riverview | [VIDEO .001 | username edward.elric]

[There are a few things Ed is quick to concern himself with upon arrival, and even though they certainly relate to "how the hell do I get back where I came from?" he's seen this play out enough times to know that asking that question directly is never likely to get results. At least not the ones he wants. He's well aware that this change of scenery isn't just some new challenge, because if it was there certainly wouldn't be any point to the mark outright disappearing, but it was gone. Which likely meant one thing, they were telling the truth - at least about one aspect of all this, and he was not in Muir anymore.]

Does anyone have any idea what's really going on here? Has anyone been doing any research on this place? Or been here long enough to know whether or not it is what they claim?

[Ed's skeptical about this whole situation, but cynicism wasn't enough to go on that something just wasn't right here. He had a hard time taking everything in that little introduction at face value.]

If we can just ask to be sent home given enough time, has anyone actually pulled it off?

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I guess that depends on your perspective. Come from the right place and this might be exactly what you'd call a paradise.

[Muir wasn't really paradise either, but compared to Purg, what wasn't?]

At this point I'm just happy not to be the tool of some power hungry idiot with a god complex.

I suppose so. If that's the type of place you come from.

[ But... ]

They don't seem to claim this is paradise.

No, the last place I was basically claimed it was a paradise. This place claims it's a refuge for the displaced.

What I'm trying to work out here, is if it actually is, or if it's just a cover story.

I think that's something you can find out just by asking the people here.

[ Whether or not they'll share... that's a different story. ]

Yeah, that's what I'm hoping to do.

Best of luck. Displaced or not - it may seem personal.

[ Hm. ]

I don't consider myself displaced necessarily. But from someone else's perspective, maybe I am.

No one's being forced to answer.

Can you think of another reason you might have been brought here?

No idea.

[ He supposes, technically - the fact that he didn't place in the finals could be why. How he felt about it afterwards. But...well, that's not that important. ]

I consider myself lucky to be here sometimes. I have friends I wouldn't have otherwise.

[ And his friendship with Yuri isn't long distance here. ]

I know that feeling.

[It wasn't one he would say about this place, but he hadn't been here long. Maybe with time his opinion would change, the way it did before. If this place was really waht they say it was, no harm was being done, right?]

I made a lot of friends I would have never met before coming here, too.

You were a place other than home before coming here?

[ Hmm... ]

Yeah, the place before this one wanted our help. It was basically paradise as long as we did what they wanted.

[Spoilers: Ed didn't.]

Before that I was in another place where I was supposed to repent for my sins. They say third time's the charm, so maybe these guys aren't actually using us for something, but it's hard to say until I see some solid evidence for myself.

Hm. I haven't been made to do anything I wouldn't do while here.

[ But being an easy going guy could also mean no resistance. Eh, he won't think too hard on it. ]

So if you leave here, you probably wouldn't even be going home. Just where you were before this.

[ That sucks. ]

That's what they say.

[He sighed, remembering his conversation with Garrus. Ed has clearly already put some thought into this.]

Someone else suggested we might come here because the world we were on doesn't exist anymore. Considering the complicated path I have to get back home, there's no telling where I'll actually end up if that's the case.

Ah...you're the first person I've heard of who might be unable to leave.

[ He can't imagine. But he doesn't really see himself leaving right now. He'd like to be home, but his competition season is over, and he can train here, so there's no real reason to leave. ]

I mean, if you wanted to to begin with.

It's ... hard to say. My friends where I came from- before I came here, they were all disappearing. Going back home, I guess. I might not be able to get back to that place, and even if I could- what would be the point if they're all gone?

[He pauses, seeming to really consider what that actually means.]

Does that mean I'd go back to where I was before? Even if I tried to leave here, I have no idea where this portal would try to take me. What's the point of wanting to leave if you don't even know where you'll end up?

I understand you go back to where you were before you were here. For most of us it's home...for some...it's not, I guess.

Guess I'll figure that out when the time comes.

[Ed is pointedly not thinking about the idea that once you've settled here for a number of years they send you off to some other new world. This place was annoying.]

If it comes.

If it doesn't, guess I won't have to worry about it at all, will I?

You're right. Not that staying here would be awful.

It doesn't seem like a bad place....

[If they're not lying.]

I'm just- a little out of my element here, we don't have technology like this where I come from.

[Any of the places he comes from.]

Ah? It's normal for the most part to where I'm from.

Do you need help with anything?

[That seems to be a theme, Ed's starting to wonder if everyone here comes from a world of computers and spaceships.]

I think I've been figuring things out so far... but thanks.

Sure thing. I'm Otabek, if you ever need help.

Edward Elric.

[As if that wasn't obvious.]

Right... I'll keep you in mind.

[VIDEO .001 | username edward.elric]

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