Video

[rianofski]

[When the video turns on, it shows the inside of Andrew's apartment. Except when it swings around to show the face of whoever's recording the video, it's very much not the face people might be expecting. No, if this is Andrew, this is a very young and very confused Andrew, and he's staring into the screen like he's never seen this place before in his life -- which he hasn't, at least, not that he remembers.]

Where is this place?

[This wasn't where he'd fallen asleep last night, he remembers that much. In fact, it's actually slightly nicer than the last place he'd been, but it's still not right.]

I am not...

[A long sigh as he tries to conjure up the words he's looking for, and then a disgruntled expression as he switches to Russian.]

Does anyone here speak Russian?

[[OOC: Andrew has been de-aged to nineteen for this event and has no City memories, and thus, replies will come from buildtheimpossible . He'd also be much obliged if someone who spoke Russian wanted to talk to him.]]

Comments

[deadmanbusiness]

A small little... some...yes. Some! Bugger. [Theo's out of serious practice. Hopefully he has enough to make some conversation.] Hello.

[buildtheimpossible]

[A frown. Apparently, that frown has stayed much the same, because it's a quintessentially Andrew expression.]

Enough to tell me where I am?

[deadmanbusiness]

Hopefully. You're in the city. That's it's ... um... name. You've been um... taken here by... gods. I think. They call themselves gods.

[buildtheimpossible]

What kind of inane name is "The City"?

[He's not even touching that comment about gods. That's just unfathomable.]

[voice, for now]

[unwheeled]

Yes but it's likely somewhat rusty from disuse. Also I'm afraid I can't really answer any of your questions.

Are you safe?

Re: [voice, for now]

[buildtheimpossible]

I assume that I'm safe, but I have no idea where I am.

[unwheeled]

Seeing as how I've only just arrived, I'm not entirely sure how helpful any information I have will be, as it's all secondhand.

That said...

Apparently we're somewhere called simply The City, which appears to be isolated from any other world or nation, and several people today awoke to find themselves altered or amnesiac in some way.

As long as you're safe then I wouldn't worry too much about it. I realize this must be frustrating but I'm unsure there's a solution.

hover for translation

[universaltranslator]

Добро пожаловать в город. Кто-нибудь объяснил, где вы находитесь?

[buildtheimpossible]

[He's pleasantly surprised at how many people here seem to speak his language.]

I've been told that it's called "The City", and that those who run it consider themselves gods of some kind, but very little else.

[universaltranslator]

They missed the most important part: curses. They happen every few days. Sometimes they're not serious, and sometimes they're extremely dangerous. There's no way to avoid them, so you just have to be careful.

video:

[charring]

[Hey, you with the familiar face. Um...Charlie's going to handle this carefully.]

I don't know a word of Russian, but I'll try to help as best I can.

Re: video:

[buildtheimpossible]

[He certainly can't complain about getting a response from someone that pretty. He even offers a small smile. The smile probably looks familiar, too.]

I have been informed that we are in a place that is called "The City," and that we are...

[He hates trying to come up with words this quickly. There's a long pause.]

We cannot leave.

Re: video:

[charring]

[Oh, for fucks sake. She knows who this is. Oh, lord. She's grinning, trying to not be amused and just come off as pleasant.]

We're stuck, yeah. And, take your time. Okay?

[With words, she means.]

video; Russian

[candothat]

[Chekov doesn't even realize that this is Andrew. He's just thrilled that there's Russian being spoken.]

Did you only just arrive here?

Re: video; Russian

[buildtheimpossible]

[Andrew continues to be impressed at just how many people here speak Russian. He wasn't expecting it, exactly.]

I woke up in this apartment.

[He gestures around vaguely.]

It's certainly not where I fell asleep.

[Which should be the first sign that he's not your normal new arrival, not if he showed up in an already obviously occupied apartment.]

video; Russian

[candothat]

Perhaps you belong there. What's your name?

audio; placeholderish i will be back later T_T

[on_the_periphery]

[In Russian, of course.]

You've been kidnapped as well, it seems.

Re: audio;

[buildtheimpossible]

It certainly seems that way. It's unfortunate -- I have quite a bit to do that I hadn't anticipated abandoning.

audio;

[on_the_periphery]

Is that your biggest concern, really?

video; //russian

[dignity_misery]

[She doesn't speak like a native, at all, but she doesn't have that many conversation partners. Which is really why she's piping up right now.]

Where are you from?

Re: video; //russian

[buildtheimpossible]

A little village near Minsk. I sincerely doubt you've ever heard of it; it's deeply unpleasant. And you?

Re: video; //russian

[dignity_misery]

I doubt it exists.

[Zombie apocalypse, oops.]

I was born in New York.

[prosopopoeia]

[She knows enough Russian to say hello, and does so, but that's all he's getting before she moves on to business:]

What is your name?

[The business of confirming her suspicions as to your identity, young man.]

[buildtheimpossible]

Andrew Ryan.

[He still sounds uncomfortable about using that name, as though he's not quite used to it yet.]

And you are?

[prosopopoeia]

My name is Marie Delacroix, and we 'ave met.

[Someone is blunt.]