video | un: shallwedance

[waitingtobegin]

(( The face on the screen is mostly impassive. But the eyes are a mix of confusion, irritation, and some small bit of amusement. He sat through the orientation, listened to everything that was said, and still has to ask... ))

Is this some kind of joke? This is all pretty elaborate, I have to give you credit for that. But, uh, can we stop playing now?

Comments

[waitingtobegin]

(( Really? Just like that? Without knowing anything about him? Well, it can't hurt to have someone here he can at least talk to... casually. ))

I'm Simon.

[hideawayparadise]

I'm Riley! It's nice to meet you, Simon.

What is it you do back where you're from? We might as well start to get to know each other better now that we're friends.

[waitingtobegin]

(( This finally gets a small smile out of him. ))

Nice to meet you, too.

Me? I'm a dancer.

[hideawayparadise]

A dancer? Oh wow I'd love to draw you dancing sometime if that's okay with you.

[...He should explain that huh.]

I'm an artist. I even own a gallery here. One of the rooms is entirely my art if you want to see if you even want me drawing you at all.

[waitingtobegin]

Oh, um, I don't see any problem with that. I mean, as soon as I find a studio or something I can dance in.

You have your own gallery, huh?

[hideawayparadise]

I do. It just opened not that long ago. I'd be happy to give you a tour of it, of course!

[waitingtobegin]

How nice, congratulations.

[hideawayparadise]

Thank you! It was always a dream of mine to do it. My family really encouraged me so I went for it.

[waitingtobegin]

(( Cue the curious blink. ))

You have family here?

[hideawayparadise]

Well, adopted family. They're people that I became so close to we're family now.

[waitingtobegin]

Oh...

(( It's not really clear if he's relieved or maybe a little envious. He hasn't had much of a relationship with his family for a long time. And the thought of having such close friends? It's a little nice, in its way. ))

It's nice that you have someone to support your goals.

[hideawayparadise]

You have someone for yours too. Even I don't know what they are yet!

[Yes. He's decided this already. What are friends for?]

[waitingtobegin]

(( Simon looked down, away from the feed, and in a very small voices said: ))

I just want to go home.

[hideawayparadise]

You will.

[When? He can't say. But he can promise the man that.]

Until then, I'll have your back, okay? You're not alone here.

[waitingtobegin]

(( It's not being alone that worries him. It's losing what little time he has left. The longer he's gone, the harder it will be for him to get back into his career, which shortens the amount of time left for him in it. ))

Thanks.

[hideawayparadise]

Are you okay? Do you want to talk about it? Or...maybe it would be easier to meet somewhere more private?

Whatever makes you feel comfortable.

[waitingtobegin]

Oh, no it's fine. I just, um, I guess I need a little time to get used to... (( He waved his free hand vaguely. )) ... all this.

[hideawayparadise]

I know it's a lot to take in. Especially if you're not used to magic stuff. If you have questions you can always come to me.

[waitingtobegin]

(( He's hesitant, but then... ))

They mentioned at the orientation that, well, it's more they implied that... time got stuck? Does that mean... it's not actually moving forward back home?

[hideawayparadise]

[He nods at that.]

It's not moving at all. When you go back you'll go back to the spot you came from.

[waitingtobegin]

(( He's visibly relieved by that. At least he's not losing time at home by being here. ))

It's so hard to believe.

[hideawayparadise]

I had trouble believing it until recently when I went through something that let me see it for myself. So I know it's real. Time really is frozen until we go back.

[waitingtobegin]

Oh, no... not just that. Just... all of this. It's a lot to take in. But that's really a relief to hear.

(( He has no reason to disbelieve anything Riley has to say, after all. So he'll take the guy at his word. ))

[hideawayparadise]

There's probably a lot that you'll have to take in. Like, um...I'm not human. That's a big one.

[waitingtobegin]

... You're not?