paixaorpg | Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore... [Active/Open]

Character(s): Almaz, open.
Content: Hey there, Paixao. Here's some ~~fresh meat~~ new guy that's been tossed through the gates!
Setting: Joutenheim Gate
Time: Early morning!
Warnings: None at the moment.

Had he enough time and coherency to do so, Almaz might have thought about how to best describe his situation. Perhaps he'd start with, 'It began like any other day.' Then finish on some dour note about how it really wasn't, and round off to where he was right now.

Something like that.

But for now Almaz was just confused, confused, and had more important things to get to. Like finding out where he was, exactly. He blinked slowly at the unfamiliar setting around him, and glanced back at the gate he just came through. The memory was still fuzzy in Almaz's mind, despite happening moments ago--the gate keeper asking his name, his confused answer, being handed something, being ignored... well, that last part wasn't entirely new.

It was just like it had happened too fast or he just wasn't awake. Almaz briefly considered the latter, what with these odd new surroundings that were far too un-school-like for him to still be in the Evil Academy. (It also quite lacked that somewhat dark and ridiculous feeling the Netherworld had.) "Is this just a dream?"

Unfortunately, he felt that pinch he gave himself.

Almaz sighed deeply and, still unsure if he was fully awake or not, started walking towards the nearest person. Hopefully he could get some answers. Maybe the Dimensional Gatekeeper made a mistake? He was just in a really, really vivid dream? Yeah, Almaz thought. I hope that's just it. "Um, excuse me..."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Man, finding fellow blitzball players was a major pain in the ass! Not that Tidus was intentionally looking for them right now, as his main priority was getting the talent show underway. Walking about, he recognized the gate as the one he came through. Oh, look, there was a new face! Maybe he was a new arrival? Upon the inquisitive nature of Almaz's interjection, Tidus grinned as he approached the boy. "'sup, bro?" He asked, waving his hand. "You new here? It's a bit trippy, but for the most part it's an okay place."

Hey, aren't you being way too casual about this? Almaz wondered. He couldn't help it, arriving in some place and not remembering exactly when or how he got there? (Almaz could have sworn he was just following everyone else... wasn't he?) It didn't sit well with him!

"Er, what do you mean 'new'?" Almaz asked tentatively, offering a weak smile in return to Tidus' grin. Well, at least he seemed to be familiar with the place. "Just where is this?"

"This is Paixao. Long story short, you somehow got pulled into here, there's no way out, we get the occasional villain, you can live out a relatively normal life every so often." Tidus scratched the back of his head. "Of course, some of us don't have anywhere better to go, so this is our nest bet as far as living goes. But if you do... you're not going to be able to find a way out. This place has been around for quite a long time." Tidus was hardly Captain Exposition, but he crossed his arms as he seemed pleased with his own recap.

"You got a talent? We've got a talent show coming up. You could probably meet some new people, or find people who are from your world."

"I see," Almaz nodded slowly, taking all this information in. Well, that made sense. Even if it didn't explain everything, it covered an awful lot. But hey, maybe this talent show could be useful! Like this guy said, he could meet people, even if- "Sorry, I don't really have any special talent. But maybe I could still..."

That last sentence ended partway in favor of Almaz making a strangled sort of choking sound. Oh, one could almost just hear a record being scratched. "W-w-wait, go back to that first thing!" His voice rose higher in pitch. "What do you mean we 'can't get out'?! You're kidding, right? What about my home? My friends-- m-my wife!?"

Tidus sighed. He wasn't the best at being the bearer of bad news. "Case one, you're the only one here. Case two, they're here, and remember you. Case three, they're here, and they don't remember you. This place not only draws in people from multiples realities, but also from multiple time periods. Worst case scenario, you probably find your wife but it's before or after you are, and it puts a strain on your relationship." Tidus once again scratched the back of his head, speaking from experience. He cared for Yuna, yeah, but the fact that two years have passed for her and she changed so much meant he felt a little lost when it came to her.

"That's... not as relieving as I was hoping it'd be." What a picky place he landed in! The thought of being alone brought forth a few conflicting emotions in Almaz. (Better him than everyone else, and yet-) On the other hand, he didn't even know what to think about the possibility of his friends not remembering him. In fact, it was kind of depressing.

Almaz shook his head and straightened up. No, he told himself, remember the Hero's Oath! 'Whatever trouble awaits'-!

"S-sorry, I just wasn't expecting to... to be stuck in another world again. ...This soon."

"You were stuck somewhere else before? That's some bad luck." Tidus attempted to sympathize with him. "I can sort of relate since the same thing kind of happened to me, in a sense. "I'm really sorry for being the one to have to break the news to you and all, but that's the truth of the situation. If you need a place to stay or a tour of the place, I can help, but finding a way out isn't in my department."

"Yeah, it was complicated." Almaz replied absently. He would be lying if he said he hadn't gotten somewhat used to staying in the Netherworld. Liked it, even! "But I made some good friends," Almaz said, smiling sheepishly. "It's kind of strange to think about, but I think I maybe became a little more comfortable there than in my own world... Maybe."

That was strange to think about, wow. Best move on before he thought too much about the implications of that. "No, no! I'm sorry, I really do appreciate your help." Come to think of it, just what was this place? Human world? Netherworld? Something else? If it was another Netherworld, maybe there would be a Dimensional Gatekeeper somewhere. "Er, actually. Do you know what kind of world this is?"

"Kind of world?" Tidus tilted his head. "There are different types? I mean, I just thought... you know, they were worlds." He shrugged. "I'm sorry, but I'm not the one to ask about that sort of thing. This nifty journal thing's got a ton of features though, so you can ask somebody else who might know what you're talking about. Maybe your friends have already posted something if they've been here." He suggested.

Journal thing? Post? Well, these words sounded kind of familiar. (It seemed like you could communicate with others through it? ... But aren't journals also supposed to be private? Almaz wondered. That he could maybe find his friends was a relief to hear.) A thought occurred to Almaz as he listened. Wasn't he handed something when he got here? "Oh, that's right!" Fishing around in his coat pocket, Almaz produced one of the aforementioned journals. "You wouldn't happen to know what this is, would you?"

"It's a journal; you can use it to connect to people, write on the message board, use its map, things like that." Tidus attempted to explain. "It's best to just jump into writing in it and see what happens, really. If you write in it, there's a good chance that somebody from your world will see it and you'll find them, if they're here." Tidus explained again.

"So then this is what you were talking about." It didn't look very much like Almaz had expected. He flipped the journal around in his hands a few times, inspecting it. But if he really could find someone else he knew, then figuring out how to use the journal was top priority. Yes! There was hope yet!

"Oh. I'm sorry." Almaz pocketed the journal again, realizing he was getting caught up in his thoughts. "You've really helped me out and, er..." He held out his hand awkwardly. "Thanks. I'm Almaz."

Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore... [Active/Open]

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I'm so sorry this took forever for me to get to. ffff

no worries, i've been swamped with rl stuff too

Still, auuuugh, I'm so sorry. (And again!)