001 // video

[bonvivant]

[Hannibal stands centered in front of the camera, looking oddly calm and not disheveled in the slightest.]

I suppose I should make a proper introduction, and this seems the best way to do it although it's dreadfully impersonal.

I am Dr. Hannibal Lecter. I'm a psychiatrist, and was a physician for many years before my retirement from that field. However, if I've understood correctly we are facing some difficult times here, so I am happy to offer my medical services if needed. A shame about the rationing, too. Proper nutrition is essential, and there's nothing quite like a well-cooked meal.

But, regardless of the situation, I am very pleased to meet you all and I hope we can get to know each other better.

Comments

[hammer]

Well, just be careful around the natives. I hear they're not friendly. Seems they don't really like us foreigners too much.

[bonvivant]

So I've seen. Is there any particular reason why?

[hammer]

They think we're killing their turtle. Which would be bad since, you know, if it sinks we sink.

[bonvivant]

Is there any proof that we are doing anything of the sort, or is just based on the correlation between the turtle's sickness and our time of arrival?

[hammer]

I think it's all correlation. I mean, if us being here is making it sick, why keep bringing more of us? That'll just make it sicker faster. But I don't know. I'm not really in that circle.

[bonvivant]

I will be careful around them, then. [Because they don't even know that correlation doesn't equal causation, geez.]

I had assumed we were here to to help with the sickness.

[hammer]

That would make more sense. If we can help with it. I don't know. The city's on the back of a turtle, I don't think we can really count on a lot of sense out of this place.

[bonvivant]

Ridiculous as it looks, there must be some logical consistency. A shame the authorities and locals here seem so tight-lipped.

[hammer]

Aren't they everywhere though? Something crazy goes down, no one wants to share any information. People run amok. Everything gets worse. Only here you've got superheroes and magic making everything even more complicated.

[bonvivant]

I'm afraid you're correct. In a situation like this, large groups often fall into chaos. But as individuals, I hope we can remain somewhat level-headed.

[hammer]

You and me both, man.

I'm Justin Hammer, by the way. Sorry. Probably should have introduced myself sooner.

[bonvivant]

It's alright. A pleasure to meet you.

Have you been here long?

[hammer]

A little less than a month. Two weeks, I think. Close to three, maybe. It's weird at first, but you settle in eventually. You start getting used to it. Even if it doesn't always make sense.

[bonvivant]

It seems some people have been here a lot longer than that. I don't suppose anyone's proven the claim that no time passes back home while we're here?

[hammer]

Not that I know of. I think maybe some people have been here before, at least it's sounded that way over the network, but I don't know what happened when they left.