first | video (console)

[readytopayit]

[Technology isn't exactly Terra's forte, but he was no stranger to it even before coming here and getting a generous crash-course. That, combined with his immediate need for more information, has him looking pretty casual when he triggers the video feed, as if this is all pretty mundane where he comes from.

In truth, he's doing his best to stay composed. He's in no danger of lashing out or getting emotional, but he'd prefer to keep as level a head as possible -- and that includes keeping his impatience and grim mood at bay, at least until he's done talking.]

My name is Terra. I'm -- a Foreigner. I arrived the other day. I've talked to a few people since then, so I have a good idea of what this-- [He hesitates, but then continues through with his intended word choice.] --world is going through. Roughly. [It was a lot to take in, even for him -- but then, he's still reeling from the fact that A) he's himself again, B) his Keyblade was inaccessible for a full day, and C) now that he can summon it, he still can't reach the Lanes. And speaking of:]

I guess my main question is this: has anyone lost any of their abilities since coming here? I'm not talking about when we first arrive -- I heard that was a temporary side effect -- but after that. After you recovered. Were any of your powers... blocked, somehow? [It's a vague question, and it doesn't quite pinpoint what he's really thinking -- but he can't refer to the Lanes Between openly, so this will have to do.]

And one other thing-- [Again, Terra hesitates, and here he can't keep up the nonchalance. His face darkens slightly as his eyes drop for a moment -- the look of someone who has more beneath the surface than he's letting show, who's making an open appeal like this as a last resort.] --if anyone here knows a man named Xehanort... I ask that you let me know. It's important.

[Wouldn't Xehanort have to be here, if Terra is? ...A lot of things don't make sense, but that's the most pressing question, danger-wise.

Still, Terra remembers himself and looks at the screen again, respectful once more.]

I'd appreciate a few minutes of your time on either account. Thanks.

Comments

[deadclumsy]

[Oh, is it Tonks' turn to start welcoming people? Brilliant! So what should be said to a newcomer? "Sorry you got sucked into Turtle World"? "Don't act surprised when you see the man with a skull for a face"?

Nah, she'll focus on him for now.

So. Say hello.]

You know, Xehanort sounds like a goblin sneezing.

[...Well. She tried.]

[readytopayit]

[Well, Terra was told that this is a public method of communication, so he braced himself for any manner of responses he might receive -- or... so he thought.

His face is so blank for several seconds that he probably sets some kind of record -- but then, while he's still in no mood to laugh just yet, he does crack a light smile. All aboard the Xehanort hate train as far as he's concerned]

I'm afraid I'll have to take your word for it. But I'm guessing that means you don't know him.

[deadclumsy]

[Hey, she got a smile out of him, no matter how small. That's a good sign. Some people would react badly to the situation and probably forget that a sense of humor's important.

She smiles in return, though her own is much broader.]

Sorry, I don't. But I haven't been here long, myself. I can ask around if you like?

[Hufflepuffs are particularly good finders, after all.]

[readytopayit]

Don't go out of your way. If he's here, I have the feeling I'll know soon enough.

[That hard-earned smile fades as he says it, but he nods once.]

But thanks. So you arrived the same way? Suddenly here with no memory of how?

[deadclumsy]

That sounds about right. Everyone was lovely and very sympathetic, but I'm no closer to getting answers about the selection process for summoning people onto the back of a turtle.

Not that I'm giving it much of a go, of course. I wouldn't know where to begin.

[video]

[aquanimity]

Terra!

[Of all the things she could have dreamed of, nothing could have prepared her for this. Aqua's face is practically shining with joy and delight, to see one of her best friends for the first time in nearly a year and a half. And himself, to boot. No trace of white hair or golden eyes: Terra is here, and he is himself. All other questions will be answered in due time - for now, it's pure joy.]

You're here!

[video]

[readytopayit]

[He's seen and heard a number of odd things in the last forty or so hours, even been warned to brace himself for surprises. Of the familiar faces he would have listed as likely to show up, all were enemies.

So when he suddenly finds himself looking at Aqua, it's enough to shatter his careful reserve.

He's confused for a split-second, even wary -- but they're both short-lived as relief takes over and her words sink in.

Here.

She's here, too.

She's in this world--

Terra's on his feet in an instant, accidentally knocking his chair back with a clatter that draws some stares.]

Aqua! Aqua, where are you?

[video]

[aquanimity]

[The chair's unfortunate tumbling fate is barely registered; Terra's here. It's all her mind - and her heart - are focusing on right now. Her eyes are shining as she responds:] I'm in the Sky Sector right now - it's where I live - but I'll come meet you!

[He must be using a public console in the city. Best, then, to guide him to the Hotel to meet up in person (for the first time in more than a year!)]

There's a place, the Midnight Hotel; I'm sure you've heard of it by now. It's Foreigner run, and you can get to it from any sector. I'll meet you there - the kedan can give you directions to the nearest entrance.

[Aqua has not stopped beaming.]

Terra, it's so good to see you!

[And soon, it won't just be on a screen.]

[video]

[readytopayit]

[He nods once, as to the point as ever.] Midnight Hotel. Got it. I'll head straight there.

[Directions will definitely need to be a thing -- as will picking up that chair -- but first Terra hesitates. It's a strange reunion, face-to-face over a screen, but it's a reunion nonetheless. Something needs to be said.]

Aqua--

[Another pause, an uncertain glance to the side. His memory hasn't done a very good job of recovering in some areas since arriving, but his heart remembers much of what his head doesn't. That's enough.]

...I'm glad you're all right.

[That's the understatement of the century, but it'll have to do for now, because he's going to make a beeline for the place in question.]

audio;

[skeletonenigma]

That depends on the power you're referring to. It's not unheard of for some magic not to come back at all, especially if it has something to do with affecting other people or interdimensional travel.

[That would have been the response in its entirety. But now that Skulduggery's here, he might as well clear something else up.]

You probably won't find Xehanort, either. People get brought here individually of whatever events they were pulled from.

audio;

[readytopayit]

[Terra makes a thoughtful sound, although he still isn't about to be too open on that subject. Still--]

"Travel" is the best way of putting it... But I guess that makes a certain sort of sense. Bringing people here wouldn't be very effective if we could just leave.

[That doesn't mean he's happy about it, but.

As for that second explanation... well, it won't do to mention that he and Xehanort were a special case of individuality until recently, so--]

I see... But it sounds like you must have seen a lot of cases to come to those conclusions. Have a lot of people gotten pulled here like this?

[He was told it's been going on for a while, but...]

audio;

[skeletonenigma]

[Amused:] No, it wouldn't be. It's a holdover from when they still needed soldiers in a war against a powerful being trying to infect worlds beyond this one. The war's over, but someone forgot to turn off the recruitment drive.

[Which is a roundabout way of saying no one has a clue how or why people still end up here, other than the Dreaming plane being the culprit.]

Yes. Less recently, though, which is something. [He pauses.] I'm not sure what it is, but it's definitely something.

audio;

[readytopayit]

I heard a bit about the war -- but I didn't know it was threatening to reach other worlds. [That, too, makes a certain sort of sense -- and justifies the random recruitment a little more in his eyes. A little.]

So we're still getting called in for an issue that should be closed already. [A pause.] I imagine a war naturally requires a lot of people -- the clean-up afterwards, maybe not so much. Is it possible that's related? All things considered, things don't seem very peaceful around here, if word on the street can be believed.

video;

[ruinsprofessor]

You're one of Aqua's friends?

[A tipped head, inquisitive. She recognizes the name, at least.]

It's good you've been apprised of what's happening.

[Magical theory question! This she can handle.]

While there was one isolated incident of magic being sealed off, in the normal course of things I don't believe there's any blocking of powers. Why do you ask?

video;

[readytopayit]

[Terra blinks at that, surprised, but then promptly nods once.]

I am. You've met her?

[He doesn't hesitate before answering the latter question, although he's still watching his wording.]

I was told a little bit ago that traveling out of this world is... forbidden, I guess, by whatever brought us here. It's unusual, where I come from.

video;

[ruinsprofessor]

I have. We work together, and she's a friend as well.

[At least, Raine's inclined to think so, though their relationship is a bit more professional than personal.]

[She brightens a little at the second question. Metaphysics is one of her favorite topics here, and any distraction right now is a welcome one.]

Yes, Aqua encountered the same problem; we spoke about it a little. My theory is that your series of worlds is actually a set of microcosms contained in one larger world, and it's that larger containment which qualifies as one world by the standards of Keeliai. There's a legend that all of your worlds originally came from one, correct?

video;

[readytopayit]

[Well, that definitely catches him off guard.]

Uh... [...no point in hiding it now, right...? And if she knows Aqua, besides...] ...Yes, that's right. All worlds are visible to each other, distantly. They share the same sky, so they still make up one World, in a sense.

[Pause.]

By their standards? ...You're saying this world -- and others -- actually lie outside the worlds we know about? The ones we have access to?

video

[backwordscompatible]

[At least that saved some time having to go through the whole introductory phase all over again.]

It's happened before. I've been here for over three years now, and...yeah, my magic's been messed with a few times.

But, if it's any consolation, it never lasts.

video

[readytopayit]

It is -- more or less. [The fact that it can happen more than once, though? Not so much.] I just can't say I'm used to having my magic affected so directly. It wasn't a nice surprise to wake up to.

[wait.]

...Three years?

video

[backwordscompatible]

[One of these days, somebody isn't going to react in that exact manner.]

Yeah, I get that a lot.

video

[readytopayit]

Sorry, I didn't mean anything by it. I just...

[Three years, though. Even for someone who's had zero perception of time for a while now, that's a big number.]

...That's a long time to be away from home. Have many been here as long as you?

[irishthor]

This Xehanort you mention... Someone to worry about?

[Excuse the slightly brash question.]

[readytopayit]

[Ah... was he that obvious? Terra pls

He nods once after an evident pause, but it's an uncertain gesture.]

Yes and no. To certain people, he would be -- myself included. As for the general population, not so much, I don't think.

[As long as you don't have a Keyblade, he figures, although there's no guarantee of anything anymore.]

I think I'd be able to tell if he was here, but... I'd rather be sure.

[irishthor]

A description may help, mate. People can change their names as easily as tyin' their hair back.

[readytopayit]

[Terra's expression flickers to something grim.]

I'm not sure if it would in this case. Honestly, I don't even know what he would look like right now. [A beat.] It's... complicated.

[Because admitting that he was Xehanort until recently probably won't help. Nor is he eager to share that.]

...He might be an old man at this point. Dresses in black, wields a sword shaped like a key. I am sure he would use his name, though. Call it a hunch.

[Xehanort's just that arrogant. Or confident. It's hard to distinguish sometimes.]