[ text/anon (not heavily encrypted) ]

[devotedtothecore]

I have three questions. One specific, two more general.

1. Are there any known instances of Transports who managed to return to their home worlds, or travel to worlds beyond this one?

2. Would you consider the level of technological development in this world more advanced, less advanced, or on par with that of your own?

3. To date, have you encountered others from the same world as yourself?

Your time is appreciated.

Comments

text; 1/2

[velveteened]

2. More!
3. Yes, definitely.

text;

[velveteened]

As for the first...there was a person who was able to return to their home world with the Initiative's help, but you couldn't have called the results good.

Though, people often get randomly sent back by the transporter.

[devotedtothecore]

Could you elaborate further on the first instance?

[velveteened]

The Initiative were able to take that person and others back there, but it attracted the attention of the United Earth.

[devotedtothecore]

[ A pause for some time. Then: ]

What happened then?

[velveteened]

They destroyed the whole world.

[devotedtothecore]

The whole world?

How?

[velveteened]

That's the scale of their army and technology. Nobody survived it besides the people from there who are here now.

[devotedtothecore]

The people who remain. How many are they?

[velveteened]

Two, that I know of.

[devotedtothecore]

[ ...were this a face to face conversation, there might have been more said to that.

But text has its filter of forethought. ]

I see.

[ And then: ]

Were you witness to this?

[velveteened]

( it's much easier to state the facts coldly through text, keep feelings out of it in ways easier than his usual mechanisms that'd show up now — a laughing off of the question, however rueful. )

There was a rescue mission available to anyone who'd want to help, so I think most people did.

[devotedtothecore]

I see.

[ It's not quite a straight answer, but there's no reason (or inclination, right now, with the numb feeling in his chest as his eyes coast over destroyed the whole world and two, that I know of again and once more) to press them.

Fingers drum soundlessly against a tabletop, somewhere in the vast Initiative library. ]

Have there been any other worlds destroyed, to date?

[velveteened]

( not at all a straight answer, which was of course the intention. there's little benefit to telling a stranger (a newer arrival from the sound of it) about the horrible events of that day, which is a pretty self-justification for how little he wants to relive it. )

Nope! Just the one so far, luckily.

( that they know, anyway, and isn't that the rub? )

[devotedtothecore]

[ "Luckily". He thinks of Corehaven alone, and the hundreds and thousands of people working, living, walking its streets; of all the cities and towns and villages of Cepheus, of the rest of the lands beyond it, of the sum of lives to be counted across the world he could consider his.

Family among them. Friends among them.

Casualty: One world.

What a cold statistic. ]

Thank you for the information.

[ What else is there to say? ]

[velveteened]

( luckily because the ue has made it quite apparent now that they could wipe this flimsy island off the map were they so inclined, that the destruction of a single world was so easy to do that they could do it again anywhere at any time, and who could stop them?

because looking at it any other way is still sickening, but some measure of luck feeds hope. )

You don't have to thank me for information like that. If you have any other questions though you can ask me. I've been around long enough to probably be able to answer.

[devotedtothecore]

[ Enough questions to fill a storehouse, and each one begetting more. But through this form of communication... ]

The offer is appreciated. Though I would prefer to ask some questions in private and in person, if that would be acceptable.

[velveteened]

That's fine. Do you like tea? There's a shop near the Hold I like to go to, unless you meant more private than that.

[devotedtothecore]

I have no objections.

[ and then shortly after, a private text message: ]

My name is Chrysos.

[velveteened]

It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Oz.

( he sends the directions to the place, a small and cozy one still transport-friendly, in the reply. he'll go ahead and start on his way there after sending the reply. )

scene change scene change /o/ \o\

[devotedtothecore]

[ He takes a moment to shoot back a brief description of who to look for (blonde short hair, a purple headband) before tucking away the device and starting for the place in question.

It isn't too long after Oz arrives that the doors open again and a tall young man-- no more than early 20s, surely-- steps in, raincoat dripping from the weather. Casually scanning the place as he shucks off his raincoat and folds it over an arm. ]

[velveteened]

( oz has been keeping an eye out, so when chrys walks in, he'll be greeted with a cheerful wave from one of the booths. he's not especially tall and somewhat slight, but makes up for that, it seems, with enough good spirits for about three people. his own raincoat is beside him on the seat, an umbrella balanced against its end. )

[devotedtothecore]

( There's a blink, and an acknowledging nod on spotting him. Chrys wends his way to the booth in question, though he doesn't sit down just yet. Just to clarify: ]

Oz?

[velveteened]

That's right.

( he affirms easily, tone just side of well of course. )

You're a lot taller in person, Chrysos.

( oz you might just be short. )

[devotedtothecore]

[ Politeness means not commenting on any height issues faced by the other party. At the first meeting at least. So he'll raise an eyebrow, since it's not the first time he's heard that line, anyway. ]

Well, you are seated. [ Levelly, as he sets his coat down and slides into the seat across from Oz.

There. Issue somewhat rectified. (Somewhat.) ]