[Action | Video]

[telsen]

[Video]

[Telsen got through the hologram's explanation of where he was before reality smacked him in the face and he went with his usual method of handling fear: running away. He bolted out of the bay, leaving damp footprints as he went.

Oh no, oh no, oh no! He ran into a small park and promptly tripped over the leg of a bench, crashing to the ground in a heap. The phone skittered away onto the concrete path alongside the box from the pod. Ow! He lunged for the phone, trembling as he moved his fingers along the screen. Maybe-

The video feed starts with a shot of a narrow, planty face with a scratch across his nose and bright, watery blue eyes behind smudged glasses.]

I don't know what's going on- I don't know, I don't know! Where is this... No, no, no, I want to go home.

[He dropped the phone so that the camera could only see the sky above. By the sound of it, he'd just started crying. It's kinda pathetic really, maybe if one shouted he could hear them.]

[Action]

What looks to be a fusion between a pretty black flower and a pool noodle in fancy clothing is curled up in a park not far from the bay. He seems oblivious to passersby, his head down and shoulders shaking. The box from the pod is tipped over nearby and the phone sitting on the grass beside him.

Comments

action

[sarcastass]

He really didn't like leaving the mansion without a guide, but he was at loathe to drag along anyone else to assist him. After all, a good few billions years being totally independent makes asking for help a little.... awkward, especially when it's for something as mundane as 'if I sit in this house for ten more minutes I will start eating people to pass the time.'

So out he was, having managed to wander all the way to Genessia City, the black cane tapping loudly across the pavement of the paths in the park.

It was the gentlest of sounds from our poor, sad pool noodle that caught his attention first, the demon lingering just far away enough to not look immediately involved with... whatever was going on there.

Oh but be it far from him to keep his business to himself.

The cane found the phone and box, tapping against those lightly, less to find them really, just to get some attention.

"Are you injured?"

[telsen]

Telsen yelped, so lost in his own misery he hadn't noticed Szel approach until he tapped his cane and didn't really register that fact until he spoke. He looked up, hands curled to his chest and face damp. And this guy was blind, a mercy, really. He didn't have to see how pathetic Telsen looked, even if he could probably take a wild guess. Telsen was still sniffling.

"No. No. I'm, um, I'm no, no I'm not hurt." His voice was thick and he scrubbed at his face vigorously. Stupid crying.

"So uh- Uh, you're... real?" He might not be, it was a risk.

[sarcastass]

No, he couldn't see him.

Buuut the sound was enough to inform him it was probably the most pathetic thing he'd witness all week. He won't bring it up but he's definitely thinking it, Telsen. All the sniffling and sounds involved had the blind man digging out a monogrammed handkerchief, which he held out to him.

"Oh good." At least he won't have to pretend to care about that.

"An interesting question, I'm sure everyone is fairly sure they're all personally real."

[telsen]

Telsen took the handkerchief with a mumbled "thanks" and rubbed at his damp cheeks. His eyes were still dangerously wet, thankfully another thing that Szel couldn't see. Small mercies.

He knows he's pathetic, it's awful. He hasn't even gotten up yet, loser.

"I'm not sur-sure about it right now," Telsen muttered as he looked around. It sure looked real but illusions looked pretty real at the time, that was the point.

"But but but, you know what I mean?"

[sarcastass]

Don't worry, he's just sort of figured that the crying wasn't going to stop just because he stuck his pretty face in here. He'll deal with the blow to his ego as gracefully as possible.

"I know. I can tell you with the utmost certainty that I'm real, and where you are is real too. For better or for worse."

He doesn't move to join Telsen on the ground because ew no. It's dirty down there, he's all dressed up and warm why would he do that.

So he offers a hand to help him up.

At least then he won't have to worry about fucking sitting down in what could be muddy snow to talk.

"I'm going to guess you're new here."

[Video]

[shy_mage]

[Who was this guy to judge that reaction? Really, he was just confused what was happening, because most people didn't react like that. So he thought maybe he was being chased or something.]

A-Are you hurt?

[telsen]

Hic.

[The crying turned to a muffled sound of surprise that then shifted to sniffling. With a rough scrabbling sound he scooped up the phone and looked at it from the side, so only part of his tear streaked face was visible. He was glowing bright blue, same color as his eyes.]

What? I um- no. I hit my nose but- I'm not hurt.

[shy_mage]

D-Did someone chase you and s... scare you?

[He really wasn't being judgmental here. People could be scary! Like people that ate people.]

[telsen]

[Telsen glanced away, the glow on his face brightening with his embarrassment.]

...No-no, no. I um, I just got here. Yes.

[shy_mage]

[He was still trying to figure it out. Most people didn't run out screaming and stuff, so something else must have happened.

After a moment he realized...]

D-Did you have a bad dream?

[Video]

[youfool]

"Hello! Welcome to Genessia!"

[Oh wait he's distressed. Weird; so few had that reaction these days.]

"Er, um...you'll be all right; this brave new world can be very affable. May I have your name? I'll give it right back."

[telsen]

[Telsen was a shaking, watery eyed mess when he picked up the phone and sniffled down at it.]

"Brave new world"...? I- I um, hold on. [He turned his head to wipe at his eyes with his sleeve.] I'm Telsen. S-scholar, I'm a scholar in the Priory I- that doesn't mean anything here. Sorry.

[youfool]

[Not a Shakespeare fan, he takes it. Something to recommend later, then]

"Oh, well, those are unfamiliar terms. And an unfamiliar name. Heh, probably weren't a scholar of onomastics, eh? What does 'Telsen' mean?"

[telsen]

[Sadly not, he wouldn't recognize the name.]

Onomastics? No, it never interested me, s'not that relevant. I most-mostly, well, I look at a lot of broken things and translations and it doesn't matter. Doesn't matter.

I don't know? [He rubbed at his eyes again.] It was a name given to me, I never asked. Why does that, uh, why does that matter?

[youfool]

"Oh, I don't believe much anything one has is given in vain. Surely your name should mean something. Not that I advocate palm reading or anything, mind. All things in moderation." [Now that he's got a better look at him, and he's not in tears so much...]

"Say, would you happen to be a...what did he call it...a Sylvari?"

Action

[sonicosuper]

Meanwhile, the recent problems with the water in Nova mean that Sonico has become two versions of herself. Lucky for him, maybe, he gets the version that is looking out to help as many people as possible. She'll go to any lengths to make sure everyone is as happy as possible.

Including this strangely shaped creature lying on the ground. At least, Sonico thinks it's a creature. Knowing this place, it's probably a someone. So she approaches carefully and gently leans down, her voice soft and cautious, "Hello...?"

[telsen]

"Eep!" Telsen jumped and looked up at her, wide eyed. Oh. Just a human. Hopefully. He gulped and blinked at her. Uh. He wrapped his arms around himself like he was cold.

"Uhm. Hi." He sniffs. Wow she was very pink for a human.

[sonicosuper]

Sonico just blinked back at him with her own wide eyes, unsure about what was going on. In response to his greeting, Sonico smiled warmly, but when she noticed how he held himself, it soon turned into a frown of concern.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt? Are you cold? Is there anything I can do to help you?" She crouched down next to him and, noticing the phone near by, picked it up and held it out. "I think you dropped this."

[telsen]

Telsen stared at her, already overwhelmed by showing up here and with a low tolerance for people getting in his space. He took the phone back carefully like one might handle a slightly venomous animal. Given his experiences with tech like this before, it could well be dangerous. Even venomous.

"I'm fine. Fi-fine. Not hurt, really, really, who are you?" He leaned away a bit, noticeably fearful.

[sonicosuper]

Ordinarily, Sonico wouldn't be nearly as scary - she'll blame the Nova water later for how this first meeting has gone. "Good. You're not hurt. But then - that must mean that something else is wrong!" So she'd just stare for a moment or two, trying to work it out, tilting her head his way and that.

"My name is Sonico. And I'm here to help. Are you cold?" She was already taking off her scarf and her coat to offer. She didn't know if he had the kind of skin that got cold, but that wasn't the point.

[Video]

[fairysoul]

Hello? [There's two bright green eyes peering at the screen.] ...Don't cry. I know being brought here is unsettling but... this place is not so bad.

...Hi? Are you still there?

[telsen]

Yes... [Telsen's voice was thick and melancholy from the crying. He only let the camera see a portion of his face to hide some of his shame.]

It's not that, it's, I don't know what this place is! This isn't where I belong.

[fairysoul]

[Mavis smiles at Telsen when he finally appears on screen. Seeing a friendly face might help.]

Most of us don't either. But there might still be other people from your home world here. And if they are, I'm sure they'll contact you very soon.

Also this place is called Genessia.

[telsen]

[It helped, a little, though he twitched at the idea of someone else from his world being here. It all depended on who it was.]

Genessia. Right. So uh, they have a way of knowing I'm here? How does that work? Oh no...

[fairysoul]

Same way I did. They just hear your message over their communication devices and answer you.

...What's wrong?