001: video

[waxingmoon]

[The video switches on easily to show Isa looking at the screen, more or less expressionless.]

Nice kidnappers we've got here. They provide weapons, lodgings, and computers so we can communicate. Probably would've been nicer if they'd asked before the whole kidnapping thing, though.

[A slight smile appears on his face, then disappears almost as quickly.]

I've got a question. Do these things save conversations? It seems like that could be useful. You know, so we could all relive the complete lack of an explanation we got when we arrived.

Anyway. Looks like this is gonna be quite an adventure.

I'm Isa.

Comments

[waxingmoon]

I don't know how we're supposed to do that. Changing history... it sounds like something out of a novel.

[He smiles, just a little.]

It depends on what you think is exciting. We did try to get into the castle a few times.

[whatsupcroc]

Life is much stranger than fiction, when you get down to it. Guess we're the ones writing the crazy novels now.

[ She winks. ]

Oh! Don't tell me there was anything like a princess locked up in there. I bet it was a haunted castle!

Was it?

[waxingmoon]

True enough. We'd better write some good ones.

[That gets a quiet laugh.]

No princesses or ghosts, at least not that we found. I'm pretty sure they were up to something in there, though... we never got far. The guards are pretty good.

[whatsupcroc]

And make sure to share them, too! Since the best stories are the ones everyone knows.

Guards? I guess that makes sense, though I'd think you'd only have guards on a castle that had someone important inside. Or something... what'd you think was in there? You and your friends?

[waxingmoon]

I don't know about that. There are some pretty good stories that no one knows about, too.

[Blink. Isn't the answer obvious? Well, maybe not to her.]

The king lives in the castle, that's why there are guards on it. They must have all sorts of things in there.

[whatsupcroc]

You're right about that much. What do you think happens to those ones?

[ ... They had a real king? Like England and like... Collette had trouble of thinking of anywhere else in that moment, but she's surprised. ]

No way, you have an actual king? Is he any good? Have you ever seen him in person? Does he like tea?

[waxingmoon]

They become a legend, or a secret. Or a mystery, I guess.

[...tea? Well, maybe he does. Isa's not sure.]

He's known as Ansem the Wise. He's pretty good, although honestly I haven't been around long enough to say so for myself. I've seen him in person a few times, yeah. Radiant Garden isn't that big.

[whatsupcroc]

[ Whatever drove her to ask that question, she appears to like his answer. ]

Something that not everyone forgets. I like the sound of that.

Radiant Garden? That's the kingdom's name, or the town's?

[waxingmoon]

You want to be remembered?

[That reminds him of someone.]

That's our world's name. It's the kingdom and the town, I guess.

[whatsupcroc]

I admit, it's be kind of nice!

[ Makes the thinking about home part a little less scary, if she thinks she's.... done something worth remembering when she's gone. Maybe it'll make it easier for her brother, too. ]

The world, kingdom, and town? That's efficient! Does it ever get confusing to people visiting from out of kingdom?

[waxingmoon]

Yeah, I guess it would be.

[He shrugs.]

We don't get that many visitors, and the kingdom's the only thing on our world. It's not too confusing, really.

[whatsupcroc]

You mean that? How big is this kingdom? Or... how small is the world? That's crazy!

[waxingmoon]

You know, I've never been anywhere else, so I have nothing to compare it to. It's smaller than this city, definitely.

[whatsupcroc]

I really wish I could visit your world right now. I've never heard of anything like that! How can a whole world be smaller than one city? Not that it can't, I believe you that it is, but that's so... so... tiny! Like you could hold in in very giant hands.

[ Something she demonstrates by cupping the empty air with her own hands. ]

[waxingmoon]

[Ok, she's kind of weird. But that's fine, Isa's got other weird friends! He almost laughs - that's definitely a smile, at least.]

Maybe you'll be able to come see it sometime. It's not a bad place at all.

[whatsupcroc]

I'd love to! Figuring out the way is the key, but once that's all figured? Easy as yogurt in a tube!

[waxingmoon]

...yogurt in a tube?

[whatsupcroc]

They don't have anything like that where you're from?

[waxingmoon]

Not that I've ever seen. Am I missing out on something amazing?

[whatsupcroc]

Hahaha, no, not unless you're craving something new on a soft foods diet! Then it's pretty great.

[waxingmoon]

It sounds like your world has some pretty wild stuff.

[whatsupcroc]

Yeah, we do have some pretty wild stuff. We're also pretty big, so we end up with all the variety. It's crazy! Usually in the good ways.

I guess it's supposed to be like this place, but the history doesn't match up.

[waxingmoon]

Maybe it's your world's future. Kind of a bad future, if that's the case, though.

[whatsupcroc]

It can be worse.

[waxingmoon]

Sounds like you know what you're talking about.