⚘ [ fringe event #1] || arrival

[entangles]

Astrid, I need you to check for all reports of unexplained, mass disappearances within the last 24 hours. Not just livestock-- any sort of unexplained disappearance. Start with stations in Boston, then expand out toward Maine and Pennsylvania. I'm heading over to the farm right now.

Astrid? Astrid? Can you hear me--

[ The line suddenly cuts off. ]

[ A moment is all it takes for the world to change. The cacophony of the busy mid-day City has replaced the quiet privacy of Olivia's room, as she's pushed and shoved through a busy crowd. A man slams against her shoulder, nearly knocking the laptop underneath her arm to the floor. A woman runs into her heels. Her first instinct, amidst all this confusion, is to place her hand on the grip of her gun. A reassurance that wherever this is, she'll be ready for any sort of attack--

Olivia sidesteps the crowd, turning a full circle as she looks for those foreign, yet familiar markers: the twin towers, the floating Zeppelin - except what she expects isn't there. This isn't the alternate world, this is another world. Instead, she finds her eyes trailing across the gilded poles of that polychromatic carnival, that bubbling liar's fountain that decorates the square. It's like she's stepped into an amusement park. ]

Where the hell am I?

[ooc: Both action or network responses are welcomed. ♥ I will try to stagger the action threads so that they make sense chronologically. ]

Comments

[inmyothertights]

I'm...Billy Kaplan.

It's nice to meet you?

[entangles]

Are you used to greeting strangers like this?

[inmyothertights]

My mother taught me to use my full name, so...yes?

[entangles]

I mean, this is normal for you? An alternate dimension-

[ First things first. ]

How did you know I was here?

[inmyothertights]

Meeting people on the Network?

God I hope you're from a world with the internet.

1/2

[entangles]

Talking to people who you know nothing about.

[ She's had a rough time in alternate worlds, unfortunately. ]

2/2

[entangles]

But if you're set on talking, then tell me about the network.

[inmyothertights]

Well, actually, if you're on the way to the farm, I should probably take note since Gene and I are currently there, mostly being appalled at the content on the Network today.

It's like a public forum on the internet, only way more obnoxious.

scream i was assuming this was audio s'okay?

[entangles]

Gene? I don't know who you're referring to.

[ .... ]

So I'm using this network to communicate with you, like a cellphone. Still, that doesn't explain how you reached me. You had to find me somehow-- you had to have a reason to contact me.

<3

[inmyothertights]

My cow. Really, best not to ask.

[...]

You sounded lost.

<3 audio!

[entangles]

Interesting name for a cow.

[ Take the paranoia down a notch, Liv. ]

Just a good Samaritan then. [ A pause. ] But you're right, I'm not from around here.

audio!

[inmyothertights]

I didn't name the cow. I inherited her.

[Pause.]

Anyway, yeah. Welcome to the pocket dimension known as the City. Leave your dignity at the door, you won't be needing it here.

audio!

[entangles]

From a friend?

[ If anyone's entered a pocket dimension before, it's got to be... ]

Inspiring name. [ A beat. ] Thanks for the welcome, but I'm not planning on staying.

audio!

[inmyothertights]

My old boss, actually.

There's no way out, really.

audio;

[entangles]

I'm sure Walter found a way out.

audio;

[inmyothertights]

Actually Walter kind of just di-

[Pause]

Walter Bishop?

audio;

[entangles]

Dr. Walter Bishop doesn't just disappear.

[ A beat. ]

When was he here? How long?

audio;

[inmyothertights]

Oh, um, hang on, I have to do the math.

[A pause]

It was about three years ago? A little less? He wasn't here long. A few months.

audio;

[entangles]

But that's.... impossible— Unless it was another Walter Bishop. Walternate? Another Walternate?

What was he like?

audio;

[inmyothertights]

He used to call me Bobby. I basically made sure he ate more than chocolate pudding and cotton candy.

Actually once he called me Buddy. That was strange.

audio;

[entangles]

That sounds like Walter.

[ A Walter Bishop, at least. One that's closer to her own. But the thing about Walters - they're all geniuses. ]

Is his lab still here? If so, can you take me to it?

audio;

[inmyothertights]

Sure I can, but it's probably really dusty. I haven't been by in a while.

God I hope that fungus didn't grow and eat it's way out of the petri dish.

audio;

[entangles]

Hazmat suits are an option. [... ] Really, they are.

[ Getting out of here is her #1 priority, and yet... ]

Before we go, why don't you tell me more about this place?

audio;

[inmyothertights]

Yeah.

This place is sort of a dumping ground for a bunch of different universes. Like, hundreds, probably. People show up and some stay for a few weeks but most months, and us unlucky few stay years.

audio;

[entangles]

How do they get here in the first place? Crossing over into another universe doesn't exactly sound like it'd be easy, especially if you never mean to come here.

Who's keeping you here, Billy?