dramadramaduck | [video] [welcome to Otherland]

[It's Orlando's journal, all right, but things are looking different today. For one, there's the young man lying on the sand, with a black cloak draped over him, in front of palm trees and other vegetation which suggest a tropical beach. He looks to be in his late teens, or perhaps very early twenties. His long black hair is tied loosely into a ponytail, his skin is well-tanned, and what is visible of his body seems toned enough for him to be a professional athlete, or an actor from an action flick. In fact, the general look of him says "B fantasy movie character." Anyone who has seen footage of Orlando playing the Middle Country might think that this looks like a younger version of his "Thargor" character.

But there's something off about the young man. For all that he appears to be in the prime of health, he doesn't move like it. The way his chest rises and falls suggests someone seriously ill, for whom breathing is a battle.

That's not the only thing that's off, though. There's something bigger. All of this- the sand, the palm trees, the hairs that aren't contained by the man's ponytail- they all lack that little lag in movement, that little sense of the lines and shadows being wrong. Everything looks completely real.

But it can't be, can it?

The man opens his eyes, and turns his head towards the camera. He appears confused for a few moments, frowning vaguely.]

The community? [And that is definitely Orlando's voice, though weak and strained. A small smile forms on his face, before he pulls his head to his chest to cough. It's a violent sound. But when he rests his head, he returns to facing the community, and speaks again.]

I wish Fredericks could see this. [A pause. And something behind his eyes is ignited.] Fredericks. [With what is apparently great effort, he turns, and lifts himself shakily on one elbow.] Someone has to tell his parents- both our parents, that we're...that we're here.

[He starts to cough again, and the video ends.]

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[Okay, so she really has no idea what's going on, but it's Orlando's account and it certainly sounded like him, and weirder things had happened with the community, so she takes a chance.]

...Orlando?

[He's off the elbow and back to lying down now, but on his side so he can face the community better.]

Hey.

Is it really you?

Yeah. It's- [Focusing is evidently a bit of a struggle.] This network. We got in, but. We're stuck.

Is that why you're in a coma...?

Coma? [He hadn't thought about it, but that makes sense. That's how it would look. So Beezle must have told the community.]

I guess so.

Okay. Okay...

Then we need to find a way to get you out. Kouichi was able to do it...I'm sure you can too!

video;

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[Riley is not as used to the weirder things in the community, so he's really not sure what to think about this.]

...Who are you?

Orlando Gardiner. It's- [And a pause while he fights for breath.] It generated this sim.

Hold on. That's supposed to be a simulation???

[He tries to grin, and manages about half of one.] I know. ...It's utterly detailed.

[The smile leaves.] But Fredericks- we can't get out.

It's...impossible with the kind of technology we have right now. [He rubs at his forehead because this is crazy.]

Is that a friend of yours or something?

I wasn't sure it was possible here. [Another pause for another coughing fit.]

Fredericks? Yeah.

[video]

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... Orlando? Is that you behind that semi-rugged exterior?

[He almost laughs, but that's a lot of effort right now.]

Yeah. We- we found the city. But we can't get offline.

You can't get-- hang on a mo', is that a sim you're in right now? I've never seen anything so lifelike - or well, that's a lie, I have, but even so that's incredible!

[ he has about a million questions - about the city, and the world, and what Orlando's been up to, and the situation in the real world, and everything - and it shows on his face, even with the pure excitement from seeing something so magnificent. but then, quick as a flash, priorities finally reassert themselves. ]

So wait, if you can't get offline, is that why the you out in the more traditionally physical world is stuck in a coma right now?

[ tact, Doctor. learn you some. ]

Must be. Izumi [pause for breath] mentioned that too.

Yeah, your cyber agent brought us the news not too long ago. Bit of a shock to the system, I must admit. [ pause. ] And I'm sorry, I really am. I didn't even realise you were ill.

[He tries to shrug, but it doesn't quite work.]

It's not really something I talk about. [Though it's increasingly becoming so.]

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Are you alright? Why must we contact your parents. Is there a way for us to do it without going into your world?

We can't get offline. They should know...

If someone could just f- [blink. frown. no, that's not the right word on the community. what was it again?] email them.

I can try. But if we are in different worlds, will it reach them?

I don't know, but...I need to try.

What is the address?

It's [address here]. Fredericks' home- [a short cough] home system is [address here].

((Unfortunately, all emails to Orlando's world will bounce.))

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