( video | text )

[mounties]

[She's new, obviously, and looking a little distressed as she tries to figure out the communicator well enough to make some use of it. Sitting down by the shipyard, her blonde hair is tied back in a messy ponytail, trying to keep it from getting in her face as she tries to figure out what's going on here.]

Excuse me... [A good start, right? Polite.] I'm a recent arrival to this place and would appreciate any information I could be given on it. It's not quite right for anywhere I know of home.

[It's short, but effective, she hopes. Canada then more or less repeats herself in French, then German and Russian and Japanese, the first languages that come to mind for good international communications.

But just to be safe, she tries text, too:]

Information and/or assistance in returning home would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Comments

[video; English]

[bauhinia]

[ Hello not-sister. Although he does not know this yet. ]

That returning home part's gonna be kinda tough.

[video; English]

[mounties]

[But soon.

For now, she's wrinkling her nose.]

That's a little... depressing, but at least the people here seem honest about things.

[video; English]

[bauhinia]

[ Soon. ]

Yeah, I don't think we have any reason to lie. Most of us got here the same way you did. [ He looks unapologetic about this, but that's because he looks this way... pretty much all the time. ]

[video; English]

[mounties]

Umm... Am I going to seem terribly inattentive if I ask how that was, exactly? I don't really have a memory of it.

[video; English]

[bauhinia]

I don't think anyone does, really. You just like, wake up here. [ He shrugs. ] I don't think anyone remembers anything about the trip.

[video; English]

[mounties]

Ah...

[Canada thinks a moment, piecing things together.]

This isn't earth, is it?

[video; English]

[bauhinia]

Sorry, no. It's a planet called Fortuna. [ He tilts his head to one side. She seems familiar, but he hasn't figured it out yet. ]

[video; English]

[mounties]

... Okay. [And now she's quite obviously trying to pinpoint that somewhere in space, and failing.]

It's a little sci-fi-ish, eh? Abducted and put on some mysterious planet, I mean.

[video; English]

[bauhinia]

Yeah, it does kinda read like a bad sci-fi movie. [ ... actually that's perfect description. ]

[video; English]

[mounties]

Is that one of those ones where everyone dies at the end, you think? Those always give me nightmares.

[video; English]

[bauhinia]

I dunno, but people die here sometimes. They get brought back though, no worries.

[video; English]

[mounties]

In a... 'they didn't really die completely, it just really seemed like it' way, or like a extra lives in Mario Brothers?

[video; English]

[bauhinia]

Like, closer to Mario Brothers. I think the scientists bring people back. I dunno how they do it.

[video; English]

[mounties]

Well.

That's disturbing. Thank you for the warning, though... I'm sorry, I didn't get your name?

[video; English]

[bauhinia]

Yeah, disturbing's one word for it.

[ A beat, then he raises his hand in greeting. ] Hong Kong. It's nice to meet you.

[video; English]

[mounties]

... Pardon me?

[video; English]

[bauhinia]

Yeah, I know. "Like the city, or did your parents just have weird taste in names?" Like the city.

[video; English]

[mounties]

Oh, no, sorry! It wasn't that. I know plenty of places! And that doesn't mean your parents don't have weird taste in names, let's be honest here.

But you're just, well, umm...

[Help. Please.]

[video; English]

[bauhinia]

[ He just waits for her to speak for a second, then has that 'aha' moment. ]

Wait a sec. Lemme guess. I'm supposed to be a girl.

And okay, you're right about the name thing.

[video; English]

[mounties]

Yes. Hong Kong is definitely... well, yes.

And if Europe had it their way, you know we'd all just be New Them.

[video; English]

[bauhinia]

You can always call me by my other name, if you want.

[ He sort of rolls his eyes. ] Isn't it kinda ironic that New England's in America? And they say they're not hung up on each other.

[video; English]

[mounties]

[Canada just sighs.]

Don't get me started on those two.

I'll answer to Margaret, by the by, if you'd like to call me that over Canada.

[video; English]

[bauhinia]

We can totally find something better to talk about.

[ He nods. ] Sure thing, if you think that'd be easier.

[video; English]

[mounties]

It doesn't really matter to me, one way or another. What's your name, though?

[video; English]

[bauhinia]

Mine? [ He shrugs. ] I don't really use one.