Enter the amazing(?!) Guy!

[guyexplains.livejournal.com]

[Trying to catch a struggling rappig while simultaneously entering a familiar shop--or rather being transported to the Plane--are not the most ideal of circumstances in which to retain one's dignity, something Guy quickly discovers as he lands on his ass in the middle of apparently... Actually he has no idea.]

[But the rappig takes precedence as she leaps from his arms, waddling off. No time for gawking at... Where is he anyway?]

Nephry! [Guy scrambles to his feet, chasing the pig and catching her again, this time by the collar.]

Stay still girl. [He frowns at the panicked grunts, kneeling to absently pet her ears as he looks around more. This is definitely not Grand Chokmah.]

Comments

[clinical]

My, my. Perhaps His Majesty should consider a new caretaker for his rappigs. [Jade says this in a lab coat, carrying a large knife, and holding what looks like a welding mask in his other hand, as if he himself wouldn't be relieved to escape rappig-care duties.] I hope you didn't lose the others.

[guyexplains.livejournal.com]

[It's not really out of place to see Jade--the, uh, outfit is a little unsettling. But it's Jade. He's turned unsettling into an art. Guy would be a bit more reassured by Jade's blasé attitude if it weren't, once again, Jade. Still he's a lot less internally freaked out than he was a moment ago. Still completely confused, of course.]

[Hooking a gloved hand firmly in Nephry's collar, the other still patting the animal's ears to calm her down, Guy looks up at the Colonel and smiles awkwardly.]

They should be with his Majesty... [If Peony hasn't let them all run loose again.] ...Er, what are you doing?

[Because that's clearly the more pressing question than Where are we? or What's going on?]

[quecaneatit.livejournal.com]

[Peony bends down and scoops up his rappig. His words are for Guy, but Peony doesn't look at him. Instead he focuses on cuddling and calming his rappig]

My poor Nephry. What has Gailardia done to you?

[he nuzzles Nephry] I hope I don't have to worry about the others, too. [finally looking at Guy] Do I?

[clinical]

[Jade gives an answer.] I've been taking samples. But it seems the ground doesn't give. [Like many of Jade's answers, it doesn't explain much. He switches the knife to the hand with the mask, then holds his hand out for Nephry to sniff.] How's Luke, by the way?

[It's a test. It's a potentially very nasty test. But with Asch proving impossible to persuade, Jade has to know what point in time Guy is from.

He's referring to the rappig, of course. But he hopes to pick up from Guy's response whether the rappig is named for someone dead or someone living.]

[guyexplains.livejournal.com]

[Nephry is clearly happy to be in Peony's arms, and Guy is relieved he doesn't have to calm her down or worry about her running off again.]

Weren't they with you, your Majesty?

[Guy stands after a moment, meeting Peony's eyes directly, though he is always respectful of course.]

[guyexplains.livejournal.com]

[Guy really should have expected the answer not to be very informative. Nephry, on the other hand, is pleased enough to smell Jade. She seems quite happy with him, and Guy lets her waddle closer while keeping his hand in her collar in case something else startles her.]

[To his credit he only flinches a little when Jade asks, looking down at Nephy as an excuse not to meet Jade's eyes for a moment. But there's a flash of something in his face that resents being asked that, even if he assumes it's about the rappig.]

Haha, he's fine. [Cheerful, because really he shouldn't get emotional over the name of a pet.] Kind of an idiot, but I guess that makes his name apt.

[quecaneatit.livejournal.com]

No...why would you...

[a pause] Hey, when is it for you? There are a bunch of us here from all different points. It's annoying as hell to keep track and make sure people don't do something stupid.

[clinical]

[That answers that. It was always going to be a bit of a gamble with Guy, but the flinch is enough. Even Jade can get unsettled when Gelda is around.] You came in through a shop? [If it occurs to Jade that he isn't the one who has the right to questions here, he isn't showing it.]

[guyexplains.livejournal.com]

Sir?

[Guy really doesn't know how to respond to that question. Or that statement.] What do you mean?

[guyexplains.livejournal.com]

[And Guy... Does not seem to see a problem in this dynamic. It's a little awkward kneeling while conversing, but Nephry gives him an excuse not to stand as would be polite.]

Yes. Ah, which brings me to the question... Where are we?

[quecaneatit.livejournal.com]

[he sighs and then puts Nephry down] What point in your history are you at? Right now, this place is like a meeting point for different worlds. There are people that we know that come here, too, but we're all from different points in time. So far Jade and I are the furthest ahead. Tear is here, too, and she's the furthest behind. Then there's Asch and Anise, they're in the middle.

So I'm just wondering where you're from, Gailardia.

[clinical]

[Jade doesn't seem to be paying much mind to manners. He would pick up Nephry (much to his annoyance, he feels a vague obligation to keep the Emperor's pets from coming to harm, no matter how tempting it is to make a roast dinner of them) but since Guy is here, Guy can take that burden.

Alas, he can't force Guy to say things he doesn't know.] Are you familiar with the theory of alternate worlds? The theory has been posited before, but the support is shaky, so it doesn't come up in scientific journals often.

[He stands, slipping one hand into the labcoat pocket. He'll get rid of the other items after Guy gets his explanation.]

[guyexplains.livejournal.com]

[Guy rests a hand on his hip as he takes in that explanation. Completely unbelievable? Yes. But you don't argue with the Emperor. Unless you're Jade. And Guy's not particularly argumentative by nature in any case.]

...I just got back from Belkend yesterday. [That's not specific. Be more specific.] With new information on their research on strengthening Fonic Artes and Technology now that the Planet Storm is receding.

You had me take Nephry for a walk as a break, sir.

[guyexplains.livejournal.com]

[Guy is a pro babysitter, he's got this. Rappigs are practically easy mode for him. At least Jade can semi-explain it once and then never have to again, in this instance. In face, making sure Guy understands is like ensuring a little effort now for none at all int he future. Efficiency!]

I've read an article on it before. It was an interesting hypothesis. [But there weren't machines involved so he wasn't that interested.]

What's this about?

[clinical]

[Unfortunately, Jade's version of offering this explanation doesn't directly involve explaining.] One of the problems scientists come across in experimentation is finding an appropriate sample group. With an infinite number of alternate worlds at one's disposal and the ability to take any person from those worlds as a subject, I imagine it wouldn't be much of a problem any longer.

[guyexplains.livejournal.com]

What?

[It's not that Guy doesn't follow, it's just that where he follows makes no sense, Jade.]

[Oh right, Jade. Deliberately as obscure as possible. But Guy's really not sure he can interpret anything else from what Jade just said. Nope. Nope. Yeah, still coming up with We have access to an infinite number of alternate worlds/realities and you are now in the middle of it. Whatever "it" is.]

How? What is this place?

[clinical]

Now, now, don't upset Nephry. [He is as calm as can be, despite what he is saying.] You might come to like it. We've been informed that it's all run by a Machine. [You can almost hear the capitalisation of that word.]

[guyexplains.livejournal.com]

[Jade knows just the magic words... Except that it still makes no sense!]

What kind of machine could do that?

[And can he take it apart?]

[clinical]

I don't know. Fontech isn't my speciality. [This isn't why Jade doesn't know, but it is a statement accompanied by a shrug. That is what is important.

He moves on.] You'll be able to return to Grand Chokmah by thinking about it. You're returned to the same point in time as you left.

[quecaneatit.livejournal.com]

[he relaxes]

That means you're from my time. Man, what a relief.

[he picks Nephry up again.]

That Asch guy is being an idiot and trying to change the past. He's using Tear to prevent Akzeriuth from falling.

pardon the edit and overuse of ellipses

[guyexplains.livejournal.com]

[Too much information to process there. Never mind the rest of it, and how it might actually explain that Asch is apparently around, Guy has to focus on that element for a minute. Don't mind him.]

Asch? Wait... What? He's... [Alive?] Here? [Also, stopping Akzeriuth? What?] ...But Akzeriuth already fell.

...

No wonder you called it annoying.

[guyexplains.livejournal.com]

This is all really unbelievable, you know.

[And here he is, standing in what is apparently space, talking to Jade about traveling by thinking about it. Maybe he hit his head going through the door?]

ellipses are appropriate~

[quecaneatit.livejournal.com]

Tell me about it. Jade and I keep trying to talk sense to that kid, but he won't listen.

Anise is the closest to us in the timeline. She's past Akzeriuth, but she still has her Ion around. And then Asch is behind Anise. Jade has all that information somewhere. He'll explain it to you.

[Jade explaining something for Guy. It's like bizarro world]

[clinical]

Feel free to doubt me. If this isn't real, you may be inclined to start asking some questions about your imagination.

[He is not the most helpful person to meet, but at least Guy didn't get blatant lies or outright refusal to answer.]

[guyexplains.livejournal.com]

I didn't say I don't believe you. It's just unbelievable.

[Sigh. He's kind of glad he is on the spacefloor with the pig. It means he doesn't have to sit down. He'd feel a lot more honored if not for the situation.]

Do we ever get to catch a break? Why are we here? How did we get here? If this is a place... If we can access worlds and move by thinking... What is this place?