001 [video]

[laughingsword]

Hello~ooo… [in extreme magnification, a pair of eyes blink at the communicator for a few seconds before the face retreats into focus.] Ah! It's working, isn't it? That little light… what a funny dream.

[He chuckles, and holds the communicator a little further away, turning it from side to side.] Very funny. I've tried pinching myself ten thousand times, and I can't seem to wake up! Has anybody found out a better way? If I sleep in all morning I'll ruin my reputation, you see. Everyone will tease me!

[The temporary pout dissolves into a smile as he looks around beyond the communicator.] But maybe I can look around for just a few hours first. That wouldn't be so bad, would it? Ah, look! I think that's a candy store--!

Comments

[earthshatter]

I do. You may call me Aeleus.

Voice;

[lessabrasive]

Habits of a life time. [You can take the cop out of Republic City..]

A while. Longer than others, not as long as some. [a pause follows, mentally counting.] Four--no, almost five months. Can't say it feels that long some days.

Not a great deal to tell, but I'll answer what questions others haven't already. What do you want to know?

[laughingsword]

Aeleus. It's a pleasure! Are they very hard to hunt? The monsters, that is. I've heard they spit fire.

Voice;

[laughingsword]

Interrogation? What an unfortunate habit!

-- could you perhaps tell me how often people wake up?

[earthshatter]

They can be, if you aren't used to fighting.

[laughingsword]

What if you are used to it? -- Oh, and I really should ask, is there a place around here where I might borrow a sword? I don't like always having it with me, but if there are that many dangerous animals, perhaps it's a good idea!

[earthshatter]

You should be able to get one from the moogles. As for the monsters, it depends on what you normally fight.

[laughingsword]

People. My world does not have this sort of monster.

[lessabrasive]

Not for a police officer.

[diiiiiisapproval. ]

It's difficult to say. Some people disappear within a matter of weeks of appearing here. There have been some who's lasted several months before waking up. Thus far, we've yet to find any links between what causes that to happen.

[laughingsword]

Are you a police officer, then? Ah, I can see how it could have become a habit.

[He looks down, thinking in silence for a long moment. She's harsh, but she seems honest; certainly she's willing to answer his questions even when he's avoiding hers. Perhaps he'll trust what she has to say.] And I suppose there's no way to know if we're sleeping in reality as long as it seems to us in the dream?

How troublesome!

[earthshatter]

They do seem to be unique to this world.

[laughingsword]

And what is your world like, Aeleus-san?

[lessabrasive]

Those few who've left and returned say that they wake up exactly when they left - but the amount of time that passes once they've awakened before coming back is unclear.

[ A few months, to a year, at most. That seems to be the longest noted. Lin sighs. ]

There are few consistant things, but the few details we're aware of haven't changed much.

[laughingsword]

Then that has happened? People dreaming of this place more than once?

And it seems I won't lose my reputation after all.

[lessabrasive]

A handful of times. But more people have come and gone than have returned. I can only think of three offhand who have.

So it seems.

[earthshatter]

Right now, on the long road to recovery.

[laughingsword]

Are they still here? And -- who might they be?

[laughingsword]

Recovery? When you say that, it sounds as though something terrible must have happened.

[earthshatter]

Something has. It's only now the world is being to recover.

[laughingsword]

[Well, Souji thinks, he obviously doesn't want to talk about it. It seems a little personal, and they've only just met, after all.]

I'm sorry.

[lessabrasive]

Yes.

Agent Washington, Ziva David and the one called 'Church' have left previously and returned.

[laughingsword]

Thank you very much, Beifong-san.

But I'm afraid I have a lot of settling in to do! If I might be here for months--

[He makes a moue of distaste, then brightens into perfect cheer.] I do appreciate your help! I'm sure we'll meet again soon.

[earthshatter]

[Personal in more ways than one, unfortunately. But what has been has been and there is no changing that.]

It's alright.

[laughingsword]

[He gives that statement a moment of quiet silence before changing the subject.]

So... how long have you been here?

[earthshatter]

I believe it's several months, by this point.