video;

[motioned]

[The feed starts, focusing on a girl who appears to be around sixteen. She's sitting on a bed in the apartment she's been assigned to. She appears tense, nervous, though she does her best not to let that carry to her voice as she begins to speak.]

I'm sort of, um, not really new to the whole getting sent to a different world all of a sudden thing, so I don't really have any questions about that. I got everything about the war thing, too, even if I'm not going to have anything to do with it. I did have a few questions about some other things, though, so I'd be really grateful if there's someone out there who knows the answer!

The first thing might seem a little bit silly, but it's important. Um, to me, at least! I just wanted to know if there's a dance studio anywhere in this city, and where it is if there is one. The second thing I wanted to know is kind of more general, but, um, if the words Siren's Port mean anything to anyone here, I'd like to know, and to talk to those people a little bit, if I could. And the third thing...

[She pauses, looking down at her hands, away from the tablet.]

What do you think is the best place here to watch the sun go down? Um, thank you in advance.

Comments

[whatsupcroc]

He's a good guy! Grumpy and lazy and really smart. I'll have to introduce you to him!

( Her friends should ALL BE FRIENDS. REALLY. )

It'll be interesting, for sure! I'm looking forward to it already.

[motioned]

Oh, he sounds nice! I'd like that.

Are there any of those monsters right outside the city limits? Like, should I keep my guard up when we're there?

[whatsupcroc]

We can all do lunch or something sometime! Or are you any good with climbing? He has a habit of finding a perch to hang out in and napping during the day.

Ah, yes, there are, and we should, just in case! It's not a super big worry, but when animals are startled and scared, stuff can happen. We'll be careful. It'll be fine!

[motioned]

Oh, no, I don't think I'd be good at climbing anything! I'm so clumsy, I'd probably fall and break my neck before even getting halfway.

Okay! I'm pretty good with animals, so maybe that'll help, even if it's just a little.

[whatsupcroc]

Got it, then we'll catch him when he's groundside. Or right after a nap. Before he can get away up a tree or a building or something like that!

( The elusive art of Caesar Silverberg catching? Collette represses a laugh, nodding her head in acknowledgement of Ahiru's statement. )

It may! We won't know until we try.

[motioned]

Is he not that good around people, then? Or does he just prefer to be alone?

Okay! Um, thank you for being willing to go.

[whatsupcroc]

He's a little socially reluctant, that's all! Kind of the marshmallow principle, crunchy on the outside, less crunchy on the inside but denying it outright 'cause that's how he operates.

You're welcome. I love getting out and around, so any excuse, and so on!

[motioned]

Yeah, I know that type. Kind of frustrating, but worth it, right?

[whatsupcroc]

Exactly! I knew you'd get it.

[motioned]

I bet there are a bunch of people here like that, huh? At least, I knew a few back in my last world.

[whatsupcroc]

Oh! You're a world hopper?

[motioned]

Oh, um, I never really thought about it like that. Not really, or at least I don't think so. Only one before this, not counting the one I was born in, so that isn't really hopping from world to world!

[whatsupcroc]

Close enough, if this is your third world! That's way too cool. Man, all you guys who have done that, what amazing lives you've lead!

[motioned]

Well, hey, this is your second one, right? So I'm pretty sure you count for it, too!

[whatsupcroc]

Hah, yeah, I do! Not exactly the same way, but it's definitely a start! Not to mention we're all time-hoppers now.

[motioned]

Oh, yeah, that too! What year were you in before this? I was in 1914, then 2013.

[whatsupcroc]

1998, basically, and now it's 3313! Though I got here in 3312. You're from the turn of the century? There's a few people like that here! Kingdom Swann, he's one of them, I think.

[motioned]

Turn of two centuries, I guess! I haven't met him, but that's a really cool name.

What's 1998 like?

[whatsupcroc]

( She starts to explain... and then smiles. )

We've got a whole lot of music from the 90's in the library. I'm not sure how to summarize a decade I was still living in!

[motioned]

Oh, I really like music! I'll have to check it out sometime. And - that's a really good point, I hadn't thought about that yet.

[whatsupcroc]

I think you can access it on the tablet, but I'm note entirely sure.

( She grins for the latter thought. )

Hindsight's where it's at! Ask me about the 80's and I can mention crazy hair, massive shoulderpads, and synthesizer music on top of the '88 Winter Olympics being in California. Then again, I was also what, eight? When the 80's ended.

[motioned]

What was weird about the hair? And what's a synthesizer?

[whatsupcroc]

Man, you should ask Alfred, he was living right in the middle of them still! But trust me, for some reason people really liked wearing their hair big and curly!

( That was also the 90's Collette okay. )

Was that when mohawks were coming around too? Synthesizers are, uh, this thing they use in music, some kind of electronic -- not instrument? I recognize the sound, and if you listen to enough of the music from then, I think you would too! It's a style thing.

[motioned]

Who's Alfred? And, um, what's a mohawk?

S-Sorry, I know I'm asking a bunch!

[whatsupcroc]

( She waves her hand, more than happy to be answering these sorts of questions. )

Mohawks are when your hair stands all -- well, okay, your hair stands all up in a line from the center of your head going back. I'm not even sure I could show you what that looks like!

Alfred's one of the Transport's around here. He's a really cool guy.

( Not like she's speaking from a biased standpoint yet again. )