Ian In The Wrong Place? - OTA

[ubuntu_programmer]

Open/locked?: Open
Who: Ian and whomsoever encounters them
What: Ian arrives in Auradon
Warnings: Some angst, maybe?


There was a figure slumped by the wall, their white and black hair disheveled, their glasses on the grass beside them. Their small suitcase was over their legs, their backpack dangling from one arm. After a moment they groaned and lifted a hand to their head. "Did I get hit by a truck or something...?" They mumbled.

Eyes opening, they looked around. "Well that's not good. I can't afford to be hallucinating now." They picked up their round lensed glasses and checked them before putting them on, then fished a phone out of their pocket. "No bars. Of course. I need to write an algorithm that will allow my phone to find signal from anywhere in the world. Of course, I should still be close enough to get signal anyway, hallucination or no. So... what is actually going on here...?"

Comments

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Enki had told himself he would let others greet newcomers. He was bad at it. And yet, when one showed up, what was he supposed to do? Just keep walking? Even if that was not hopelessly rude, it was also out of his nature, even if they hadn't spotted him.

So when he was outside and heard the newcomer talking to themselves as they tried to process where they were and what had happened, he adjusted his path to reach them. "Um, hello." Ugh, he'd practiced that greeting backwards and forwards so that it wouldn't be entirely butchered by his accent, since his preferred greeting didn't have a literal translation and tended to just add to the confusion, but it still sounded so strange when he said it.

"Are... are you okay?" First concern, he could help them understand where they were after establishing that.

[ubuntu_programmer]

Ian looked up, and was startled for a moment. Then they shook out of it with a warm smile. If they had burns like that they might have opted for cosmetic surgery to make it all look intentional and other also. Actually, all in all a pretty cool look.

"I'm... uncertain..." they admitted.

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Enki raised an eyebrow. Uncertain seemed relatively mild if he was honest. "If it boils down to 'where am I and how did I get here', well umm... that's normal enough someone made a welcome pamphlet." He rubbed the back of his neck as he trailed off. Ie, that was real encouraging. This was why he'd decided to let others greet newcomers, and yet, here he was.

[ubuntu_programmer]

"A... welcome pamphlet? Why do I have a feeling I'm not in Kansas any more?" They mumbled.

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Well. That was quick. "I guess, because you aren't? Not umm, not that I know where Kansas is." He shrugged and gave a small smile. "I uh I guess I should introduce myself, I'm Enki and this place is Auradon. I'm not exactly from here either."

[ubuntu_programmer]

Literal much?

"Hello, Enki. I'm... guessing there aren't many movie theaters around here?" Or did Enki see movies the way Jenn saw sports?

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Enki rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm... not sure what those are either," he mumbled, flushing a bit by this point. Ie, this was definitely why he should let others greet newcomers.

[ubuntu_programmer]

"o....kay." They got to their feet, carefully, fixing their suitcase and putting their phone in a pocket. "Tabling that concerning admission for later, let's start with the basics. How do I get home?"

[under_the_raptors_wings]

He was getting tired of admitting he didn't know things. "If we knew that most of us would be home instead of here." At least this lack of knowledge was everyone instead of just him though. "I think basics would be more, getting you a communicator that will work here and a room to stay in." He paused a moment and then continued, more nervous rambling than properly explaining. "I can say you'll end up back home at some point. A few people have already, but I don't know how that worked exactly. But... I know the people left from here are working on the solution." Ie, very reassuring, Enki.

[ubuntu_programmer]

"At some point... oh no... no. sorry. Sorry, but I can't stay. I have to get back, my friends are waiting for me, I was running late as it was." Look, they hadn't expected a patch download to be running on their gaming box when they popped home to get it.

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Enki pushed his fingers through his hair. "You... aren't exactly alone in needing to get back either."

He would have sworn if this place didn't change the words, but having them changed had stopped him in his tracks on doing so after the first time. Instead he paused, trying to collect his thoughts.

"From what I understand, when you go back it will be the same time you left and you won't remember this. But ummm, look, I'm bad at explaining, but someone who actually is good at it made the welcome booklets, so... uh. How about I get you one of those and go from there?"

[ubuntu_programmer]

"A booklet might be a good idea. Especially if we are talking about a fold in space-time and memory erasure. Neither of those quite seem to be a simple situation. The medical complications alone..."

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Relief passed over his features when they mentioned a fold in space-time as a concept. "Ie, um, this way. There are booklets and phones at a booth at the entrance." Well, if they had that level of understanding they might even end up less confused than he was. "You just need to add a healthy dose of alternate dimensions and rules to this particular dimension that the locals call magic." Not to mention differing rules for magic from other dimensions represented here, but, maybe this wasn't the time to bring that up. "Which umm, I will freely admit that neither I, nor the other person from my reality have the explanation to, and basically everyone else calls it magic."

So... hopefully the dimension this person was from had some concept for magic? Otherwise he'd just direct them to Rren so the two could be annoyed trying to understand it together. While he really would like to understand it, he also had an easier time accepting it was part of the balance of this Universe than Rren did.

[hotheadwarmheart]

Lea was walking back from Keyblade practice, rubbing his shoulder. "Note to self," he said to himself as he walked, "next time Aqua pulls that move, zig instead of zag." He'd already healed it with Cure, of course, though it was still a bit sore. Maybe he should suggest working on his magic more?

He was drawn out of his thoughts by the sound of an unfamiliar voice from around the corner. Nothing remarkable about that in most places, but here? Here it could mean only one thing.

Lea rounded the corner to see someone sitting against the wall apparently trying unsuccessfully to check their phone. Someone who actually looked like they'd arrived packed for a trip, which was unusual for these sorts of situations; usually interdimensional snatchings weren't considerate enough to even give people time to grab a toothbrush. The fact that they were still half-slumped against the wall though was a bit concerning. "Hey, you OK there?", he asked the stranger.

[ubuntu_programmer]

"I might be, if I knew where there... or rather here.. actually was. I am unsure how I got here or why I feel like I just had a bad... ah... headache," they corrected swiftly.

[hotheadwarmheart]

"Well fortunately, I can help you out with that," Lea said, offering the new arrival a hand up. "Name's Lea. And you?"

[ubuntu_programmer]

They accepted the help, getting a little tangled in their suitcase. "Doctor Ian Wright, my pronouns are they them." They said, distracted by trying to get the edge of their coat out of the collapsable handle of the small tug along. "And this is the last time I wear this coat while pulling any sort of rolling bag. Of course," they added, still trying to free the material carefully, "If I mess this up, this will be the last time I wear this jacket at all." And suit jackets were expensive.

[hotheadwarmheart]

"Gotcha," he said with regards to the pronouns. He was glad they'd mentioned it; he might have guessed wrong otherwise.

With regards to the suitcase, Lea crouched down and held it still in hopes of making it a bit easier for Ian to get their jacket free. "Least it's not a long coat that might've got caught in the wheels or something. I used to wear one a lot; they look dramatic, but when they get in the way they really get in the way."

[ubuntu_programmer]

"I usually save those for ren faires these days," they admitted, accepting the help. "This one usually isn't a problem." Finally they eased the edge free. "Thanks."

[hotheadwarmheart]

"No problem," Lea said, getting back to his feet. "Now for that explanation. To start off, quick question: are you familiar with the concept of alternate dimensions?"

[ubuntu_programmer]

"A decade ago, I might have scoffed at that question, but for the moment let's just say that you hav my attention. And my skepticism, sure. But also my attention." They adjusted their coat, backpack, and suitcase.

[hotheadwarmheart]

He wished that he could still be that skeptical. But he'd seen enough by this point that very little seemed out of the realm of possibility. Still, he chuckled. "Fair enough," he said. "Though just being familiar with the idea makes things easier."

"Anyway, welcome to the United Kingdoms of Auradon. You're here because someone- we don't know who- got a hold of a genie's lamp and wished for everyone to go go away, causing pretty much the entire population of this world to vanish. Then two different people tried to undo the wish at once, but the spells clashed, so instead of bringing back the people who are supposed to be here, it started pulling in random people from different times and dimensions. Hence you, me, and most of the other people who are here currently being dragged across time and space by the seat of our metaphorical pants and ending up here."

Expecting that this explanation would require an explanation itself, given Ian's skepticism, so he paused there to allow for any questions.

[ubuntu_programmer]

The look made it clear Ian wasn't buying it. "Well, I have to say that is the most elaborate story anyone has ever used to pull my leg that didn't involve quantum physics. It's very impressive, and imaginative. I am a bit pressed for time, however..." Ugh, thy did not just say that. Just as well Jenn wasn't here to hear it or they'd never live it down.

[hotheadwarmheart]

"Believe me, I wish I was pulling your leg," Lea said. "My life would be a lot easier if this was all some kind of overly elaborate stunt or something. But if you need some proof that you're not in your own world anymore..."

Lea casually summoned a small fireball in his hand. Then turned that fireball into a small phoenix-like bird that flapped its wings. Then a miniature fiery horse that reared up on its hind legs. Than finally splitting it into a dozen fiery butterflies that fluttered around himself and Ian for a few moments before dissipating.

[ubuntu_programmer]

Ian jumped back at that, nearly falling over their suitcase again. "Alright, I will admit that that was some of the most impressive prestidigitation I've seen in a long time. This really is all very elaborate. Makes me wonder why."

They considered a moment.

"Or what was in that bag of gummy bears I ate while I was packing. Oh there is a disturbing thought." Oh well, on the plus side, they weren't likely to do a random drug screening in the middle of a crisis. Which had been the thought behind buying those gummy bears. Ian was pretty sure that wasn't the bag they had grabbed however. That was to be saved for after Ben was home safe...