first lighthouse; VIDEO

[isochrone]

[ Elizabeth is clearly excited by the video feed as it turns on, leaning forward toward the screen. ]

This device is so clever! It's like a voxphone and a kinetoscope put together. Miss Zatanna at the Welcome Center helped get me a bit more familiar with it, but do let me know if I've gotten anything wrong.

Now, this might not be Paris, but it still looks like it will be quite the adventure. In any case, I'm here now, and I intend to make the most of it... my name is Elizabeth.

But I do have a question... is there any way to be positively sure that time has actually stopped, where we're from? I was traveling with someone and, while he certainly wouldn't admit it, I believe he'd be quite upset to find I've disappeared.

[ She offers a smile, which then tinges into something of a grimace. ]

Or more to the point, I believe he'd act quite rashly... since he doesn't always think before he acts, though he means well. Mostly-- I think.

I've been told there are job openings in the city. I don't have any formal training in... well, anything... but I'm very good at picking new things up very quickly if given the chance!

Comments

video;

[helljumper]

Honestly, think the only way you'd be able to figure that out is if the one you're talking about ends up here too.

Far as I know, though, it's true. [A shrug.] Haven't been given any reasons to think otherwise, anyway.

Re: video;

[isochrone]

[ Elizabeth ponders that; originally she'd thought that she'd gotten here through some sort of atypical Tear, but after seeing how many other 'Foreigners' there were... ]

I suppose that's not impossible, for Mr DeWitt to also get here. He did arrive in Columbia, after all.

[helljumper]

I'm not sure I see the correlation there. Is Columbia a difficult place to get to?

[He's not even trying to hide his confusion, given the distinct shift of his helmet to the side. Though, he supposed it wasn't completely out of the question for other places to be similar to this one - but Columbia sounded very Earth-like.]

[isochrone]

[ Thankfully, Elizabeth is familiar with helmeted people, as many of the security forces of Columbia have similar armor styles, although not quite as completely closed off as this man seems to be. Nonetheless, his appearance isn't quite enough yet to make her perplexed. ]

Well, Columbia floats above the clouds. So it's not very easy for reach, which... well, that's sort of the idea.

[helljumper]

Above the clouds? [Huh. Getting the impression she doesn't mean the atmosphere-level, space station kind of way.]

Guess that would make getting visitors pretty hard, yeah. Is there a particular reason it's up there, or did people just want the nice view?

[isochrone]

It's... well, complicated. It was supposed to be an engineering marvel -- and it is -- but Columbia succeeded from the Union ten years ago.

Video

[purrns]

[Adrien perks at the mention of Paris. After all, it's home, and he's always happy to hear of anyone familiar with it. ]

Are you from Paris, too?

[Not his, probably, but A version, perhaps. ]

I went home for a while, after I already came here, and I found myself in the exact place I was before the Dreaming first scooped me up. Of course, my body didn't actually go anywhere, but still. No one had noticed I'd gone at all.

Re: Video

[isochrone]

[ Her face lights up like he's just announced her as a lottery winner. ]

You're from Paris? Bonjour! I've never actually been, but I've always dreamt about visiting.

Wait... so you came here, but then went back, and then were brought here again?

[purrns]

[Aww, that smile. He's glad he can bring a smile like that to anyone's lips. ]

Bonjour. It's a really beautiful city, I hope you get the chance someday.

Hm, something like that. Or maybe it was more my memories were filled in? I'm not quite sure how it works, honestly. It felt like I was home, but my body stayed here.

[isochrone]

Thank you... I'm determined to see it for myself, in person. And once I get back home, I'll be on my way.

[ Now that she's not locked in a tower... ]

Oh goodness... what did you do that caused that to happen?

[ It sounds like something she should avoid... ]

[purrns]

Then I wish you the best of luck, Mademoiselle.

[Boy, does he knows how THAT one feels. ]

Nothing? I just fell asleep and it happened. Apparently, it almost never happens that way. You usually have to go to a lady here to get your memories updated.

[isochrone]

Your memories updated?

[ Elizabeth is baffled, not even sure how one would deal with that. Updated to what? But then she realizes she's badgering a complete stranger about all this. ]

I'm sorry, I'm used to having a lot of information all at once. I didn't get your name?

[purrns]

Pretty much. I sounds weird, I know. Buuut this place is pretty weird.

[Once you realise you're living on the back of a living turtle, you let normalcy fly off into the wind. ]

Oh wow, sorry! I'm Adrien Agreste. It's really nice to meet you.

[isochrone]

[ She nods emphatically. ]

Yes, this whole... I don't know, this turtle. Tu Vishan. It's like something out of a mythology book. In fact, the idea of world turtles are also found in both Hindu and Chinese lore.

It's a pleasure, Adrien.

[purrns]

I know what you mean. There's some magic in my world, but nothing like this. This is beyond anything I'd ever experience back home.

[purered]

Greetings, Miss Elizabeth, and if I may extend a welcome to Keeliai. I am Klaus Reinherz.

With regards to your question about time stopping - while I cannot confirm it myself, there have been a number of people who have left and come back that have experienced this particular phenomenon.

That said, if you're looking for work, there are a number of businesses in the city looking for a helping hand. The hotel also has a number of job openings available.

[isochrone]

[ There are such nice people here so far! How lucky she is, not only being free of her tower but also to a place as pleasant as this, just like the ones she's read about. ]

The pleasure is all mine, Mr Reinherz! Your name was mentioned... you're the proprietor of the hotel? What sort of jobs are you looking to fill?

[consultingbishop]

There's no exact proof other than hearsay, but the evidence is still pretty convincing.

[isochrone]

Evidence... more than people's accounts of it, you mean? Is there somewhere I could read about this?

[consultingbishop]

No, but there's numerous people's accounts of it, all experiencing the same, or similar phenomenon. The consoles have a history of posts, I'm sure you can scour through 'em if you're so inclined.

[isochrone]

Yes, I saw that it contains a history... it's a good thing I like to read!

[consultingbishop]

Some of it's pretty boring. Just a warning.

[isochrone]

I have some experience in keeping myself occupied with "boring" things.

video; in a cafe

[justno]

Sure? No. But assuming the people here aren't lying assholes, there are decent records. Ask for Raine, she's pretty good.

I don't think time's stopped though. I think we experience it here at a higher rate than out there, so it seems like it's only been a few seconds or something, but it's been longer here. Most worlds don't run in parallel time.

Re: video; in a cafe

[isochrone]

[ Elizabeth's eyebrows raise at the coarse language. ]

Raine, thank you. I'll inquire about her.

That's an interpretation I haven't heard yet. Is that... something you have experience with? Worlds in parallel time?

Re: video; in a cafe

[justno]

[Penny's immediately defensive for no good reason.]

Yeah, actually. I do. Worlds without parellel time anyway.

Re: video; in a cafe

[isochrone]

[ She doesn't seem to notice the defensiveness. ]

That's so interesting! How did you learn about that? Is it normal where you're from? Is it something you've read about? Reading is how I've learned most of what I know, that and experimenting.

Re: video; in a cafe

[justno]

I was gone six hours and missing for six weeks. That's how I found out. No, it's not normal. I read a little on the theory, but I didn't really believe it. I do now.

Re: video; in a cafe

[isochrone]

[ without a trace of mockery: ] That's fascinating. Well, probably not for you, that must have been quite a shock to learn. I don't mean to trivialize it.

video; in a cafe

[justno]

You didn't. [Although he gets defensive over nothing, it takes a lot to actually upset him.] It was cool once I got back.

Re: video; in a cafe

[isochrone]

[ She relaxes, glad that he hasn't taken offense at her curiosity. ]

So what is your name? Where are you from?