@cjk [ audio ]

[signifies]

Hello everyone. My name is Clark. I'll try and keep this brief.

Firstly, I've drawn up a blank list and placed one on the bulletin board on each housing floor. If those with medical expertise feel comfortable, they can put their name, residence here, and — if they have one — specialisation, in case of an emergency. We have several residents who aren't from the same point in time, so if you'd like to volunteer to update someone's medical knowledge, please mark your name with an asterisk.

Secondly, ah-- [ a bit of a laugh. ] I'm from Kansas, which some of you might recognise as being host to some pretty bad weather. Now, I'm not going to say I'm paranoid, but-- I like to think ahead. So, I've made up some kits with some of the usual survival paraphernalia back home and distributed them between floors. Feel free to help yourselves if you need them.

[ No one has to use them, but he’d rather everyone knows they're available. ]

Thank you for your time.

( all replies in audio unless otherwise stated )

Comments

[signifies]

You've mentioned that, I was wondering what kinds.

[dust_of_life]

Well, I know it sounds low tech, but even basic herbs can treat medical conditions when there isn't anything more modern available.

I mean, like...

Okay, ginkgo biloba can treat circulation problems. Valeriana officinalis is a handy, dandy sleeping drug.

[Okay, now she's a bit more in her element. Fatima loves to show off. And this is one area where she excels.]

I know it sounds like witchcraft, but believe me, some of this shit works.

[signifies]

Anything you think is helpful. Maybe you could write up a pamphlet for people who might be unfamiliar?

[dust_of_life]

True.

Although I need the seeds before I can even start to open my own shade-y drugstore.

[signifies]

I'd ask the locals. They should have some.

[dust_of_life]

It's someplace to start.

[Not that she trusts the locals. Not yet, anyway. Fatima's always slow to trust.]

Oh. Right. Manners. They are a thing.

My name's Fatima.

[signifies]

Nice to meet you, Fatima. Where are you from?

[dust_of_life]

[Sometimes, Fatima feels the need to add "and I'm not a terrorist" to the end of any introduction. But farm boy seems halfway decent. And she breathes a sigh of relief when he doesn't say anything about her name.]

Los Angeles.

It was, uh, 2009 last I checked. But I guess that's not a constant around here.

[signifies]

No, it isn't. I'm from 2013. Metropolis?

[dust_of_life]

Metropolis?

Not familiar. But I've never been to Kansas.

[signifies]

No? Gotham City? New York?

[dust_of_life]

I've heard of New York.

Who hasn't heard of New York?

[Maybe someone from the Midwest.]

But...Gotham?

[signifies]

We're from all different worlds here. Some people will recognise one city but not another.

[dust_of_life]

Different worlds?

You mean parallel dimensions? The stuff of sci-fi?

[signifies]

Yes.

I live in Metropolis, but you've never heard of it. There's one example.

[dust_of_life]

[She lets out a few choice words in Hindi as it slowly starts to sink in.]

Okay, I'm going to hate this place.

Hang on, I need to write some of this down.

[signifies]

[ He waits, patiently. ]

[dust_of_life]

[After a few moments, Fatima can be heard scribbling notes on her end.]

Okay. Clark. 2013. Metropolis.

[A pause.]

Hey, what's the future like, anyway? Please tell me there are flying cars.

[signifies]

Not in my time. Sorry to disappoint.

[dust_of_life]

Note to self: Metropolis is not like on the Jetsons.

[She may or may not actually be writing that down.]

[signifies]

No, it's more or less like any other big city on the East Coast.

[dust_of_life]

Interesting historical landmarks and cold in the winter?

[signifies]

More or less.

[dust_of_life]

And I've barely even been to the east coast.

[She scribbles a few more notes.]

And what do you do in Metropolis? I mean, you, personally. You know. Like, a job.

[signifies]

I'm a reporter for the Daily Planet.

What about you?