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[redwinekindofgirl]

So, uh, hey everyone. Julie here. [Wave!]

It looks like, um... Serah's gone, if you knew her, so that's something. But-- [She takes a breath, seemingly steeling herself against the news she just gave out. Serah was - is - her friend, and she'll miss her.]

But before she went, we were talking to Tranquility about planting some trees outside his temple. Looks like that's not the only place that could use it though, right? [The smile that comes to her face is small and crooked, a little awkward. She hadn't been to the other islands in a while, but when she did... People have been busy.]

I did some farming back home, but I don't think I can plant a whole forest by myself. Soooo... anyone want to start a project? Bet there's people here who can make seeds sprout by magic, right?

Comments

[redwinekindofgirl]

Um. Earth.

[Most people here seem to be.

(And fifteen, at least, is not all that much younger than Julie herself.)]

Another dimension? Orbital sync, meaning like, you're in the same place as us?

[unphase]

What year?

[most people seem to be, yes, and most of them seem to be from the 21st century.

(it's considered an adult where Tinya's from, but most people here seem to disagree)]

Yes, that's it exactly. The only difference is that Bgztlians evolved the ability to sort of bridge the dimensional divide, becoming intangible in the process.

[redwinekindofgirl]

Uh, two-thousand ten.

[She thinks, anyway. It's harder to keep track now that they have to mostly do it for themselves. No one makes calendars anymore, but keeping track of the seasons is useful.]

So... are you human? Like, a more evolved human?

[unphase]

So far, everybody seems to be from the 21st century. I wonder why the aliens chose to focus on that particular time.

[it was the height of summer when Tinya was--taken. now she's here where everything seems bleak and grey, more like the beginning of winter than anything]

I guess you could say that. Bgztlians can breed with Terrans or Titanese or Braalians, though the pregnancies last over a year instead of the usual nine months. It takes the extra time for the baby to be able to be delivered in a phased birth.

[redwinekindofgirl]

Guess there's some science to that, right?

[She was never great at science, but you know what, this is a far more interesting topic than growing trees (as much as she's into the tree-growing, it sure as hell ranks lower than 'alternate dimensions'.]

But... huh, I don't know. I've seen a lot of people from totally different worlds but I think you're right. Whole lot of us from twenty-first century Earth.

[unphase]

Right. Bgztl is a lot like Earth with people evolving similarly. It's just that when we evolved, we had a sense of the dimension that separates Bgztl and Earth. We call it the Phantom Zone. When we phase, or become intangible, our physical bodies skirt the edge of the Zone. It must exist here because my powers still works.

[science was never her best subject, but she knows a fair amount about what's involved in phasing because she'd been doing it so often in the Legion]

I wonder what made that particular time so popular? I'd imagine it varies from Earth to Earth.

[redwinekindofgirl]

No idea. Can't say if it's worth knowing why.

[Maybe someone else would have the time and brainpower to put into figuring something like that out, but Julie isn't going to be that person.]

Is anyone else here from the same place as you?

[unphase]

I guess I could ask the lab to see if they want to investigate.

[science isn't her strong point, but she's willing to try]

No. [she tries for a smile] Just me. How about you?

[redwinekindofgirl]

Just me.

[There are a few of them in that situation, she knows, but it's not something often talked about. Isn't it why they forge bonds here? It's a comfort to have friends, but it can't entirely compare to having someone around to whom you don't have to explain the ins and outs of your home world.]

There was someone else, for a while... but he's gone.

[unphase]

[she would give anything for another Legionnaire to arrive, even one she wasn't as close to, or for her boyfriend to show up. either way, she'd feel a lot more settled and a lot less culture shock]

That must have been difficult to go through.

[redwinekindofgirl]

Yeah... wasn't great.

[It's still not great. What she wouldn't give to have R still here, or better still, Nora. Even her father.

The thought that she could see her father again, here, has occurred to her before... but it's still enough to quiet her for a moment.]

But you have to just push through all the shit, right?

[unphase]

I can't imagine.

[people from home are a gift. those who have them don't seem to realize how lucky they are.

she'd take her mother. her mother would immediately disapprove of everyone Tinya spoke to and try to take control of her life, but at least it would be familiar]

We don't have any other option, do we?

[redwinekindofgirl]

No... we don't.

[If there was another option--

But if she's honest with herself, she's tried those other options before. The marks on her arms are proof enough of that. There are always other options, it's just what options are acceptable ones.

Julie forces a smile.]

So, this is gonna take a while to work out. I'll be in touch, yeah?

[unphase]

[and Tinya remains firmly in denial about the likelihood of her own death back in her world. it will take a lot to get her to confront that reality, but in the meantime she keeps telling herself that her friends in the Legion have got to be looking for her]

All right. It was nice to meet you, Julie.