cape_kore | Day 204 ♪ voice

[ It'd only taken him a few moments to orient himself once he 'woke up'.

And it was a strange feeling, that, for a being that doesn't sleep. It wasn't quite like he remembers it from his human years, as fuzzy and distant as those memories are. One moment, he's on the highway in his father's car, his path leading him straight to Alaska, and he blinks only to find himself standing in the middle of an unfamiliar room.

There was no understanding it. At least, not yet.

Frustration builds as he closes his eyes, reaching out with his senses in these unfamiliar surroundings. He can hear the thoughts of those nearby - muted, of course, but still there. He could smell the scent of humans...and others not quite as human. Vampires? He honestly can't say, a fact that unsettles him to his very core. All he can discern is this - there is nobody there that he knows. For a second, a flash of worry and what almost feels like fear shoots through him, but then he shakes it off.

Uncertainty would lead to mistakes, and he can't afford to make them. Especially now.

Tempted as he is to scout through the building (going at full speed should only seem like a random breeze to anyone around), he holds off on the tour. If there really are vampires there, bringing attention to himself in that manner could put them on the defensive. He isn't looking for a fight by any means. Opening his eyes, he glances over at the phone on the table nearby. He'd noticed it before, but there had been more important things to worry about. Now, it has his full attention.

Instantly, he's at the table, picking up the phone with a grim look on his face. After playing the message, he finds himself even more baffled than before, so really he has no other choice than to send out some type of message. ]

[The device is simple enough for him to understand. Edward wavers between text or voice - he's loathe to show his face to a group of strangers, especially considering how obviously not human he looks. It usually isn't a problem when he's with his family - whether it was intimidation or awe that made people keep their distance, it doesn't matter. He needs to be careful, more careful than he's ever been before.

Nodding to himself, he presses a button to turn on the voice option. There's a short pause of silence as he agonizes over what to say. ]

I suppose an introduction would be in order. [ He clears his throat, truly an unneeded action but it's a force of habit. ] My name is Edward - a recent arrival. I'm aware of where I am, but unfortunately it still leaves me with many unanswered questions. [ And for someone who is so used to knowing so much, it's more than a little disturbing. He chuckles softly at himself, so soft that many wouldn't be able to catch it unless their own hearing is supernatural in nature. ] I assume that's usually the case when someone arrives. If anyone could get into contact with me, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm afraid, Edward, that we don't have too many answers to give you. Most of us are in the same boat. We've just been in it longer. Well, some of us.

[Meja would offer a friendly smile, were this a video call. She tries her best to sound sympathetic; she remembers her first day.]

Still, you can ask.

I'm starting to understand answers might not be that easily found now.

[ It's said softly, because he isn't pleased about it by any means. He's also aware it's not anyone's fault - or anyone who would be answering him, at least. ]

I've already asked about our captors, and know we have little to go off of. I was wondering how many others are here?

It fluctuates, somewhat. There used to be close to forty. Now I think we're closer to... twenty, but it's hard to tell without a census or a sign-in sheet. [She's kidding, although, hey, a sign-in sheet might not be a terrible idea. Just for a rough estimate of the flow of people.] And we're a very diverse group of people.

Given that this area seems to be larger than it appears, I'm not surprised it's difficult to keep track. It seems like people come and go often, is that right? Without warning, at least. That's especially troublesome to monitor.

[ And she's certainly piqued his curiosity now with that last statement. ]

I would say diversity makes the world more colorful, but that would also depend on the kind of diversity you're talking about. Clashing personalities?

Ja, there's no way to tell if someone has gone home except to call them directly on these devices. People, regrettably, slip by. [Meja does sound a touch remorseful about that. But in the end, what can you do? This isn't exactly in any training manual.] Clashing personalities, sometimes, ja. But also clashing races.

[No use keeping it a secret. He's going to meet one of the resident non-humans at some point.]

[ That's interesting information, at least for Edward. Personalities he can understand, but races? ]

Would you mind elaborating on that a little more for me? I like to be...prepared, if there's a way to be so. [ Less about being startled and more about keeping himself on alert. He could just scan someone's thoughts when he meets them, but surprises rarely work out well.

Including his most recent one, which has him conflicted. ]

That's a... difficult word, in this place. [Meja chuckles.] I'm not certain it's possible to be truly prepared. But I can tell you that we've had angels, shifters, beings from worlds other than Earth...

[That might be a bit to absorb. She pauses.]

I've been here a few months, now, and there doesn't seem to be a limit on what this place can bring.

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