[VIDEO .005 | username edward.elric]

[alchemyfreak]

The way things work here, people are supposed to leave by choice. Has anyone been contacted by a friend, before they left? I’ve heard some theories that when we leave we don’t get a chance to say goodbye, once the portal points the right way either you go or you miss it.

A few of us have talked about leaving a message in advance, so if the opportunity comes and we have to take it without warning people here have something left behind. Some people used to do that where I was before… has anyone here done anything like that? It seems worth it.

Even if we don’t want to leave, I’m not entirely convinced everyone that’s gone left here by choice.

[A pause. There’s no emotion when he speaks, if anything there’s a distinct lack of emotion, expression carefully neutral with the last part.]

Yuffie’s gone. For anyone that knew her and isn’t aware yet.

Comments

[alchemyfreak]

If you ask during Orientation, they tell you that the portal can be directed back to your home world, but that it's not easy and can take time. That we should get comfortable here in the meantime, while we wait for our turn to go home. If the portal randomly sends us back without warning, shouldn't we be told about that too? It's not exactly in the video.

[Still, he's considering it at least.]

It does make sense though. If that's the case, any of us really could leave at any point - even those that don't want to - maybe leaving a letter isn't such a bad idea after all.

[tempredmental]

Well, they seem pretty excited when people seem to want to stay, yeah? So maybe they don't want you to think that, if you wish it hard enough, you'll just... go home. Or, maybe the whole... waiting our turn... or the time it takes... maybe that's just a way of describing it, and the portal is suddenly directed when your desire is strong enough, and that's your cue to leave.

[Keith wasn't sure, either, and he knew he probably sounded like he was just rambling with ideas, but it was something to think about and string together. He wasn't much of a verbalizer when it came to thoughts and ideas. He preferred to work visually with diagrams and other things, but he didn't really have a place to do that, yet. He and Shiro had only moved into their new place a few days ago, and they were still settling in with the Lions.]

It's probably not a bad idea, at all, really.

[alchemyfreak]

[Keith stop being so logical, damn.]

It would make more sense, if we direct ourselves here that our own desires would direct us home too. Honestly, that might also explain how our stuff gets brought here, if we're thinking about that more than going home - or even if we're not, they might just be easier for the portal to obtain than sending us home right off.

[It made sense to him, but that also meant he'd have to admit that he was thinking about the General Store itself more than leaving this place. As much as Ed didn't want to leave bringing the store here wasn't exactly on his to-do list. It was just such an iconic part of his time in Purg.]

[tempredmental]

Hm.

Well, the Lions indicated to me and Shiro that they had felt some sort of need and reacted, coming through the portal on their own. So, maybe you're right. Maybe stuff comes through because we wanted it to.

[Keith had no real reason to think otherwise.]

[alchemyfreak]

Guess it's a good thing you can communicate that with them, I can't exactly ask a store why it came here.

[So the logical explanation seemed to be that their own will could bring them (and their stuff) through, and that was the mentality he'd likely operate on until further information said otherwise.]

[tempredmental]

I've seen weirder.

[Keith just shrugged.]

It's something to think about, at least. A better explanation, maybe, then just them suddenly being sucked back home without even the slightest bit of consideration.

[alchemyfreak]

That doesn't surprise me.

[Why would it? He'd seen some pretty weird things himself and he'd long ago come to accept that with all the worlds being represented in these places, there was always "weirder" somewhere.]

Yeah. I wonder if they've considered this theory, I'm probably going to talk to someone that's working on studying the portal to see what they think. No one's really stepped forward so far.

[tempredmental]

It wouldn't hurt to ask around and see what they think.

[He shrugged a little.]

Let me know what you find out. I'm curious, too.

[alchemyfreak]

[He gives a nod at that.]

I'm planning to ask around, get a few different ideas. That's usually how I operate. This theory seems as good as any though, I'd be interested to see what the professionals think.

[Since they are the ones working on understanding the portal.]

I'll keep you informed.

[And probably send some notes his way.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith nodded.]

Alright. Talk to you soon.

[If that was it, he'd disconnect.]