001 ☯ Alma [VIDEO]

[alma_karma]

[The camera lens is partially blocked when the feed clicks on, fuzzy pinkish edges suggesting fingers to be the culprit. Whoever it is holding the device is moving if the shifting light and soft padding sounds are any clue. After less than a minute of traveling the footsteps stop and a small voice cuts through the silence.]

What’s going on?... Doctor Edgar? Yu? Where'd you go?

[When no answer comes, movement begins again, slightly faster than before as a steady light source from one direction becomes apparent. Maybe a window or a door...

There's a little gasp and the camera's view suddenly blurs, the faciliberry clattering loudly as it hits the ground. A cloudy sky comes into view, as well as an extremely foreshortened view of a young boy. He's staring up at the sky with an almost disbelieving expression, apparently unaware that he's dropped his device.]

Comments

2/2 [ACTION]

[tothelastbreath]

How old are you, Alma? [That's it Allen, keep walking. It'll keep you from doing something unseeming, like rocking in that corner over there.]

[ACTION]

[alma_karma]

Oh, um... I don't know.

[ACTION]

[tothelastbreath]

[Well, that's a problem he's familiar with.]

It's okay, you look somewhere between 9 and 11 to me. Kanda's... [cough] 19. Guess this place can also pluck people from different points in time.

[ACTION]

[alma_karma]

... Y-Yu said it's been nine years. Doesn't make any sense...

[ACTION]

[tothelastbreath]

[Sees that look and bends down, hands on knees, to give him a reassuring smile.]

No it doesn't, but I'm afraid few things about this place do. At least you're not alone. We'll sort this out together, okay?

[ACTION]

[alma_karma]

[Alma wipes a hand under his nose and nods, attempting a little grin.]

O-Okay.

[ACTION]

[tothelastbreath]

It'll be fine. [Straightens again, then holds out a hand.] Come on, let's get back first and go from there. Timcanpy says he'll help too.

[And here's the golem fluttering down to squeeze one of Alma's fingers with its tiny hand.]

[ACTION]

[alma_karma]

[He puts on a little determined expression, nodding again and reaching out to take Allen's hand with the one not already occupied by Timcanpy.]

Thank you.

[ACTION]

[tothelastbreath]

Right. Let's get going, then. [Will take a firm hold of Alma's hand and let Tim lead them aaaaaaall the way back to the apartments.]

[ACTION]

[alma_karma]

[And away they go! Alma will try his very best not to trip or do anything else silly like that along the way.]

[ACTION]

[tothelastbreath]

[Timcanpy will do his very best not to somehow lose his master along the way, the hopeless boy-- Oh look, here's the right uilding already. No one'll be sleeping in the cold today.]

[ACTION]

[alma_karma]

[Ah, excellent! That coat's doing a good job of keeping Alma's upper body warm, but the flapping around isn't doing much to keep his legs warm. Stupid shorts.]

Are we almost there?

[ACTION]

[tothelastbreath]

[Er, guess that means Allen will have to visit Credinta again. He's getting quite tired of shivering while his only set of clothes dry out anyway.]

Yes, that building up ahead is where we're all staying. Have you spoken to a strange little girl since you arrived? She should've given you a room number.

Re: [ACTION]

[alma_karma]

There was a little girl named Libitina, and she said 804.

[ACTION]

[tothelastbreath]

[Ugh, Libitina. One day Allen will find you and you shall have words.]

Eighth floor, room 4 for you. I'm in 102, so if you ever need anything, come see me and I'll do my best to help.

[ACTION]

[alma_karma]

[Aw, Alma thought Libitina seemed nice~]

Okay!... Do you know which room is Yu's?

[ACTION]

[tothelastbreath]

[Sob, oh Alma.]

Kanda? He's in 406. Just... Warn him before you show up, okay? You can use your communicator to contact everyone here.

[ACTION]

[alma_karma]

[Filing that room number away for future use. He may or may not actually bother to warn Kanda before showing up. >>;]

So they little boxes are just like golems, then? But without the wings?

[ACTION]

[tothelastbreath]

[Double sob, Allen is going to develop a stomach ulcer and name it Kandalma.]

Basically yes. I'm not too familiar with them yet, but they seem to let you post video and audio feeds to the network, or simply text entries. Don't lose it in case you need to get ahold of anyone. [...or scream for help.]

[ACTION]

[alma_karma]

[Poor, poor Allen.]

Network?

[ACTION]

[tothelastbreath]

That's the best word I have for it anyway. Everyone's communicators seem to be linked somehow.

[ACTION]

[alma_karma]

... Oh. [Yeah, he doesn't get it.]

I won't lose it, I promise.

[ACTION]

[tothelastbreath]

[Don't worry, neither does Allen.]

Alright. I'll see you around?

[ACTION]

[alma_karma]

Oh, um... okay.

[ACTION]

[tothelastbreath]

[...On second thoughts.]

Actually, why don't I send you to your room? Will be good to see where you're staying.