EVENT #011.3 / ARRIVAL #028

[larkers]

WHO: Newcomers + a new NPC, plus people arriving back from the AU.
WHERE: The moon!!!! To start.
WHEN: As the AU is ongoing. Early August 2512, two weeks after the AU swept people away at the start.
WHAT: Arrivals, explanations, and more.
NOTES OR WARNINGS: Mentions of drug use.

> EVENT #011.3 / ARRIVAL LOG #028

When you wake, you'll be disoriented. Even wakefulness is a challenge. You slip in and out. First, you find yourself drugged, looking out through clear walls of a laboratory, deep into the darkest part of the ocean. Then, when you wake up later, there's a logo, as well as words on the wall: PROJECT MEADOWLARK. The logo is a bird: yellow and gray with a black V-shaped crest on its chest. If you know birds, you'll know this bird as the meadowlark. Out you go again.

In comes a man swearing, muttering to himself. "Really not meant to do this alone. Fuck me." Alarm crosses his features when he sees your eyes open. "No, not you. I'm not—let me just up your dose." He steps closer, hitting a button. After a few beeps, you're out again.

When you finally wake, you'll find yourself in a pristine room, one lined with beds. The walls are painted a forest green. In the distance, you'll hear the chirping of birds. The air around you is cool, sterile. You'll notice two things: first, that your head has recently been shaved, all bits of hair cut down to nothing. The second thing is that you have a surgical scar on the back of your head. This, too, is a recent addition. The neural implant inside of you doesn't connect to the internet yet, but it's safe to assume that it will sooner or later.

(The sole exception to these things is Jason Todd: his head is still full of hair, but he's knocked out like the rest of you, as well as dressed in a hospital gown.)

As you begin to stir from where you're sitting, you'll be able to come to set your feet on the floor. Like the air, it's chilled, as if it's artificial in some way. If you've been in space with artificially applied gravity, you'll recognize it here. That's the only thing keeping you grounded and properly settled.

The bed you're on has drawers, and within it are several sets of clothing, all in your size. Whoever set you up here took care to make sure you were comfortable.

Once you're dressed—assuming that you do get dressed, you could always just walk around with your ass out—you can head out and explore where you are. It seems you have open access to it.

And what is it, exactly? A futuristic bachelor's pad, at least from the look of it. There are numerous projection screens throughout this place, this home, though you won't be able to see what's on them. (Jason Todd excepted: he'll see that there are various colony-led news reports about the missing people on Earth, all stolen away for unknown reasons.) In nearly every room, there are birds that fly freely and chirp happily. Some are settled on makeshift trees that sprout from the walls with long vines hanging from them. Others settle on the water of artificial indoor ponds. Either way, whoever owns this joint definitely has to have a means of keeping up with all the bird crap, because there is none anywhere.

At the heart of this unusual, forest-like abode is a pathway that leads to a wide open space. Here, too, is another artificial pond, as well as a number of branches sprouting from the wall. Near what looks like an open window looking out at a vast and barren crater-filled surface is a tall and slender man with a hint of facial hair. Upon your approach, he'll turn and offer a tired smile. "Ah, I see the drugs have worn off. Good. Would you like to take a seat? We have a lot to cover, and I'm not terribly used to the process." A beat. "Oh, sorry. I'm Jimmy. Would you believe that I'm why you're here? … Here, well. I'm getting ahead of myself, aren't I?"

To continue this conversation, head over here.

For now, you'll know that you're stuck on what is very literally the moon. After all, going down to Earth could be a risky venture at this time.

> EXPLORING THE MOON / MOON CULTURE

After the conversation with Jimmy completes, the next day will be all about setting up the newcomers with their new IDs, as well as filling them in on what's going on. Everyone will know about the Earth being left empty, about the sudden shift in atmosphere as a result, as well as the difficult connotations about what's happening. Once everyone has identification, they're given access to come and go from Jimmy's place as they please. By then, they'll have the option of having a room of their own, as there seems to be a countless number of rooms in this odd moon mansion. If anything, it looks like Jimmy planned for guests—but those guests never came for whatever reason. Or perhaps they haven't been there for a while?

Once anyone leaves Jimmy's home, they'll be able to step out and explore the rest of the moon: which is truly a sight to behold. Satellite views don't do the Lunar colony any justice. UNC1 is the only fully livable space colony in this world, and it shows. Set up with artificial atmosphere and gravity, there are numerous machines outside that work around the clock to terraform the moon to make it livable for a future population.

On the inside of the colony, however, the moon is gorgeous—after all, it's largely set up and constructed to appeal to the wealthiest individuals in this world. There are numerous oversized homes like Jimmy's throughout, all connected through an intricate system of tunnels that quickly transport people via platforms from one area to another. There are numerous shopping centers, as well as parks with giant canopies of trees lending a sense of nature in an unlikely place. Ever visited an upper class mall and known that you weren't the clientele that they were trying to appeal to? That is definitely the aura that the moon gives off.

So, what is there to do on the moon?

> SPACE WALKS
Why would someone ever agree to live on the moon if they couldn't go out onto the surface? While the moon is still about 50 years out from having a breathable, livable surface, there is some charm over being able to walk on its surface. Space walks and tours go on all day and every day, allowing people access to various parts of the moon. These tours are controlled. Right now, the walks are fifty-percent off because of the lack of tourists from Earth. After all, if there's no one left down there, there's no one to visit. This enterprise has gotta get its credits from somewhere.

> THE CLUBBING SCENE
For the people who managed to get property on the moon, work is a bygone of a forgotten era. Everyone here is wealthy enough that they don't need to think about anything but play and more play. VR gaming centers are a big and loved commodity, but more than that is the clubbing scene.

Under-surface clubs run 24/7. Everything in these clubs is set up to help someone get away from monotony. There are sex-workers on site at all times, but with the same conditions and protections afforded to them on the planet below. In addition, alcohol is only the best of the best—priced to match the high-end tastes of everyone on the moon. The workers at these locales are paid very well to put up with a drunk group, but they're expected to also take all forms of abuse. Then again, a job here can set someone up for the next couple years, even if they just make it for six months.

> SHOPPING CENTERS
Just because it's the moon doesn't mean you're free from a capitalist hellscape. If anything, without a bustling economy built upon the backs of a visible working class, these shopping centers are necessary to give people things to do. As expected of goods that are imported from the Earth below, everything is decidedly costly. As a result, very little is imported that is cheaply made. At the same time, that means everything within these shopping centers is expensive. Need a nice pair of pants? It's going to cost you four times as much as it would down below.

But don't worry. Jimmy? Jimmy's given everyone permission to just put it all on his tab. If you need a new change of clothes, or want to set yourself up while you're stuck on the moon, Jimmy's got your back.

> ANTI-GRAVITY CHAMBERS
Gotten the idea that the moon is for hedonists who don't want to act like there's a real world elsewhere? Helping to feed into that notion are anti-gravity chambers throughout the moon colony to help someone enjoy themselves somewhere without gravity. In these chambers, you can go from gravity to zero gravity and figure out what you prefer the most. These chambers offer complete privacy, letting someone do whatever they might want without being … weighed down.

One thing that's not widely advertised is a unique, hallucinogenic drug that's recommended for the anti-gravity experience. Ominously named "SyFon," this is a psychotropic drug with all of the typical effects of drugs like that. Combined with the anti-gravity experience, it can really mess someone up. In good and bad ways, depending on how they react to it all. SyFon is, of course, illegal. But that doesn't mean that someone can't try it, right?

> CRIMINAL ENTERPRISES
Where does a drug like SyFon come from? Well, there is a burgeoning criminal enterprise on the moon. Rumor has it that the Petrov and Riverside mobs are vying for the credits of the rich, and have worked to set up centers on a variety of colony moons to help develop drugs, weapons, and other goods. How well this enterprise is working is up for debate, especially since SyFon is the only successful thing coming out of it. Needless to say, this enterprise is a work in progress.

> THE WORKING CLASS
Who's manning this laidback lifestyle on the moon? As the first of the colonies, the moon was once primarily populated by people whose labor was used and whose efforts were largely taken advantage of in favor of setting up a new home for humanity. Several decades have passed since then, and now UNC1 is a tourist destination for everyone on the Earth. So, what does that mean for Lunar businesses? They need to be well-prepared to handle a wealthy clientele, as well as appeal to the rich folks who decided they wanted to live the rest of their lives on the moon.

These days, getting a job on the moon is a difficult task. You need references, as well as an assurance that you'll be able to manage the atmosphere up there. A doctor needs to sign off on whether you can live up there (and it's important to note that while this clearance should exist for the other colonies, the UN sure as hell isn't enforcing this kind of test). Many people who end up in retail and clubbing jobs start off in terraforming factories, and then look for openings so that they can move horizontally within the Lunar ecosystem.

> CATCH UP
If you aren't interested in the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous: Lunar Edition, you can focus on using your internet connection to catch up. Yes, the world below is empty. Yes, there was a monster attack a few months ago. Yes, memes are still a thing. Many of you will have a whole lot of history, or even an entire world's setup to catch up on, and future Google, whatever it may be called, is still there for you. Jimmy, of course, will be willing to fill you in on anything else.

> AN OTHERWORLDLY EXPERIENCE

Before too long, people begin to appear on the surface of the Earth once more. Bit by bit, people begin to return from the Aerie, forced to contend with two different sets of memories. While everyone will return as if they're waking from a dream, they'll know that they likely didn't just fall asleep. Whatever they left behind will be a world they knew full of people they loved. They accepted the veracity of that world, believing it to be real. Believing it to be the only one they knew.

And who are these people? Within the Aerie, they are the recently deceased.

Once people begin to appear on the Earth and access networks, both El and Cassius will know that they need to reach someone. With few choices available to them, Cassius will reach out to Jimmy, having noticed his little trip down to Earth to pick up his new batch of incoming folk. After all, he needed to get them ready. Cassius will fill Jimmy in on the returns, as well as ask him to send his new "friends" down to learn whatever they can.

> FOR THE RETURNING
If you're returning from the Aerie at this time, you died. Some deaths aren't remembered or experienced, not entirely, so it's possible that your death this time slipped by without notice. (Basically, we're not forcing someone to have their character experience the trauma of death if they'd rather not deal with it.) Either way, upon returning, you'll find yourself waking within your bed. Was that where you were before you left? Unlikely. But it's where you are upon your return. Even the people who weren't Displaced will return to the place they last considered home, waking up as if they're returning from a very bad dream.

Everyone who returns will still have their full memories of their time in the Aerie. If someone had a new power, however, it'll be replaced with the power they had before. However … well, things may change here, depending on how things go on the other side.

If you're returning, you may notice some changes. If you died, you may notice a scar from what killed you. If you had a tattoo in that world, it may still remain. Any and all changes are up to someone's subconscious identification of themselves.

While the majority of the Displaced will awaken in New Amsterdam, there are still countless people who can and will return. And unlike the Displaced, they aren't as accustomed to wacky antics like, oh, a new set of memories and the psychological ramifications that come with that. Maybe they could use some help?

> FOR THE NEWCOMERS (AND THE ONE LONE RETURN)
Upon receiving contact from Cassius, Jimmy will explain that there are people returning down below, and that Cassius has requested some help. If anyone wishes to speak to Cassius directly, they can. Of course, Cassius is a space exploration AI who's more than willing to help them navigate their time in this world, as well as the short space travel needed from the Lunar colony back to the Earth itself. There won't be a lot of explanation for how Jimmy and Cassius know each other, or even if they do—but someone can feel free to ask.

First off: want some sassy AI time? Cassius is here for all your needs. He'll even buff up your past resume if you'd like.

Secondly: ready to go Earthside? Jimmy will offer everyone his private transport back to Earth. (Yes, this dude is that rich.) This transport only goes between the Lunar colony and a remote base off the coast of New Tokyo, but there will be a boat ready to bring everyone to New Tokyo proper. From there, all of the Displaced can travel all over the world.

As for any other quick facts?

◉ Wait, how can the Displaced travel? There are gates in all 104 megacities on Earth. These gates essentially give people fast travel. After hitting New Tokyo and accessing its Gate, all someone has to do is think of their next location, and they'll land there.

◉ So, what are the conditions on Earth? Barren. There are no people, no hover cars, nothing. Animals have begun to creep over the walls in all of the cities. After all, without the cars startling them, as well as the countless people crammed within the megacities themselves, they can begin to reclaim the world itself, bit by bit.

◉ New Amsterdam in particular looks even more like a forest. It's as if whatever happened during the AU has accelerated the growth in New Amsterdam itself. Apartments will be filled with vines. There will also be a lot of animals making their home in the city. For the unaware, New Amsterdam has been growing a lot of plant life since an unusual circumstance where all of the Displaced were pulled into another pocket world and then returned. Since then, plant life in New Amsterdam has grown at an accelerated rate, forcing the city to work around the clock to keep the city from being fully reclaimed by nature. Now, it looks like all of those efforts were for naught.

◉ Time has continued to seemingly flow normally. However, not everyone is back from the Aerie yet. It seems as if there may be more time for weirdness ahead.

> FINAL NOTES OOC

As a note, if you did not reply to us about starting in or outside of the AU, your character will be starting in this log.

With this log and its companion log, we're ending the first phase of Meadowlark's lifespan that primarily focused on the investigation into the world's lore. We'll be starting our second phase: characters choosing what to do next. We'll be detailing this more in our aftermath log/post, which will be due on JANUARY 16 2021. This aftermath log will double as an arrival log for whoever apps during our January application round.

Both logs for this phase of the event—11.2 and 11.3—are companion logs geared toward clearing up very large pieces of the Meadowlark mystery. While the AU acts as a reimagining of the game's metaplot, our NPC in the "real world" log will be divulging information. We've decided to go forward with making this clear because our playerbase has worked toward these mysteries for the last two years, and we'd like to help change the direction of the game from one based around a mystery of arrival and instead focus on what to do next. Of course, there will still be other mysteries to solve, as well as any true intentions, and figuring that out will depend on character choices and actions moving forward.

To make one thing clear, there won't be any radical changes to Meadowlark as a setting, nor is it anywhere near what might be called "end game." Instead, we're emphasizing a turn toward player-driven actions and plots because a lot of the mysteries related to the overall lore came to a head just prior to the AU starting. Think of this as having all of the lore pieces needed in order to begin to understand some of the remaining mysteries so that characters can decide what to do next.

All that said, we've also decided to use these logs to facilitate some future character plots, as well as help in releasing some characters from the AU! We also have one question that we'd like to pose for you.

(As a note: There is one link missing from below with regards to plot opportunities, as it's only relevant to characters in the AU.)

◉ Character deaths. We know that playing in an AU for two months can be exhausting, so if you'd like a get out of AU free card, this is the way out. If death may prove too traumatic, your character doesn't need to remember dying. All characters will wake up in the real world as if they're waking up from a dream. We'd just like a sign up so that other players can know who's vanishing from the AU via death! If you're having your character return in this log, please make sure to sign up at this link!

◉ What to do with the caged gods?. Unchaining the gods could have catastrophic effects on the Aerie, especially since they were the main key to sustaining it for all those years. Will they be unchained, or will they be allowed to flounder within the cages themselves? We're opening this choice up to the entirety of our playerbase. We will need all votes submitted by JANUARY 9, 2021 so that we can factor it into our aftermath.

◉ Any aftermath to consider? While this links back to the in-Aerie log, it'll cover all of our bases for the aftermath moving forward. If your character has contributed to helping the outside world since leaping from the AU, let us know!

◉ CRAU Relationships.: Finally, on our companion log, we have a unique NPC who's been through the jamjar ringer before. This is our NPC Jimmy Henries. If you'd like to sign up your character as someone that Jimmy knew before, head over there and fill out the form on the page!

If you have any other questions, please hit our questions thread(s) on the respective logs.

> NAVIGATION

Comments

cw: mentions of being shot and drugged

[revvedup]

Everything after she got shot feels like a blur, and at this point Max isn't sure what's actually happened and what hasn't. It doesn't still hurt where she'd been shot but she's confused and dizzy and aches all over. There are pieces she can recall after getting shot, but she doesn't know how she remembers them - wasn't she supposed to have died? - and they're more images and sensations than actual memories; symbols on the walls, an intense feeling of pressure, the prick of a needle in her arm.

She knows the last thing is real, at least; she can feel them starting to wear off even though she's still suffering the effects. She's been told to wait, that someone's coming, and they're gone before she can ask who or anything else. More than that, she stays put, which she knows she shouldn't be doing. This is enemy territory, she needs to keep moving. But she can't.

Quentin will find her slumped against the wall for support, eyeing him warily as he comes (deliberately) into view. He seems to have dealt with people in her situation before, and she can't tell if that's a good thing or a bad thing. He appears as ordinary and non-threatening as they come, and she's had enough training and experience to know it could be a trap.

"Yeah," she says in response to his question, her eyes narrowing as she looks him over. He's carrying clothes and water - this is the guy who she'd been told to wait for. But she still doesn't know if she can trust the people who'd told her that. "Who are you? Where am I?"

[filloryfanatic]

Cassius really didn't give him a whole lot of info outside of she was drugged and alone in New Tokyo, so at the moment he's not sure why she isn't on the moon with the others. He assumes she's a normal arrival which is a mistake. Quentin is used to being careful with new people now, having been a greeter every month since he arrived on this world. He can tell she's the wary type. He'll have to be careful.

"I'm Quentin Coldwater. You're in a city called New Tokyo." He doubts she'll want his help from the wall right away, so he carefully puts down his backpack. It has some items for her. "Um, you might want to make sure to grab the gloves." It might seem like an odd detail since it's warm out, but he has a really good reason. He doesn't say it as an order since he knows she's suggestible at the moment.

"So, um...." His brain whirls, trying to think of where to start. He's one of those people whose thoughts and feelings kind of flicker across his face easily. "Okay we just got like, new information, but we're not sure it's totally legit, so the confirmed gist is that we're a group of people taken from different worlds and stuck here. Some of us are from various earths, some from space and other planets." Quentin's not entirely sure he wants to get into what Jimmy's been telling them since they need some verified convos about that.

"The gloves are because when we were brought here, we were given super powers, and one of them includes having an empathy bond that is set off when people like us touch. So, um, a lot of people prefer wearing gloves." Quentin used to be that way, but he's tired at this point and more in control of his feelings. It's usually a sign he's not doing well when he's wearing them again.

[revvedup]

Actually, it's not. Max has gotten used to gloves being a necessity in her day to day life, initially because she's a bike messenger and now because she's been turned into a biohazard meant to kill her ex if they so much as touch. She still doesn't move for the pack until he explains why they're a necessity here, and when she does the gloves are the first thing she reaches for. The rest, she's still sort of processing. He mentions the people being brought from different worlds and it sounds familiar enough to be that much more concerned about where she is now.

"I was somewhere else before," she says, still wary and a little unsteady as she sorts through the pack, noting some clothes and water inside. "There was an attack, and people in the city were acting like they already knew me. But I couldn't remember any of them."

She's leaving Callisto out because she doesn't know if the other woman is here or not, or if it would be dangerous for her if she tells Quentin what she'd told her. She's also not sure that he's not with whoever's behind why she'd been brought to wherever she'd been and now here.

[filloryfanatic]

"Somewhere -- oh you were in the Aerie." Quentin snaps his fingers. "There we go, that's why you showed up differently than the others." There are enough headaches and things they don't get there, having this was a whole new question mark. His moment of triumph in figuring it out moves right into flinching, rubbing a hand through his hair. "Oh fuck. So there may be more of you there."

That is going to be pretty terrible for them, but Quentin at least tries to shake it off and focus on her. He's typically more on top of things but he's frazzled. "Sorry, so like, we usually have a system. New people like you show up together in a group and are dropped off directly to uss. This time a bunch of people was taken to the Moon since um, like a whole shitton of people here are gone."

Quentin waves a hand around. New Tokyo is usually a bustling city and there are people there but not a lot of them. The city itself looks bigger than the amount of civilians they can see from a distance, many of them milling and looking distracted and uncertain. "We were all transported to another world and given new memories. Those of us who came back here, like me? Died there."

He's died a lot of times at this point so he's getting used to it. But it's a headache. "I'm sorry if I'm like, starting from random places with information, I'm still sorting through multiple memories and um, trying my best, sorry." He's the type who will apologize for apologizing.

sorry about the delay!

[revvedup]

Max raises a brow at the realization he comes to, then the one that comes immediately after. If Callisto didn't follow her here, then there's at least one more person, and she'd mentioned recognizing others. There were people there who'd known her, had memories with an alternate version of her. Are those people who had originally been here?

She listens as he explains, finally twisting the top off of the water once she's got the gloves on and taking a long drink from it. He mentions people who wound up back here had died there and she fights the urge to grasp at the phantom pain that flares where she remembers getting shot, twisting the cap of it back on and rubbing at her eyes instead.

"No, it's fine, I - I remember dying," she says, trying to recount everything she can recall. It seems important. "I remember things from where I was before this and there, but you said there was a group I was supposed to be a part of? What group? Who took us?"

[filloryfanatic]

Quentin's just relieved he's managing to string together words coherently. Luckily when he's given a focus like helping people, it is much easier than when he's drinking on his floor creating his own movies on the glass wall. Cassius gave him this job too, and considering their past, he's quick to want to do well. Plus he feels for her. This whole situation makes his first few days seem boring in comparison.

"So like, take this with some iffiness, because for the past year we had no idea how we got here or who was dropping us off random places. But the dude in question was just like forced to reveal himself because most of us were gone off Earth, so." Iffiness because Quentin's not even sure if they should 100% believe Henries or not. Except if he was lying, he'd probably make himself seem a lot better. It's hard to say with an unstable immortal.

Quentin pauses and nibbles on his lip, trying to find the easiest through line of what he's been told. "So this guy named Henries was taken to another world, like we are right now, and he was stuck there for awhile, but then he was brought back but he didn't want to be here. He wanted to be with someone he loved over there. So he started experimenting and like, also figured out cloning, and he captured and ripped apart a god." That sounds crazy, but he believes it, because it is this kind of world crazy. "This is what he said. And all of us have a piece of that god in us, which is why we glow when we ... oh wait."

Quentin pulls out a compact makeup thing that a friend used when she was still here to communicate with him. He opens it only to look at the mirror. His powers set off and she can probably see the mirror go black and then momentarily look like a starry sky. Quentin's chest immediately goes blue, glowing in a way he wouldn't normally do if they were surrounded with tons of people. But he's not actually that private of a Displaced.

"See. Um. God. You have a power too, and that'll happen." He stops using it, putting the compact away, and goes back to his normal not-glowing self. "So anyway, he can't stop it. We keep coming here because the god is latched onto us and I guess this is its home?"

[revvedup]

Max's eyes go wide as he recounts everything and he demonstrates his ability - something he says she has, too, and she sets the water back on the ground so she can look down the front of her shirt and see if she's got what he does. She can see the faint outline of something blue, but it's not glowing yet. Talk of powers from a ripped apart god and memories of runes foretelling a prophecy on how she was meant to stop a breeding cult mix uncomfortably in her head and she presses her fingertips against her eyes, trying to resort her thoughts.

"Okay, uh - all right," she says after a moment, looking back up at him. "So where's the rest of this group? And when can I expect that - " she gestures to him, then to her own chest - "to kick in?"

[filloryfanatic]

"It, um, technically already is. It just takes time for people to figure out what they've got. It's individual." Quentin just showed his use of the mirror, but it took awhile for him to do that, considering he had to literally be in front of a mirror and activate it before he understood. "Some powers people figure out faster if they're in trouble." But it's no guarantee. Even in the middle of a monster attack his wasn't going to show itself!

"I'm sorry this is so much, like I'd tell you less but then it'd be like holding shit back and, I know it's already really messed up." It's not the first time he's struggled with whether it's better to tell everyone everything right away or give them a chance to adjust. "We're in New Amsterdam, it's another city. There's a fast travel option we can use."

The actual travel is a no-go. There's not enough people to even make the transport work let alone use it. "Do you remember where you were? Most people don't show up this way."

[revvedup]

Huh. So she's got that to look forward to at some point. Hopefully not when she's in trouble, since it sounds like 'trouble' equates to 'devastating event' in this place.

"Remember the Aerie, or where I was after that?" Remembering isn't really the issue, it's the trying to separate what's real and what's not. "I could remember home when I was there. People acted like they'd known me for years, but I had no idea who they were. I got shot, and after that I was in a facility somewhere. I think. I remember feeling an intense amount of pressure, like I was in a centrifuge or something."

Everything's kind of rushing together, and trying to recount it all sends a sudden spike of pain through her head. She winces in pain, bringing a hand to press tightly over her right eyebrow.

"Sorry, I - I'm just trying to remember everything I can."

[filloryfanatic]

So she did make it to the facility, wherever it was Henries held them before letting them loose, that's his assumption. She wasn't able to be snatched with the moon people because it was later. Quentin shakes his head, trying to smile reassuringly.

"No, no sorry necessary, this is ... it's a lot. Coming here in the first place is a lot, put into an alternate universe with people with different memories of you is a lot, ending up here when both things are real is a mega lot." People can barely handle it when they're only thrown one of these things. And at least most people do have a few days in the safehouse to sort through their emotions. She was thrown into the deepest of the deep ends.

"I was asking because ... normally where people wake up? The facility you're talking about, we sleep through or are drugged and don't remember. We would just like be dropped off by mercenaries awhile later." By Henries. He has so much to answer for. If they're supposed to be grateful he's not just killing everyone these days, gratitude isn't entirely how he's feeling.

"Basically you're kind of a special case in a few ways. Which is why I was sent out here to you."

[revvedup]

A special case. Of course she is. Max would laugh, or maybe cry, if she wasn't trying to process everything at once. After a minute she looks back up, staring at the ceiling for a second before looking back at Quentin, trying to recall whatever she can about where she'd been.

"I don't remember much of it, I was barely conscious. I just remember feeling like my whole body was under an intense amount of pressure and getting pulled somewhere, and I saw symbols on the walls. Then I must have blocked out."

Or she was knocked out, it sounds like either possibility is equally likely.

"If I can remember anything else, I'll let you know, but right now my head feels like it's gonna cave in."

[filloryfanatic]

"Hey, no, it's cool. I'm sorry, I shouldn't push. You've gone through a lot." Quentin will definitely bring it up at a later time when she seems like she's in a better place. He pushes his curiosity to the side to focus on her needs first. It's his responsibility to help her no matter what.

"I don't think I caught your name. You can call me Q if you want, um, some people do that." His friends do that, but he's not going to jump right to that with them, even if he's always like a little puppy hoping to make friends. "When you're ready we can head back to New Amsterdam together. We own a pub where we can get you some food and settle in. There's this person who helps us get IDs, El, because this world is like super tech IDs necessary for everything, even opening doors in some places."

Quentin will get around to the safehouse, although honestly at this point a lot of their rules have dropped out, because this is not a normal situation. Everyone's doing their best. No one's looking for IDs at the moment because there aren't enough people to do it. "I know this is a huge thing, but like ... you're safe with us. We've all been through this."

[revvedup]

She'll be ready to discuss it more then. Well, maybe not ready, but she'll remember that it's necessary.

"It's Max," she responds after a minute, taking a second to gather what she's taken out of the pack back into it, except for the shoes, which she slips on. "I can go now, unless I should get changed or something." She knows how important it is to blend in in situations like this. In truth, she's still feeling pretty unsteady, but it's nothing she can't push through. She'd much rather get out of here as fast as she can.

She looks a little dubious at Quentin's claim that she's safe, she certainly doesn't feel safe, but she does trust that he's not out to hurt her, or responsible for that had happened to her.

"Thank you," she finally says after another moment of regarding him.

[filloryfanatic]

"Nice to meet you, Max, under the circumstances." Quentin waits for her to get her shoes on and shakes his head. "We can go now." He gestures for her to follow him. "So like ... part of telling you you're safe is we're about to go through a portal to another city. Which can be sort of creepy for people not used to it." She can trust him to at least get her there.

Quentin turns backwards while they walk, almost like they're on a college tour and he's her guide. He partly looks behind him so he doesns't trip, but he does know his way very well through New Tokyo now. And there's not exactly a lot of people around to bump into.

"For people like us, we can use these fast travel gates to go where we want. It opened up awhile ago. No normal people from here can go through it though." Which presented a problem when they were fleeing in Antarctica or trying to deal with the monsters. They can't save people through the ways that they can run, unfortunately. "The gate here is just out of the way, but the original ones we opened are in these really cool weird ruins."

[revvedup]

Max follows along, careful as she walks to avoid swaying or stumbling over her own feet. The guy seems pretty adept in navigating them, even moving backwards he's trying to fill her in on what they've gone through and what she can expect. Her eyebrow raise as he mentions the portal; it sounds like teleportation, which she's only ever heard of happening in fiction.

"How does it work? And what should I expect?"

Regarding travelling by portal, in the city they're heading to, whatever.

[filloryfanatic]

Quentin isn't moving too quickly, knowing she's still adjusting. He's just made this trip a lot lately. He's not sure if he's offering her too much information or if it's helpful as a distraction. He was one of those people who just wanted every piece of information he could be given right up front, but overthinking is something he has down to an art.

"I mean, I would say it's magic. I'm a magic user, in my world, but I don't have my powers here." It's strange to say those words and not feel instantly depressed about it, which is because it's been six months and he's accepted that magic the way he knew it is no longer a part of his life.

"But you don't really feel anything. You'll be going through with me so I can focus us on where we have to go, but basically, you step up to the gate and think of where in this world you want to go. And." He snaps his finger. But that's why she has to go with him this first time. She wouldn't know to think about New Amsterdam, having never been there before.