video posted by @ruffboi

[ohhmrburnsides]

This thing sure is, uh, fancy.

[ Magnus sticks a finger out at the phone's screen, tapping the glass and knocking the image out of focus for just a second. However, he quickly realizes he’s made a mistake and fixes the camera focus accordingly. ]

Sorry, I’m just not used to this kinda stuff. I think my fingers are too big for this thing... But I’ll figure it out quick! Anyway, hi, I’m Magnus, and… Well, I guess I’d be lying if I said I was completely happy to be here — [ His face looks as if he’s guilty to be saying this, but it almost instantly lights back up. ] — But I’ll make the most of it while I’m here! Y’know, I’m always happy to make new friends. Just let me know if you need, uh, a chair, or a bed, or a bodyguard or something!

[ He reaches forward to turn off the camera, but pauses, quizzical. He retracts his hand. ]

You should also let me know if you have a dog that I might be able to pet. …I hope dogs exist here.

[ The camera shuts down with the press of a button. ]

Comments

video; @fromTV

[spellslots]

[HEY WHAT THE FUCK.

He turns the phone on so quickly he nearly drops it, then proceeds to spend a couple seconds fumbling with it until finally the camera is pointed in the right direction.]

Magnus fucking Burnsides, nice of you to join the party.

[video | un: edward.elric]

[alchemyfreak]

Dogs exist here.

There's also an animal shelter.

[You know, in case he wants to get one. Ed is so helpful.]

video @lightemup

[umbrastaff]

[She beams as soon as she hears his voice, throwing herself over the bed to grab her phone.]

Oh fuck, Magnus! It's so nice to see your big lug!

Video; un: Treasure.Princess

[thegreatninja]

You're not getting a dog are you?

[She wrinkles her nose at the thought of a dog running around communal housing.]

video posted by @ruffboi

[ohhmrburnsides]

[Magnus opens his mouth to respond, then shuts it. Then he just kinda raises an eyebrow back at the weird elf on the screen.]

Were you expecting me?

video posted by @ruffboi

[ohhmrburnsides]

Oh, thank goodness! I was worried I fell through the portal into some horrible, awful world with no dogs in it. I gotta hit up this shelter. Where can I find it?

[As genuine as his question was, he realizes he's being rude and remedies it.]

Also, nice to meet you, um—?

permavid

[spellslots]

Uh yeah, my man, Lup and Lucretia are here, we've got like half the crew now. Kinda expected you or Barry next, so here we are.

[He chalks the confusion up to Magnus being Magnus, not thinking too much of it.]

video posted by @ruffboi

[ohhmrburnsides]

[He scrunches up his nose, like he's surprised this person is being nice to him at all.]

Okay, so, someone who looks exactly like you just shouted at me, and he knew my name too. Except this time you're being nice to me. What's going on?

video posted by @ruffboi

[ohhmrburnsides]

Uhh...

[He shrugs.]

I mean, I was thinkin' about it, but I haven't even met anyone in housing yet and I don't wanna be that guy, you know? ... I'm still thinkin' about it.

[alchemyfreak]

Edward Elric, just like the username.

[He's so creative.]

It's not so bad, honestly. Once you get used to the whole... Being dragged into another world without warning thing.

[He doesn't answer the question right away, almost as if he has no intention of doing so before shrugging a shoulder.]

I've never looked, but I've heard there's one here. Your- phone, or communicator can probably show you, if you know how to use it.

[Ed doesn't have a phone, and he still bristles at the idea that other people here call their devices phones. That's not what a phone was where he was from. Since he didn't have any modern tech, he'd arrived here from Attollo with his device from that world in tact, Orientation had made sure to get it hooked up to the proper network and functioning like everyone else's.]

Or- you could ask around.

[umbrastaff]

[So she could totally understand that Magnus didn't know her. Timelines were fucking weird here... but not Taako, either?]

...I mean, I'm Lup. I'm Taako's sister, you just forgot about me for a while.

[ohhmrburnsides]

[There's a moment where he tries to process whatever the other guy is saying and ultimately gives up.]

Alright, so you don't seem like you're part of some weird stalker cult, but I don't know how else you'd know my name. You're gonna have to explain that.

[spellslots]

[There's a moment of confusion, Taako's brow furrowed, before it finally clicks and something like a cross between disappointment and resignation cross his face.]

Well, fuck me.

[This is the nightmare scenario.

It also requires a split second decision, between telling Magnus immediately about the past or not, but that's... too hard to explain. At least Taako had Barry dropping hints for a year, just dumping it on Magnus's lap is too much.]

Okay, listen, this is gonna sound kinda whack, but you just got pulled through a portal into an alternate reality so you know, maybe not the weirdest thing you've heard this week. Just, uh, I know you, in the future? We're friends.

[ohhmrburnsides]

[More confusion. It's like she's speaking a different language or something.]

So the other guy's name is... Taako.

[At this point he just feels guilty that he doesn't recognize her.]

I'm super sorry, but I don't have a clue who you are.

[ohhmrburnsides]

That isn't any weirder than the portal that brought me here in the first place, so. I guess I believe you?

[As messed up as this is, Magnus feels inclined to trust this guy when he says they're friends. And the fact that he doesn't recognize this person who says they're friends makes Magnus feel, like, super guilty.]

I'm really sorry I can't remember you. Maybe if we hang out enough it'll bring some memories back?

[spellslots]

[And there's relief in that, because he's not sure what he'd say to convince Magnus that he isn't like, some weird crazy stalker.]

Don't sweat it, the portal's just a bitch like that. But I would for sure love to hang out, there's a cool park near where I live that everyone takes their dogs to?

[That's Magnus's kinda jam.]

[ohhmrburnsides]

[Magnus is wondering if it's just him, or is this guy being really standoffish.]

Yeah, I guess I will. Ask around. With my uh, phone. [The word "phone" is weird to him, too.] Thanks!

[ohhmrburnsides]

[IMMEDIATE change in attitude.]

Heck yeah! Okay, now I know you're telling the truth if you knew to bring up dogs. I was actually trying to figure out where all the dogs were, so this is perfect! I gotta get settled in still, but I swear, as soon as I'm ready to go I wanna go see these dogs with you.

[alchemyfreak]

[IT'S THE ANIMAL TALK, HE'S JUST AFRAID FLOOR SIX IS GOING TO BE OVERRUN WITH ANIMALS.]

No problem. Sorry I can't be more help, animal shelters are- not really my thing.

[He's going to stay as far away from that as possible, and hope Al never sniffs the damn thing out while he's not looking.]

[spellslots]

[It's strange seeing Magnus so... young, without either a century of hardship, or the loss of Julia.]

Dogs, making ducks outta wood, and punching assholes real hard, that's your style. [He sounds very fond, though.] If you got any questions about this place feel free to throw 'em at me, I've been kicking it here for almost six months now. Oh right, shit, I'm Taako. Sorry, kinda forgot the introductions bit.

[That's kind of important.]

un: b.zethir, video;

[inlaid]

[Bryn, being a friend of Taako's and having already heard his name and something about a lack of dogs from Lucretia, feels fairly certain that this is the same Magnus from their world.

So she entices Qiri over with some treats and hauls him into her lap long enough to start a video feed.]

Hi Magnus, welcome to the quarantine! There are in fact dogs here as you can see. You're welcome to drop by sometime to meet Qiri if you'd like.

[ohhmrburnsides]

[Magnus immediately gasps in delight, bringing a hand over his mouth.] Your dog is so cute!! [He starts waving his hand in front of his phone like he's playing with Qiri.]

I've GOTTA meet your dog. He's so precious.

[ohhmrburnsides]

[He's impressed at the amount of Magnus Trivia the guy knows. And, also, reveling in it. He is a very proud boy.]

Taako, huh? It's nice to meet you. I'll hit you up when I can! Figuratively. I won't literally hit you. I don't punch friends. Unless they, like, really deserve it.

[spellslots]

I mean, trust me, that is a fact I know pretty well.

[A century of living in cramped quarters, and Taako being... Taako, resulted in at least a handful of times where he definitely deserved it.]

But uh, yeah, gimme a call if you need anything or like, just rock up at my place? I'll send you my address.

[And Magnus will get a text with Taako (and Lup and Lucretia's) address.]

[umbrastaff]

That's right. He's Taako, I'm Lup and we're pretty much friends of yours from the... uh...

[Wait.]

Where are you from anyway, my dude? What color was the sky?