Trial 001 [Radio, audio only] [Public]

[portal_refugee]

I'll admit, you've got one interesting place here.

[The voice belongs to a young woman, and sounds to be in her early to mid-twenties. A bit tired perhaps, but whatever stress she feels is being carefully restrained as she begins her plea for information - with an introduction naturally.] As practiced as that orientation is at the Welcome Center, I take it everyone is rather used to newcomers. So, hi. Name's Abigail, and I'm from a city called San Fransokyo.

[There's a pause that follows, but the hesitation is shaken off as she proceeds to her point.]

Just walking into the city in the first place showed me a lot. And keeping an open mind, the whole Great Turtle is begging a lot of questions, but I have one thing I would like to confirm.

For lack of a better way to say it, did time really stop back where we came from? Has anyone been able to verify it somehow? I ask because I transitioned here at a really...inopportune moment.

Comments

[androit]

[ Yeah, but he hasn't learned that yet. So sorry, Abigail. ]

Way, way too much for my liking.

Uh, no, not really. Two weeks-ish? Which... means I probably shouldn't be trying to answer questions, but I'd already started to talk before I thought about it.

[portal_refugee]

[Might be more sorry later.]

[At least his honesty stirs the sound of a smile out of her as she replies.] Two weeks longer than me. And you've survived for those two weeks so that's in your favor.

Maybe you can answer this. How long do the juulans from the Welcome Center last?

[androit]

[ That smiling voice gets a smile in return. At least there's that. ]

Ha, survival. Scarily, an accurate way to describe it.

Um... well, long enough to find a place to stay, probably not long enough past a first month's rent. First thing I did when I got here was look for a job. Figured the rest would kind of... happen when it did.

[portal_refugee]

[A smile is a relief, if a temporary one.]

A full month start is pretty solid footing, but I guess that depends on the job market. How long did it take you to find a job?

[androit]

Not very long, but you could say I crowdsourced. Asked around about it. Bakers are about a dime a dozen so at least a few places were already looking. What you're looking for probably has more to do with how long it takes than anything.

[portal_refugee]

[Considering her specialties, she might have to look for something less skilled to get started.]

I saw the postings at the Welcome Center, but it's good to know there is at least one other successful alternative.

Better to know that there are bakeries here.

[androit]

Those two and keeping your ear to the ground. Pulling strings is about the only nonviable alternative.

[ That gets a quiet laugh out of him. ]

Sure enough. Although apparently not everyone knows what bread is, so watch out for that.

[ ... it was actually an unusual circumstance of a person who didn't know, but he. really doesn't know what to make of Yorda yet. ]

[portal_refugee]

Yet if one person in this city knows what melonpan is and can make it, I'll be okay.

Though I am getting the impression making any assumptions is a dangerous approach. [As if standing on the back of a giant turtle wasn't the first clue.]

[androit]

If I have to be, I'll gladly be that one person for you. Good taste, by the way.

Yeah, that's about how you have to do it. You heard about the continent we're shored on yet?

[portal_refugee]

Thanks. I was raised right. That will be my first order once I know where your bakery is located, and of course who to ask for once there.

More like heard of it, and only that it is supporting the massive turtle we're standing on.

[androit]

Oh! Sorry. My name is Will Vega, but everyone just calls me Junior. The bakery is [ and he names an address, specifies it's in the Wood Sector. Not that he knows the streets well enough himself but it's a good way to start learning. ]

It's... definitely something. The city we've reached is inside a mountain and the population is... also something.

[portal_refugee]

[Address > File Saved.] Nice to meet you. I'll be by as soon as I get settled in.

[Apparently a little prompting might be needed to get a better description.] Is the city as large as Keeliai? How did you get there?

[androit]

There's no rush. I think my job is pretty secure for the time being.

Oh, it's by ferry to get to shore, then you have to hoof the rest. Not too far, though, but it all depends on how well you deal with cold. Yeah, I'd say it's bigger. More... vertical.

[portal_refugee]

There is if I get a craving for melonpan. [Just talking about it makes her want some. Then again, she's hungry enough for just about anything.]

Is the temperature about equivalent of what Keeliai is experiencing? [She won't like it one bit, especially if the wind is more intense.]

Vertical? Does the city extend underground compared to the terrain surrounding the mountain?

[androit]

Oh, true, in that case. By all means.

Outside, it's colder. Inside the city proper, it's warmer thanks to—I think they're using geothermal heat? Pretty convenient.

It might somewhat? But more that it's a mountain so there's a lot of high space to work with anyway. Like citywide skybridges if you have those.

[portal_refugee]

[Warmer inside is a compelling incentive to endure the colder trip to reach it, but for the time being, a blanket would be a sufficient improvement.]

That sounds nice.

An elevated terrain formation doesn't have to be particularly great in height to be called a mountain, and if the city is bigger than Keeliai, that sets some minimum dimensions. [In a vague sense, it does help set some expectations for Abigail. Enough that she won't bother him with other questions about its layout.]

San Fransokyo has a few skybridges, but in a city prone to quakes, it's not usually wise to link too many structures together.

[androit]

There's a lot of, uh, people there, too. Like... not humans? Or human-shaped?

[ Which is weird. That's weird, right? He's allowed to talk about it??? ]

Yeah. Probably better to see it for yourself. It's definitely worth at least the one trip. [ It isn't that he's being bothered, it's that he has a complete inability to communicate well. Poor dear. ]

No, I hear you. That sounds like for the better. Doubt they get many of those here or the structure wouldn't be nearly as settled as it is.

[portal_refugee]

[Don't ask Abigail, she has no idea about what is socially acceptable to talk about or not around here.]

Friendly at least I hope.

[It is an area for improvement, but even if he could clearly communicate more details, Abigail is aware that she will gain a much more solid insight through personal experience.]

[androit]

Oh yeah. They're civilized, seem to understand our situation more than I do. Apparently they've caught some broadcasts and things all the way out here if I heard right.

[portal_refugee]

Does that include the radio broadcasts, or only those from the consoles?

[Please tell her she did not just advertise herself to an entire second city as well.]

[androit]

I... think just from the consoles? Sounded like the radios they hand out at the Welcome Center are supposed to be for us interlopers only.

[portal_refugee]

[Thank Guglielmo Marconi!] Hadn't seen an antennae tall enough for such a distant broadcast, not to mention the challenge of broadcasting into a mountain, but I am not in a position to assume anything today. Even if they did mention the radio is for people that weren't from here.

[Then she shares an amusing observation.] Science fiction as I know it rarely pictured aliens like this. Completely lost and confused.

[androit]

See, now you're bringing logic into it and I'm not sure how smart that actually is.

It'd make for a pretty refreshing movie, but it isn't so fun from the inside.