001 - [VIDEO] | UN: HAMMERTIME

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[There's a number of false starts here. The video blipping on to a green eye then cutting out. Then snapping back on to a shock of blue hair.]

How the hell does this thing wo—

[Nope, it's out again.]

[One more time now. The picture is askew and there's a tall, blue-haired man tapping the lens of the camera, tongue sticking out of the corner of his mouth. Some of you may recognize him from the training grounds at the Red Spring. He was the one going around asking people to hurt him. You know. Like a crazy person.]

Okay, is it working? Screw it.

So, this thing is some sort of communicator, right? Well, for those of you who can see this, the name's Darin Altway, Master Blacksmith, at your service.

Now, I know we're all here for ~magical~ reasons and whatnot, but if this world is anything like mine, then you guys are gonna need top notch gear to prevent you from.

Y'know.

Dying.

And that's where I come in! Like I said, I'm a Master Blacksmith, and I'm here to offer up my services! I might not have a forge set up, but that doesn't mean I can't perform general maintenance, and if anyone can point me to some resources, I can start stockpiling!

Comments

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Temporary blindness sounds horrifying!

That's...well, you seem nice enough. Where I come from, curses usually come from the undead.

...Undead aren't a problem around here are they?

[cameprepared]

I try to be. And I'm Claire, by the way.

[She lets her smile slip a bit at the mention of undead, but shakes her head.]

Not around here, no. Thank goodness for small favors.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin heaves a sigh of relief.]

Oh thank the gods...

I can't deal with the undead, ghosts or otherwise. Hearing talk about curses made me a bit nervous...

Sounds like you've been here for awhile though, Claire. In fact, a number of people seem to be.

[cameprepared]

I've been here a month. Not that long.

[She will just leave out the Raccoon City incident from her commentary.]

I think I'm part of the second batch. A few people have been here another month or two.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

So this whole...multiversal freeze thing seems to be a fairly recent occurrence...

I thought it was weird that people seemed to be appearing at different times.

[cameprepared]

Yeah, it is a little odd. But, it seems like there's a cycle to it.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Well, fortunately for me, this world is just enough like my world that I can get on fine. In fact, if I can, I'd rather stay here then go back home.

[cameprepared]

Really now?

Why's that?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Because before I wound up here, my life was pretty much ruined. I don't really have anything to go home to...

[cameprepared]

Nothing at all? That's...pretty extreme.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

...Okay that's...maybe a bit of an exaggeration.

My adopted dad. I never really got a chance to say a proper goodbye before I had to hit the road. It's been a few weeks since I left home and I don't know what's happened to him.

[cameprepared]

Can't go back?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Not until I clear my name, no.

I was framed for a pretty grisly murder.

[cameprepared]

Oof. You do not seem like the murderous sort.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I know, right??

But it doesn't matter what my reputation is, people turned on me the second the description of the real murderer was released.

See, there was kind of a unique feature that made people immediately believe it was me.

[cameprepared]

And what's that?

[This guy...seems unlucky.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

My blue hair.

See, where I come from, hair like mine isn't...well, natural. No one else has hair like mine unless they come from what some believe to be a cursed heritage.

[cameprepared]

Right...where I'm from it's just because they dyed it blue.

You're from one of those cursed bloodlines, then?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

What? N-No! Both of my parents were full-blooded humans!

[He's not lying, but he sure does not have a very good poker face.]

[cameprepared]

Then why is your hair that color? Is that just a coincidence?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

It's...

...It's complicated.

[cameprepared]

Well, not my place to pry.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Sorry, I don't mean to sound like I don't trust you! I actually do! I just...

[He sighs.]

When people find out the truth about...this? [He gestures to his hair.]

They...tend to not stick around...

[cameprepared]

Dude you just met me. It's cool.

[You don't have to share your life's story on day one. Or even day one thousand and one.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Yeah...yeah I know.

And I appreciate it.

I'm still kinda adjusting to not having a million questioning stares all the time.