five; video --> voice

[boughtabookstore]

[ Video for a moment. Roslyn's bent over the netbook, frowning. She doesn't look nearly as put together as normal, her hair shoved back into a messy ponytail as she rubs at her forehead. Her room behind her is a mess, none of the organization people who had visited her before would have seen. She realizes the video is recording almost immediately and sighs, clicking a button to switch it to voice. ]

I've noticed a significant uptick in people asking for the nearest bar. I believe someone out there is working on some sort of welcome booklet, but for now -

Welcome to Exsilium. Here's how you have a drink.

[ just before she disconnects ] You'll need it.

[ And attached to her post is a text list of the bars in the hold, question marks by the ones she hasn't been to and a few words' of description by the ones she has - size, activity levels. Well over half of them have descriptions. ]

Comments

[boughtabookstore]

Mm. It's a possibility. But I think if they did, it was that they were forced home.

[implying]

Forgive me, but— I've just come from a world where such discoveries aren't at all uncommon. It's quite the possibility, according to personal experience!

[boughtabookstore]

... Fascinating.

Tell me more about that world.

[implying]

It's called Cittágazze, and for some reason, reality is a bit frail within its confines. Windows to different worlds pop open with little difficulty, and after stumbling into it for the first time, I was able to visit any of these other worlds I chose. Quite the vacation spot, as you might imagine!

[boughtabookstore]

Is that how you stumbled through to here?

While you were there, how did you leave the worlds you visited?

[implying]

That's what I suspect, but I've yet to find the window I emerged from.

We either left through the same window we'd entered, or asked another with a PHS—the communicator provided by the Company, that is— to summon us to them.

[boughtabookstore]

And do you have that communicator with you, or did it not make the trip as well?

[implying]

[ a little subdued: ] It receives no signal here.

[boughtabookstore]

Ah.

Perhaps it's being blocked by the Initiative's equipment somehow.

[implying]

They can do that? —Is there a way around it?

[boughtabookstore]

I'm not certain they can, but it seems a logical conclusion from what they've shown themselves able to do.

I'm afraid I don't know.

[implying]

Ah. Well— nonetheless, thank you. Perhaps it's another direction to check in, mm?

[boughtabookstore]

Perhaps it is. You could ask them if they know anything about how to fix it, even.

[implying]

I might just.

[ a beat ]

Well— thank you, my dear. I'll let you know if I ever develop the correct equipment, shall I?

[boughtabookstore]

[ was that a choked noise that could almost have been laughter? GOOD WORK, VANADI ]

Should that day ever come, come buy me a drink.

Feel free to do that anyway, really.

[implying]

An invitation! I'd be happy to take you up on that. Have you a place or drink of choice? Or both!

[boughtabookstore]

I'll be at the [ it's too late early? to think of a fake bar name ] tonight, I believe.

[implying]

Why, what a coincidence! So will I.

[boughtabookstore]

Then I'm sure we'll run into each other.