001. [VIDEO]

[raketen]

[ The camerawork is shaky at best, as if the user has forgotten the device's place in his hands. The interior of a room and the outline of a young man whirl by once, twice-- and the picture steadies suddenly; Alfons has found a place for the peculiar device to sit. He stares at it warily, obviously quite uneasy. ]Ah... I don't know if anyone is

Comments

[voice]

[girl_unlocking]

[The voice is that of a young girl, early teens probably - it wavers ; she's a little frantic.]

I-I can see you. You're in Anatole. Did...you say that they ...killed you?

[oh. um. no. Nononononononononono. Nope. Lalalalalala I can't hear you, weird shadow-thing in my head. I'm not even--]

This is not the afterlife! I-it's so not. It's just ...somewhere else. You're bleeding! Does it hurt? Did you hit your head? I...

There are a LOT of people here. Most of them probably aren't evil at all.

...I'm Dawn.

[VOICE] 1/2.

[raketen]

Yes, they-- killed me... [ A pause, and then a sudden gasp. ] Ah! Not someone here, no! Someone from where I come from, I mean! I mean-- I don't think I was killed for the purpose of coming here-- oh, at this point can't be sure of anything. [ A sigh, almost exasperated. Alfons is a little frantic, too. ]

Somewhere else, huh? --Oh! No, no, I'm fine, thank you! I don't think I've hit my head-- [ Though maybe he did, maybe he hit his head hard when he fell and he isn't really in this place, maybe he wasn't killed at all, maybe it's all a dream and he'll wake up in some hospit-- ah, a ridiculous thought. He stops it immediately. ]

[VOICE] 2/2.

[raketen]

[ There's a second pause while Alfons tries to recollect himself. When he speaks again it's with a calmer voice. ]

It's good to know that most of the people here are good, then. Did all of the people from through the Gate? --Ah, I mean Door, I apologize.

It's nice to meet you, Dawn. My name's Alfons.

[voice]

[girl_unlocking]

Oh no! That- that's terrible! A-are you sure you're not ...hurt?

I...I'm from Sunnydale, California. I've met a couple people here that know what California is, and a lot that ...uh, don't. It's confusing. And I was really scared at first.

[A breath and an audible swallow.]

I still am, mostly. But people have been nice, and it's not so...

...I don't know. I think a lot of people came through that [audible shudder] ...door, but there are people here that were born here too. They're mostly other places I think. And they don't have Forges? Sorry. That wasn't a question, I just...

...hi Alfons. W-where are you ...from?

[VOICE]

[raketen]

[ To be honest, Alfons isn't sure if this city is preferable to the afterlife. At least he isn't alone, and at least the people seem friendly enough... ]

Thank you. I appreciate the offer very much, mister--?

[VOICE]

[raketen]

It's nice to meet you then, Mr. Dornez. I'm Alfons Heiderich.