( 001 ) voice.

[pigface]

[ Penelope's a smart girl, so despite the fact that she avoided talking to people as much as she could on her way to the room she'd been assigned, she'd managed to get information about this place. But having information doesn't necessarily make being kidnapped any easier to swallow. ]

Hello? Is this-- [ She taps the bracelet, as if it might give her some sort of feedback. ] Is this thing on? Can anyone hear me? [ Having information doesn't exactly mean she knows how to use something like this, either. She's been out of the house for months now, sure, but she's only just adjusted to being able to use phones. Having a bracelet that works similarly? Not exactly something she'd ever expected she'd need to learn. ]

If this does actually reach out to everyone else that has been brought here, I'd like to ask you all a question: how long ago were you brought here? How long have you been held captive? I understand that we don't exactly have a choice for when we get to go home, but it would be nice to have an estimate of how long it might be until I get sent back.

[ There's another brief pause before she adds, ] Thank you for your time.

Comments

voice;

[whitechocolate]

You're on the network so everyone should be able to hear you.

I was here for a few months before I got sent home. I guess the gods wanted me back for some reason because I'm here again. Haven't been back for very long.

I take it you're new?

voice;

[pigface]

I wasn't sure. I've never used anything like this before.

[ She hadn't heard anything about that. ] Does that happen a lot? People being sent home and brought back?

I am, yes.

Audio

[samantha_grey]

About six months. I wouldn't call myself a captive anymore, but... that's a long story. You new here?

Audio

[pigface]

I am. Why wouldn't you call yourself one? Is there... Do you have a short story?

Audio

[samantha_grey]

I guess you could say the short version is I got invested in actually fighting the war.

[Video]

[5thchild]

Over half year. And I was sent back once to my world.

Audio

[pigface]

After how long? [ Sorry, Samantha, she's going to be asking all sorts of questions. ]

audio.

[pigface]

Really? You're the second person to say that.

Iaudio.

[5thchild]

It's not uncommon. However, some people return with no memory of this place.

Re: Audio

[samantha_grey]

[She'll live. She's the suspicious sort, but these questions make sense.]

I honestly couldn't tell you. There's... things about this place that are better for me. Something changed after a couple months. It's not that I don't want to go back...

But I don't mind staying here as long as I can.

video;

[bluespacebabe]

A little over a month, I think? I haven't exactly been keeping very good track...

[pigface]

That's awful. Why would the gods mess with a person's memory in that way?

Audio

[pigface]

[ Though she doesn't hum or anything, Penelope does take a few moments to consider that quietly, though there's the sound of her thumb hitting the bracelet lightly. ]

Are there many people that feel that way, do you think? Could that be why the gods keep people here, in hopes that they'll eventually stop fighting to go home and consider this place where they belong?

audio.

[pigface]

Are you not interested in knowing how long you're here for?

Audio

[samantha_grey]

You know. I don't really know how many people actually like it here. I know some do, or at least don't mind it. But there's a lot who're still pissed. I think it's easier for most of them after a bit to see folks are desperate here.

Really, they don't actually want us here that much. Most of them don't even like us. They need help with this war, and then they will probably ship us all back where we came from. But us not fighting probably comes in handy for some things.

Audio

[pigface]

If they need the help so badly, perhaps they should ask rather than bring us here against our will. I'd be willing to bet that many people out there would be happy to lend a hand.

Audio

[samantha_grey]

Believe me, you are not the first person to say that. I would have liked a request too... and I would have liked better timing too. Hauling me off where I was wasn't exactly convenient. But, I don't know if I'd actually have lent a hand if they'd asked back then.

I've always been the suspicious type.

[voice]

[ex_outofcontrol435]

Three months, somewhere in there. There's already been a false alarm about everyone going home, though, at least that's what I heard. Not to mention that Ragnarok is apparently a cycle, so it could all happen over again once we're done.

[He snorts.]

Welcome to the land of bullshit.

Audio

[pigface]

What's so different about now?

[ Seriously, Penelope, stop with the questions. ]

[voice]

[pigface]

I suppose you're not one of the people that's somewhat content to be here, then. [ Stating the obvious, 101. ]

Audio

[samantha_grey]

Well, the thing is... a lot of us have actually fought against the giants, at least among the ones who've been here for a while. Seeing them drop plague canisters, attack us with dragons or having shark-toothed assassins try to attack you in trains really... sort of changes how you look at a situation.

What changed... I guess one of the things that changed was the giants hurt people I'd started to really care about for one. That, and I'm sort of used to being forced into one side, like it or not.

[voice]

[ex_outofcontrol435]

You could say that. [Tersely.] I've got my own shit to be dealing with back home, where I can actually be myself.

[5thchild]

I'm not sure. It's something I still don't know.

Audio

[pigface]

They've really done all of those things? [ Maybe getting out of the house isn't always all Penelope dreamed it would be... ] That's awful. Are those people you care about alright, at least?

Is your world like this one? With war and forced fighting?

[voice]

[pigface]

[ This question comes out almost hesitantly, though she's definitely curious as to what his answer will be. ] What do you mean, where you can be yourself?