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[olduvai]

[ what's up, poly? now that the pirate shenanigans are over, you're very much welcome to the usual sight of our dear fountain bringing in another one of those new arrivals, the side of their face just barely in view of the screen.

or are they new, is the question (yes they are).

the man who appears on the screen is probably a familiar face to a lot of people, but there are notable differences: he looks just a bit younger for one, his face covered with facial hair, his hair cut shorter, blood all over his face and uniform (mostly his, yes, but they've healed, so don't worry), and he's seems less - angry. more hardened, really. less 'i don't have time for this bullshit', and more 'i don't really need this right now' - if you catch my drift.

plus, he's carrying an assault rifle in one hand. that's not something that the good old country doctor does, is it? ]

Could do with a better welcoming committee.

[ charming, isn't he?

but really, no one answered his question when he started asking around, but that might have something to do with the fact that he looks less than friendly in his standard uniform. anyway, he's been duly informed that asking through a 'network' will give him his answers, so here he is. ]

How about we start with the question where the hell am I, and then we'll go from there? If there are any devil dogs around, oorah. [ he says it with a deadpan expression, then cuts the feed. ]

Comments

Video

[trenchknives]

I'd say 'welcome', but most people don't like to be welcomed. You military?

[He's pretty damn sure, but hey, different time periods, different worlds, who knows?]

Video

[olduvai]

Yes, sir. United States Marine Corps. [ if that means anything. ]

Re: Video

[trenchknives]

No kiddin'? Somethin' I've heard of, for once. Army, myself. Well, y'know, back at home.

Video

[olduvai]

[ ah, the army. ]

Yeah, back home, I guess.

[ wow this is weird to say. ]

Were you stationed somewhere before you wound up here?

Re: Video

[trenchknives]

Nah, I'd been out for awhile. Got injured in the war, 'n then the war ended, so I was back at home.

[Which war he's referring to is really anyone's guess.]

You?

[olduvai]

[ does it matter? a war's a war, john knows that well. ]

Stationed in California, but I was out on a mission in Mars. [ a crooked smile. ] Not as fancy as it sounds.

[ it was dangerous, but eh. semantics. ]

[trenchknives]

Mars? Guess you're from the future, huh?

[olduvai]

2046.

Heard there's some people from way after that. [ 23rd century jfc. ]

[trenchknives]

Don't feel too outdated. Last time I checked, it was 1921 where I'm from.

[olduvai]

[ well.

that answers the war question. ]

That's not too medieval, at least.

[trenchknives]

[A laugh.]

Guess not. Still, you start talkin' to people who've been to Mars, or somethin', 'n you do kinda start feelin' like you're from the Dark Ages.

[olduvai]

I guess that's the effect of being stuck in a place like this. You get to meet all sorts of people from different points of time.

[trenchknives]

Doesn't seem to bother you too much. Most people're a lot more panicked when they first show up.

[olduvai]

Dealt with worse.

[ not that he's inclined to say.

but moving on quickly... ]

You been here long?

[trenchknives]

Nearly a year.

[Strange to think of it that way, though.]

Went home awhile back for what was two days here, but was eight months at home. So it kinda feels longer 'n kinda feels shorter, y'know?

[olduvai]

[ well, there goes the last shred of hope of being able to leave quickly and painlessly. ]

Long.

[ wryly: ] Guess I should make myself comfortable.

[trenchknives]

You should. I know people who've been here, y'know, nearly five years.

[A pause.]

Not to be cynical.

[olduvai]

Five years is a bit much. Cruel at this point.

[trenchknives]

I think a lot of those people've adapted. Now they kinda see this as home.

[olduvai]

[ some kind of stockholm syndrome, or the danger of having friends and connections. john doesn't like the sound of either. ]

You gain friends down the line. That's something.

[trenchknives]

You do. 'n then a lotta those people disappear.

[olduvai]

[ ayyyyep. ]

For better or for worse?

[trenchknives]

Depends. For some people, goin' home is a good thing. For other people, it's a death sentence.

[olduvai]

Depends on which is more convenient, I'm guessing.

[ all things considered, john would be okay with death if it was offered to him, but that's a long story. ]

My name's John.

[trenchknives]

Nice to meet you, John. I'm Jimmy.