001 [video]

[a_gentle_boy]

[The video flips on and a young boy with golden blonde hair and somber blue eyes blinks slowly into the camera for a few moments. His speech is hesitant and his manner apologetic.]

Hi.

I, um... I think this is working now. Can anyone hear me? ...I'm sorry if I'm not doing this right; I've never used anything like this before. But they said this was how I could communicate with everyone, so... hello.

[He shifts uneasily as he speaks, though he manages a small smile as he introduces himself; his gaze falls now on a point just slightly right of the camera. Technology was not something he was terribly familiar with using - or ever really wanted to be.]

My name is Lucas. And it's very nice to meet all of you. I guess I'm using this now, because I... I'm happy to be here and help, I am, but I don't think I really understand why I'm here. I mean, I do understand about the monsters and the 'demons' and all of that kind of thing, and... of course, I want to help, but what I mean is... I'm not sure I understand why me and why... now. I-I know it's a bit selfish, but I...

I'm very tired.

Do you think I can go home for a little bit before I start here? I promise I'll come back and help; it's just -- you see, the thing is, I sort of needed to see if there was a home to go back to, still, and then this happened, and I really should... check.

[He swallows, and his eyes flicker to his feet as his speech becomes ever more incoherent.]

Um. Sorry, that didn't come out right at all. It's not like that -- I mean, it is, a little bit, but not very; it all should be fine, I just -- Oh!

...I'm sorry. This wasn't how this was supposed to go.

[He blinks hard and brushes briefly at his eyes before reaching to fiddle with the COMP, trying to turn it off. It will take him some time to be successful.]

Comments

[voice]

[tipthescales]

I'd say you're doing it right! But I'd never used anything like it before coming here either, so that might not mean too much.

Maybe you should rest before deciding anything else, though? It's usually easier to think after a good night's sleep.

[a_gentle_boy]

I... just spent a night here. ['a good night's sleep' wasn't something he had gotten, though.] And I think I might have lost too much time already.

[voice]

[tipthescales]

I see. [the poor fellow sounds like he's in a serious situation.]If it helps, they say that time in our home worlds stops while we're here. So yours probably isn't in any more danger than it was when you left.

[a_gentle_boy]

Time stops?

[It is easier to express his emotions when there isn't another face looking out at him. Lucas's mouth opens in a half-O of surprise.]

How can something like that --

[No. Of course it was possible. ...Throughout all of time and space, that was where Porky had gone, wasn't it?]

So this place...