voice | un: RocketMan

[vrepit_no]

Hi, Camelot: this is Shiro speaking...

Ah, I'm new in the area, and I understand that I'm going to be here a while. Couple of questions I was hoping someone could help me out with.

I heard a rumor that you can get paid for going to school here: true or false?
Is there a certain process, or form I should be filling out to get housing other than the hotel?

And. [The voice hesitates a moment before carrying on at a slightly different pitch.] Is there anyone here who specializes in prosthetics?

I appreciate you listening, and I'd be grateful for any help given.

Thanks.

Shiro out.

Comments

video; un: RocketMan

[vrepit_no]

[That... is a stag. Like, a straight-up stag. Okay then. Cool. Well now he knows that.]

[The camera comes on at an unflattering angle before he fixes it and gives the stag a smile.]

The biggest issue is that I don't have a prosthetic at the moment.

[He angles the camera just enough to show that his right arm is missing from the shoulder, his sleeve pinned up.]

So I'm in the market for a full sleeve. I'm not sure if anyone here has that knowledge, but I'd like to find out.

I did see that there was a pre-installed app on here... A quest board? Is there a particular protocol for that, or can I just claim one and go handle it?

[disasdeer]

You got that right. The protocol is claim one and do the work. Many of the jobs require a lot of us to perform them. Some of them pay really well.

[ If you're okay with doing a little bit of sketchy things, like...uh, he is. ]

So you came without it? Oh, I see. Then the person who said 'alchemist' is right. If you don't mind me asking, what do you need it for?

I came with mine, so it's weird yours got left behind if you need it for day-to-day functions.

[vrepit_no]

[Shiro shrugs slightly, a wry twist to his smile.]

Need is a strong term. I can get by without it. It's just handy is all. And that was my weapon hand, so it would be nice to not have to relearn everything.

Mine was made of an unusual material, was able to become a weapon, and could be a laser pointer.

[He chuckles and shakes his head.]

My friends made it for me before I wound up here. It's possible that whatever powers brought us here decided it was too much of a risk. I can't fault them for that.

Have you gotten yours tuned up since you got here?

[disasdeer]

[ Did this guy just make a joke -- ? Blinks, shrugs. Ok. ]

Maybe it couldn't cross through whatever brought us here. Mine is just wood and metal, and won't need any upgrades. Probably won't make any adjustments, though. I don't want to have to readjust to one if I don't have to because it is part of my leg.

You have pretty clever friends.

[vrepit_no]

[Shiro's smile broadens and softens as he looks down for a second. When he looks back up he seems... more serene, maybe? Calmer? It's hard to say.]

They're amazing. I'm very lucky.

It was fairly new - maybe two months old? And I spent some time before that with a different one, and then without, so this isn't a brand new experience, but I can't say that I'm super fond of having to open jars with my knees again.

[disasdeer]

[ What a softie. ]

That's pretty lucky.

[ More that you don't have to babysit them and make sure they're not constantly doing something incredibly stupid. ]

Are any of them here? People's presence here seems to be...unreliable.

[vrepit_no]

Well... sort of.

[He sobers. There are so many factors here.]

Is anyone from your home here with you?

[disasdeer]

Ah.

[ He doesn't ask because that's not something you ask someone you've just met. Unlike Shiro, Louis seems rather indiffernt to the question. ]

Not anymore. I mean [ amused shift ] we're fairly easy to identify. So I'd know by now.

[vrepit_no]

[Oh, he's getting there.]

Did you ever experience a situation where the person you knew from home didn't remember all the same events that you do, even though they were there with you at the time?

[disasdeer]

Not personally. I have seen people talk about being places other than their home before arriving here, though. So I suppose that it would occur in instances like that.

[vrepit_no]

Yeah... Ever heard of String Theory?

[disasdeer]

I can't say that I have. Physics isn't really my area of expertise.

[vrepit_no]

No problem. It gets kind of dense for this anyway.

Alright, have you heard of the Many Worlds theory, or parallel universes? Alternate universes?

[disasdeer]

I have, but people here have asked about places not-home before getting here.

[ And at least one seemed to recognize him, he thinks. ]

[vrepit_no]

Alright, cool. Then you already know the basic principals. And it sounds like you might have had some alternate universe intersections back home, too.

This isn't my first time being pulled out of my home universe and into another one. The last time I stayed there for, what, four years? And then just as I was being sent home again, I wound up here.

The thing is, there were several of my friends there too. Our relationships... developed there. But the ones who are here don't seem to be the same versions of my friends from that other place.

So basically we're from two different alternate universes that are very, very similar, but not quite the same. I remember a lot of things from that other universe that they don't. It's a weird feeling, having to rewind and not let those relationships affect these relationships.

[disasdeer]

Ah, that makes sense to me, then. It has to be a process to get used to people not knowing things that you do. Or missing out on experiences that you have had. I'd imagine it is a grieving process. I'd be pretty disappointed personally, were I in your shoes.

But, I'd hate it if I were on the opposite end even more. It's weird to consider that someone knows more about me than I ever recall telling them about.

It's kind of -- invasive.

[vrepit_no]

Yeah, it's not great either way. But I have to at least tell them that it is that way. I don't want to keep a secret that big from them. Whether they want to know about our former relationship is up to them.

[disasdeer]

Yes. You definitely should. I'd want to know, too. It's better than a surprise later.