❧ one - [action + video ]

[hohenheim]

[action.]

[It's a long walk from the docks to the city. Long and arduous but Hohenheim managed to make due as he traversed the rustic horizon.

Since waking up in that strange cave during the thankfully low tide, Hohenheim been trying to piece together just how he managed to arrive here. He spent most of the early hours of the morning taking notes as he idly listened to the hologram by the pier.

What's her name again? Oh, it was Weiss.

While he won't even pretend as if he fully understands as of how he came to arrive here in Genessia, at least Hohenheim is glad to know this isn't some wild hallucination. Ever since that last dream he had after a few shots of whiskey, Hohenheim made certain not to have alcohol touch his lips again.

The old alchemist came to a brief halt once he found a fallen log upon the dusty road. He lowers his brown briefcase beside the sturdy trunk and sits down. It wobbles a little but it seems sturdy. His feet are killing him right about now after walking a few too many miles. Despite being gifted with incredible longevity, Hohenheim is starting to feel his age right about now. His bones ache and he's feeling feverish thanks to anxiety.

Thankfully, he has some form of entertainment in the form of this fancy phone. It took the old man a moment to figure out how to work the device but once he does, the bespectacled gentleman appears upon the screen looking a tad befuddled with two errant strands of bright golden hair hanging limply down his weathered face.]


[video]

H-Hello?

[The man blinks his eyes slowly as he peers into the screen of his phone. He looks like he's in his late thirties or early forties at best. Slightly worn for wear but quite stately looking like a school teacher with a bright green tie and a plain brown suit. His long golden hair is brushed back and tied neatly by a white band all except for two golden strands. There's nothing truly out of place with this man other than the oddly shaped beard upon his face and the golden eyes that match his hair.

He's probably the most ordinary looking man anyone here has seen in long time.]

Can anyone..hear me? I...I'm not used to these kind of gadgets.

[A sheepish smile lingers upon his wide lips as he awkwardly glances away from the screen.]

I feel silly talking like this. I don't anyone can hear me. [A despondent sigh leaves him.] Here's hoping for the best.

[He glances back at the camera with a slight smile now.]

Is anyone out there?

Comments

[yellowxearthxlion]

[Dustin had just finished getting himself settled and was about to head out exploring when his phone lit up with an incoming message]

Uh..yeah? Hi.

video

[hohenheim]

[For someone who was just asking for a reply, Hohenheim seems generally shocked when someone finally replies to him. The old alchemist nearly drops his phone when the image of some young man suddenly appears on screen.

He peers into the phone apprehensively after successfully not dropping it in the dirt. The old man looks positively surprised. ]

O-Oh! It actually works.

[Of course it works! Hohenheim, what are you even--]

What a fanciful design for a phone. I didn't think...it did. I mean, the buttons are all touchscreen and..and well, there's no dial wheel.

[Please stop him. He's rambling.]

[Video]

[shy_mage]

[He'd made the mistake of not introducing himself last time, and he was determined not to do that again. When he opened his video, it showed a much younger man, perhaps in his early twenties, with full cheeks and big brown eyes.]

H-Hi. I'm Bracken.

[Success! He looked content with himself.]

Re: [Video]

[hohenheim]

[The old alchemist blinks his eyes once and then twice when there's suddenly some boy greeting him.]

Oh, hello.

[He raises his hand sheepishly in greetings. Bracken, meet the one other person just as awkward as you.]

It's nice to meet you, Bracken. Just call me Mister Ho.

[Yay! Success! This is the least awkward introduction he's done in awhile. Though, Hohenheim is smart enough to use an alias rather than state his name. He does have a few people who were hunting for him and they're not the savory types.]

[Video]

[shy_mage]

H-Hi, Mister Ho.

[He grinned broadly, feeling like he had done well. Introductions were awkward and difficult for him, so he was happy anytime they seemed to go well.

Now, he had to think of a topic of conversation.]

Y-You don't have these type of things o... on your world?

Re: [Video]

[hohenheim]

[Both him and his lad are in the same awkward league together it seems. That's good. Hohenheim is relieved.]

Not exactly. [He begins with a slight chuckle.] Technology in general isn't hardly as advanced as this. We still use the Candlestick models, the ones that require a terminal board, wires and well...a handset.

[He glances away from the screen momentarily so he could study the alleged 'smart phone'.]

Just how did they manage to create such a sleek design? This particular phone seems to have all of that and more within it.

[Hohenheim peeks into the screen again and smiles.]

This world has some wonderful engineers.

action

[feckinboomstick]

Tis an odd thing, isn't it.

[A touch sharp, but not its usual bark at least. Seems like Cassian can't entirely scrub free that tone. Oh well. He just rather happened upon the other man, the exhausted looking priest watching him without much more comment]

Amazin' what plastic and electricity can do now.

[hohenheim]

[The goofy old alchemist nearly jumped right out of his skin once he heard the comment. He looks about quickly to find none other than a haggard looking man standing there. Hohenheim blinks his eyes a few times in surprise.]

You're...really short.

[He accidentally says aloud before quickly apologizing in the same breath.]

I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to say--[He pauses.] This is all plastic and electricity?

[feckinboomstick]

And ye be terribly hairy. I'm glad to see our eyes are workin'. I was worried we might be blind the both of us.

[Jerk]

Well ye said it nevertheless.

Aye, tis all plastic and electricity. A collection of copper and rubber, encased in a shell of hardened oil.

Fascinatin' things.

[hohenheim]

[The spacey old fool let's out a sheepish laugh once the priest gets a tad sassy. He earned the sarcasm, especially since he called the poor man 'short'. That's not a very kind thing to say but it's certainly the truth.

The priest is almost as short as his eldest son, Edward.]

Hardened oil? [Hohenheim turns his attention back down towards the phone again.] Quite the device.

I wonder how advanced these engineers are. They must be decades--no, centuries, ahead of my world.

[Video]

[enchantressofore]

You sound like I did when I first arrived.

[ She sounds amused, smiling and relaxing in her seat. ]

It is working sir, and there are many out here just like you -- who were brought here from other worlds.

Re: [Video]

[hohenheim]

D-Do I?

[Forgive the slight nervousness on his part. Hohenheim didn't expect his message to reach this many people. He almost feels guilty for interrupting everyone's day with his silly recording. Surely everyone has something better to do than talk to an old man like him. Thankfully, everyone who've replied seem kind.]

Yes, I..I remember reading that somewhere in this brochure.

[He shifts about awkwardly as he looks for it.]

Whomever made this certainly had everyone in mind. It's been quite helpful but I find the hologram to be more insightful.

[Video]

[enchantressofore]

It is all right, you are far from the only one confused by all of this. That hologram was made by someone like us, who was brought here from her home. That is likely why it makes more sense -- she had felt it was needed to explain more.

Do you need some help finding a place to stay or work? The Schnee Company helped me when I first arrived so I can recommend them for it, if you wish.

Re: [Video]

[hohenheim]

[Whips out a small black notebook out of his coat pocket and starts skimming through the pages.]

I think I remember writing that down earlier. Weiss, right? That's the hologram's name?

[Hohenheim let's out a thoughtful hum as he reads over his notes briefly. Even though he literally just arrived hours ago, he's been compiling a list of theories as of how this phenomenon occurred. There's nothing concrete in there just yet but he's keeping track of everything he learns here.]

Eh? [He glances into the screen again.] That's quite kind of you but what's the Schnee Company?

Video

[wizard_redfive]

[The video feed turns on to reveal a much younger face. Dairine raises a hand in a somewhat lazy greeting.]

Hey there.

There's a lot of people out here actually.

Re: Video

[hohenheim]

[Oh, wow! She's a pretty one. Hohenheim can't help but grin.]

I'm glad to hear that. For a moment there, I just thought I was talking to the air.

[He talks to himself enough as it is.]

Re: Video

[wizard_redfive]

[She is decently pretty for her age, yes. If a little short, but that was the trouble with being fourteen.]

I guess video conferencing isn't widespread in your world, huh?

[Video]

[what_is_a_man]

[There was an owl in a nearby tree that was watching Hoenheim. One of many innocuous spies Dracula had scattered through the cities to keep him informed. There was something odd about the man's aura. As such when the video appeared on his device, he felt it best that he answered.]

Wondrous devices, are they not? Far beyond anything in my time. To answer your question, yes. Many are seeing and hearing you now.

Re: [Video]

[hohenheim]

[He's blissfully unaware of the snooping owl that hovers upon the branch above. Hohenheim has a habit for ignoring danger until it's right in front of his face. He's a civilian after all. Not some battle hardened soldier despite the many magnificent feats he can perform. This poor man certainly looks and act the part of an school teacher. He look's relatively harmless upon the surface but deep down, Hohenheim is anything other than harmless.

The man's a monster. A bonafide monster.]

A-Ack! Does this mean I accidentally broadcast this message to everyone?!

[Gasp!]

I didn't meant to bother anyone! I apologize.

[Video]

[what_is_a_man]

[And as the self-proclaimed King of Monsters, Dracula is keen to pick up the scent of his peers.]

[For now though, have an amused smirk.]

It does, however considering the nature of the devices, that is precisely the service they are meant to provide. They can be switched off after all.

Where are my manners, though. I am Vlad Tepes, Lord of Castlevania in Evergalde.

[Video]

[youfool]

Yes, I am! And a great many others, as I'm sure you know. Welcome to Genessia, Mister Ho! [Yep, he had a peek at the other replies.] How are you making out so far?

Re: [Video]

[hohenheim]

H-How did you---?

[That greeting completely caught Hohenheim off-guard. He's aware that others could see and hear him just fine but also listen in to his conversations? Now that's completely different.]

I'm doing well enough, I suppose. Still somewhat dazed.

Re: [Video]

[youfool]

How did I what? [Be specific you crazy old coot]

Good to hear! Some are pretty shaken when they first arrive, but I suppose this world is getting better at picking hardier stock. Well, should you need anything, feel free to ask me. I've been here some time.

[schrodingersghost]

Whole cities of people. New arrival, I'm guessing?

video;

[sizedoesntmatter]

[Yugi guessed that phones like this were not something the guy was use to. But he figured also that others have spoke to him. But that didn't stop him from at least being polite.]

Ah, hi. I assume others have spoken to you before me, so I thought I would say hi and welcome. Though you might not want to hear that...

[Because who does really?]