have a gift for you.

[He hands him a wrapped bag of candies/chocolates which included with a toy.]

My name is Sebastian, and I work for the Funtom Company, where we specialized in producing candy and sweets. I would like you to have it, as a welcoming gift in this world.

[lightbranded]

Ah, thank you?

[Will takes the bag with a great deal of confusion.]

That is very kind of you?

[blackcrowsings]

You must be new here. Have you arrived from the bay? You came from England, I presume? Well, I'm going to inform you that you're not in England anymore. You're in the world call Genessia.

[lightbranded]

Just recently, yes. And yes, I am from England. From a small village in Buckinghamshire, although I was traveling to Wales this morning.

Genessia? It was mentioned to me. Is there really no way home from here?

[blackcrowsings]

The residents here, who came from other worlds, they are investigating and researching on that. So far, I haven't heard anything new on that front...concerning returning back home.

[Still with the boy dressed like that, he must have come from a different timeline in England, as Sebastian came from the late 19th century.]

Still, you must be hungry. You can eat that you know, I made it myself. Do you know your way to the children's home? It can get very dangerous at night.

[lightbranded]

Oh, thank you. I will try it later.

Yes, actually. A man showed me the way there earlier. I rested there for a while, but I wanted to see a bit of the town.

Is it? What happens at night?

[blackcrowsings]

There's a lot of crime lately on the streets. There are beings, both human and nonhuman that are very powerful. It's not safe for children or those with weaker powers to go out at night by sundown.

We're in Genessia City, so you should be okay, but try to avoid going to Everglade due to vampires. Nova City has a serial killer problem, I believe. And Fayren has a mage problem.

[lightbranded]

Oh dear. I suppose it is like a city, then.

[Said Will, a boy who had only ever thought of crime in connection with his few trips to London. His own village had seen very little crime. ]

Ah, thank you for the warning. I shall be careful.

[Privately, Will thought that he might like to see these other cities some day. But not yet. Not till he could walk as much as he liked without having to stop for rest. ]

[Video]

[sonicosuper]

*Oh bless, this poor little boy all lost and alone in the world. Sonico's maternal instinct is insta switched on as she leans into her phone, eyes wide with care, tone soft*

Hello. I'm sorry to say you're in another world altogether. But don't worry - your mother won't notice you're gone. Have you been given a place to stay? Are you hungry? I remember I was starving when I got here!

*Have a warm and welcoming smile*

Re: [Video]

[lightbranded]

A man named Ted escorted me to the children's home here. [He forces a small smile. ]

It isn't bad, I suppose. It was very kind of whoever set this up.

I suppose I'm a bit hungry.

[Video]

[sonicosuper]

*Sonico does her best not to look upset at the mention of the children's home, instead also still smiling - she's a model, she can do that*

Good. I'm glad that you have somewhere to go.

*Then she tilts her head with a little gleam in her eye*

Hey, I haven't had dinner yet. Want to go catch something to eat? My treat?

Re: [Video]

[lightbranded]

I wouldn't mind, if it wouldn't be a bother to you.

[Video]

[sonicosuper]

Not at all! Where are you? I can come meet you if you like.

Re: [Video]

[lightbranded]

Right now? I am only a few blocks away from the children's home. Close to a park.

[Video - action]

[sonicosuper]

Okay! Stay right there and I'll be along soon!

*Sure enough, not long after her message, Sonico appears not far away from the boy. She is looking around for him, seemingly quite anxious at the idea of someone so young wandering around by themselve. Then she spots him, gives a friendly wave, and bounces over*

Hey!

[Video - action]

[lightbranded]

[During the wait, Will had very sensibly decided to find a bench and sit down. If it was a bit of a walk to where they were going, and he expected it would be, then it only made sense to rest now.

When he spots her waving at him he stands up and makes his way over to her. ]