Video 1

[phantomfenton]

Hello? Is this thing even on?

*The camera is shaking at first, showing a wobbly view of someone's hairline. The shaking stops just in time for the view to zoom out and focus properly on the caller's face, showing a boy frowning in concentration.*

*The frown eases slightly.* Okay, finally. Um. Whoever's out there watching, just pretend the past ten

Comments

[redcladidealist]

[Huh. He could swear he's seen this boy before. For the life of him, though, he can't pin down a name.]

You're in Somarium. I dunno how you got here, but if it was like me, it was probably an accident.

[phantomfenton]

An accident? Like--turn a corner, fall asleep on the wrong bus and wind up millions of miles away from where you're supposed to be, accident?

[redcladidealist]

Well, I'm not sure what a "bus" is, but I think you have it right. A lot of people I've talked to fell asleep before they got here.

[phantomfenton]

Crap.

Um. Well--how do people get back? I mean--is there like some, uh, return bus, or something? Or a map?

[redcladidealist]

I don't know. I mean, I knew someone who got back to his world, but he didn't remember how he did it when he came back here.

[He hadn't even remembered ever being in Somarium before.]

But I got here when I went through a gate between worlds. It just took me to the wrong world by mistake. I haven't been able to find the other side of the gate here, but it's here. I know it.

You do have a map, though. [He grins.] It's in your hand!

[phantomfenton]

*Danny frowns at his description, absently thinking very hard--and then lets whatever it is go, distracted by the conversation.*

You know, there was a time when saying parallel dimensions and stuff would have had me calling you crazy.

I kind of wish this was one of those times.

*The view shakes a little, as he shifts the phone in his hands and starts pushing buttons.* In my hands? You mean in this cellphone thing, right? This--um, 'dreamberry'?

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd doesn't seem to mind nearly being called crazy by the other boy. Instead he just gives the other an understanding grin.]

It is kind of weird. I still don't get it sometimes, and I knew about other worlds before I came to Somarium.

[Not quite sure what a "cellphone" is, but Lloyd can figure out what Danny means.]

Yeah! That's your Dreamberry. It has a map and a list of people you can call, and it keeps your money and it can show people's dreams!

[phantomfenton]

*Lloyd's grin is appreciated and returned.* Yeah, I know what you mean.

Oh. *He needs all of one beat to absorb that.* Cool. Dreams too? Because of that whole random 'record people's dreams and broadcast them', thing?

... Wait--how does that even work, and how did I know that?

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd blinks in surprise. Wait, how would someone new know about something like that. After a few seconds, a possible answer pops into his mind. Lloyd's eyes widen.]

Whoa. Maybe you can read people's minds!

1/?

[phantomfenton]

Through the phone?

I'm not psychic! If I were, I'd know by now. Plus, I'd have used it to find out other things, like who you were--

[phantomfenton]

which I, uh... somehow kind of feel like I also know already...

[phantomfenton]

...

[phantomfenton]

... But that doesn't count! I've been feeling that way with almost everything today! It's like I've been here before, and then forgot about almost everything afterwards.

[redcladidealist]

What if that is the way it feels to be psychic? How would you know?

[Still, something about what Danny said tugs at Lloyd's mind.]

I knew someone who was here and then left, and when they came back, they didn't remember they'd been here before. You think that might be what happened?

[phantomfenton]

I just would! ...Um, wouldn't I?

It might be. I've been feeling deja-vu all day, and if I really had been here before, that would finally make sense.

[redcladidealist]

I dunno. I'm pretty sure I can't read minds, so I don't know what it'd be like.

If it makes you feel any better, I feel like I've talked to you before, too.