➹ •||• 1st Shot ( video )

[herosheroine]

(OOC: Just a note! There's a chance you may also get replies from Noel! If you don't want any threadjacking please just leave a note in your subject line or the tag somewhere for us!)

Well, that was definitely an interesting way to start off our stay...

[ It's been a couple of days and everyone's hopefully had some time to process and recover, so now is probably as good a time as any to pose this question, get people's minds off of what all just happened. It's being shot from an apartment living room with a view of the city from a window in the background. ]

My name is Serah Farron, and I have a question for the other... moon blessed here. [ She says a bit unsure, no air-quotes, but they're implied. ]

If it's not too personal to ask, I'm curious what kind of backgrounds and worlds other people come from. Was it very different from this one, or is it sort of the same?

I used to be a time traveler, and I enjoy learning about history, besides. I'd appreciate any answers, thanks!

[ With a welcoming smile the feed ends. Serah will be matching whatever format people choose to respond with. ]

Comments

video;

[takingchances]

In some ways it's different, in some ways it's the same. To be honest with you, the town reminds me of something out of a science fiction fantasy movie so it's sort of familiar.

Brightly lit towns aren't exactly rare where I'm from either though.

video;

[herosheroine]

So then, there's not anything quite like it in your world, at least not yet? [ Since she said it sounds like something from a fictional work. She wonders- ] Is it only a bit familiar because it seems like something you might see in fictional work?

[ That last part she can relate to, at least, and smiles with a nod. ]

I know what you mean. In my original timeline there was a major city that almost looked like this, at least from what I've heard. I never had the chance to see it for myself.

[ video ]

[dolledup]

[ Open communication? Sure, she'll bite. It takes her a moment after Serah's message for Echo to respond back, but when she does, it's a shaky video angled upward that's being held in her hand as she wanders about. ]

Hey, Serah. I'm Echo. It's... wild to me that you time traveled. I have so many questions about how that works.

But, yeah. Uh, my world has its own unique forms of technology. I guess 'unique' is a way to put it.

[ She sighs enough for her cheeks to puff out as she thinks up a way to explain it. ]

People "voluntarily" sign contracts to what's called a 'Dollhouse' where they live for however many years as blank slates. Personalities get uploaded into some sort of memory drive before being wiped out completely, which leaves room for other personalities to be imprinted into that blank slate of a body.

It's a booming business, as you can imagine.

[ video ]

[herosheroine]

Uh, it's nice to meet you, Echo. [ That was... Wow that was a lot. Serah's expression is surprised, to say the least. Not that Echo is surprised by time travel, but by what she's just described. Not even in a future as technologically advanced as Academia 400AF has she heard of something like the Doll House. ]

The way that you say it, it doesn't sound like it's entirely voluntary... [ Which has disturbing implications, what with the inferred air quotes and all. Not that Serah's tone is judge-y, but definitely concerned. ]

But I guess you're right, I can imagine how that sort of thing would be popular. There's always someone unhappy with some aspect of their lives. But, I'm not sure I understand who it serves? Do the people "volunteering" still have their own lives after...? Who's personalities are being written onto the memory drives? It doesn't really sound like a transfer of consciousness...?

[ OH MY GOD THIS IS NOT WHAT SHE EXPECTED. ]

video

[spah]

[Engineer's still learning how their personal devices work. The video turns out with a shaky start - literally - as a stocky Texan man props his device up in a hurry, because he really, really wants to ask something.]

D'you say time travel?

[wow buddy way to not answer her question.]

video

[herosheroine]

[ She's not surprised that the time travel is what most people focus on, she mentioned it purely for the sake of transparency and fairness. She's asking people to share their backstories, it seemed only fair to share hers. ]

Um, yes, that's right! My friend and I traveled through time. We were trying to restore the original timeline. I take it you have questions? [ Her tone is light, not mocking, but amused. ] I'll answer what I can.

video;

[freshtilapia]

[This is a novel way to communicate. Fish is familiar with magical messages, but this device from the government had been completely novel to them. Today, after their interest was piqued by this girl's question (and her looks! How adorable!) they decided to give this thing a go.

The video seems to be at a weird angle, from atop a table, pointed up to a violet fish-person with red fins adorning their ears, shoulders, and forearms. They have nothing but a sleeveless deep green floral printed robe on.]

You travel through time, huh? That's really interesting.

Actually, I've never encountered technology like this before. Where I'm from, there isn't any gadgetry. I know some lands in the world have harnessed the power of steam but... I haven't seen it with my own two eyes yet. I think the closest thing I have seen to compare to it is just magic.

video;

[herosheroine]

[ With people coming from different worlds and times it's only to be expected that not everyone will know how to handle a video call, or that there may be different methods of staging them. It isn't a conscious thought, though, so the first few shaky cam feeds and odd angles are a bit of an adjustment, in a way. ]

Ah, yes. Well, past tense. Not anymore.

[ She smiles by way of polite appreciation for the polite interest. ]

I can imagine this must be a pretty big adjustment for you, then. I hope it hasn't been difficult? And you say you have magic on your world too, then? Is it used in every day living or is it only a means of defense and offense?

voice;

[inabluemoon]

Mine is quite different. We don't have technology or access to magic anywhere near the extent of this place.

How did you time travel?

voice;

[herosheroine]

Then if I understand correctly you do have both, just not to this extreme? Do you mind if I ask how magic works where you're from...?

We used magical artefacts and something called a time gate. It brought us to a realm between realities, kind of like a linear corridor through the timeline. The artefacts were like keys, you needed them to navigate or you might end up in the wrong era, though if I'm honest, most of the time we weren't sure which artefact led where, so we were more or less pulled where we needed to be.

Video

[milkisgross]

[You'll have to excuse the shaky camera. It's going to take a while for Ed to get a good grasp on the technology around here, considering the most advanced piece of tech he's come across in his world is a radio. His eyes dart around a bit, not knowing what to focus on.]

What's this about time travelling?

[He's skeptical, but open to an explanation.]

Video

[herosheroine]

[ She's getting used to it, so long as she doesn't focus on the feed she won't really have to deal with any nasty side effects. So long as it isn't like a Found Footage film she should be fine, and traveling the Historia Crux was way worse, besides. ]

My friend and I were tasked with traveling through time to try to correct the timeline. You have questions about it, then? [ She smiles politely, because of course if you put that kind of hook out there naturally anyone who finds the idea far fetched or interesting is going to bite. SHE WAS PREPARED FOR THIS TO BE HONEST. ]

text

[codecmoment]

I'm from Earth, in 2018. American. I'm a mechanical engineer and have made war machines, and run an NGO to get rid of my mess.

I'm more interested in the time travel.

text

[herosheroine]

[ Ah! She doesn't recognize the year, or the country, or know what an NGO is but-! ]

I'm not surprised. I don't know how common it is in other world's but it was definitely surprising to me the first time I learned it was possible.

I'm not exactly an expert, but I'll answer what questions I can.

action;

[paradoxically]

[What had drawn him into the main room first was the sound of her speaking. It had admittedly taken far too long to figure out what she was doing. But he remained just off camera until she was finished.

At which point he promptly came over to sit next to her, intent on peering over her shoulder to see what sort of responses she got.]

Look at you, making friends already.

action;

[herosheroine]

[ Serah isn't surprised when Noel's curiosity gets the better of him, she'd expected he'd be along at some point to see what she was up to. They've stuck pretty close since finding each other at the festival and she can't deny being extremely grateful for the familiar company.

She only moves enough to make sure he has room to sit comfortably by the window with her, otherwise content to let him look over her shoulder. When it comes to little things like that she's gotten used to them from Noel. ]

More like piquing everybody's curiosity. So far almost everyone wants to ask about the time travel. Not that I'm surprised.

[ She's grinning though, amused. She turns that amusement on Noel then, with a teasing tone. ]

Feel free to jump in any time, co-pilot.

[bloodisthicker]

[...yeah, this is all new to Tarrlok. Like, he knows phones, but moving pictures? That’s next season, baby! Not to mention the combination of the two. He at least tries to look photogenic before responding, because it never actually hurts.

BUT UHHHHH.... THAT’S A LOT EVEN IF HE PREPPED??]

Well, I can’t say I’ve ever time traveled before, so that’s new... along with plenty of other things here. This world’s definitely much more technologically advanced than my own, but... I suppose we’ll get there at some point. We have hit a fairly decent pace in terms of industrialization and technological progress, but we have a way to go.

(Tarrloooook!)

[herosheroine]

[ So professional! Considering what he says about the state of things in his world she's definitely taking note of the fact that the video is one of the better few in terms of stability and staging. Someone used to presenting a good image, or public speaking perhaps? ]

I'm sure you will. Our world had the... "help" of the Fal'cie for a long time, or I don't know that it would have advanced as quickly as it did. They've simply always been around. I think it says a lot if your world has gotten so far entirely on their own.

[ Not to sound patronizing. The Fal'cie are a bit of a touchy subject to people on her world now a days, for all the crap it's turned out that they pulled... ]

Do you have magic on your world, too?

video;

[dioscorea]

[He's never seen communication work like this, so it might take an extra moment or two to get the camera just right and the sound working. But then!

He looks way more interested in answering the communication than how it actually works. That's Mutsunokami's area, not his.]

Ah, you've traveled through time too! Did you work for the Time Government?

video;

[herosheroine]

[ The WHAT NOW??? ]

I'm sorry, did you just say you have an entire government dedicated to Time? [ With a big "t", as in the concept, not the construct. ]

video

[hasbuuproblems]

[His face is a bit shocked when the video feed turns on. What she just said was troubling, at the very least.]

Forgive me for being rude, but in my universe and all other universes adjacent to it, time travel is strictly prohibited!

video; Don't imprison her inside a planet please.

[herosheroine]

[ WHOOPS? Is she under arrest??? ]

Um... I'm sorry? [ No really what- She clearly isn't offended, but surprised, and maybe alarmed, and concerned?! ] We didn't really have a choice. We were trying to stop someone else from destroying the timeline...

video

[erranthero]

[Okay. hello. Cute girl, pink hair. That's enough of a draw...but time travel? Hold the kriffing phone.]

I'll start by saying wow? Time travel's a new one on me. But as you've clearly gotten responses related to that, I'll answer your question first and we can circle back.

My name's Kerra Holt, and I'm from a planet called Aquilaris. It's a water world, with a few medium sized land masses. I'm also a Jedi Knight, a sort of peacekeeper in my world.

Does your world have anything like a warrior monk? That might be the easiest way to contextualize it.

video

[herosheroine]

Believe me, it's pretty uncommon on my world, too. [ Her smile is softly amused, but fair enough. She's definitely interested, hearing that Kerra comes from a mostly aquatic world. She has a ton of questions about that alone, but- ]

Nice to meet you, Kerra. I'm not sure, maybe? But not by those names, at least not for a very, very long time. We have Commandos and Sentinels, those are both physical jobs and front line fighters. Our peacekeepers used to be known as the Guardian Corps. My sister was one of them.

[ To which her smile almost falters, at least the look in her eyes does. It's a reminder that she hasn't seen Lightning in a long time and now that she's here, might not again for some time, if she ever does. But hey, this is a second chance at life and that's gotta be better than the alternative. ]

Would you mind explaining it a bit, though?

( video )

[swordstho]

Hello, Serah Farron, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I see that you're already speaking to Yamatonokami Yasusada; he and I are from the same world and time. [ time government and all. ] I admit that I'm curious about your reasons for time-traveling, if you don't mind talking about it.

[ he hasn't listened in on the other conversations, though he's taken note of them. it seems more polite to just.. ask. ]

text

[asaqueenshould]

Technology-wise, it's not completely dissimilar to home, I would say. There are of course variations between the two places.

I'm from Tokyo, Japan, late 2016, a largely mundane variation of Earth. I say 'largely mundane' because there are supernatural elements at play, and they run far deeper than I realised from the outside. Unfortunately, I don't know enough about them to properly explain. A friend of mine is here as well, from a while after I arrived.

( VIDEO. )

[herocomplex]

_{[ Sorry. America is just going to hone in on one specific thing here. In an enthusiastic voice, he'll express his excitement: ]}

HOLY SHIT, DUDE!!! You used to be a time traveler? Like Marty McFly kind of crap fo' reals!? That's so wicked awesome!!

_{[ Yeah, uhhhh. The question goes right out the other ear. You might need to repeat that. ]}

video; I'm so sorry but I gotta tag this. I gotta.

[paradoxically]

[America. You are literally so loud he heard you in the other room.]

Who's Marty McFly and what does he have to do with time travel?