riverview | video | un: detdecker

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Besides all this mumbo-jumbo about portals and the fact I've obviously lost my mind and am lying strapped to a hospital bed somewhere, I've got a few things I'd like to clear up—

[The blonde woman frowns deeply at the screen, brows drawn tightly together in displeasure.]

—namely, it's been told to me that we can't leave this place until they've scrounged up enough 'resources' to send us back, which seems oddly convenient. Does anyone know if there's been success with that yet? Has anyone been sent back home, or is that some nebulous 'someday' thing they're telling us? Second of all...

[Her hand comes up to gently cup a small gold locket hanging around her neck; a gift from the city to her, it seemed. Her mouth works for a moment, trying to find the words.]

Trixie, baby, if you can hear me, mommy's here and going to find you. I promise. Just sit tight, monkey.

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I see. I'll have to take a look at those later, then.

[She's usually a pretty good judge of character, and even she has to admit that the people here don't come across as particularly devious or untrustworthy. She's just... in shock, perhaps. And maybe trying to convince herself this is all some crazy dream.]

No, they didn't tell me that. I didn't even think to ask something like that— how would that even be possible? They did say that I was brought here because I was feeling 'displaced', though, whatever that means.

For the most part, the city has been pretty transparent about things. [He hasn't gone down to read any of the public records himself but his roommate has.]

The one fault is that they don't volunteer certain information if you don't ask. They want people to stay, but they don't seem to force it. I don't know how much truth there is to the 'feeling displaced' theory, but practically speaking, we're here and there isn't much use in wondering why.

Your daughter won't even know you've been gone, though. I know it's hard to trust that promise, but I'm from an earlier point in the timeline than one of my friends here. He would have known if I had gone missing from our world.

Maybe not. But since they seem to want us to contribute somehow in the meantime, it's not unreasonable to ask why we were pulled into it in the first place. I'm all for practical solutions, but my head is admittedly swimming here trying to put it all together and figure out how this is even possible.

'An earlier point in the timeline'? So to your friend, you've been there the whole time even though none of it's happened to you yet? [That... is vaguely comforting, but she is indeed struggling to accept it. She sighs.] As much as I'd like to believe that, you'll have to excuse me for not relying on it. Magic portals and alternate... timelines aren't exactly normal where I'm from.

No, it's not unreasonable. I'm not saying you shouldn't question, I'm just telling you what I do know. [It had been pretty hard for him to wrap his head around too, a few months ago.]

Something like that, yeah. I haven't asked for details, I don't want to know too much about my future, but to him, I never went missing. It's not a definite confirmation, but it supports their promise. [A quiet snort.] Believe me, I get it. This is all weird.

Right. That's fair enough, and I appreciate the information. It's more than I knew a few minutes ago.

Weird is an understatement. The last thing I remember, I was sitting at home after leaving work, like any other day. Now I'm here with a bunch of other people who apparently got sent through a portal. I don't know what I'd do if someone I knew from home told me they were from the future.

Deal with it, probably. That's about all you can do. Plenty of people here are from different timelines, different universes, different periods of time. One of my floormates is an actual, honest-to-God viking.

Reality-hopping and- portals, none of this was ever my thing until here. I don't plan to be a permanent resident, but for now... I've been stuck in worse places than Riverview.

And that's just one more reason why I'm halfway convinced I've gone insane and have been put away somewhere, but that's a meltdown for another day.

You do have a point, though. For all I dislike being stuck here for the time being, it's not as bad as it could've been. It's just a lot to take in. I feel like I should be doing something, not just sitting here.

Well, 'least it's a mass delusion and not just you, if that's the case. [His tone is just a touch lighter there, a flatly-delivered joke.]

It is that. I've been busying myself with the Perimeter Guard. It helps to feel like I'm doing something good. What do they have you doing?

I've been assigned as an officer at the Police Force. I was a detective back home, so I guess they found that vaguely useful. What's the Perimeter Guard?

Police handle things internally, Perimeter Guard handles things beyond the wall. The wilderness is just crawlin' with all kinds of monsters - we keep those things away from the outer walls and out of the city.

Monsters. Right.

Seems to be a common theme I've been hearing. Just like reading it out of one of my kid's storybooks.

It's hard to believe it til you see it. I've had enough run-ins over the last few months that I'm a believer in lizard-men and dragons.

We all have to believe in something, I suppose. I take it that means anyone can just wander outside of the gates to see these lizard-men and dragons?

Nobody'll stop you from coming and going, the wall is to keep monsters out, not people in. You might get a warning to be careful, but that's about it.

Mm... [A thoughtful hum, as if she's mulling that over.]

That might be something to look into another day, then. I'm decent enough with a gun myself.

The scenery's interesting, if nothing else. And not every creature out there is hostile. It's... Earth doesn't have nearly this much variety. Really hits home that you're on an alien moon, out there.

That could be a good or bad thing, depending on your perspective. Being on anything "alien" isn't exactly something I ever hoped for or pictured for myself, but I'll take your word for it.

Seems like a waste to wind up on a moon and not go check things out, though. [She can't see it, but there's a hint of a wry smile in his voice.] Think of all the stories you could tell your kid when you get back. I think that's what I'd do, if I had a kid. [Not that he ever will.]

Mm, she'd love something like this. Especially the part about the magic fountain that brings people presents.

That is every kid's fantasy, ain't it? Even better than Christmas when you think about it. Since it doesn't involve breaking and entering.

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