THE FIRST ☠ VIDEO

[greatestcool]

[The video opens to a young man dressed in purple, looking a bit anxious.]

...Oh man, I really hope this thing is working. I don't think I broke it, but it's not like the 'Gear, so I don't know if it's actually transmitting...

[He studies it for a moment before finally relaxing. An easy smile crosses his face and he leans forward a bit, actually managing to look at the camera.]

Well, if this thing's working, then hi! I just woke up here this morning, so I'd like to know what's going on. The last thing I remember is going to bed in [the Team Rocket base, but he's not going to mention that] Goldenrod, and now I'm here. I don't think this is like that weird dream everyone had - this doesn't look like that castle, after all - but correct me if I'm wrong!

[He steps back from the terminal and reaches up to absently tug at the collar around his neck. For those of you who recognize this man, it might be a bit of a surprise to see that the collar is blue.]

Oh yeah, what are these for? I definitely didn't have this on when I went to sleep. It's kind of annoying, but I can't get it off. Is there any reason for that?

[Ryuunosuke pauses, tapping a finger to his chin in thought. As he's thinking, a strange ghost floats into the frame and starts pulling faces behind Ryuunosuke's back. He doesn't seem aware of it at all.]

I think that's about it. I guess I'll be here in the library if you want to come talk to me directly, otherwise I'll respond on this thing! ...Assuming it's working, that is. I'll feel really dumb if this isn't broadcasting...

[He reaches over to shut the camera off, still smiling innocently.]

Comments

[video]

[fionnuisce]

...Did you hit your head? You're sounding more nonsensical than usual.

[For someone actually researching collar fluid, Waver, you'd think you'd pay more attention to colors. Or the ~mysterious haunting~. Then again, he'd just as soon chalk that up to Tower hijinks.]

[video]

[greatestcool]

Huh? No, I'm pretty sure I didn't hit my head.

[...wait...]

I don't think we've met. How do you know me? Or well, know what I sound like usually.

[video; 1/2]

[fionnuisce]

What are you on about, of cour--

[video]

[fionnuisce]

[Processing...]

-Oh god are there two of you.

[video]

[greatestcool]

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

There are two of--?

[WAIT. WAIT.]

You mean there's another me here!? That's-- That's--!

[wait for it]

That's so cool!!

[video]

[monstrueux]

Ryuunosuke!

[Ah, how wonderful it is to see him alive again after his long exile. He's sorry to have gone away and left him, but he's ever more sure of everything now. And they still haven't spoken about his poem--!]

You are still here. We all have the collars... [He reaches up to touch his own, violet one. How could Ryuunosuke have forgotten--] Ah, did you lose your memory?

[He's heard of that happening, he thinks.]

[video]

[greatestcool]

[It takes Ryuunosuke a moment to respond, mostly because he has to control the urge to burst into tears. When he does reply to the video, he still kind of looks like he's about to start sobbing at any second, but it's a good sort of crying.]

Bluebeard, sir! You're here!

[It's been over a year since he last saw Caster, so it's something worth getting worked up over.]

--Huh? Lose my memory? I'm pretty sure I've never been here before, sir.

[That question does get him calm down a bit though and Ryuunosuke tips his head to the side.]

Have you been here for a long time?

[video]-->[action]

[monstrueux]

Yes, I am here! God has brought me here, the last remnant from a dead world.

If you lost your memory, you would be sure you had never been here, would you not?

[Quality logic.]

I have been here-- [He's not sure exactly how long...] --For some months! Then I returned home. But now I am here again. But--I must join you!

[He would rather not use this machine too long; it's not the same as talking in person. So his transmission suddenly cuts off. But a short while later, he appears in the library, materializing before Ryuunosuke.]

And here I am!

[action]

[greatestcool]

[Ryuunosuke waits for Caster to show up, tossing a red and white ball into the air and catching it. Haunter is still beside him and when Caster enters the ghost Pokémon makes a soft noise to get Ryuunosuke's attention.]

Ah! Bluebeard, sir!

[He catches the ball again and grins widely. His first thought is to rush over and hug Caster, but that would be kind of awkward, wouldn't it? ...Or would it? He's not really sure, so he settles for sitting on the table and idly kicking his legs.]

It's really good to see you again! It's been... I think it's been over a year since I last saw you! Or well, that I remember. Since I don't remember this place.

video

[puppy_lancer]

Ah, that's for keeping your soul stable.

[Lancer taps his own collar. Right now, he's less interested in the speaker so much as he is the strange ghost floating behind him.]

It's pretty complicated. You're new, right?

video

[greatestcool]

My soul...? That sounds complicated. Is it some kind of magic?

[Said ghost is still pulling faces and Ryuunosuke is still completely oblivious to it.]

Yeah, I am! I just woke up here this morning.

Re: video

[puppy_lancer]

Science, as far as I can tell. Though it's some bizarre science.

So I guess you're gonna need someone to tell you about how this place works.

[Video]

[kindofademon]

Huh.

[Ryuunosuke wasn't expecting to see himself on the terminals, but it's not like he never considered the possibility of another him showing up. Still, actually seeing it is different.]

Can't say this has happened to me before! How's it going, me?

[Video]

[greatestcool]

[oh my god it's true there's another version of himself!!]

Whoa, no way! You really do exist!

[...]

I mean, I kind of figured as much since some of the other people I talked to seemed to know me, but wow this is so cool!!

[Video]

[kindofademon]

'Course I exist! I've been existing here for ages, and everybody else was getting to meet themselves except me. ['Everybody' is mostly Waver, he doesn't know how many other people had duplicates.] It's about time my luck turned around!

Oh, heads up, we've kind of got a bad reputation around here, sorry about that.

[Action]

[wrathishness]

[It would be nice if Ira had appeared in the library because he'd seen Ryuunosuke's transmission and decided to join up with a fellow newbie, see if they can't figure out what's going on together.

It would be nice, but it would also be completely out of character, even if Ira had seen the network post.

Instead, the young boy appears in the library from literally out of nowhere. He scowls as he looks around, scratches his head, and strides by where the terminals are, potentially bumping into Ryuunosuke as he passes.

He does not bother to stop and apologize.]

[Action]

[greatestcool]

Hey, watch where you're going.

[It's not said in a mean tone of voice though, instead it's said as though this is some sort of constructive criticism that will totally help you in the future. Or something. Ryuunosuke's not really all that big on confrontation.]

Hey, can you tell me anything about this place? I just showed up here today.

[Action]

[wrathishness]

[Unfortunately, Ira is A-OK with confrontation and a jerk to boot, which will inevitably get him in hot water. Ryuunosuke's chiding gets him a sour look.]

I'll go wherever I want. Why don't you watch where you're standing?

[The question goes completely ignored. This is because Ira just showed up today too, but Ryuunosuke might interpret it differently.]

Video

[nonacquiescent]

Oh my God they've spawned.

[NOPE.JPG]

Video

[greatestcool]

Well, I don't actually think other-me spawned. I mean, I'm pretty sure that's not the case. That would be kind of weird.

[the point











ryuunosuke's head]

Video

[nonacquiescent]

Yeah I got that.

So how are you different, what the Hell are you doing here, don't you dare try anything.

video;

[chainsawn]

[ ... She talked to this person before, right? Back when they were locked up in their rooms.. yes, Urotsuki is pretty sure of it. But it's exactly because of that fact that what he's saying suddenly becomes really weird. She blinks a few times. ]

Are you maybe talking in your sleep..? You've been here for a while now.

video;

[greatestcool]

Oh, you must have talked to other-me! I just got here today!

[chainsawn]

You have another you..? Lucky you. [ She's at least heard of multiple versions of one person maybe existing in the tower, so the idea is not that weird to her now it's been mentioned. She nods. ]

I still have to meet up with the other me here.

[ .. who actually isn't her at all, but.. ]

Did you really meet your other you?

video;

[nordic_dovahkiin]

[Brunwulf just stared at the ghost behind the boy. Some kind of phantom?]

The collar is fixed around your neck by our captors. Don't try to force it off or you'll probably die. You were brought here against your will to this tower. We all were. Sad to say, we can never leave. Apparently.

I must ask...

...what is that ghost behind you?