1st Screw [Video]

[all_wound_up]

[The feed flicks on to show a rather panicked looking teenage girl in a Japanese high school uniform who seems to be trying pretty desperately to hold it together - at least for long enough to find out why she's suddenly found herself in unfamiliar surroundings.]

Um... I'm very sorry, but I seem to have gotten lost and ended up here by mistake.  Could anyone point me in the direction of the Shinonome household?  I really need to get home in time to make dinner tonight.

[There is a sudden light clicking noise, like small gears turning.  Nano's eyes go wide for a moment, and she quickly points the camera toward her feet instead.]

Ah... if anyone can help me, I would appreciate it very much!

Comments

[deathboss]

Uh, that someone's who's already here or?

[all_wound_up]

I... suppose that would depend on where 'here' is.

[The camera is still pointed toward the floor, at least for a few moments more.]

[deathboss]

We're in Hinoto-Ri. D'you meet Philemon?

[all_wound_up]

Wasn't that just a dream?

[deathboss]

No that was pretty real. Had it happen to me before.

[all_wound_up]

So I really have been brought to another world to fight the forces of chaos? But why me? I can't stay here!

[deathboss]

I dunno man! I DUNNO!

[Wooha Eikichi what.]

[all_wound_up]

This is bad... this is really bad...

[deathboss]

Dude you're telling me!

Why am I crying so much?

[all_wound_up]

I'm sorry! This must be hard on you too.

[a_pirate_meant_to_be]

Man, that butterfly mask guy needs to do a better job explaining the whole "Hi, I'm relocating you guys and not telling you how to get back" thing. I mean, if you're going to randomly snag folks, you could at least be honest about it.

[all_wound_up]

Um, if you could help me find the train station, perhaps...

[a_pirate_meant_to_be]

That's one of those big things that work on rails and kinda look like big versions of roller coasters, right? I don't think we got any that'll go whereever you're going, sorry.

*...how the hell can he know about roller coasters but not TRAINS?*

[all_wound_up]

Well, I meant the subway train... the rails don't run out as far as I'm going, then?

[a_pirate_meant_to_be]

Yeah, they generally don't cross dimensional boundaries, as far as I know. Unless trains are even more fantastic than I thought, but I'm PREEEETTY sure we'd have heard about that little feature by now.

[all_wound_up]

Dimensional boundaries? How far did I come?

[a_pirate_meant_to_be]

Well, you know that one place across town? The really far one?

Yeah, you're way farther than that, sorry.

[all_wound_up]

This is terrible... I have to get back!

[a_pirate_meant_to_be]

Er, can't help you on that one. But at least you can take in the beautiful ambiance of a sealed off city in the middle of a demon invasion?

...sorry.

[all_wound_up]

Demon invasion?

[a_pirate_meant_to_be]

Weeeeell, I guess it's less an invasion and more "kind of persistently here and really dangerous around a certain time of night, forever lurking in the back of peoples' minds." I probably should've been more specific.

[all_wound_up]

W-what...?

[a_pirate_meant_to_be]

I wouldn't think about it too hard. You end up getting these weird guys that come out of your head that can usually kick most of the monsters' butts.

[all_wound_up]

None of this makes any sense.

[Video]

[theothermist]

... I'm sorry, but I haven't heard of that household... Are you sure they're in the city?

[Video]

[all_wound_up]

[By now, she's heard from some of the city's other residents.]

I don't think they are. I don't know what to do...

[Video]

[theothermist]

... I'm sorry... Maybe they have been informed of what has happened.

[Video]

[all_wound_up]

But how will Hakase get her dinner without me there? She can't use the stove! She might hurt herself! I bet she's already wondering where I am...

[Video]

[theothermist]

... I'm... not really sure what you can do. Besides hope that someone has been brought in to care for her while you're here.

[Video]

[all_wound_up]

She doesn't really have anyone else except for Sakamoto.

[Video]

[theothermist]

[And Chrome is gonna guess that this 'Sakamoto' can't look after her.] ... I see. I'm sorry, but there's... not really anything we can do from here.

[Video]

[all_wound_up]

[Nope, since he's just a cat. ;u;]

Auuuuuu... what am I going to do?

[Video]

[theothermist]

... Maybe the one who brought us here sent someone to watch over her... But hopefully she'll be okay.

[Video]

[all_wound_up]

She's only eight years old. She can't take care of herself.

[video]

[greaterdays]

Do you know what district it's in?

[Nanako's been trying to learn more about the city and wants to be helpful, since the girl sounds very distressed.] Or what district you're in?

[video]

[all_wound_up]

I'm in the Pisces District. I don't think I can get to where I'm trying to go from here.

[After the clicking noise finishes, Nano brings the camera back up to her face.]

[video]

[greaterdays]

You don't? You could take the train...

[video]

[all_wound_up]

I was told it doesn't go as far as I need to travel.

Video

[echo_of_a_jedi]

Oh...please don't panic, miss. You are safe here, at least if you don't go wandering around at night. Do you need help finding your apartment?

[The edge in Meetra's voice is apparent, and even she wonders why. Is it because this is one too many kids showing up?]

Video

[all_wound_up]

It's supposed to be in the Pisces District, according to the ID card I was given.

[Nano hasn't noticed much of a difference even though she's a Leo, since she's a bit of a worrywart naturally. Give it a day or two.]

[echo_of_a_jedi]

Oh, those are the apartments I'm in.

[Directions follow.]

If you're scared or nervous at all, I can come meet you. I have a pretty good idea of the streets here by now...

[all_wound_up]

Oh... could you? I'd appreciate that very much.

Video->Action here alright with you?

[echo_of_a_jedi]

Alright. I'll be there soon...there is no emotion, there is peace...

[Minutes later, a rather nervous-looking robed woman, easily recognizable, approaches Nano. Meetra also recognizes the girl by sight, although that key was a surprise.]

Oh...hello. We talked on the COMPs, right?

Action - yup, that's fine

[all_wound_up]

Yes... that's right. My name is Nano Shinonome. Sorry to make you come all this way.

[She folds her hands in front of her, bowing politely.]

Action

[echo_of_a_jedi]

[Meetra bows in return. In some ways she's lucky that she wound up in one of the cultures on this planet that uses the same greetings hers does.]

That's a pretty name, Nano. My name is Meetra Surik.

[She takes a few steps closer, looking around. She's not sure what's going on, lately, but it definitely seemed less safe out here. She would reach out with her mind, but she's more than a bit scared of what she would find.]

We should get to the apartments.

Action

[all_wound_up]

[Which is lucky for Nano, because the Force would probably allow Meetra to register her as the robotic lifeform she is. Not that the large wind-up key on her back does much to push the illusion of humanity or anything.]

Yes... let's hurry.