Arrival; And through timeless words in priceless pictures...

[momentbymoment]

Visiting places she's never been, walking into realities that aren't truly real, these are things Eva is used to. Maybe too used to, if the veteran agents are to be believed, but usually she enters them of her own volition. On purpose, and with the memory that she has done so.

She's altered so many people's memories over the years, with their consent and for their own happiness. Never before has she felt her own mind so tampered with.

At first, she was certain she was dreaming. Why not? A castle with a room full of candy, and seemingly endless corridors? That's the stuff of sleep and dreams. Not usually of her's, but these things aren't always predictable.

But when the dream doesn't end, no matter how she wanders or what she does, she starts to get suspicious. Everything around her is so solid, and time seems to flow fairly normally. So if she isn't dreaming... then what? Someone's memory is the most likely culprit, but she has no memory herself of a client. Did something go wrong? ... Again? After that incident with Johnny she thought she more than had her share of drama for at least a few months.

She's just starting to wonder if she should panic when she passes the lab. Like a moth to flame she's drawn in. It's more well-equipped than she expected and... feels oddly familiar. The set up of the hood, the type of tools and equipment, even the smell of it. Her eyes narrow suspiciously as the feeling of de ja vu only grows.

Then, behind her, a meow. The first indication of a living thing. She'd rather it be human, but as she turns to look at the creature, a tidal wave of emotions hits her hard. Of all the cats in the world...

She crouches down and holds out her hand for it, smiling in a tired sort of way as it moves to bump its face against her. "Now you were not what I was expecting." It meows again.

"Not a bad job, considering..." Not that she'd admit that aloud if Neil was in earshot. She can tell it's a data projection, of course. If it was a real cat she could write it off as a coincidence. Unfortunately, it isn't, and that means Neil is here, too, for better or worse.

That doesn't answer any of her questions. "Do you know where Neil is?" She asks the cat as she picks it up. It's the only company she has, and it's coming with her. She continues her investigation of the lab and the castle itself with a datacat purring in her arms.

Comments

[momentbymoment]

"-Wait what?"

This place is what and they're where and ???????

[notsogrimreaper]

Ryoji only laughs nervously for a moment. "Sorry, but that's kind of the expected reaction. There's really no good way to explain this. I mean, some of us are obviously trying to find some answers, but I don't know of any yet. All I can tell you is that... we're here now."

He shrugs, his smile fading just a bit.

"That probably isn't the answer you want, and I'm sorry I have to break the news to you."

[momentbymoment]

She shakes her head, lifting a hand off of Goku to rub the bridge of her nose.

"No, no, don't be sorry. I'd rather be told sooner than later, and I did get what I asked for." She sighs, "I'm inclined to believe we all ended up in a glitched memoryscape... so I don't suppose you're also an agent for Sigmund Corp?"

He looks too young, and has too few answers. Of course this couldn't have the parsimonious solution.

[notsogrimreaper]

"Um... glitched memoryscape? I've definitely never heard of Sigmund Corp, so I think that answers your question. I understand it's a lot to take in though, so... feel free to ask, and I'll keep trying to answer."

He wants to help her, as much as he can with the little knowledge he has.

[momentbymoment]

Hmmmm. He really has no idea what she's talking about. So he's either a data recreation, or... Well, she's really not in Kansas anymore.

"Interesting. So everyone here on the... island... came here from somewhere else?" Or remembers doing so, she adds internally.

[notsogrimreaper]

"Well, pretty much. Some people seem to come from the same place. There are two who seem to be brothers here, for example. And some seem to come from worlds that are very closely linked. One of my friends met another version of himself not too long ago."

And is still probably having a fit about it, Ryoji notes sadly.

[momentbymoment]

That sounds fake, but okay.

Not that she thinks this nice boy would lie to her. She hmmms and taps a finger to her chin, trying to process that. This is like one of Neil's weird crossover science fiction things.

"That sounds very complicated," she shakes her head to dismiss her seriousness a little. "I'm sorry for being so rude. You've been very kind to me. I'm Eva, by the way."

[notsogrimreaper]

He isn't really capable of lying, and would be a bit insulted that she thought that. At least she's keeping that to herself, so the teen just shakes his head at her apology.

"You weren't being rude at all! Just a bit shocked, like we all were coming here. I'm Ryoji Mochizuki. It's a pleasure, Eva-san."

[momentbymoment]

She really isn't accusing him of lying, so much as she really has trouble believing that's actually a Thing. Any of that.

His understanding is very appreciated. It's disarming, actually, how kind he is. "It's very nice to meet you, Ryoji." She isn't sure what to do about the honorific. She recognizes that it is a japanese honorific, but she isn't familiar enough with the language to return the gesture, or even to know exactly what that one is for. She doesn't want to admit that small ignorance, though. It isn't important.

"I don't suppose there's anything resembling an explanation for why we're all suddenly arriving here?"

[notsogrimreaper]

It's hard for most newcomers, so he's definitely not blaming her. As long as she gives him the benefit of the doubt and lets him attempt to explain, he's not at all bothered, and has no reason not to be kind.

He nods at her as thanks, noticing that she doesn't add the honorific. Seems like he's one of the few people around from Japan... a little strange, but definitely not bad. Just something he'll get used to.

"An explanation... is something we're still working on finding. We all seem to be pulled here at random times and places without any real connection. Some of us were in danger before we came here, and others were living completely normal lives. Some people just fell asleep and woke up here. I really don't know if there's a specific reason. As far as I can see, this castle is mainly safe, and abandoned besides some... particularly annoyed birds."