01 - video / console;

[risingwinds]

[By now, Ven's used to worldhopping, and after his last experience with the Star Shard, it's hardly a surprise to have crash landed in a brand new world. The sheer size of his new surroundings took him off guard, but it's kinda exciting to wind up somewhere so huge, so bustling, and so different.

Fortunately, he's adaptable, and he's picked up the basics of the console after that little crash course. Still, when the feed clicks on, he leans in for a moment, making sure the machine's recording. A few seconds later, he steps back and greets viewers with a bright smile and a wave.]

Whew! Okay, I think I got it working now, so if anyone's watching, I'm Ventus! But you can call me Ven.

[He chuckles. That came off a bit sillier than he intended. Ah well.]

This technology's something else! I mean, I've seen some pretty cool things in Deep Space, but it was all stuff like laser guns, low gravity chambers, escape pods... Nothing that'd let you talk to other people like this.

[At least, not that he knows of. Then again, he was kinda busy at the time.

But now he's getting carried away, so he sheepishly rubs his neck.]

Er, anyway, I've got an idea of what's going on now, and I wanna do whatever I can to help! But first, I've just got a quick question... Has anyone heard of the Unversed?

Comments

audio;

[skeletonenigma]

[Well, this is a surprise.]

Ventus?

[His tone suggests an 'are you sure that's your name?' type quality. It doesn't sound like this boy remembers having been here before, so under normal circumstances Skulduggery would assume he's mistaken. But he's rarely mistaken, and Ventus looks exactly like Xion's friend from the festival. The name back then had been Roxas, if he remembers correctly.

Strange. But he's being rude, isn't he?]

Ah, sorry. I haven't heard of the Unversed, no. What are they?

audio;

[risingwinds]

[Huh, that's weird. Ven catches the sound of recognition and almost comments on it, but decides to hold back long enough to answer the Unversed question.

Just, uh. Give him a second to think of a way to explain it.]

Well, they're these monsters that've been messing with the worlds lately! They come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, but they all have red eyes and this mark that looks like a heart made outta black zigzags.

[He pauses.]

Oh! And they're really dangerous, so if you see 'em, be careful!

audio;

[skeletonenigma]

[Ah, how to respond. Hm. The plural 'worlds' implies that Ventus - or Ven, rather - comes from a universe where he can travel in between separate realities. In Skulduggery's experience, that actually makes things a little harder to explain.]

You're probably not going to find them here. Keeliai lies outside of our respective universes. The worlds you know don't exist here.

[... Well, generally speaking. And on that note:]

Do you know a Xion?

audio;

[risingwinds]

Huh? I knew this place was different, but a whole new universe?

[Wow, okay. That's new. The Master never said anything about that! He takes a moment to dig out the Star Shard, giving it a small shake, though this isn't shown, only heard. Weird...]

Well, I'll try to keep an eye out just in case!

[Never hurts to be cautious, especially after what he heard from the locals. It sounds like they've already had a rough enough time as it is.]

Oh, and who's... Shion? Are they somebody important?

[This is puzzling, and the first he's heard of her.]

audio;

[skeletonenigma]

Technically speaking, it's a place outside of all known universes, but that's just splitting hairs. Time should be stopped where you come from.

[Barring exceptions like people who come from different points in time in the same universe, but as far as Skulduggery's aware, everyone gets returned to the point they were taken from. Metaphysicists might be able to explain why, but he sure can't.]

Everyone is somebody important. Xion's one of the other Foreigners here. I think she might come from your world.

text;

[needmetoo]

[When she first sees his face, first hears his voice (the same voice, yet so different too) on the network, she practically leaps to reply. But before she can say or do anything, he says his name, keeps talking and chattering, talking about things she's never even heard of before, and it sinks in. This isn't who she thinks it is.

... she can't quite do video. Or audio, for that matter.]

So you're Ventus?

[She should let Aqua and Terra know that he's here. She now has a slight inkling what the former must have felt like when Roxas was here.]

text;

[risingwinds]

Yup, that's right!

Why, have you heard of me?

[The way they said it sure seems that way, but what does that mean? Are Terra and Aqua around? Maybe Mickey? Or that... masked jerk, but Ven doesn't want anything to do with him.

Well, whoever they are, he's not gonna turn down a friendly conversation. This is a great chance to make new friends!]

text;

[needmetoo]

[Text is easier to handle. She doesn't have to see his face or hear his voice, and think of the friend she's missing so much.]

Yeah. Two of your friends are here.

I think they saw this post already.

[Yeah she noticed the replies right after hers.]

text;

[risingwinds]

Oh! You know Terra and Aqua?

Are you friends with 'em? Hope they've been doing okay.

[But he probably shouldn't focus on just them, especially when this stranger was kind enough to respond.]

What's your name?

[Video]

[aquanimity]

[Ven. Ven was here too now. First Terra a week ago, and now Ven. He's awake, he's fine, and goodness knows how much she's worried about his condition.

Aqua doesn't quite know why her friends are arriving all of a sudden. Could it be the bond of the Wayfinders influenced the spell summoning arrivals here? With both her and Terra present, it could be an explanation. She's beaming in pure joy as she turns the video on.]

Ven! Ven, you're here too!

[She turns away from the console for a moment, calling out behind her.]

Terra! Terra, come quickly, Ven's on the network! He's here!

[She spins back around, delighted beyond reason.]

I'm so happy to see you, Ven!

[Video]

[readytopayit]

[Terra isn't far, so he of course hurries Aqua's way when he hears his name; when he hears Ven's, he breaks into a jog even as he enters the room, appearing over her shoulder an instant later.

He grins when he sees that familiar face on the screen, matching Aqua's delight with a look that's equal parts relieved and overjoyed.]

Ven!

[Video]

[risingwinds]

[The moment Ven sees Aqua, his hands hit the keyboard, a huge grin spreads across his face, and he perks up instantaneously.]

Aqua! It's really you!

[And what's this? Terra's there too? And he didn't miss 'em this time? Oh man, this is awesome. By the time Terra does show up, Ven's trying his darndest not to take off and go look for them ASAP. That'd be silly, since he's not even sure where they are, but darn it, he wants to be there in the flesh!]

Hey, where are you guys? Forget these computers. We should meet up somewhere!

[Then he can totally express his excitement in the flesh. That's way better than chatting long distance.]

[Video]

[aquanimity]

[She laughs. Goodness knows it's been too long since she heard Ven's cheerful attitude, and she agrees fully with his sentiment.]

We're at our house in the Sky Sector, but we can all meet up at the Midnight Hotel - any kedan can point you in the direction of it.

[A thought occurs to her - she stands up.]

I'll be right back - we'll see you in person soon, Ven!

[There's one other person in the house who should come along on this grand reunion, so she doesn't feel left out. Aqua has no desire at all to leave Xion out in the cold.]

video

[looksfine]

[Evidence indicated this person was a new arrival. As such, when Aya turned on the screen, she offered her most pleasant of smiles in greeting, along with a respectful nod of the head.]

It is a pleasure to meet you, Ventus.

Although, I am curious...if you claim to be well versed in interstellar travels, how is it you are unfamiliar with such relatively primitive--[Compared to the technology involved in Space Adventures]--visual communications?

video

[risingwinds]

Um... well, you see--

[He pauses for a moment, scratching his head. Come to think of it, she's got a point. That ship was full of all kinds of crazy gadgets. Did he overlook it in his rush?]

I was kinda preoccupied on that space ship. There were speaker phones, but if there were video screens like this, I must've missed 'em.

Plus, I usually travel through space on my Keyblade, and it's basically just a hover board.

[So the visual communications are absolutely lacking in that case.]

video

[looksfine]

[A...hoverboard?]

And that supplies you with sufficient shielding from the lack of elements? What about oxygen support? ...or at you a member of a species that does not require a respiratory system?

video

[risingwinds]

Well, see, I usually travel through the Lanes Between, and my armor's always protected me from whatever's out there...

[Was oxygen an issue? He had no problem breathing in his helmet, but he's never tried traveling without it.]

But I'm pretty sure I gotta breathe! I'm still human, just with magic and stuff.

video;

[wintershepherd]

Huh, you'd think space travel and communications would keep up at the same rate.

Nice to meet you, Ven. I'm Jack.

video;

[risingwinds]

Well, maybe they did! It was a huge ship, and I was busy trying to catch a giant Unversed.

[There were all sorts of crazy machines, anyway. If he'd had more time, he would've poked around more.]

Anyway, it's nice to meet you too, Jack!

Re: video;

[wintershepherd]

Unversed... sounds like a song composer running amok.

video;

[risingwinds]

[Pffft. Ven snickers. Man, that's a new one! It doesn't take long before he shakes his head, though there's a grin glued to his lips.]

Man, I wish, but they're monsters, and I'm pretty sure they don't care about music. They're... well, they come in all kindsa forms. There's big, bulky ones, ones that look like plants, birds, rabbits... One of 'em even looked like a scary tree!

[video]

[pushtheboundaries]

[have an older man looking a bit bemused] You had space transport but no decent set of communications, Ventus? Interesting.

That said, my name's Robert Callaghan. I'm afraid I haven't heard of these 'Unversed'.

[video]

[risingwinds]

Well, I didn't. The space ship might've, but it probably would've taken hours to go over everything! That thing was almost as big as a city.

[...Or at least a town. A village? He's so sheltered, he's not quite sure, so pardon him while he laughs sheepishly.]

But I guess the Unversed really aren't a problem here. That's gonna take some getting used to. But thanks for letting me know! I'm sure I'll catch up sooner or later.

[Catch up in that there's a lot he's still trying to get a feel for, even with the explanation outta the way.]

[video]

[pushtheboundaries]

We still have problems, don't get it wrong, but they seem to be the native sort. Generally, just people being...well. People.

[video]

[risingwinds]

[He wilts, reminded of a certain argument back at Radiant Garden.]

Well, I guess that's better than monsters, but I hope it's nothing too serious! The last time I got caught in an argument, it was awful. Scary, even.

[It's an odd thing to say, but he's so sheltered that even a fight between friends is devastating.]