Video;

[sardonicism]

[ Bruce isn’t a stupid man. By the time he’s ready to make contact with the others in this place, he’s figured out how the device he’s been left with works. There’s no fear on his face when the video starts, no trace of panic or unease. He looks calm, as though waking up in strange places with no idea how he got there is something that happens to him on a regular basis.

His voice, when he speaks, is quiet and dry, with the faintest note of sarcasm. ]

Seeing as I woke up in an empty apartment, I’m guessing whoever brought me inside wants to stay anonymous.

[ One eyebrow quirks slightly higher, though whether it’s in silent inquiry if anyone will step forward and admit to doing it or it’s an indication of some kind of private joke is difficult to tell. ]

Thanks for the beads, by the way.

[ He holds up one of the ivory pieces. He knows it’s not really a bead, but he doesn’t know what exactly it is or why he’s been left with a bunch of them. ]

Mind telling me what I’m supposed to do with them?

Comments

[roseinpromenade]

They're Ivories. Money in this place, basically.

...Though I'll admit it was really tempting to give you some kind of silly answer to that question.

[sardonicism]

Thanks for giving me a real answer. I appreciate it.

That mean I have to get a job too? Or aren't I going to be here long enough to need one?

[roseinpromenade]

Sometimes I can be helpful, no matter what the Commanders seem to think.

A job is a good idea. A really good idea. You only get free housing for like... a month. Then you're on your own. This isn't the kind of place you want to be on your own in.

Luckily for you, I know a few pretty decent leads for available jobs, if you're interested.

text »

[icy]

[ Kudos to the guy for remaining calm. Most people have the biggest bitchfit of their life and are in no state for Jack to contact them in return, lest he uses video at any point, but he makes an exception here ... even if it is a fully-grown adult with a slimmer chance of seeing him. Text first it is. ]

probably buy yourself a top hat and cloak, they're big on those in anatole. i know this place pretty well. any questions i can answer?

you can call me jack

[sardonicism]

Top hats aren't really my style. Call me Robert.

[ Until he knows what's going on, the less he advertises who he really is, the better. His first name seems like a safe bet; since he never uses it, the general public likely won't know it to connect the dots. ]

What is this place? Do you know how I got here?

[icy]

this is anatole, a victorian city. a lot like a renn faire but real. just don't go past the outskirts into the ruins after dark, that's where the mist rolls in

[ Hmm, what else ... ]

do you have any special abilities? like magic

voice

[madeinoblivion]

I guess you didn't get one of Casca's pamphlets yet, huh.

When I got here, they threw a party.

[sardonicism]

I guess I missed the invitation.

[ He says it dryly. He doesn't get invited to parties. ]

Where do I get a pamphlet?

[madeinoblivion]

Uh, they probably have extra down at Alliance Headquarters. You need somebody to show you the way? I still live in the outworlder neighborhood, I can probably find you if you tell me what street your apartment wound up on.

Video/

[ktfod]

You're new then. Nice to meet you, the name's Akihiko Sanada and I'm pretty new myself, though not enough to warrant confusion at the apartments. You'll have to get a new one soon, that one is just paid off for a short time. And you'll need to get more of those- ivories- to pay for one. Currency here- though looking at your replies says I'm late to the punch on that one.

Any other questions are all right though, I've got some free time in my schedule.

[sardonicism]

Robert.

[ A pause while he thinks about what else he has questions about. It's not that he has a shortage, he just doesn't want to bombard the poor guy with them. ]

Can you point me in the right place to look for more permanent housing?

[ There's a certain amount of irony there. Bruce hasn't had permanent housing in over a decade. ]

[ktfod]

Good to meet you Robert-san.

You're best off putting a shout out on the network asking is anyone has a free place, but you can also find them here- [Sends an image file of a map, the residential districts marked.] If you want I can show you in person, again, I'll have some time for it today, and it'll be faster for you getting this type of stuff out of the way.

[alphaophiuchi]

If anyone knows who did bring us here, I'd be amazed.

And they're currency. Obviously bringing people in penniless and without shelter is just cruel. The kidnapping is bad enough. I wouldn't knock it.

[sardonicism]

Don't you think it's a little strange, abducting people and then giving them money?

[alphaophiuchi]

Yes. But as things go, it's not the strangest you'll see around here.

video always

[bombsaway]

[Screen full of hair on a small girl!]

Teehehee! I asked myself the same thing- I thought they were toys at first!

[sardonicism]

[ The corner of his mouth twitches in the beginning of the faintest ghost of a smile. ]

Glad I'm not the only one. Have you been here long?

[watcheslanterns]

Someone's already answered your question about the Ivories, right?

[sardonicism]

Yeah. Guess that's a pretty common question, huh?

[ video ]

[bloodyaria]

You're new, hm?

[Cue the wicked smile.]

What's your name?

[sardonicism]

That obvious?

[ He knows it is, but pretending to know what's going on wasn't going to help him actually know. ]

Robert. You?

audio;

[rideofthefearlings]

[ Oddly, Pitch's mental reaction is something along the lines of, 'finally another adult'. ]

Inundated with offers for help already, I take it. New arrivals are something of a commodity around here.

[sardonicism]

I can't decide if that's good or bad.

[ If the place is as bad as Jack made it sound, maybe having a few more people around to fight off the monsters is a good thing. Of course, abducting people to do it isn't good at all. Especially when one of them just increases the monster population. ]

How many new arrivals are there?

video.

[tiaraaction]

Welcome to Anatole! Everyone's answered your questions, right?

[usagi sure hopes so, because she still isn't 100% sure herself. ]

[sardonicism]

Thanks.

[ He nods once, the gesture shallow and quick. ]

As well as they can, I think. It sounds like an... interesting place.