[Orb]

[dash_dynamic]

[There is a man in very princely clothing staring down into the orb. He looks...well, "worked up" would be a good way to put it.]

This is for communication, right?

[And he takes a deep breath...]

SOSUKE! RENN! HANT! SAKI! MIU! GUNPHERD! ...Hiroto? IS ANYONE ELSE HERE?!

[Nope, he's not freaking out at all as he's yelling into the orb. He's calm. So calm. Ever calm. Staying PERFECTLY calm.]

Does anyone at least know which of the Brane Worlds this is? I need to find my way back to Human World or Engine World as soon as possible! And WHY everyone here seems to think I'm some kind of prince?!

[Yes, he is PERFECTLY calm. Ever calm. So calm. Just ignore his...twitchiness.]

Comments

[tatra]

The other way, dear. If you have trouble finding it, I'm sure one of the serving people can help you.

[ It's a big castle, after all. ]

[dash_dynamic]

Oh, right, right!

[He grins confidently.]

I'll find it! Piece of cake!

[About twenty minutes later, Gunpei finally shows up at the tearoom. He's had to get a servant to show him where it was.]

[tatra]

[ Tatra nods her thanks to the serving person, amused but too polite to say anything. ]

Please, sit!

[dash_dynamic]

See, I found it!

[Gunpei delivers a quick bow before taking that seat.]

Thanks.

[He's slightly calmer now, at least.]

[tatra]

[ The tea she's prepared today (in sight of the several new arrivals of late) is a calming mix of chamomile and lavender, with a few other less noticeable mixed in. She pours a cup for him and gestures to the plates set out across the table. Cheeses, crackers, some cookies and small cakes. Anything you could want for a wonderful tea time. ]

You're quite welcome, any time.

[dash_dynamic]

Hey, thanks!

[Gunpei's behavior towards the food can best be described as barely restrained greed. He's clearly a pretty hungry guy--freaking out worked up an appetite, and it's been a while since he's had anything to eat but eggs.]

Oh, I'm sorry, I don't think I ever introduced myself. I'm Gunpei. Gunpei Ishihara.

[tatra]

[ Tatra tries not to giggle at his appetite. It would be rude. ]

I am Princess Tatra of Chizeta. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mister Ishihara.

[dash_dynamic]

Likewise.

[He's definitely calming down now, at least.]

Have you been here for very long?

[tatra]

A month and a half, I believe. [ It's hard to keep track of the days when they pass so much the same. ]

[dash_dynamic]

A month and a half?!

[Now he's looking thoughtful.]

I wonder how long it'll take the others to find me here, then...

[He's got zero doubts that they'll find him, eventually.]

[tatra]

It's hard to say! People do come and go here so often. [ And Tatra likes to err on the side of optimism. ]

[dash_dynamic]

They come and go?

So there is a way out, then...

[tatra]

Certainly, people leave. I don't believe they do so under their own power any more than they come here under their own power.

[dash_dynamic]

Huh...any idea where they go when they leave, then?

[tatra]

I haven't a clue! I do hope they return home, though.

[dash_dynamic]

Yeah, I'd hate to think they wound up in one of the other Brane Worlds on accident instead...

[tatra]

What exactly are the Brane Worlds?

[dash_dynamic]

Well, they're a series of ten parallel worlds, all next to each other. It's possible to go between them if you know what you're doing, but it's still kind of hard.

[tatra]

Is it possible to go between them if you haven't a clue what you're doing? Where I'm from, traveling between worlds is quite a difficult feat.

[dash_dynamic]

If you don't know what you're doing, that would have to be a REALLY unlucky accident...

[tatra]

I suspected as much.

Do your friends know that you've left them?