genessia | [text]

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[Kidnapped. That wasn't a totally unfamiliar experience for Harold, but the method and means could not have been more different. That didn't save him from a momentary panic, when he woke somewhere other and had to struggle out of the strange, egg-like coffin he'd woken up in. It took effort, and the unexpected damp on the ends of his pantlegs when he finally freed himself, painfully, was adding insult to injury as he forced himself to calm down and take stock of his immediate situation and belongings. A pendant. A smartphone. A damp cave. His spine on fire.

[He pocketed the pendant, the smartphone, the key, the money in crisp red unfamiliar bills. The pamphlet he read over as carefully as he, after, listened to the hologram, once he found his way towards the exit. One of the numerous maps nearby also went into a pocket, folded neatly in the center, after a cursory glance. Step two was research, most of which he was able to accomplish on his cellphone, browsing through the information provided on the network. While he was there, he changed his display name to a typical alias, "Harold Wren" - he had reason to suspect no one here would have known the alias back home, so reusing it didn't bother him, and it was certainly a step up from using his real name.

[The more he read, the more clear it became that, at least for the moment, he was going to be trapped here, among strangers and apart from his work. That was.. concerning. While he understood, from his research, that time would not pass "home" while he was here, it was still an uncomfortable thought, to be stuck in this separate world that had never known the Machine, to be void of purpose for the first time in a long while. And void of friends.

[It is with these thoughts weighing heavily on his mind that he finally keys in the text feature of his new smartphone, making a short post to the network. Banking on the hope that he might be able to gain information, perhaps.]

Hello. I was wondering if someone might not be able to provide me with some information on this place, as I just arrived.

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[McCoy was on a break when yet another new arrival pinged onto the network, and he took a look at the message out of mild curiosity more than anything else. Just a question - text even. No responses that he could see so far. He took it he owed at least some help in that case.]

Alright. You read everything they gave you already? What do you want to know?

[The first response didn't take long to come in, and Harold paused on the side of the street to respond.]

I have read all of the information available. I was wondering if you might know if there have been any recent arrivals by the name of John, or a Ms. Shaw?

[Well, it was worth a try.]

Where I might be able to get some painkillers would be nice, as well.

Don't think I've come across anyone by those names, sorry. Doesn't mean they won't show up. I beat some friends here by less than half a day.

[Reassurances aside, it was time to get down to business.]

The hospital's at 19th and Elder. Are you injured? It's a walk from the Bay, and I can get you picked up if you need it. Should be back on shift by the time you're here, one way or another.

Thank you, anyway. I'm sure they'll.. turn up, in all likelihood.

[Or at least, he hoped so. The comment after alarmed him somewhat, as he hadn't realized he was speaking to a medical professional - he would have to be more vigilant in future.]

I can assure you that I am not injured. Just a bit sore. You certainly don't have to send anyone for me.

Plenty don't. Just so you don't get your hopes up.

Well, if you're just looking for something over the counter there's a grocery at 12th and Thistle. They should have something over the counter for you, if you're sure you're alright.

I never do, Doctor.

[Of course, he'd taken the time between responses to look up just who he was talking to. The network helpfully provided names, which made it considerably easier than he was used to - something that he was fine with when it came to other people, but it concerned him that he could be, theoretically, just as easy to look up.]

I appreciate your concern, but I'm certain I'll be alright. Over the counter remedies will be just fine.

[A little healthy pessimism was something that he could get behind.]

Well in that case, is there anything else you wanted to know?

I believe I have enough information to go on for the moment, thank you. I have a healthy appreciation for research, and it seems like there are more than enough mysteries here to keep me busy for a long while.

If you're after mysteries, you hit the jackpot.

I don't know how scientifically minded you are about the whole thing, but believe me when I say you're not the only one out there looking for answers.

Take it easy - and if whatever's bothering you keeps bothering you for more than a day or two, get it looked at instead of relying on that stuff and taking it out on your insides.

I've always been very good with puzzles. I wouldn't say that I'm much of a scientist, but.. perhaps I can help others to find the answers they're looking for. I would appreciate an explanation for all of this less vague than what we've been provided with.

Of course, Doctor, thank you.

Unfortunately? Most of what we've got is vague. You should've had something in the book about an organization looking into it. They'll probably have more to tell you.

You can thank me by not doing anything stupid and landing yourself in here. And if you do - the name's McCoy.

I intend to. I have done quite a bit of reading already, and the available information should at least be somewhat helpful.

I'll keep that in mind. It's nice to meet you, Dr. McCoy. My name is Harold.

Helpful as it can be, anyway.

Same to you then, Harold. I'll let you get on with it.

Until next time, Doctor.

[There's a soft chuckle, before any words can be heard.]

You and everyone else who's ever arrived. Shy, are we?

[Above all else, he's bored right now. Just not bored enough to be bothered texting.]

[Harold has always made a point of not rising to bait, so he responds with text.]

I've always been more comfortable with text, Mister Min. I hope you don't mind.

King Min, though of course you had no way to know that.

[He doesn't sound surprised someone bothered to look at the name on the feed.]

Find those answers yet?

A king? Hm. Where of, if you don't mind my asking?

[Harold didn't recognize the name, but then, the material did make it clear that there were multiple dimensions at work here.]

For the time being, I believe I have.

Kyrat. Don't worry, I've got no expectations that you'd have ever heard of it. [Just a little condescending here, but still, ultimately, a friendly tone.]

Already? That's a first. Congraju-fucking-lations.

I don't believe any country by that name exists where I'm from, so you will have to forgive me for not having heard of it.

It turns out that there is quite a bit of reading material available on the network, if you know where to look.

[He sighs - and makes no point of hiding it. In fact, he's probably got the thing on speakerphone. Being polite was all well and good but hadn't he just said he didn't expect him to know it? People these days.]

Isn't there? And every single word true, of course.

Are you suggesting that everything I read on the internet might not be true?

[If you pay very close attention, you can just about feel Harold restraining himself from more than that small question, a joke that he makes little attempt to differentiate from an honest question.]

I know, it must be harder to believe than this shit-stain of a city, but it's true.

There really is nothing those pills can do to enlarge your penis.

[There's a pause with complete silence, ended abruptly by a laugh.]

Well, that's shattered all my preconceptions about life. What a shame.

Tsk, tsk.

You know, as a reward for this fucking riveting conversation?

When I find you on the street - [There's a pause, as if he's checking something in his own phone.] - Harold, we'll post a picture together. What do you say?

Edited 2017-06-22 19:46 (UTC)

Well, I appreciate the sentiment, Mr. Min, but I will have to decline. I'm intensely camera-shy.

[Well, now he's stuck on the idea.]

Nonsense! I'm more fond of radio than video myself, so it will be good for both of us.

In any case, my good man - if it's that much of a problem to you, just avoid me! You have the advantage in that regard after all, you know my voice.

That's true. Well, I certainly hope you find a form of entertainment that is not terrorizing people who don't like having their picture taken.

You use the word terrorize very lightly.

Rest assured, I have many a hobby in the works. As a matter of fact, I think I'll let you go about 'settling in' and get to work on one of them now.

Enjoy yourself.

[A male voice replies, somewhat irritated.]

That's something I'm exploring as well. Perhaps we can trade notes?

...And how is it that everyone seems to have everyone else's number? It's a bit disconcertingly... public.

[Harold, of course, responds in text. He has no intention of giving anyone any more information about himself personally than he can help, at this point. He doesn't know these people, after all.]

That sounds like an excellent idea.

I couldn't agree more. I must admit to being a very private person, and this is disconcerting to say the least.

I don't know very much myself but perhaps I can assist you. What questions do you still have?

Well, none of the reading I've been doing has been able to tell me if any of my associates have found their way here yet. Do you know if a man named John or a woman called Shaw have arrived recently? Thank you for your help.

I do not. Have you checked the list of names in your device?

[It takes Belle a lot of effort not to call the phone a mirror.]

I've noticed that the private settings involve selecting who you will be contacting. If there name isn't there, then they might not be here.

[If there's one thing Ted enjoys, it's assisting newbies.]

"Certainly! What would you like to know?"

You're not alone in being ....circumspect in sharing personal details.

Current assessment: I have a pendant and a key both with a dominant blue stone and a smaller yellow stone. And since the blue corresponds with a locality that sounds like the embodiment of what some call 'Lovecraft Country' [The sarcastic air-quotes are practically audible in the shift of his voice], I'm certain that I'm germaine to that.

I'm glad to know that there are other private people here. I was beginning to think that I was the only one who has an issue with this extremely public system they have here.

'Lovecraft Country'? I wonder where it is you come from, though.. perhaps it would be inappropriate of me to ask. My given color scheme appears to be yellow, with a bit of red.

Oh, yes, of course. Thank you very much for your assistance, Miss Belle. I suppose I'll have to hope that my associates turn up eventually.

[Harold is staying with text, as per usual.]

I appreciate your help. I was wondering if you knew anything about the likelihood of another person from one's home.. dimension, I suppose? Coming here. It appears none of my associates came here with me, or prior to my getting here.

I hope that they do. Recently someone from my home town arrived here, so I can safely assure you that it's possible.

Ahh...hmmm...

[He's got enough pattern recognition and longevity to be about as accurate one could be in something that capricious]

When that happens it's typically in quick succession to one's own arrival. Genessia likes to, heh, pick them in bunches sometimes when it doesn't do singles. If a week or two passes and none show, I'd say you're one of the singles.

[Wait that's depressing. Time to rebound!]

Not that you're alone in the ultimate sense, mind! There's plenty of friends to be found here if that's what you're concerned about. And it's not unheard of for those close to you to arrive very far apart. Goodness, some seem to have a revolving door policy on existence here.

Edited 2017-06-26 22:03 (UTC)

It's like a more advanced version of those party lines I remember in... well, that's not relevant. What is relevant, is this system has about the same level of privacy and security.

Damned if I know why they'd assign me to a place of fog and darkness and eldritch entities, though I'm familiar with the occult and the peculiar.

At your end, I take it that means you came from a place that would be... fairly familiar to some people, but with a few more technological advances?

If you have any more questions that you haven't already asked the others, I'd be happy to help. But... I'm not sure if you would have anymore.

Perhaps their system, however it works, is picking up on that familiarity somehow? I haven't the slightest idea how it works, though I'd like to.

That sounds fairly accurate, I suppose. Which makes me less comfortable, to be honest. How it would know is.. troubling.

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