001

[phantom_envoy]

[action, all Hinoto-Ri]
[Throughout the streets of Hinoto-Ri this morning, a strange phenomenon manifests itself for a good hour or two. A girl in a bizarre white costume ensemble darts and zips up and down the streets like a gigantic dove in flight, heedless of anyone or anything in her way... Although 'heedless' might be a bit of an understatement. The vast majority of the time, she flits straight through the obstruction in her past, slipping past as insubstantially as a ghost and occasionally offering apologies on the way.]

Whoops! 'Scuse me, pardon me... Totally didn't see you there. Oh, geez, I swear, food tastes totally the same afterwards; you don't have to worry about it at all. ...Well, let's be honest here, you probably didn't want that junk going down your gut, any - whoa! Watch the purse, lady. Hey, I practically did you a favor.

[Eventually, she'll slow down long enough to drift slightly closer to the ground and perform a dramatic 360 in mid-air.]

Wow. I am definitely not in Kansas anymore. ...Not that I've ever been to Kansas in the first place although I think that's where Superboy comes from, but this totally isn't Kansas, either.  ...Not enough farms.

[video, public]
[The feed flickers on to reveal a girl in a strange costume with an expression of resignation.]

Alright, ahem, listen up, fair citizens of... Prehistoria!  Here's the deal.  My name is Phantom Girl, I'm from the 31st century - yes, that's three-one - and I don't really have time to wander around some retro Asian city.  ....Wait, this is 'Asia', right?  I've only ever seen a place like this in a history book.  It is kind of cool to be back in prehistoric times again, but that's what the Time Bubble is for, and we don't use it for vacations.  And, no offense, but I wouldn't take a vacation here, anyway.  It's kind of... cramped for me.

So I hear you've got some problems that need fixing.  Spill the details, I'll take care of it, and then I'll be back to my time, if you all don't mind.  I'm sure you're all very nice people, and I know whatever you're going through must be super hard, but... I've got like, whole planets I need to be looking out for here.  Cities are great, but I'm pretty sure Takron-Galtos is having like, the 6th breakout in as many months, so... yeah. 

OK, so!  Problem number one, go.

Comments

Action

[trombeoverride]

A blonde man in goggles at a nearby lunch cart nods and looks at the girl.

"No, this is not Kansas. That is in America and this is Asia. Perhaps you should sit down, have something to eat and get your bearings? Perhaps solidify too?"

[phantom_envoy]

"Unless 'something to eat' is code for 'the trigger that stops this simulation', then thanks, but I think I need something a little stronger than that."

Still, the girl glides over to the lunch cart and alights on the ground.

"Where exactly is this?"

[trombeoverride]

"Its no simulation. I was pulled here from my world, seems you were too. Several people have been pulled to this one to help deal with its issues."

He looks at her and shrugs.

"This is a Takoyaki cart, but I can make Sukiyaki and a few other things."

[phantom_envoy]

"What?"

Phantom Girl squints at the man for a moment or two.

"OK, awesome. And Ataco Yakeecarte is in...? Saturn? Earth? ...Definitely not Bgztl if all of you are freaked out by the phasing."

[trombeoverride]

"I'm just a simple chef from Earth. I've just had a lot of strange customers."

He nods and prepares a plate of Sukiyaki and offers it to the girl.

[phantom_envoy]

"..."

Phantom Girl heaves a deep sigh as she taking the bowl of what appears to be eclectic ingredients shoved into a pot of soup.

"...Thanks. I think. ...This is food, right?"

[trombeoverride]

"A local specialty. It sells well so I keep it ready. That and hot pot is easy to maintain."

"Its a good time to eat, gives you enough time to digest before the 13th hour."

[phantom_envoy]

Phantom Girl squints suspiciously at the proffered bowl before beginning to raise the spoon halfway to her lips. ...Then a pause.

"Wait. I have no money. ...Whatever money this place uses. Is this some sort of weird plan to enslave me and sell me to Talokian traders? 'Cause it wouldn't be the first time, let me tell you."

[trombeoverride]

"Consider this one on the house for your trouble. Its a good way to get repeat customers when they have money."

anon text;

[bitchoftime]

youre looking for 'hinoto-ri' not prehistoria
and labeling this place as prehistoric is kind of subjective
to most people it would be pretty advanced
anyways
no one is keeping you here if you dont want to be

[phantom_envoy]

Well... I mean, a superhero shouldn't just up and leave someone in need of help, either. It's not good etiquette.

...A superhero can totally be kinda ticked off about getting dragged back a thousand years without a good explanation, though; it's in the rulebook and everything.

[bitchoftime]

its not really going back in time so much as it is just being in a completely new world that happens to be more behind in technology than wherever the hell you were before
if you really have such an issue with it go help the scientists out or something


but if you really want to stick around then just twiddle your thumbs and wait until the next giant monster crashes through the city you wont miss it

[phantom_envoy]

Eh. This is Earth, isn't it? It's close enough to being in the past; I'm pretty sure I recognize a few things here and there from my ancient histories studies. After the Great Crisis, we lost a lot of information about this era, anyway.

Now giant monsters I know how to handle. What's the low-down here?

[bitchoftime]

yes but most people are from earth
doesnt mean every earth is actually the same earth you know

oh you know the usual
monsters roaming loose at night
magical beasts you summon from your brain
a giant bubble barrier no one can get out of surrounding the place
lies and corruption and misinformation
and most importantly a city full of people that want nothing to do with the oh so special visitors that are being brought here to save them
if i were you id ask around for information on whats been going on around here someplace that isnt the network that the entire city can see
last time someone spoke freely on here everything was scrambled in minutes
get me?

[phantom_envoy]

...
...
...

This isn't getting done in a week, is it.

[One can almost hear the sigh even through the anonymous texting.]

I mean, it's not like this is totally out of the question or anything; the only part I didn't follow was the magical brain beasts. But this isn't a job for a superhero. It's a job for like, politicians and a PR committee and an anti-corruption investigatory team.

Oh, but wait, let's rewind to the bubble barrier. That sounds interesting and also like something I could actually fix since going through stuff is kind of my thing. What's it made of?

[bitchoftime]

the persona power you were given in exchange for trying to clean up this mess
didnt anyone tell you about it yet

aint the person to ask for that one
gonna have to ask a sciencey type

[phantom_envoy]

Not apart from that weird voice welcoming me here, no. I think I'll get along with my normal powers fine; magical brain beasts sound vaguely like unwelcome parasites.

What type are you supposed to be, anyway? It's not like you've really said anything that warrants hiding your identity.

Action

[terminally_clever]

[Fumi was about to head back to work after a quick lunch at an outdoor cafe, but this is definitely more interesting right now.]

That's quite the unique talent you have there.

[phantom_envoy]

If by 'unique', you mean 'inherent to me and everyone else from my planet', then sure!

[Phantom Girl touches lightly to the ground in front of the woman who addressed her with a somewhat forced expression of blitheness.]

Wait, this is Earth, right? It seems... Earth-esque enough.

[terminally_clever]

Uniqueness depends on perspective. We aren't on your planet.

[phantom_envoy]

Well, I never turn down the chance to inspire awestruck wonder, so... unique it is.

I could really use that question about where this is answered, though.

[terminally_clever]

The city itself is called Hinoto-Ri. As to its exact location, I can't say for sure. It's something of a closed space, as far as I've been able to surmise.

[phantom_envoy]

...I'm gonna go ahead and assume that means 'we're trapped in a box shaped vaguely like a city'?

[terminally_clever]

If you really must think of it in such crude terms, yes.

[phantom_envoy]

Well. What terms would you like me to think of it in, then? Like they say - A gilded cage is still a cage.