01. [video]

[lcied]

[Click! The screen is entirely black as the recording starts, and the voice seems a bit muffled.]

--is no Eden. …I…I should have known that!

[A pained sigh.]

Huh?

[Rustle. Ruuuustle. The sounds become much clearer and finally, the long-awaited image appears - at first it's the sky, then it focuses on buildings, and next, there's a glimpse of something

Comments

[Video]

[reflectivedawn]

[Why does he get the feeling you're worse at technology than Sora?]

Because it belongs to you.

[Duh, Hope.]

[Video]

[lcied]

[Come on, have some mercy, he's simply confused!

Besides, he's been running away since forever, and suddenly, there's this weird place full of people who don't wish to see him dead for a change.

Hopefully.]

Me? ...what is going on?

[Video]

[reflectivedawn]

[Don't be too sure of that not wanting to see you dead part, Hope.]

Yes, you. Unless there's someone there with you and they're hiding behind you.

It's called a PCD. You use it to talk to people in the city.

[Video]

[lcied]

No...

[He has already checked, but he involuntarily scans his surroundings once again. Not a single soul. Hope's features darken.]

I've been separated and it's just me, it seems.

[A pause, as he glances at the PCD once again]

I see, but -- why would I need anything like that? I mean... there must have been some mistake, it just doesn't add up. I didn't know that such a place even existed.

[Video]

[reflectivedawn]

It wouldn't be a surprise if you knew about it before hand.

[Video]

[lcied]

[Not the nicest surprise ever.

But, maybe, just maybe...]

About what you have just said -- it means that somehow, everyone get such devices upon arriving here, correct? I don't know why we ended up being separated, but... it should be possible to find others this way?

[Right. It is logical! No need to panic.]

[Video]

[reflectivedawn]

Yeah. If you bring up the contact list, you'll be able to contact anyone within the city. As long as they're actually here and not back in your own world.

Apparently, they don't like making long distance calls.

[Video]

[lcied]

[Some time passes as he fumbles with the device.]

It doesn't seem to work for me...

[Video]

[reflectivedawn]

Who are you trying to call?

[Video]

[lcied]

My friends. There were six of us.

[It's not like he doesn't trust you, Riku, but just to check...]

You... do you know who a l'Cie is?

[Video]

[reflectivedawn]

Unless it's a new brand of cereal, no.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but... I don't think your friends are here.

Re: [Video]

[lcied]

[Now that sounded kinda cruel, you know, Riku? Oh, right... you do not know.]

I... see. Nevermind.

[He blinks.]

What makes you say that?

[Video]

[reflectivedawn]

[Irony, Hope. Riku's life revolves around it.]

Because unless their names are on the contact list, they're not in the city.

[Video]

[lcied]

[Hope has browsed the list a couple of times by now, and none of them were there. He figured the system couldn't have been this correct, and perhaps, it showed only people in his vicinity.

However, this is the worst-case scenario.]

...I understand.

[Video]

[reflectivedawn]

[He's silent for a moment because do you really, Hope? You're the only one here from your world. It's something he knows all too well.]

Has anyone explained this place to you yet?

[Text] [a while later, too!]

[lcied]

[Obviously, this isn't something he wants to understand. Losing everyone he holds dear? It's painful. Way too painful, yet -- he can't just break down in front of others, as long as there is a small glimmer of hope.

...yeah, he still kinda expects the others to show up any moment.]

Yes. And there's this girl, Katara, who offered to pick me up. Actually, I am on my way to the clinic now - it's where the... newcomers go, right?