UN: @kyouken // Back when I was a brat, I found a sparrow with a broken leg and took it home

[justbeingknife]

Seems like a couple people here have been showin' up with folks they know from back home. I was figurin' that since they came from the same place, they were also from just about the same time -- but from what I been hearing, that ain't necessarily the case.

So if you're from the 'future' compared to someone ya know here, lemme ask ya this: do you remember that other person going missing?

I also heard that there were people who came here before us, but it tapered off before starting back up again last month. But how long was that dry spell? Would anyone from back then be around?

Comments

[beyourzoomer]

[Sounds like the same Jake to her.]

Starting to sound like a lot of people have been.

[justbeingknife]

Yeah. Anyhow, the reason I started askin' all this in the first place was I was wondering if some of us were from different versions of the same place.

You know, like parallel universes and shit.

[beyourzoomer]

Well, what's your world like?

[justbeingknife]

I'm from 1988, in Japan. Uh, on Earth.

[ Because apparently that was not a given here. ]

What's it like...? I'd say it's normal. There're convenience stores, parks, bars. Lotta people. Saw my first portable phone the other day, but the guy had to carry it around in this giant bag -- wasn't anywhere near as small as these things.

What about you?

[beyourzoomer]

[And the fact that it's not a given is so strange to her still.]

1984, the United States. California, originally. But basically everything that you said except - no portable phones.

[justbeingknife]

Then we ain't far apart at all, timewise. Lotta people from the States here, too.

...kinda weird, though. You'd think there'd be more people from France.

Anyway, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Majima. Nice to meet ya.

[beyourzoomer]

[Including three others she knows from home. It is weird that people tend to show up from the same places. Maybe that's part of a pattern.]

Yeah, it's really weird that there aren't.

Hey. I'm Max. You too.

[justbeingknife]

Wait a second... Max?

[ That could just be a coincidence, but... ]

Do you know Will? Short? Brown hair, kinda longish?

[beyourzoomer]

[That's...sort of unexpected.]

Yeah? He's my friend.

[justbeingknife]

Oh. Small world, I was just talkin' to him. You were one of the kids he mentioned.

[ So they were friends, after all. Or maybe they'd become friends...? ]

I feel like I need a damn flowchart. Now it turns out I know a guy here, too.

[beyourzoomer]

Smaller than it should be, probably, considering.

[Try as she might, she can't help but smile at the idea that Will had mentioned her. They'd only known each other a few days, really, and not all that well, but still. She rates. It makes her happier than it should.]

You know...that's probably not a bad idea. If someone hasn't already made one.

[justbeingknife]

Hmm. Yeah. Wonder if I can figure out how to make one. I just got the hang of this textin' thing, but supposedly it's got pictures, too.

Can't really figure out what the star map is for, though. That supposed to be useful for somethin'?

[beyourzoomer]

Or maybe even just some kind of system so we know who's here in case anyone vanishes or something. [The gears in her mind are turning.]

Maybe navigation? Or...maybe the natives super like star gazing?

[justbeingknife]

Could just put up somethin' on the bulletin board. Let people fill out what they want.

[ Hmm, that star map kind of had him thinking, though. Why was it included on the devices and not something more... useful? Like a calculator, or a function to use the light from the screen as a flashlight. ]

You seen the stars out around here? They the same as on normal Earth?

[beyourzoomer]

Yeah, good idea. [It'll be a good starting place, anyway.]

I haven't really paid attention, actually.

[It hadn't occurred to her.]

[justbeingknife]

Huh. Then I guess I know how I'm blowing an hour after sundown.

I'll let you know if there's anything outta the ordinary.

[beyourzoomer]

Okay.

Good luck. [After a beat, for reasons she doesn't really know at this point, she adds:]

Be careful.

[justbeingknife]

Don't have to tell me twice. But thanks -- you stay safe out there, too.