Level 0001: [Video | Action in Crystalden]

[vulcanblazer]

[Video]

Well, looks like I finally got this damn thing turned on. Fancy as hell and all, but it could stand to have a better interface... and be made of something sturdier than see-through plastic. [He mumbles the next phrase:] Feels like I'm gonna break this thing.

Anyway, at first I thought this was some kind of dream or sick joke. Guess it's not, and I really shouldn't be surprised. Anyway, figured I'd introduce myself. Name's Adell, and I'm... [He hesitates, as though he was going to say something else, and then realizing that's irrelevant here.] ...new around here, I guess.

I'm currently in this Crystalden place... it's like something out of a cheesy sci-fi manga or something. Is this really where I'm supposed to live? I can't even find my apartment... [He sighs. At least it looked like there was a hell of a lot more freedom to move around here than in Luceti... He turns slightly away from the phone to look at the digital street sign he just passed, and the more diligent will notice something unusual on his back.] ...Pretty sure I'm going in circles.

Last thing, I guess. If the word "Luceti" means anything to anyone out there, I'd be interested in hearing from you.

[A risk to ask about it, perhaps, but worth a shot.]

[Action]

[Still wandering around Crystalden, the young demon is actually taken in by a number of sights, and even stops to linger in a highly advanced video arcade. That looked like fun, and he made a note to remember where it was. Afterward, he set out once more to find his new home. He can be encountered in person at any time along the way.]

Comments

[Anonymous, Text]

[promotedpawn]

There is a world with a restaurant named "Luceti".

There is a world with a jewel collection named "Luceti".

There is a world where "Luceti" is a given name for males.

And then there's a world where "Luceti" is just one of the countless enclosures run by the Malnosso.

Which is yours?

[Video/Text]

[vulcanblazer]

[Adell briefly looks confused when text came up on his screen, but then again, it wasn't much different than the journals.

He read through the series of texts with some interest. At first his brow furrowed at some of the answers. Maybe he should've been a little more clear. ...But then his eyes hit the one about enclosures and the Malnosso. Whoever this was, they knew. He glanced over his shoulder, and seeing a few people nearby, he switched to answering by text.]

The last one.

[Anonymous, Text]

[promotedpawn]

How long has it been for you?

Have you checked out the bars there yet? I bet you would enjoy one called "Azure Outlaws", shouldn't be far from where you seem to be.

[It still amuses Primo that there's a bar named that way but it amuses him even more to basically direct Adell to it... Then again maybe the other won't get what he's trying to do, nor why he says he would enjoy it.]

[Video, Text]

[vulcanblazer]

About a month since I got out of there.

[Fortunately for them both, Adell does catch what he's suggesting. This person's responding anonymously, and probably wants a meeting. It could be a trap, but Adell was plenty confident in his ability to just bust out of any trap they may spring on him.]

Amusing name for a bar. But I suppose a drink wouldn't hurt. It has been kind of a long day.

[Adell looked around the city block... and began approaching what he thought was the bar itself.]

[Anonymous, Text]

[promotedpawn]

Full memories?

[Primo is already on the move before seeing Adell's message proving that he has caught what he said, after all, even with his teleportation powers he still has to go from his place in Whitewood to Crystalden. It's slightly annoying to have to cross from one district to another before he can teleport to the end of said district, specially with Highcrest standing between both places. Fortunately that should give Adell time to find the bar and settle.]

It's going to get even longer, though you probably expect that.

[Video, Text, Audio]

[vulcanblazer]

Mostly. Few things are foggy, I think. But most everything in the village I remember.

[His only concern was if he was meeting with one of his enemies. Of course, it would be unlike Kefka or Hazama to play the anonymous game and would've likely tried to provoke him directly. Either way, if it was one of them, he'd take them down. Simple. But he had a feeling it wasn't them, either way. But who of his friends would prefer to remain anonymous with him? Tired of the texting, he simply spoke a reply to the last sentence.]

Figured it probably would be when I first asked the question.

[Action]

[promotedpawn]

[He wonders if he's one of the foggy things in his memory. Though he had trusted Adell with a lot of things, it would be wrong to say they were close. Primo knows better than to have expectations even if this Adell might be his Adell, nothing says he will be remembered, nothing says he will be recognized.

None of those things really matter though. Adell is here, it's the one he knew, the one he trusted in. They may not have been close before but that can be solved yet. And whoever tries to touch a single hair of his head will be skinned alive and feed to the wolves. Not that Adell needs protection.

There aren't any more replies on his part, not until he arrives to the bar, silently ignoring everything and everyone while scanning the place. Nothing interests him except for a redheaded demon, and once he has him spotted, he makes his way there without second thoughts.]

I would have figured it would be a long day the moment I found myself here, had I been in your place?

[audio]

[littlest_devil]

[There's absolutely no way Koakuma couldn't recognize that voice, much less certain words said in the message. Before she can begin to respond, though, she stumbles around a bit and has to dart out of peoples' ways a few times. The end result of this is that instead of a verbal response, Adell just hears someone tripping over something and probably faceplanting somewhere.

Thankfully, her device is currently set to audio only, so nobody actually sees her less-than-graceful dive unless they're in the immediate area.]

[audio]

[vulcanblazer]

[...Well, that's odd.]

Um... hello? Is someone on the line?

[audio -> video]

[littlest_devil]

Ow, ow, ow... [She needs to be more careful, really.

Once she's back on her feet, she switches hers to video and stares into the camera.]

[Video]

[vulcanblazer]

[...No. Way. No way. It's unbelievable. Inconceivable. How...

No. He had to maintain his calm here. There were an infinite number of possible universes out there, right? Even if that was her... it might not be the same one. But... he... had to take a chance. And it was a chance he found himself taking regardless of better judgement or not. Her name just kind of slipped from his lips.]

...Koa?

[Video]

[littlest_devil]

[There's a sort of stunned disbelief before anything else.

But then realizing that responding by saying his name won't answer much of anything considering he just gave it, the girl opts for more-definitive proof of her identity, by turning slightly to offer a view of her back. She has two pairs of wings, one on her back, and another on her head. That much is completely normal for her and nearly any possible version of her would have them.

The set on her head is bat-like in appearance, as could be attributed to devils or even to many of the demons back in Adell's own world. The set on her back? Feathered.]

[Video]

[vulcanblazer]

No way... It... It is you...

[Stunned, is the only way to describe his voice, hell, his entire demeanor right now. He's silent for a heavy moment before he can get out another phrase.]

...Where are you right now?

video;

[teabear]

If you're so concerned about your handling of the device, you should be careful to moderate your strength. After all, it is your responsibility to manage it well, and certainly not that of the manufacturer.

Of course, there's nothing amiss with forwarding feedback.

In any case, no. Luceti brings nothing to mind. For that reason, I must ask what it is.

[Video]

[vulcanblazer]

[...Why does this all feel suddenly familiar? Either way, his tone becomes a somewhat wry as he replies.]

I'll keep that in mind. [After that one comment, though, he dials back the impatience.] But I don't see a brand name on it, though. Guess I'll have to find how who makes them.

Luceti's... well, it's complicated to explain. It's a place... and I think it's where I was pulled from when I ended up here. Somehow.

[Video]

[teabear]

[What a rude tone. ):< At least this man sees reason, deciding to be initiative and all.]

I do not see what's so complicated about it. Mallow Hallow houses a variety of nations' citizens. Luceti is but one other settlement among many.

[Video]

[vulcanblazer]

It's more than simply a nation, or even a world, and that's why it's complicated. It's... a pretty unique circumstance in a universe of nearly infinite possibilities.

If that makes more sense.

[Video]

[teabear]

Hardly! If it is as complicated as you say, then you must not use such vague terms. What infinite possibilities? If indeed more than a world, is Luceti its name or that of a mere part, and with which form of government is it ruled? As it is, you have only told me that this "Luceti" is large and nothing more!

Details such as these are necessary to have even the most rudimentary grasp of this matter. I had thought even baseborn oafs knew as much.

[Video]

[vulcanblazer]

Or maybe someone's trying to exercise a bit of care in what they say, so they don't say too much. Ever consider that angle before assuming I'm an idiot?

[He can tsun right back, though he eases back his tone somewhat again. It takes more than that to really get him pissed these days. He's used to that kind of noble-talk and just brushes it off.]

Anyway, it involves more than one universe. Kinda like how this place works, and how I'm guessing you're from a completely different one than me, or that guy down the street. [He thumbs back at some random passerby.] Luceti was a lot like this place: some sort of nexus where people ended up for equally ambiguous reasons as to why they do here.

...I guess the explanation sounds less insane considering we're in one of those nexus places now.

video;

[armagone]

[The sad thing is that Ragna can relate with the guy on the whole "not being able to find one's way around" when it came to looking for something specific. Of course, there's no reason to get into how Ragna can't use a smartphone GPS correctly... but he can relate!]

Hey, if you're so caught up on finding your way around, why don't you just use those wings?

[vulcanblazer]

[That voice. That voice was a completely familiar one, one he recognized, knew from back there. He quickly looked into the video feed to confirm it... and yes, that was him. Ragna the Bloodedge. They were acquainted, at least, back in Luceti... but...

The question immediately hit Adell like a ton of bricks and instantly dashed the excitement that had welled up quickly.

Somewhat dejectedly, and sounding disappointed, he answered back.]

They're flightless. I can't.

[armagone]

Seriously? What's the point of having wings if you can't fly around?

[Maybe it's for looking cool. Ragna doesn't think they look cool.] Unless they're for show.

[vulcanblazer]

Believe me, man. If I had my way, I wouldn't have them at all. There's a point... but it doesn't mean a damn thing here.

...It's a long story.

[armagone]

Had your way? They can't be that bad, even if you can't do the one thing you're supposed to do with them. You're making it sound like they were stapled on your back against your will.

[vulcanblazer]

Yeah, about that...

[That's pretty much exactly how it happened. Minus the stapler.]