1 [video]

[goshdarnbatku]

[All that's visible for the moment is a belly button and an unbuttoned shirt and the top of a pair of jeans; the video feed starts rather abruptly as he's clearly set it off accidentally because no one in their right mind would want to make a first impression with their navel. He's talking to himself though, thinking out loud more than anything.]

-where do I even start to look? I don't even know what kind of world this place is.

[The stomach moves in time to the sound of a resigned sigh, before the world shifts. Or rather the camera does, as the device moves and the owner of the voice and the midriff comes into focus; it's a boy, around sixteen or seventeen, with bright aquamarine eyes and silver hair framing his face. He's frowning as he concentrates on the device.]

How does this thing wor-

[And then he appears to realise that it is apparently working extremely well, and without his knowledge, as his eyes widen and he looks momentarily surprised before he schools his expression back into something a little more calm, but with perhaps an air of sheepishness.]

I guess it works better than I though. Uh... hi.

[He pauses, as though put on the spot suddenly having to address a strange device with no forethought.]

I don't really know what this thing is, but it looks like it's recording. Maybe it's a video diary or something? I don't get it.

[He looks up and around, looking for someone in the area who could maybe explain better but seems to be dissatisfied as he looks back at the camera a few seconds later.]

If anyone's watching this, I'm by a carousel. My name's Riku, and I could really use a clue about where I am right now. I guess that's all, thanks.

Comments

1/???

[skylight]

[skylight]

[ He knows that voice; of course he knows it...and coming from his device which he basically knocks off the table and has to go scrambling after, noticing in his flailing that the device is actually on video.

--true to form, he fumbles with it and accidentally turns it off. ]

[skylight]

[ And back on -- ]

Ri--

[skylight]

--iku?

[ here exists a garbled mishmash of NOT-WORDS because look buddy it's been a WHILE....

full of stops and starts like 'it's really---' and 'am i awake--' and a couple 'ow' utterances as he checks the second. ]

[skylight]

[ he shakes the device on his end, fortunately not on video yet so no seasickness for you yet Riku, just static... ]

[skylight]

[ still there. huh.

good. very good.

.........








but wait. ]

SORRY FOR ALL THE EDITS 8( bad alignment on my part

[skylight]

You cut your hair!

[ NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, SORA, BUT... ]

Or did Kairi do it?

[ PAUSE. ]

How is Kairi?

How're you?

[ 8( stop himmm no rly though almost done sob... ]

DONE SORRY YOUR INBOX ;3;

[skylight]

Hi.

[ u_u which is generally how he should have started. ]

Hey don't move, okay?! I'm on my way.

lmao, it is a happier, sunnier place now. And now it is time for revenge: 1/?

[goshdarnbatku]

[Oh look, a response.

A very familiar voice in response. And a very familiar face to go with it.]

So-

[goshdarnbatku]

[Suddenly static.]

-ra.

[goshdarnbatku]

[...Oh geez did he break it already? He didn't even do anything to it!]

[Tap tap tap. Is this going to help get the picture back?]

[goshdarnbatku]

[...no but apparently that was the volume button.

So when Sora returns in glorious technicolor gabbing a mile a minute, it is a considerably louder Sora than usual and Riku jumps visibly and fumbles with a way to turn the volume down before he wakes the dead.]

And we're done

[goshdarnbatku]

[Okay. Composure]

Hi yourself. So this is where you went running off to, huh?

1/3 COMBOS FOREVER or at least sort of...

[skylight]

[ SOUND OF FEET POUNDING IN A DEAD ALIVE RUN :3 and then not exactly a screech but a halting drag just the same... ]

--run off to? What? No way. You were...oh.

[Video]

[standing_alone]

It's kind of like a diary. That's a good way to think about it. The only problem is everyone in the city can see you and hear you unless you learn to filter.

Nice to meet you, Riku, I'm Zack. [He gives Riku an encouraging smile.]

[Video]

[goshdarnbatku]

[He blinks, a little perplexed by the unfamiliar technical jargon.]

Filter?

[For a moment he offers the device- and subsequently Zack- a long, considering look.]

I guess that's something I'll have to work out if I'm gonna be here for a while. Nice to meet you, Zack.

video;

[moonlitrequiem]

[Get ready for a monotone welcome. She stares, motionless and blank, at the screen.]

You have entered the City. The device recording you now posts to the network where the other people who have been trapped here will see it and be able to respond.

video;

[goshdarnbatku]

[He seems to be waiting for the monotone to maybe liven up a bit, but when it doesn't he decides to just take it as one of those things and reacts politely.]

I take it that means this kind of thing's not exactly unheard of around her. Can you tell me how many people are on this network you mentioned?

video;

[moonlitrequiem]

As far as my knowledge goes, no one has made an attempt to keep a census of the current population. It proves difficult since, yes, as you said, arriving is a common occurrence. As is leaving.

Just a couple days ago a little girl arrived. And sometimes disappearances are not even noted unless the person in question had people living with them, or close friends.

[Congratulations. That's the most she's talked in a while. She still didn't get any livelier, though.]

voice;

[maoser]

You're a world-traveler?

voice;

[goshdarnbatku]

You could say that I guess. How about you?

voice;

[maoser]

Not really. [Not like many people here, at least. He's traveled his world, but not anyone else's.] But the same advice applies for everywhere. Be careful of the locals and don't drink the water.

video;

[majorcrotchgrab]

[Raikov stares for quite some time before he says anything. This boy looks... almost identical to him when he was about that age... It's kind of eerie]

... Is that your real name?

video;

[goshdarnbatku]

[Well Riku does something of a head tilt at that inquiry.]

Yeah, why wouldn't it be?

video;

[majorcrotchgrab]

... Just curious.

Are you Russian?