z_jay | [video | Nov 4th

[A slightly fuzzy but then suddenly crisp clear face appears, looking into the screen with barely-there nervousness. He wasn't camera shy, but there were things out here that he should be anxious about being found by. Clears his throat softly before speaking, glancing off quickly to one side when he heard something move in the distance]

Ah, hello. My name's Eugene and I have a request, for any listeners out there...

[Pauses a second to gather his thoughts, brows knitting together as he gives a thoughtful look to something behind his portable... book thing. Tablet?]

I apologize if I've... wound up with someone's stolen tablet--

[Laughs a little nervously but continues on]

But I could use some help out here. Ah, I'll give it back? I didn't actually steal it, I sort of found it... out here. In the woods.

[And hopefully the owner of said tablet wasn't already dead. Hopefully he wasn't alone. The thought makes him swallow hard]

I'm gonna look for a stick in the meantime. Thanks in advance! Stay safe out there!

[Grins a little but it's obvious he's unsure, waving his fingers next to his face before cutting the signal]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Tablet"? What's that?

[Tablets are like... pills. Or big ancient stone walls or something. Which makes pretty much no sense in context.]

[Huh, the voice sounded like a kid, they generally knew what tablets were and wanted them.]

It's a multipurpose device that allows you to browse the internet and watch movies... and other things.

[Pauses]

Are you the owner?

[Wow, that explanation made absolutely zero sense to him, nor did it give him a better mental picture of what the guy's talking about. Unless a tablet is a big screen. That's what movies play on, right? Gives some credit to the wall theory, anyway... except not, because it's still stupid.]

The owner of something I didn't even know existed? I doubt it.

[Laughs a little, ending on a soft cough]

You never know, you could have something you never knew about. Ah, anyway-- small computer? Surely you've got to know what that is... right?

Computer? Nope, never used one. We don't have those where I'm from.

[We're talking major hicksville here, buddy. He's barely got radio.]

[Oh. His silence even sounds like it's confused but well, computers were a luxury these days, too]

Wow, where... are you from?

[since there were a lot of interesting people around and he did have a genuine curiosity!]

I'm from Vancouver, if that... if you know where that is, I mean.

Sorry, not a clue about this "Vancouver". Is it a country? A world? I grew up in Amestris.

It's a province in Canada, part of the north American continent, the western side. Though... I can't claim to have heard of Amestris--

[Okay, well the name was familiar, but that was way too coincidental and it had to be he'd misremembered something from before the grey plague]

It's just where I'm from. I suppose it doesn't much matter given that everyone here is from who knows where.

[But what did this guy know, uh... time to get a time frame, maybe he's from a different time period?]

Do you have radios or cars? Er-- automobiles? How about indoor electricity?

Oh, yeah- we've got all that. Though cars are mostly just in the cities. They're too expensive for the more rural areas, and a lot of the countryside isn't suited for the tires. We've got trains for long-distance travel.

Sounds a bit quaint, actually. [He is being genuine, the more rustic lifestyle something he enjoyed-- at least, when it included some transportation technology that wasn't rare to come by]

Speaking of transportation, have you heard of or seen a man named Jack Holden?

Also, sorry, I don't think I've asked your name?

That's one way to put it. Never heard of the guy before, but that's not really unusual around here. It might be tough to find any familiar faces in Luceti.

I'm Edward Elric.

Yeah, I'm beginning to get that impression. If he's here... he'd have contacted me by now.

[Despite the dismay, he wouldn't let that into his voice]

Well, I've got a bit of a problem here. I can't actually walk, so I'm trying to figure out how to get to town-- though I think I might have some help, some back up might be smart.

[Can't walk? Not a good way to start out in a place like this.]

Any clues around you that might indicate where you are? I can try to track you down and give you a hand. Luceti's not all that dangerous, but it's still not good to be stuck in the woods for long.

[He's had a few too many bear encounters to recognize that firsthand.]

It's very kind of you to offer, but I think I've got it worked out. Found my friend. Thanks for the warning, though-- nobody wants to be left in the elements, heh.

[clears his throat]

Mr. Elric? I hope to see you some time in this place. Sorry for the confusion about tablets but if there are any here in Luceti I will happily explain their many uses to you!

Ah, no problem. We're supposed to help each other out in this place, so it's no big deal. And thanks for the tip about the tablet- if I see anything that might be it, I'll let you know.

Good luck getting yourself settled. It can be a pain in the ass, but it's tolerable.

Trust me Mr. Elric, this place is likely better than our... home world in every single facet imaginable. Minus the missing my friends part...

[Clears his throat again, sounding relieved]

Anyway, no need to lament that part, these things you just can't help. Stay safe out there!

[Winces at the habitual comment in goodbye, but he'd gotten used to ending everything that way where he's from]

[Stay safe? What a weird way to... whatever, oh well. Everyone's got their own quirks. Between that and his comment about this being better than home? Doesn't paint a pretty picture.]

Yeah, uh... you too. See you around.

[He shuts the book, still curious, but he's not going to be nosy with a stranger over the journal. He'll remember this, though. (Especially the tablet thing...)]

[video | Nov 4th - sunup]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]