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[It's sometime after dinner. It's sometime after dinner and eventually Junpei makes his way back to his assigned room. By now he's figured out that he's staying with two people instead of one, and he almost laughs to himself. Of course that's how it'd turn out. It was always meant to be group of three.
He wants to go and find someone else, but. It can wait. Instead, he slips the clamshell out of his pocket and unlocks the door, entering the room and lingering in the doorway.
His dufflebag was dumped on the floor in a corner, but he's going to see if the other two are back yet. Hewwo?]
He wants to go and find someone else, but. It can wait. Instead, he slips the clamshell out of his pocket and unlocks the door, entering the room and lingering in the doorway.
His dufflebag was dumped on the floor in a corner, but he's going to see if the other two are back yet. Hewwo?]
[ Escha had already checked and figured out that she was rooming with two people. And she's gotten along with nearly everyone, so she's not... As worried about it as she could be? Even if it is a little uncomfortable.
She wanted to make a good impression, so she came to the room with three slices of the apple tart she made; she figured they could eat them together, if they ended up coming to bed around the same time. Maybe that could make the Figuring Out The Bed thing less tense.
Escha's bag has also been hastily tossed into a corner, and she's sitting at one of the seats in the kitchenette. She still looks a little tense when she sees Junpei and nods. Hewwo... ]
She wanted to make a good impression, so she came to the room with three slices of the apple tart she made; she figured they could eat them together, if they ended up coming to bed around the same time. Maybe that could make the Figuring Out The Bed thing less tense.
Escha's bag has also been hastily tossed into a corner, and she's sitting at one of the seats in the kitchenette. She still looks a little tense when she sees Junpei and nods. Hewwo... ]
[ dick has just been in a closet this whole time and no one saw him! no, that's creepy. He could've done it, but that's too creepy.
Instead he showed up not long before Junpei; he, like the other two, also can read (incredible.) and noticed he was rooming with more people than normal. he also went ahead and looked up who he was rooming with and was-- honestly, a little relieved. he'd gotten along with most people, but some were definitely edging into dangerous territory. Junpei and Escha seemed... a safer bet.
his own bag was set gently next to the couch because his butler would kick his fucking ass if he threw it anywhere. He gives a little casual two fingered salute when he sees Junpei come in, still kind of standing in the room because he like, just came in. ]
Hey. Looks like the gang's all here. You bring any tribute? [ he gestures to the three slices of apple tart near escha ] Escha's already winning the best roommate bid by making us dessert.
[ he is quite clearly just trying to bring the mood up, that's like, his whole job ]
Instead he showed up not long before Junpei; he, like the other two, also can read (incredible.) and noticed he was rooming with more people than normal. he also went ahead and looked up who he was rooming with and was-- honestly, a little relieved. he'd gotten along with most people, but some were definitely edging into dangerous territory. Junpei and Escha seemed... a safer bet.
his own bag was set gently next to the couch because his butler would kick his fucking ass if he threw it anywhere. He gives a little casual two fingered salute when he sees Junpei come in, still kind of standing in the room because he like, just came in. ]
Hey. Looks like the gang's all here. You bring any tribute? [ he gestures to the three slices of apple tart near escha ] Escha's already winning the best roommate bid by making us dessert.
[ he is quite clearly just trying to bring the mood up, that's like, his whole job ]
[He's what he's figured out. Escha's pretty young, a little older than Dick, but for the most part a nice and pretty mild-mannered girl. Dick is chatty and doesn't seem too thrown off about these circumstances and has a good head on his shoulders. Overall, not the worst.
He's a little happy to see that they're both here already, and also not entirely surprised that Escha brought dessert. It's sweet? It's more like he's surprised, but if he thinks about it in terms of her, it makes sense. The door's shut and he stops somewhere between them for the time being. Let's get organized, maybe.]
That's because Takko reminded me exactly why I never learned to bake. [But Escha gets a slight grin for her efforts and Dick gets a serious answer.] I brought you six hours. That's the span of lunch until dinner, and we can start putting together the rest of the hours later.
[...but, to Escha:] Looks like you were busy today, too. [Baking is effort.]
He's a little happy to see that they're both here already, and also not entirely surprised that Escha brought dessert. It's sweet? It's more like he's surprised, but if he thinks about it in terms of her, it makes sense. The door's shut and he stops somewhere between them for the time being. Let's get organized, maybe.]
That's because Takko reminded me exactly why I never learned to bake. [But Escha gets a slight grin for her efforts and Dick gets a serious answer.] I brought you six hours. That's the span of lunch until dinner, and we can start putting together the rest of the hours later.
[...but, to Escha:] Looks like you were busy today, too. [Baking is effort.]
[ Escha laughs lightly at Dick's comment. It's not a competition, but it's nice to be praised...! ]
I tried to figure things out first, but in the end I ran out of places to search and people to talk to, so... I figured cooking and baking would help out more than pacing around and bothering people who are already stressed out.
[ So, like, she kind of did it to be nice, but also: people gotta eat, and she doesn't like being idle. At any rate, she raises up the plate for Junpei up to him. ]
I tried to figure things out first, but in the end I ran out of places to search and people to talk to, so... I figured cooking and baking would help out more than pacing around and bothering people who are already stressed out.
[ So, like, she kind of did it to be nice, but also: people gotta eat, and she doesn't like being idle. At any rate, she raises up the plate for Junpei up to him. ]
[ to junpei, first: ]
Nice. Thanks. Means my inner sense of time isn't completely busted by being here.
[ which implies they might be working on earth hours. weird. anyway! more importantly!! ]
Looks like you've both got me beat. The only thing I've managed to bring is a headache on myself. [ but he shrugs lightly like he's not too bothered, deciding to perch himself casually on the back of the couch. with his own plate because he's eating that tart. also there's a perfectly good normal sitting place right there, but. no. ] Quick q-- either of you guys have special ... powers or abilities back home you can't access here?
[ he knows they should talk about the elephant in the bedroom (it's the bed.), but sometimes, you don't wanna talk about bed sharing. ]
Nice. Thanks. Means my inner sense of time isn't completely busted by being here.
[ which implies they might be working on earth hours. weird. anyway! more importantly!! ]
Looks like you've both got me beat. The only thing I've managed to bring is a headache on myself. [ but he shrugs lightly like he's not too bothered, deciding to perch himself casually on the back of the couch. with his own plate because he's eating that tart. also there's a perfectly good normal sitting place right there, but. no. ] Quick q-- either of you guys have special ... powers or abilities back home you can't access here?
[ he knows they should talk about the elephant in the bedroom (it's the bed.), but sometimes, you don't wanna talk about bed sharing. ]
Smart. [But he'll take the plate and nod a short thank you before perching on another part of the couch. The arm, specifically, so he can see both of them. He doesn't quite eat yet and there's a nod of agreement. Earth hours seems right to him, too.
The powers question is something that makes him pause though.]
Seems like a few people are missing some things. Powers, biological abilities...stuff you wouldn't think could be flipped like a switch.
[Thank you for not even remotely answering the question, Junpei. He'll busy himself with a bite of tart.]
The powers question is something that makes him pause though.]
Seems like a few people are missing some things. Powers, biological abilities...stuff you wouldn't think could be flipped like a switch.
[Thank you for not even remotely answering the question, Junpei. He'll busy himself with a bite of tart.]
I don't have any powers to begin with, so I haven't noticed any changes, myself...
[ Alchemy isn't a power or magic or anything, so she (wrongly) assumes it would be intact. If she had the right materials and a cauldron, which she doesn't. ]
Um, but speaking of time, it's probably worth mentioning that even if time feels like it's moving normally, there's still something wrong with it. My partner, Logy?
He's from four years in the past.
[ Alchemy isn't a power or magic or anything, so she (wrongly) assumes it would be intact. If she had the right materials and a cauldron, which she doesn't. ]
Um, but speaking of time, it's probably worth mentioning that even if time feels like it's moving normally, there's still something wrong with it. My partner, Logy?
He's from four years in the past.
I don't have any, either, but yeah, that's what I gathered from other people.
[ he's open about it even if junpei won't be :/ rude. but escha's thing is a lot more interesting than junpei's caginess, and he looks at her with a frown ]
And you're sure he's the same guy you know? [ hm. ] A lot of us seem to be from different worlds entirely. Maybe even alternate dimensions. But if two people from the same place yet different times... There's really no limit to when and where they managed to take us from, is there? And what would the logic behind that be?
[ nightwing you can't just casually drop the different worlds/dimensions thing without expanding a little you absolute dick ]
[ he's open about it even if junpei won't be :/ rude. but escha's thing is a lot more interesting than junpei's caginess, and he looks at her with a frown ]
And you're sure he's the same guy you know? [ hm. ] A lot of us seem to be from different worlds entirely. Maybe even alternate dimensions. But if two people from the same place yet different times... There's really no limit to when and where they managed to take us from, is there? And what would the logic behind that be?
[ nightwing you can't just casually drop the different worlds/dimensions thing without expanding a little you absolute dick ]
[Look Junpei's thing is related to both of these, shut up? Give him a sec. Actually, this time he openly looks a little bummed upon hearing Escha's news.]
So you confirmed it after all. [There's a frown.] There can be a few reasons the timeline would be meddled with. If Logy was different four years ago than he is as Escha knows him at her point of time, our captors might figure they have a better use for him that way.
Long story short? No. There's no limit. [...] Carlos and I are a few minutes apart, too.
So you confirmed it after all. [There's a frown.] There can be a few reasons the timeline would be meddled with. If Logy was different four years ago than he is as Escha knows him at her point of time, our captors might figure they have a better use for him that way.
Long story short? No. There's no limit. [...] Carlos and I are a few minutes apart, too.
It's the same Logy. I would know, I'm sure of it.
I didn't think about us all being from different dimensions at first... I figured it was just because I don't know that much about the world beyond my town, and it's also not unusual for other people to not know about such a small place. But... [ Well, all things considered, it just seems like the most plausible explanation, now. ]
[ She looks to Carlos, tilting her head curiously. ] ... By just a few minutes? How can you tell? [ Unless something very dramatic happened in those minutes? ]
I didn't think about us all being from different dimensions at first... I figured it was just because I don't know that much about the world beyond my town, and it's also not unusual for other people to not know about such a small place. But... [ Well, all things considered, it just seems like the most plausible explanation, now. ]
[ She looks to Carlos, tilting her head curiously. ] ... By just a few minutes? How can you tell? [ Unless something very dramatic happened in those minutes? ]
Alright. I believe you.
[ it's said quietly. he'd know his own friends and family from alternates, he's pretty sure. not that he's thinking about it because wow! he does not want to! yea you know what the few minutes is. very curious and a lot more important let's all look at junpei ]
This related to the "situation" you said you were in?
[ not that he actually said it but whatever, implied. the importance is, if they were both involved in it... ]
[ it's said quietly. he'd know his own friends and family from alternates, he's pretty sure. not that he's thinking about it because wow! he does not want to! yea you know what the few minutes is. very curious and a lot more important let's all look at junpei ]
This related to the "situation" you said you were in?
[ not that he actually said it but whatever, implied. the importance is, if they were both involved in it... ]
[Yikes. That sucks.]
There's a few of us who have at least one person from the same universe. The biggest number I've heard is five. But there's a lack of overlap between them.
[Please don't look at him. But there's a nod and he kind of holds up his weird-ass black watch on his left wrist.] It's a few minutes and a few hours at the same time. Depending how you look at it. Carlos and I were part of the same game before we woke up here, but something went wrong.
There's a few of us who have at least one person from the same universe. The biggest number I've heard is five. But there's a lack of overlap between them.
[Please don't look at him. But there's a nod and he kind of holds up his weird-ass black watch on his left wrist.] It's a few minutes and a few hours at the same time. Depending how you look at it. Carlos and I were part of the same game before we woke up here, but something went wrong.
[ Five people from the same universe sounds like it would be pretty comforting, in its own way!
But Junpei's thing seems like it's worth more attention. She doesn't get it at all. Let's all look at Junpei some more. ]
At the same time? Huh? What sort of game is that?
But Junpei's thing seems like it's worth more attention. She doesn't get it at all. Let's all look at Junpei some more. ]
At the same time? Huh? What sort of game is that?
[Haha.
So anyway, it's been two days since they arrived, and hopefully Dick and Escha are having a nice and relaxing Sunday in their room. The noises from the basement came and went, and it's maybe an hour or two after that that they'll hear a sound at the door.
It's the sound of someone fumbling to open it, but eventually it swings open and reveals Junpei and his clamshell. For someone who's been missing for a few hours, he looks...a little okay? It's hard to see from the distance between the room and the door, but his hair's a little mussed and his eyes are a little red. His clothes are all in order and there's a very faint smell of whiskey wafting off of him.
The pockets of his jeans are incredibly bulky, and he closes the door silently. Squinting at the room, he seems a little lost on what he's doing before he just kind of
you know. Sits on the fucking floor. Goodbye.]
So anyway, it's been two days since they arrived, and hopefully Dick and Escha are having a nice and relaxing Sunday in their room. The noises from the basement came and went, and it's maybe an hour or two after that that they'll hear a sound at the door.
It's the sound of someone fumbling to open it, but eventually it swings open and reveals Junpei and his clamshell. For someone who's been missing for a few hours, he looks...a little okay? It's hard to see from the distance between the room and the door, but his hair's a little mussed and his eyes are a little red. His clothes are all in order and there's a very faint smell of whiskey wafting off of him.
The pockets of his jeans are incredibly bulky, and he closes the door silently. Squinting at the room, he seems a little lost on what he's doing before he just kind of
you know. Sits on the fucking floor. Goodbye.]
[ well, dick did go to the room in the hopes to catch junpei there, so having junpei show up is pretty neat!
the state in which he shows up is. less so? ]
JT-- are you... drunk?
[ he did not strike dick as the kind to get drunk in a situation like this, so-- did someone drug him? and more importantly. yes, he did just nickname junpei JT, i'm sorry, this is how it goes now ]
the state in which he shows up is. less so? ]
JT-- are you... drunk?
[ he did not strike dick as the kind to get drunk in a situation like this, so-- did someone drug him? and more importantly. yes, he did just nickname junpei JT, i'm sorry, this is how it goes now ]
[ five people from the same universe makes dick kinda glad he's not stuck in a sex dungeon with people he knows. like batman. that would be. uncomfortable.
he doesn't have the same question about what kind of game-- he has a feeling he knows already-- but yeah junpei isn't getting out of the spotlight right now because. what. ]
A few hours and a few minutes at the same time... Did your "game" happen to involve time travel?
[ he's smart, there's time travel in yj, he's assuming that's the only way that makes any sense, don't look at me ]
he doesn't have the same question about what kind of game-- he has a feeling he knows already-- but yeah junpei isn't getting out of the spotlight right now because. what. ]
A few hours and a few minutes at the same time... Did your "game" happen to involve time travel?
[ he's smart, there's time travel in yj, he's assuming that's the only way that makes any sense, don't look at me ]
[ Unfortunately, Escha was not in the room yet. But luckily(?) she saw Junpei stumbling down the hall and been concerned enough to follow.
She just hadn't expected him to still be right in front of the door, so she. Tries to open it. But the door opens in, so it probably just nudges Junpei lightly before she stops. ]
Um...?
She just hadn't expected him to still be right in front of the door, so she. Tries to open it. But the door opens in, so it probably just nudges Junpei lightly before she stops. ]
Um...?
[Batman fucks, but that's 100% not knowledge anyone needs to acknowledge. Given how this is unraveling, he might even be willing to detail the game he played but right now this is about him and about Carlos and--
--oh. Dick's sort of on the right track, at least.]
Yes, and no. [Helpful.] But during the Decision Game, a lot of us learned how to shift to other timelines. Carlos is from a timeline that's a few hours behind the one we were leaving at the same time.
[Go on. Ask him questions.]
--oh. Dick's sort of on the right track, at least.]
Yes, and no. [Helpful.] But during the Decision Game, a lot of us learned how to shift to other timelines. Carlos is from a timeline that's a few hours behind the one we were leaving at the same time.
[Go on. Ask him questions.]
[Escha opens the door behind him and he scoots over enough to let her in.]
No. [Yes. But he's a functional drunk, given that he can at least look of them and only partially gives Dick a look at the nickname. He's not telling him to stop though so guess he's now JT. A hand comes up in a fist to support his forehead, propping his elbow on his knee as he tries to organize his head.]
There's something really wrong with this place.
No. [Yes. But he's a functional drunk, given that he can at least look of them and only partially gives Dick a look at the nickname. He's not telling him to stop though so guess he's now JT. A hand comes up in a fist to support his forehead, propping his elbow on his knee as he tries to organize his head.]
There's something really wrong with this place.
[ That's so confusing? Escha just takes a bite of her apple tart to stall having to contribute anything, because she's having a hard time wrapping her head around it.
Shifting to different timelines sounds impossible, first of all, but then that they would be crossing over into timelines from other people and not all originate from the same one, and--ugh?? Her only question would be "Huh???" ]
Shifting to different timelines sounds impossible, first of all, but then that they would be crossing over into timelines from other people and not all originate from the same one, and--ugh?? Her only question would be "Huh???" ]
[ dick gives escha a nod as if to say to come in and lock the door behind her, since this is not a conversation they want eavesdropped on, maybe. either way, he takes a few steps to crouch near junpei, concerned ]
Tell us something we don't know. [ but not concerned enough to not do dry jokes, it's fine. ] What happened?
Tell us something we don't know. [ but not concerned enough to not do dry jokes, it's fine. ] What happened?
Shift into other timelines...? Wouldn't that affect the timestream?
[ i hate this entire conversation now fyi ]
[ i hate this entire conversation now fyi ]
[ Escha obediently closes and locks the door!
Then she also crouches next to Junpei, but more with intent to help him up and move him to the bed. That seems like it would be more comfortable? Come, accept the support of her tiny girl arm, she seems confident that will work. ]
I'll get you some water. [ Once he's moved...! ]
Then she also crouches next to Junpei, but more with intent to help him up and move him to the bed. That seems like it would be more comfortable? Come, accept the support of her tiny girl arm, she seems confident that will work. ]
I'll get you some water. [ Once he's moved...! ]
[Not as much as I hate it. But.]
Not exactly. [He knows this is going to go over Escha's head because she's from fantasy alchemy land, but Dick seems to be from Earth so he's going to try and explain this to them.
There's a bite of tart though before he starts.]
Say you go back in time to when your parents met, using a car as a time machine. You try to make sure your parents marry, but history ends up changing slightly due to your interference. You changed the chain of events, and upon returning to your own time, things aren't quite the same as you remember. Maybe...you're rich, or your father's a famous science fiction writer.
But there's a problem. What happened to the "you" who grew up in that fancy house and that rich life?
[He holds up two fingers.] There are two types of timetravel stories. The first states that there's always only one history, meaning that if someone changes the past, they erase that previous past. The other type is the kind where multiple histories exist. Multiverse theory. The world and universe split into branches as a result of someone's decisions. In the first kind of story, the you that went back to the past ended up erasing your old life, overwriting it with the next experiences even when keeping your old memories. But in the multiverse theory...there are two versions of yourself. You, and the secondary you. In this theory, both versions of yourself take the same action at the same time...in this case, traveling to the past. But the two of you make different choices. You allow your dad to beat up the neighborhood bully, and the second you from the rich timeline stops him.
So. What happens when these choices are made? If two versions of yourself take the same action at the same time, and you end up in the other timeline, where does the other you go?
[He wiggles his fingers a little.] Your consciousness switches places. History remains the same, but you keep your old memories. The timestream remains unaffected, and you change places, but you yourself remain the same with the lack of knowledge of the current timeline. Usually.
[...haha.] When a SHIFTer shifts, their body remains behind but their consciousness trades places with the them from another history.
Not exactly. [He knows this is going to go over Escha's head because she's from fantasy alchemy land, but Dick seems to be from Earth so he's going to try and explain this to them.
There's a bite of tart though before he starts.]
Say you go back in time to when your parents met, using a car as a time machine. You try to make sure your parents marry, but history ends up changing slightly due to your interference. You changed the chain of events, and upon returning to your own time, things aren't quite the same as you remember. Maybe...you're rich, or your father's a famous science fiction writer.
But there's a problem. What happened to the "you" who grew up in that fancy house and that rich life?
[He holds up two fingers.] There are two types of timetravel stories. The first states that there's always only one history, meaning that if someone changes the past, they erase that previous past. The other type is the kind where multiple histories exist. Multiverse theory. The world and universe split into branches as a result of someone's decisions. In the first kind of story, the you that went back to the past ended up erasing your old life, overwriting it with the next experiences even when keeping your old memories. But in the multiverse theory...there are two versions of yourself. You, and the secondary you. In this theory, both versions of yourself take the same action at the same time...in this case, traveling to the past. But the two of you make different choices. You allow your dad to beat up the neighborhood bully, and the second you from the rich timeline stops him.
So. What happens when these choices are made? If two versions of yourself take the same action at the same time, and you end up in the other timeline, where does the other you go?
[He wiggles his fingers a little.] Your consciousness switches places. History remains the same, but you keep your old memories. The timestream remains unaffected, and you change places, but you yourself remain the same with the lack of knowledge of the current timeline. Usually.
[...haha.] When a SHIFTer shifts, their body remains behind but their consciousness trades places with the them from another history.
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