one ( video )

[firestars]

[ the video clicks on with a flash of something bright and red and orange before it clears and there's a blonde-haired girl wearing a black bodysuit and looking very worried and confused. she's speaking, muttering to herself: ]

Is this on -- I think so... I can see myself, but I don't know if it's even pla -- Oh. Oh. I can see the like, little red -- oh god, that means they can --

[ she cuts herself off and yelps a little before putting a hand to her chest, taking slow deep breaths, furrowing her brows and trying to calm down. she's wigged out and she's scared and she wants out. ]

Oh my god. I -- uhm. [ gulp ] Hi. My name is Liz Allan. Lizzie, I guess. I'm -- I'm new. I have -- [ she counts on her fingers ] -- four questions.

One. Is this... like, computer thing fireproof? Two. Are we --- are we really, seriously on a turtle? I guess I saw since no one actually told me, but... There are no turtles that like, grow this big. Otherwise it'd be all over the news on something.

Three, has anyone seen -- er... two of my friends? Jea -- Karen Grant [ she still doesn't know which to refer to her as ] and Derek Morgan? Please let them know I'm here. [ not that Jean won't figure out herself if she's here too ]

And finally, this... has to be a dream, right? A hallucination? Because this is so crazy and unreal that it can't --

[ and the feed cuts ]

Comments

video; anonymous location

[shorttempered]

[Starts to tick off each of her points, counting with his fingers.]

1. Probably not, be careful.
2. Yes, we are. His name is Tu Vishan [Well he knows its Asti, but he wasn't sure if he could say his name, sort of like the turtle asked him not to say Malicant's name.] and he's a nice guy.
3. I haven't heard of either, but I'll keep an eye out for you.
4. It's not. I kind of hoped the same thing when I got here.

Hi, I'm Mark Grayson.

[firestars]

[ o-oh, someone replied. oh no he's cute. liz watches him as he counts off her points, shifting uncomfortably in her seat and fiddling with haer hair ]

Hi, um, hi, Mark. I wasn't like, I wasn't actually expecting replies. [ a shaky breath ]

I'm still kind of hoping that maybe like, some telepath got a hold of me and is just feeding this to my brain, you know? It's way -- way too unreal.

[shorttempered]

If he or she did, they got a hold of all of us, and I don't think there's anyone that strong. There's a few hundred of us foreigners here now.

Your actually freaking out less than a lot of the new arrivals that I've seen. Hell, I'm pretty sure you're handling this better than I did, so don't worry about it.

[video] Time to make this awkward!

[wallcrawler]

Well, I don't think it's a dream, but the kedan did say this place was between life, death, and dreaming when I got here. Personally, I think it's easier to just assume this is some sort of inter-dimensional hub that allows them to pull people from so many different timelines and universes.

[Said with all the same reverence as one would expect from the TV Weatherman]

But, hey, look on the bright side! Until fairly recently, the new arrivals had to be fished out of the ocean. So, at least you dodged that one, right?

[video] are you ready for this (1/2)

[firestars]

[ she's glanced away from the camera now, fiddling with the ring on her zipper of her uniform ]

Yeah, they -- they told me that, but I don't really understand. I mean, how can a place like that, like, exist? What does that even make u --

[ she finally looks over at him ]

[firestars]

[ and her eyes shoot open and she jerks her head back. it's like it's taking her a second to register who and what she's looking at. ]

What is... what's going on.

[wallcrawler]

...I'm trying to answer one of your questions?

[Seriously did he do something wrong or what? Also that name hasn't registered yet. Probably because you look nothing like the Liz he knows, so he figures it's just a coincidence.]

I mean, Mark handled the rest of them pretty well. I figured you didn't want me to repeat anything.

[donttouch]

I don't think the upgrades included fireproofing, the turtle's probably more real than all of us, if your friends are here they'll probably see this post soon enough, and if you're dreaming, so are the rest of us.

_{( Holy run-on sentence, Batman. )}

[firestars]

[ woah hold on a second ]

Rogue? Rogue, is that you?

[donttouch]

_{( Rogue, who's gotten used to recognizing people who don't recognize her--or expect her to be someone else, pauses for a moment. Then she just waggles her fingers at the screen in a wave. )}

[iguanasolution]

Hello Liz. I'm Frank, and you've probably already have answers to all of those questions so I'm going to make it short an tell you that no, this isn't an hallucination.

I think.

[firestars]

How do people know though? I mean, you can tell me that it isn't a hallucination and I'm not like, going crazy, but what if you're just part of my hallucination and you're supposed to tell me that and --

[ she stops abruptly and brings a hand to her head. ]

Sorry, I'm majorly freaked out.

[iguanasolution]

If that was really true then your mind is really determined to keep you convinced you're really living this isn't it? And I can't be an hallucination because I know I exists, at the most you would be my hallucination.

And it wouldn't make sense to have my hallucination tell me this is an hallucination right?

...Right?

[backinakidflash]

[if the flash of red and orange didn't get his attention, her last name would've anyway. He doesn't know any Liz Allan, but that could be a time or an alternate universe thing. Bart's still interested, even after he takes a peek at the comments. Anyway, he has something relevant to say.]

I don't know about fireproof, but they stand up pretty well to the heat generated by kinetic friction.

[firestars]

"Heat... generated by kinetic friction"?

[ liz pauses, thinking ]

You mean like, running fast?

video;

[zerotoawesome]

Why does everyone always ask if we're on a turtle like it's a bad thing... or that it's any weirder than anything else that could possibly happen?

video;

[firestars]

[ when she sees him, her eyes kinda widen, but mostly from surprise than anything else. ]

Because -- because this isn't like, impossible. You're not supposed to be able to live on giant turtles and like, why a turtle?

How is this not crazy to you?

video;

[chiot]

Pffft--can't be a dream, huh? Dead people don't dream nuffin'.

video;

[firestars]

[ immediately: ]

I'm not -- I'm not dead.

video;

[usavatar]

[Oh no you are sad and adorable.] I'm not sure about the first one. The second one, yes, we're on a turtle, but the turtle isn't from any of our own worlds. That's why it's not on the news. Three, I haven't seen either of those people I'm afraid. And four, no. It's not a hallucination. It might be a shared dream. We're not really clear on that point yet.

My name is Steve. It's nice to meet you, Ms. Allan.

video;

[firestars]

I -- thank you, Mister Steve. Um, you can call me Liz. It's okay.

[ she pauses and drags her hands down her cheeks ]

So, like, basically, none of this is good. I can't find my friends and I'm probably going crazy with a lot of other people and -- [ DEEP BREATH ]

Sorry. I'm trying to stop spazzing out.

[video]

[flamingshortshorts]

[Her fear and nervousness makes Toro feel concerned and a bit protective. He's met enough people who were terrified when put into new situations and while she doesn't look like a civilian--not with that suit on or those bright, flame-like light he saw--she still looks pretty young. Not that...looks mean much considering he still looks like a teenager himself.]

I'm not so sure it isn't a dream, but since it feels real enough to all of us, then that's what counts, doesn't it? [he gives her an reassuring a smile as he can]

Hi uh...Lizzie. This place can take a bit of getting used to. Sorry, but I haven't heard of any Karen Grant or Derek Morgan. If you tell me what they look like I'll keep a look out for them.

[video]

[firestars]

I wish it wasn't. I'd rather it be a dream.

[ she lays her head against her arm, her knees against her chest ]

Um... Karen's a tall, pretty woman. She has wavy black hair and she wears like... [ she gestures to her own suit ] this sometimes. And Derek is a dark-skinned guy with dreads. I don't -- I don't think they're here though. [ karen would've gotten ahold of her telepathically immediately ]

[Video], Pete should learn to lock his posts

[superoverachiever]

The first three of your questions have already got answers, no it's not a dream, and Parker's a jerk. Sorry about that.

[Video]

[firestars]

Oh, uh --

[ she blinks, bewildered ]

I guess you... saw that?