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001

[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.

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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.

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

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?

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?

...
...
...

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?

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

"Is that near Balmar?"

He ponders then looks at her.

"I'm Rätsel... Rätsel Feinschmecker..."

If she speaks German, her "WORST FAKE NAME EVER" alarm may go off, but if not, no one bad EVER spoke German.

Phantom Girl, thankfully, only knows English and also probably Bgztlian, whatever that is. She gives a shrug.

"Nice to meet you, Ratsel. ...If you'll excuse me, I think it's time to go fly around the city awkwardly some more. I'll pay you back later."

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.

"Don't fly too high or you may hit the barrier."

He nods and takes the dishes, starting to clean them.

"And its on the house, when you get some money feel free to order some more."

"The barrier?"

Phantom Girl gives a slight shrug.

"I've never concerned myself with things being in the way. Part of the whole 'phantom' shtick, you know? Anyway, I'll make it up to you, anyway. It's totally part of the superhero creed or something."

"Even an ally of justice needs a hand sometimes. Good luck out there."

if that was at all your business then i wouldnt be anon now would i miss super hero

all im here to say is if you really have such a problem just go home
and if you choose to stay then choose your side wisely if you choose one at all
because you cant take what theyre spewing at you at face value
or i guess you can
but youd be a pretty big dumbass

Alright. Makes sense.

But, not to be a jerk or anything, what kind of dumbass would you say I was if I took everything you just said at face value? I mean, you're obviously not altruistic enough to be helping me out for the sake of helping me out. You'd like me to see me be suspicious of the people in charge of this place - not that there's everything wrong with that. I appreciate the value of hearing both sides of the story.

But... now that I've got both sides - or something resembling both sides - I think it's time to spend a few days figuring things out for myself.

Or going home. The Emerald Empress isn't putting herself in jail.

"Thanks. I'll see what I can do."

Around ten minutes later, if Ratsel is still paying attention and if he has very good hearing, he may hear a very, very distant thump and a scream.

"Ow!"

Looks like Phantom Girl found the barrier.

exactly
now youve proven not to be an even bigger dumbass that youd take everything someone who doesnt even reveal their name or face says to you at face value
its up to you whether or not youll take any nugget of worth out of this conversation or not
the important part is that youre thinking at all
you cant know your opinion until youve seen everything yourself
but would you have known there were things to see if someone hadnt said anything to begin with suspicious or not?
not really
not in this place
but whatever you choose to do with this information
good luck
its not too late to just go home already

Well... I have to say, I'm not super keen on trusting places that randomly kidnap me out of the blue anyway, but you have given me some things to think about. So thanks.

Maybe we'll meet for real some time.

Or maybe we already have!!!!! It's a mystery!

And actually, this place is getting a little bit interesting now. It can't hurt to check it out for a few days.

[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.

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.

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

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.

Edited 2013-06-14 02:22 (UTC)

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.

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

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

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

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