( 3 ) ( AUDIO )

[stillbetter]

[Click. Someone sounds distressed, but trying to keep it together. Trying being the operative word.]

I know this is the absolute worst time to bring my own matters up, but - someone, a friend of mine - she's gone missing. I-I believe she's gone home. [Which should be a good thing, right? Except not.] Going home for her is... [breathe, Poppy.] She was in a lot of trouble there. They locked her up, they took away her children and her wife, and - I guess what I want to know is - can they bring her back? Or, I don't know - is there any way we can know she's all right? If we can help her?

[god, this is a mess.]

I'm sorry, I just have absolutely no idea what to do. [Before she forgets -] Her name is Emilia. She was Julia's wife.

[Pause.]

What can we do to help those who have - [disappeared?] All I have are these bloody headphones.

[Said headphones can intercept communications from far away. WILL POPPY EVER FIGURE THIS OUT? Someone help her do that or something]

Comments

audio;

[transgressed]

You sure she wasn't grabbed with those others?

[She remembers this woman, their vaguely unpleasant first meeting. But Fang also knows what it's like to lose people here.]

If she's gone, they can bring her back, but there's no guaranteeing when.

[stillbetter]

Someone told me people are no longer registered in this network when they go back. I can't find her.

[transgressed]

'Fraid that's your answer, then.

[She sighs a bit, and not unsympathetically, adds:] In that case, there's not much you can do but wait for her to find her way back here. Don't think they've figured out how to check up on folks — only how to take them away from their worlds.

[stillbetter]

I... I think someone told me they found a way to go to someone's world. A specific world?

[transgressed]

I've heard that too, but it didn't work out so well. [Her tone loses some of it's airiness:] The whole place was sacked. It's a lot to risk to find one person.

Video

[irrationalprogramming]

Just what do you mean by--

[GODDAMMIT *Mute was totally on board the sympathy train until that last bit. She? Julia's wife? What the hell has happened to marriage in this universe?

There'll be time for your prejudices later, *Mute, security concerns come first.]

...Never mind, shelving that thought for now. Can you get me a last name and picture? I'm trying to put together a list of missing people to watch out for.

[stillbetter]

I - sure. Emilia Gorski. I mean - Gorski-Grumley. I can't provide you with a picture, I'm afraid, but - perhaps a description? Would that suffice?

[irrationalprogramming]

Nah, but the name should be enough. One second.

[*Mute is replaced briefly by a loading animation, before returning, sending a link.]

Is this the girl?

[stillbetter]

[She remembers that post. It's hard to listen to it again, so Poppy hits stop shortly after it begins.]

Yes, exactly. [quietly:] That's her. Or - was.

[irrationalprogramming]

Well, the good news is that I've got reason to believe that the missing people are still alive, so don't worry yourself over that part.

locked.

[clario]

Hey. [ well this is a not so lovely turn of affairs. ] What does she look like? I'll keep a look out for her.

[stillbetter]

Long, black hair, a little wavy. On the frail side... a bit pale. Dark eyes. I - she's French, but speaks with an English accent, if that helps. [not many people around here do. Poppy sighs.] I don't understand why both of them disappeared at the same time. It doesn't make sense.

[clario]

Got it. [ she rubs the bridge of her nose. ] You got someone to stay with?

[ someone trusted, she means. the roommates assigned here don't always qualify in her opinion. ]

[stillbetter]

Yes. I just recently moved to my assigned room, so. [welp.]

[clario]

Good luck. I'll keep you posted.

[wolfchild]

… what are headphones?

[ child. ]

[stillbetter]

[... You know, being here has made questions like this somewhat unsurprising. Poppy exhales and a little rustling is heard in the background before she turns the video feed on, lifting the headphones clasped in her hand.]

These are headphones. I take it you haven't seen them before.

[Sorry, she'd be a little more helpful if she wasn't in a crappy mood.]

[wolfchild]

I wouldn't be asking if I had.

[stillbetter]

Well - there you have it. They're used for listening to sound. Music, for example.

[wolfchild]

Where did you get them?

text

[lazyinlove]

[Now...is probably not a good time for this, but she deserves to know.]

Jules is gone too.

[stillbetter]

... I know. [her voice is quiet, not entirely neutral.] I was on my way to tell Emilia.

[lazyinlove]

[After some debate, he switches to audio, too.]

Is she okay there?

[stillbetter]

Julia? [a beat.] Yes, I... I think so. She never mentioned being in trouble, at least.

Not that she really discussed it with me. [bluh.]

[lazyinlove]

Hmm.

[He's totally not gonna touch that one. Maybe if he doesn't they can even have a conversation one day where no one stalks off furiously or something.]

I bet she's okay. Both of them. Jules seems like she can handle herself.