[002. video]

[ceiling_cat]

You guys usually have weather like this? Nothin' but rain and sleet... it's enough to get anybody down. [He looks back at the video feed, grinning.]

That said, since the weather's keepin' me in, thought I'd bug ya all with a question or two.

First, I'm tryin' ta fix up a place to stay. This place doesn't happen to've dragged in a hardware store or somethin', does it? Anyplace I could pick up some tools? Be nice ta get my hands on a bit of paint an' plaster, too.

Second thing is I've been hearin' a lot about what happened last week, and somebody told me weird things happen every other week 'round this joint. Anybody willin' to tell me stories about what they've seen when? You never know, maybe we can figure out what's comin' if we look at what's happened before.

Comments

[Video]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

I'd bet they are! The place's ... interestin', I'll give it that.

Friends an' acquaintances, yeah. Four of us showed up the same day.

[Video]

[exarmatio]

... really? Four in one day, from the same world?

[Video]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

Weird, isn't it? Seems like we aren't all from the same time, but it's close enough.

[Video]

[exarmatio]

Ah, that's not really surprising. It's odd to see so many at one time, though. Typically, if anyone from the same world comes in, it's at a slow trickle.

[Video]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Could just be happenstance... so, you've been here a while. Anythin' like that happened before? With a big group showin' up all at once?

[He'd dismissed it as simply easier to gather multiple subjects in a single try, but if it's that rare-- hm.]

[Video]

[exarmatio]

... it's difficult to say. Sometimes two come in at the same time, different timelines or not, but usually they come in a few days apart, if not weeks.

[Really, this is the first time he's heard of such a large group.]

[Video]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

Doesn't sound like anybody's figured out what's up with our arrivals yet. Just one more mystery, huh?

[Video]

[exarmatio]

Pretty much. But with how often people come and go, I'm not surprised that no one has figured it out yet.

The only thing we've managed to figure out is that, usually, if someone begins to go distant and avoid the networks, it means they're likely about to go home. It never works that way if you do it intentionally, though...

[Video]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

So it's like there's some kinda effect on the people who are about ta head out, keepin' em quiet.

[With all the other mental effects the spirits seem able to pull off, he's not entirely surprised.]

[Video]

[exarmatio]

Not always, but sometimes. It's happened with nearly everyone from my world that's come here.

[Except for him. That's how his luck always seems to go.]

[Video]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

All back where they came from but you, huh? Sorry ta hear it.

[Video]

[exarmatio]

Well, there's one here with me right now that's managed to stay longer than three months. That's sort of an accomplishment.

Honestly, I'm a little used to it.

[Video]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

Bit of a difference between that and two years. [He shakes his head, smiling.] Well, I guess it's better for them not ta get stuck here.

[Video]

[exarmatio]

That's true. [He's used to that difference, though.] And I would rather they be safe at home, honestly. This place can be dangerous.

[Video]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

So I've heard.

[A thoughtful hum.] Wonder how they decide who stays and who goes?

[Video]

[exarmatio]

... I don't know. I've wondered that myself.

[Video]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

I figure they've gotta want somethin' from us to go to this much trouble. Can't figure out what it is, though.

[Video]

[exarmatio]

... I'd honestly like to know if there's a way to get them to let us stay, if we want to.

[Video]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

[Hm. Now that's an interesting ambition.]

Dunno. Do they answer when people try ta cut deals with 'em?

[Video]

[exarmatio]

Apparently so. Someone tried not too long ago, and the Animus actually agreed with him. I'm not sure what the agreement was... But it turned out that he wanted to use their power to take control of everyone in the city.

[Video]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

Hmm. How long'd that last?

[Video]

[exarmatio]

Several days. I don't think it was quite a week.

[Video]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

And they went along with it, huh? Sounds like somethin' they'd pull for one of their own weird events.

[Video]

[exarmatio]

From my understanding, one of the Animus actually possessed his body. There seemed to be some serious repercussions, though, but I'm not sure exactly what happened...

[Video]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

Hmm.

['Serious repercussions,' indeed. If they're anything like as high-powered as they seem to be, that sort of thing could wipe the original personality right off the map.

He shakes his head. These things don't operate on any level he's familiar with; their rules might be different, too.] Glad that's over, in any case. Did the guy come out of it in one piece?