intro

[pinkprismstaff]

You don't remember getting knocked out.

That's the best descriptor for the feeling you experience before you wake up. There's a glittering absence of color to your field of vision, and a sensation that you aren't yourself, you aren't anything in particular. Abruptly, unpleasantly, you wake up in a strange, sunny location. Where that is might vary--laying in a sun chair on the pool deck, draped over the skee-ball machine in the arcade, face down in a cart in the laundry room....or just stretched out in the long, long expanse of sand surrounding the island.

There doesn't seem to be anyone else here, aside from the others who have woken up and have as little clue where they might be as you do. It's a silent, empty island filled with a lot of questions and few clear answers. What you can conclude are a few things: that you don't get hungry or tired, that any wounds you have don't seem to either heal or worsen, and leaving the island doesn't seem to be possible.

Maybe it would be good to meet with the others who have woken up?

Comments

[photoning]

If that's what you want to show off, then, say cheese! Or "haiya"!

[SHUTTER GOES CLICK. For fun.]

I have a friend who's a traditional kendoka, so you don't have to be a bad guy just because you have that stuff with you.

[reresurrected]

[That earns a laugh, warm and amused. He waits for a moment until he's sure she's gotten the shot she wants before he sheathes the blades again, resting one arm casually on their hilts.]

A bad guy? I certainly hope that's not how I'm coming across. I suppose I do look the part compared to most of the people I've met here so far, but I'm merely a knight. Though I suppose that isn't saying much when the people I'm supposed to be protecting aren't here...

[photoning]

Oh, that'd be your problem. [With the same practiced manner that he uses to sheathe his blades, Mahiru likewise lowers her camera and lets it go.] They're kind of a thing of the past where I come from, so a lot of people would be really worried about why someone had a weapon at all.

[She doesn't want to be Chronophobic like she was towards Robin. Though it's hard for her to accept such science fiction fully.]

But you're plenty nice for a guy going through all this, don't worry. What's your name?

[reresurrected]

Oh, the average citizen in my world doesn't carry weapons either, but they're common enough that I hadn't stopped to think that it might seem strange or even threatening to someone else.

[He smiles.]

I am glad that you find my company pleasant, however. I'm Baldr-- it's a pleasure to meet you...

[And here he pauses, as if prompting her to give her own name.]

[photoning]

Mahiru Koizumi. [She is familiar with social niceties - she puts her hands together in an extremely casual version of a bow.]

I'm still not really used to the whole "world" thing, to be honest. Time travel, superpowers... There's no point in doubting someone you just met, when we were escorted here so weirdly, but it's a lot to take in.

[reresurrected]

Mahiru-san.

[He gives a bow in return-- a gesture he too is quite familiar with, it seems.]

Yes, it's easy for me to forget that others aren't as familiar with the concept of multiple worlds as I am. My world is... rather unique in that sense, I suppose.

[Even before the whole Murder Tower experience, meeting someone from another world was just a Tuesday for him.]

I imagine it must be quite jarring to be the one on the other end of such a situation.

[photoning]

Oh, no way? [She blinks rhetorically at him.] I'm kind of glad to hear that. How am I supposed to have any good ideas for what's going on when I don't even know "worlds" are a thing?

[she's gotta resist the urge to assume that this is Literally Just SDR2.]

You must see a lot of different things out there. I love to travel when I get the chance, too.

[reresurrected]

[Here he gives a little laugh.]

I've only been to another world once, actually. Usually it's a matter of other people coming to mine. It's something of a regular occurrence by now... or at least it was for a while.

[Tir Na Nog, held together by scotch tape and pieces of other worlds...]

But I must admit this isn't the sort of thing I usually have in mind when I travel...

[photoning]

Oh, so in your past experience it wasn't really possible to control every type of trip? That's too bad.

[She holds one of her arms with the other.]

Seeing all this bright stuff and knowing we can't relax here just makes it even more depressing...