LOG IN: #01 ( audio. )

[french]

[ Em doesn't very much enjoy talking or, in general, socializing. Not that she's anti social, it's just that she is very shy and social situations get her anxious and apprensive and she never really knows what to say. She's a quiet person outside her group of friends and she prefers a book to going out, but this time, it's clearly a very different situation she has found herself in. Her voice is quivering, a extremely faint French accent slipping in some syllables and words, but far from the cartoonish exaggeration that the French tend to speak English in. ]

This is a mistake. [ A long pause to suck in some air into her lungs, a shiver audible through her breathing. ] I cannot be here. Not alone-- not without them. Please, my children. I-- I can't leave them with him. Don't do this, please, someone. Take me back. They're alone with him.

[ There is a longer pause now, where she's just breathing. There's a sound which makes it look like she's slumping down on the floor or leaning back, and her voice comes a little muffled as she keeps herself together, possibly a hand over her mouth. ]

You can't do this to them.

Comments

voice.

[crossbearing]

( Things that get Helena Bertinelli's attention: upset women, the mention of children, and the mention of children in trouble.

Considering how distressed she sounds, Helena's coming to the conclusion that the Initiative has really outdone themselves. Helena speaks softly, calmly. She has her own accent, Sicilian layered with American, but her or the other woman's origins are hardly her focus for the moment. )

From what I've heard, time operates differently here to how it does at home, so your children won't actually be alone with the individual you mentioned. They might also be here already.

( She'll leave it at that, first off; too much information isn't going to be processable. ) I'm Helena. What's your name?

audio.

[french]

[ That does very little to calm her down. They are still alone with Levi; she doesn't know what he will do to them. Doesn't know if he's going to raise them like some kind of fake saviours from some insane prophecy. She doesn't want anyone from that crazy cult raising her babies. If she can't raise them on her own, then Jules should come for them, take them away from that awful place.

She has to. ]

How do you know? [ She has never been much of an optimist. That was her wife's thing. Her counter-balance to her cynism, her too "down to Earth" persona. She did her good. So much. ] They're just babies. They're just babies.

[ A shaky breath, and the woman takes a long pause. Trying to calm herself down, gathering herself. Trying not to break (though she has done it for so long back at the Tower, sometimes it's hard - now, especially, it's very hard). ]

Emilia. I'm Emilia. [ Another pause. ] Please, isn't there someone I can talk to?

audio.

[crossbearing]

I have friends here from different times than myself, with no memory of each of us disappearing. The time I'm spending here has no bearing on the world at home.

( It's not the most comforting thing she could say, but it's about all she's got. Comforting people is hards. It'd be easier if it were just the kids that needed looking after, to be honest. )

Emilia, okay. Listen, Emilia, the Initiative can't get us home. People randomly disappear home because they can't control the mechanics of it, but their effort to return people home in an organized manner didn't work.

( Right now is not the time for Emilia to hear about world's ending. Yikes. ) There are people you can talk to, but the best they can do is act as messengers between you and the Initiative.

[voice]

[legal_eagle]

[Sonya doesn't like, you know, feelings. That sort of thing. People being unhappy and weird? Definitely makes her uncomfortable, and so she usually stays pretty hands-off. Plus motherhood in general is just so completely separate from her own sphere of existence that she just...avoids it.

But for some reason she speaks up now.]

Hi. Sofiya Karimov. Where are you right now?

audio.

[french]

[ The name is not familiar, but then again, nothing is. She stares at the device in her hands, the audio that comes from it and drops her head. Nobody can help her. There's nobody with the solution she wants: to go back. It might be worse back in her world, monsters lurking in every corner waiting to eat you, but at least there's a resemblance of a home. Of a family. ]

I don't know. [ How is she to know? It's a new place, she can't really give directions - and even if she could, why would she tell a stranger? ] Here. What does it matter? I shouldn't be here in the first place.

[ She's just average, but in this case, she's different. She believes herself to be. ]

audio.

[legal_eagle]

You have an address? I know a few places where you can get a stiff drink.

[solitaire]

'Allo, chère? I'm gonna ask you ta calm down an' take a deep breath. Think you can do that, for me?

audio.

[french]

[ Well, there's an accent she hasn't heard in a long time (other than her own, that is). Nevertheless, it's not welcoming, not really, because it's condescending. How dare this... person, whoever they are, tell her to calm down when her kids are missing? A mother can't help these things, regardless of clichés. ]

That will not solve the situation, will it? [ A bit bitter, a lot despaired. ] Who are you?

[ So, okay, the accent did spike curiosity. ]

audio.

[solitaire]

No, but it might stop you from havin' a heart attack, so you can deal with it.

Name's Remy. Didn't think that was so important, since you obviously have bigger things on your mind.

audio;

[biwinning]

Oh great, another whiner.

[Because he's an ass.]

audio.

[french]

[ Is she supposed to answer this rude person? Because she doesn't really care for rude people (which is ironic, considering how mindlessly rude she can be without even noticing). ]

Do not clutter. I only care to know about getting out of here, not your little opinion of me. [ Which isn't said with as much rudeness as you would think, although it's very dismissive, like she isn't paying any attention to it. ]

audio.

[biwinning]

You're the one cluttering. You've already been told there's no way back, so get used to it.

Voice

[astraia]

[Her heart aches with sympathy, and it's clear in her voice.]

I've heard that time stops, while we're here. Your children are safe. [She can't know that, not really, but she wants to offer some comfort, some peace of mind.]

audio.

[french]

It does not make it any better. [ Sort of a nightmare. Time stopping? Her children trapped with that man in perfect stillness until her return? It sends a cold chill down and up her spine, letting her stomach churn in painful stress. If time runs, there is the faint possibility of Jules's return. She wants that, more than anything, even if she is not there to dive into her arms. ]

They are not safe as long as we're trapped in that Tower.

audio.

[astraia]

When you go back, it'll be like it never happened. No one will know. [But she knows it doesn't help much.]

And maybe, after being here, you'll be able to get them out. [But that might.]

Audio

[followupquestion]

[Infinite universes, and some things never change. She's careful to speak in the gentle but authoritative tone she learned when she was a cop trying to help terrified victims]

I'm sorry, I can't do anything for you right now, but if you'd be willing, I could help you prepare to go back home. My name is Renee Montoya, I'm...I was a police officer, and if you would like to meet with me once you are settled and discuss your situation, I might be able to help you keep your children away from him forever when you return.

audio.

[french]

[ While in her world in some communities there are sentinels, there hasn't been a police officer of any kind in many years, so the word has lost some meaning, but she understands the sentiment behind. ]

I don't think we belong in the same world. We don't have any... policemen there. [ A beat, the chain of the handcuffs clinking slightly against the communicator as she shifts the position of her hands. ] I don't understand. Help me prepare how?

audio.

[followupquestion]

Figured there might be a chance of that.

[Been a while since her Victim Response training, but she goes deep to try to adapt it here] Sorry, where I'm from a police officer is supposed to protect people from those who would hurt them. [Too often it doesn't work that way] What I meant was help teach you strategies you can use to protect yourself and your children when you go home. I'm not sure how useful they are in your own situation, but there's a chance they could help.

video;

[stillbetter]

Emilia? It's Poppy - is that you?

audio.

[french]

[ She can see that. She can't turn her video settings on because Emilia and technologies have never been friends and in any case that's not the first thing in her mind at all. While Poppy does look different (cleaner, less worn out) she is quite a sight for sore eyes. There's a small sound of relief and Em half-laughs in disbelief. ]

Poppy-- Poppy, oh my God, what--? When did you get here?

[stillbetter]

[Poppy's expression falls with relief, eyes shut and a deep sigh escaping her lips before she recomposes herself.]

I just got here. We probably arrived at the same time - I must have missed you in the beginning - there were so many people. There still are, but - [another exhale,] It doesn't matter. Are you all right? Did anyone hurt you?

video;

[collectedloot]

Um, hello? I'm sorry you got separated from your children.

I think... they'll be alright while you're here. [she doesn't really fully understand it herself, though.] But if you can tell me what they look like, I could let you know if I ever see them.

audio.

[french]

Everyone keeps telling me that yet no reason to why Is should believe anyone from here. You don't know how they are. You don't. [ Optimism has never been one of her strong suits. ] They're babies. They are 23 months old. They aren't okay without their parents.

audio »

[molecules]

[ piper's voice is soft with a hint of firmness. she's used to distressed people - either because of the situation they've found themselves in is one they're not used to or it's because of something that has happened - and she knows that, sometimes, it helps to have someone - or a few someones - say it's going to be okay. ]

[ even if it isn't. ]

Hey, hey, hey. It's going to be okay. Your kids aren't in any danger.

[ and piper tells the biggest lie she's ever told anyone, if, you know, you don't include her not coming out with her witchy status. ] I'm pretty sure someone in charge is making sure that they're safe.

audio »

[french]

They took me away while I was trapped by a crazy cult. They don't have me not their mum with them. How can someone possibly be responsible enough to make sure they are taken care of if they don't have either parents with them? They can't even control whatever brings you here. They don't care for my children - nobody but their family does.

So don't tell me they'll be fine. They aren't fine.

[ sorry, piper, you got the tired version of a desperate emilia gorski. It aint pretty. ]