002. [Audio]

[willezurmacht]

[The rattling of trees can be heard in the background, and the chattering of people - oddly far away.]To those who have been here far longer than I... this weather. Is it commonplace for the skies to be so indecisive? Snow in Autumn, thunderstorms, windstorms... it seems rather chaotic, don't you think

Comments

[voice]

[princely_calyx]

I haven't been here too long but the weather usually stays pretty steady. It's probably the mist doing this. It seems to bring crazy weather when something is about to happen.

[What that something is, she doesn't know.]

And...it pretty much has. When I first came here about six months ago - has it really been that long? - it wasn't too bad. The natives were a little wary but mostly okay as long as you were okay to them. Then something...changed. I - they just started attacking, for no reason! A lot of people got hurt, Scorched and natives.

Then it cooled down. But it hasn't been the same. You can always feel it, just under the surface.

[A beat.]

It's pretty terrible.

[She realizes she's been rambling and has no idea who is at the other end of the Forge.]

I'm sorry, I don't even know your name. I'm Utena Tenjo.

[voice]

[willezurmacht]

Terrible, perhaps. Still, it can hardly be called surprising. It is the nature of man to fear that which it does not understand. As banal a truism as it may be, it remain nonetheless accurate.

Differences set the vultures to circling, young lady. And in the end they always descend.

[He states it simply - like a self-evident fact. And if there is a certain weariness to his voice, he does not stop to acknowledge it.]

[And then, without missing a beat...]

Utena Tenjo. Japanese?

[voice]

[princely_calyx]

[That's...a rather dark view.]

Mm. [It's the only answer she can really give.] I just thought that people were a little better than that now...

Yeah. You know Japanese?

[voice]

[willezurmacht]

People are people. They are no better or worse than they've always been.

And yes, I do. A fascinating language, and an interesting culture, though I admit my travels have seldom taken me there.

Please, call me Magnus.

[voice]

[twoswordjuniper]

[Relevant to my interests catches Deneve's ear. Phrases like that always raise a flag with her, wary as she is of being manipulated.]

The weather is a little out of the norm, but it isn't unheard of for it to behave strangely.

Neither is it unheard of for people to be afraid of what is different. But the natives do seem a bit more restless than usual.

[voice]

[willezurmacht]

I see. My thanks, Miss... I assume you've a name?

[voice]

[twoswordjuniper]

Deneve.

Presumably you have one as well.

[voice]

[willezurmacht]

Miss Deneve, then. I agree with your observations about people, though I rarely hear it said so plainly.

As far as the weather is concerned, ah, one might say in my world there are people whose abilities can extend to changing the very atmosphere. They can command the sky itself. I wondered if such a person might be the cause of this odd climate change, whether from my world or from another entirely.

And yes, so I do. You might call me Magnus.

[Voice]

[sucker_punches]

I wouldn't say any of it is common, but it does happen from time to time. There was one time when the sun didn't rise for days. As for the natives... they go through phases.

Relevant to your interests how?

[Voice]

[willezurmacht]

I'm sorry, young lady, did you say the sun did not rise?

[Voice]

[sucker_punches]

Yes. It happened in December.

[Voice]

[willezurmacht]

That sort of thing seems the province of magic. Still, it shouldn't be possible.

[text I private]

[jaytodd]

Weird weather patterns seem to be linked to the mist or some disaster waiting to crash on our heads. Haven't been around long enough to know what a 'normal' Fall is, but I got to experience sudden violent drop in temperatures during the summer - at the same time that ghosts and living deads littered the streets.

Wouldn't say that the aggression is usual - certainly not on both side and to this extent. There's been natives wielding pitchforks after us, but Scorcheds are more laid-back than that, most of the time. [and if he's been a bit more violent in his handling of the Foxhole's troublemakers, he's not going to mention it]

Care to elaborate on your interests?

[text I private]

[willezurmacht]

Unsurprising. Still, it suggests some shaping force behind these changes. I wonder.

As for my interests, there are people on my world who would be capable of such a feat. I wondered if such a person - one I know, or one from another place entirely - may have found their way here.

Is there a reason for your habitual use of text? I don't object, but it is notable.

[text I private]

[jaytodd]

Those persons have a name? They can avoid the network, but it's hard to disguise the fact you're Scorched. [but the mention of those people make him think - that guy can sound like someone from his world, sometimes. Maybe he'll ask the "you know Gotham?", later]
Let's say that I'm a paranoid bastard.

[text I private]

[willezurmacht]

They do. But I trust by now that they are not present. They would have been hard pressed to stay silent when confronted with my presence.

That is fair enough. A respectable reason.

[ voice ]

[couragetodare]

Worlds go crazy sometimes. Things could be worse! [Famous last words sob.] Just wrap up warm and stay outta the worst of it.

[Pause.]

Aggression's everywhere, if you know how t'look. They're just people, bein'... people. S'not that bad.

[ voice ]

[willezurmacht]

An interesting perspective. One I agree with to a certain extent.

Have you a name I might use?

[ voice ]

[couragetodare]

... the worlds part or the people part? [Curious.]

Uh I- Oh! Right. Uzumaki Naruto! How 'bout you?

[ voice ]

[willezurmacht]

Both seem reasonable enough observations. Although weather is rarely a cause for concern.

Magnus will do, Uzumaki.