trustfell | Initiative.

Rachel looks a bit conflicted about what should happen from here; Lisbeth is still on the floor, but she's told her what she should do, and so... Well, she's never really been good at saying no, though she does walk up and reach out to pet Lisbeth's hair gingerly for a moment before turning to everyone else.

"We should leave."

And with that, the courtroom changes, all at once; it was one thing, and then quite simply it isn't, and the podium circle has been replaced with a round spread of consoles wrapping around a center spire. The room is no longer concrete and steel, but rather stark white, all done up in glossy tile that looks like it'd crack if you hit it hard enough with something – that said, it's not recommended to try, given that it's just as indestructible as everything else in the building.

Rachel approaches the consoles, reaching out to touch them, fingers tapping gently against several of the unmarked buttons; it's probably not precisely necessary for her to do so, given the state of things, but she seems to like doing it, so do it she shall. There are a pair of slots that look like keycards are required; she glances at them for a second before manipulating more buttons, causing a small panel to open up in front of her – it looks like an authorization mechanism of some sort, the kind that you press your hand against to get it to recognize you.

"It's going to be a bit jarring when you wake up; sorry about that, but you've been asleep for a really long time. I'd suggest giving it a moment."

She pauses, though, once that's out there, glancing back at everyone.

"I'll be on the other side with you, but not like this. We can still talk, though, if you like."

And with that she just turns and presses her hand against the panel without waiting for an answer; the next thing you're aware of is the flash.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Susan frowns a little, going to lean against the side of his pod, too.]

I guess not. [.....] Did you all ever get all those letters we left?

Letters? I'm afraid I don't believe we got anything like that.

[He looks sad at the idea.]

...We should have made more of an effort to communicate.

...it's all right. I'm not used to getting even that much while I'm dead. The problems were probably on our end, anyway - it's hard to work blind.

[..........]

I'd said I was sorry that we couldn't talk on Sundays anymore. [Sounds like your memories took an even worse turn while she was gone.]

.....Ah... I understand.

It was... difficult, without you around. I'm... glad you were all right, in the end, even if this has been an... experience I would rather have not been through.

...yeah. Yeah, you too.

[As far as that goes. Which leads to the real question on her mind:]

What's this about you not being able to go back home, then?

I'm one of those "remnants" Lisbeth mentioned.

A... very long story short, I'm almost positive a man with the power to chance the past has done so, and were I to return to my world, I don't know what would happen. Ten years could have been complete re-written.

...you wouldn't have been the same.

[It's not a question, just a statement. Susan has spent long enough here thinking through the ramifications of time travel stuff - due to one incentive or another, mostly - that she can follow the logic easily enough. The man returning wouldn't be the one that was meant to be there. Maybe there's a separate man there already, who wouldn't recognize the life this one lived.]

Well. You can come with me, then, if you haven't got anywhere else. I'm not sure what you've worked out.

[...Ah.]

That's very kind of you to offer. I might take you up on that.

[After all, he's close enough to English people probably won't notice anything.]

I think a number of people are going to Elda's world. I might stay there for a while, as a bit of a vacation.

That does sound nice...

[Three

Two

One]

Oh, god. I'm really behind on my rent, aren't I?

[..........]

It has been two months, hasn't it?

God damn it.

[It feels a little like a silly thing to be upset about after all of this, and she’s having trouble dredging up all of the feelings that maybe she should have, but also she’s definitely gonna have to deal with it.

...Maybe it's still possible to go back. It's probably worth the attempt.

Probably, but it's going to be a pain. My landlord doesn't like me much anyway.

I'm sure the group won't mind if you come with.. strength in numbers and all that, at least when we first start traveling.

...yeah. I...if we can't travel around as much as we like, then I don't know that I want to go back. There's nobody for me there that's as important as the people here.

I think I understand. Even if I could go back, it's... complicated.

We've all been through so much in such a short period of time.

Yeah. Shared trauma like that's really powerful. It'd be surreal to just...go home to normal life, and not have anybody even know. Most of us probably couldn't say much, or people would think we were mad.

That might be why so many of the group are leaving together to one world-- the ones who must return can do so, while the majority who don't want to or can't leave as a group, and probably split up eventually, though I can't imagine most people would go all that far.

No. I can't imagine Elda's England has much more for me than mine. I hope this translation thing stays, though, or I'm going to have problems in Japan.

...As will I, honestly.

Initiative.

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