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[white_raven]

How many of you knew of an "Asgard" before arriving here? Be it a place, a land, a person, a book, an animal race or something else. Fictional or real both apply.

To rephrase: Did the word "Asgard" exist and mean anything in your world, and if yes, what? Or did you encounter it first after being drafted to this place?

[Testing the waters and theories.]

Comments

[white_raven]

I guess Odin people must be wise, then.

[The comment is delivered in a completely deadpan voice, it's unclear if he is being serious or not.]

[whatagoodgirl]

[She doesn't tend to take much as a joke, so she takes this at face value.]

The people I know from Odin are certainly smart, anyway. Book-smart, I mean.

[white_raven]

My [There is a minimal pause - saying this still feels weird to someone who has never in his life had a friend before, and also being friends is not even close to the whole description of what connects them] friend is in Odin, he is ...more than book-smart, I think. Though that is what he is more than how he is.

[whatagoodgirl]

[She partially understands that pause, and it makes her smile, hidden behind the voice function. Someone who's not used to having friends - she can relate.]

A friend from home?

[white_raven]

Yes. Though he is from another time - though only a few days into the future. [Yet so much must have happened between his time and then...]

[whatagoodgirl]

You're lucky, to have a friend from home. [She manages to sound genuinely happy for him, masking her envy.]

[white_raven]

It took a month before he came. [His tone shows that he is glad that Will is here, but it also expresses worry.]

[whatagoodgirl]

[She hears that worry, and wonders about it.]

Are you worried about him being here? Because of what the gods can do?

[white_raven]

That too.

[There is a pause.] They say that no time passes back home, but who really knows? And what if time is not linear in the first place?

[whatagoodgirl]

[And then a long pause on her end.]

I know they're hard to believe after everything that's happened, but I have to believe that. I'd go crazy thinking about what was going on back home if I didn't believe that. I don't blame you for doubting it, but... I just can't.

[white_raven]

It would mean the end of my world as it sould be.

[Without him and Will, two crucial pieces of the prophecy would be missing. Like the Lady's absence kept the Light from winning for good the last time around, his and Will's absence would make the Light lose this last and final battle to the Dark.]

[whatagoodgirl]

It could easily mean the same for mine. [Solemnly.] That's why we have to believe. We can't let them kill our hope entirely just because they aren't always honest.

[white_raven]

If there is only one world of a kind, we are safe. [If. If his and Will's world is the same, he wasn't really gone. But if it isn't...]

[whatagoodgirl]

Then believe that, so that you can focus on your life here. That's what'll get you back the soonest.

[white_raven]

I don't think that that is the pattern by which people are returned.

[whatagoodgirl]

No, but there's probably no pattern, so there's a chance you'll have to stay until everything here has finished. And throwing yourself into a life here, letting yourself live here, will finish our task faster.

[white_raven]

Probably.

[Someone doesn't sound convinced at all, but he won't continue the discussion, either.]

I'm surprised that you're still alone, considering how long you've been here.

[whatagoodgirl]

I don't have anyone here from home, but I'm far from alone. [Bravely.] I've made lots of friends here who've helped me get through things.

[white_raven]

That is good, at least.

[Still he is suprised. Most people seem to attract others from their worlds sooner or later.]

[whatagoodgirl]

I wasn't very close to a lot of my friends back home, anyway. I just met them last summer at a Nature School, and... it had to close early.

[The most she's saying for now.]

[white_raven]

What is a Nature School?

[whatagoodgirl]

Well... have you ever been to a summer camp? It's like that, except you've got assignments and homework and whatnot.

[white_raven]

No, I haven't.

So it's school when you should be on vacation?

[whatagoodgirl]

Yeah, you go out into nature and learn about it. There was a beautiful beach there... I'd never been to the seaside before.

[white_raven]

Why not?

[He lives only a couple of kilometres off the coast, so that is a strange thought for him.]