sirenspull | { voice -> video }

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{ voice -> video }

[At first, when the NV clicks on, there's just a rustling noise, no video at first, and then a voice.]I think this is... [Sotto voce, but even though her voice is quiet — muttering to herself — the irritation in her tone is quite clear, frustration bubbling up just barely beneath the surface; then, in the next second, there's a face to pair to the voice as the video switches on!]

Is anyone listening on this thing? I’m not sure I’m even using this right —

If someone is listening, maybe you can tell me something. They told me when I got here... well, they're very helpful and informative about how to get around in this city, but I have other places I have to be. I'm much more interested in a way to get out of here, which they weren't as helpful about. What's this Core everyone keeps talking about?

[The picture goes black as her hand covers the camera, for all appearances as though she’s going to turn it off, but there’s a pause before she retracts it.]

If “Konoha” means anything to you, please let me know immediately.

[The hand returns, and after a moment of apparent struggle and one quiet curse, the feed ends.]

[ooc: extremely late intro. sob.]

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Sakura?! [ Aw, hell. Really? Not that he hasn't missed her, but this isn't the place to be. Especially right now. Also, he's late and he knows it. ] What th'hell are you doin' here?!

No. I mean-- Damnit. Oi, you still there?

[She didn't have her NV in hand when he calls, but that voice is... pretty much unmistakable.]

What are you doing here? [Seriously you're not. Supposed to be. Her question is equally valid!]

I asked you first! [ Totally valid response, okay? Naruto sounds flustered for a moment -- still late and now it's evening. ]

Hey, are you inside? It's not a good idea to go out alone right now.

I don't know, Naruto, I woke up here! I'm... yes, I'm inside. Someone told me about what happens at night.

[Well, they didn't go into a ton of detail; they told her not to go out, don't do it, that things that sound like the nightmares children have, but they seemed pretty adamant about it.]

Where are you?

Edited 2012-12-01 04:29 (UTC)

Stay inside! For now. Just for now.

I'm-- [ He stops. There's a beat; movement. ] I'm on my way to where you are. Just stay there, I'll find ya'.

[Holy shit. Not that Sakura will recognize this kid, but he's definitely paying attention to her now. He'll do his best to look casual, though.]

Leaving isn't possible. At least not voluntarily. Sorry, but no one's ever managed it yet.

[Nope, doesn't recognize him at all. Sorry.]

What do you mean, "at least not voluntarily?"

[Don't worry, that happens sometimes.]

It means you can leave by mistake. Or sometimes by dying, but not always. I, um. I actually just came back from being gone for a while. But it's just dumb luck, I guess. No one knows how to control it.

By mistake.

[It's not exactly a question. She sounds pretty skeptical, actually, but considering how bizarre this all is, she'll at least ponder that.]

I'd rather not die to get out of here. No one's found any way out?

No. In fact, most people die trying.

[Sigh.]

You might as well plan to be here for a little while, just in case.

[Sakura makes a blatantly frustrated noise. Yeah right she'll be content to stay put.]

I'm not sure I can.

... thank you, though.

I guess that's understandable. If there's anything you need...well. I owe a friend of yours some favors. So please don't hesitate to ask.

Edited 2012-12-10 23:31 (UTC)

... you do? Which friend? [This is news...]

Uh. He isn't here right now, so don't worry about it okay?

[The first thing that crossed his mind when he saw her on the feed was a resigned, morose it's over.

Naruto had been relatively quiet lately, but that wasn't going to last, especially not with Sakura here as well. He'd never get peace again, now that they were both on this island with him; he could avoid them, but only for so long.

Time to get a second job.

He sighed, and pressed his fingers into his temples before responding.]

Stay inside after dark, Haruno.

[Unfortunately, if he wanted to be left alone, using her name under the cover of anonymity is a little counterproductive.]

How do you know my name? Who is this?

[A sigh, and a click as his NV switches to voice capture.]

Who do you think? Get inside if you haven't already.

[Well. She wasn't expecting to hear his voice, and that's clear by the open shock that passes across her face.]

Sasuke-kun? How are... you're here?

[Cut the girl some slack: the last time she saw him, he tried to kill Naruto (again) and then vanished with Orochimaru. The last she'd heard of him, he'd joined Akatsuki and attacked the Hachibi's host. She was abducted from her attempt to... neutralize him as a threat to Konoha. Hearing his voice here, it's disarming, she's not prepared for it.

(Was she ever?)]

[The corner of his lip twitches, involuntarily, into a grimace. It's a movement familiar from their days as a team, born out of frustration and disbelief that anyone could be that fucking obtuse.

He hasn't made it in a long time. It's startling in its familiarity--realizing he hasn't lost the muscle memory even after all this time.

Her voice is pitched such that it grates against his ears and settles into his temples, worsening the pressure that makes itself home there.]

What matters more to you--how I got here, or keeping your organs inside your body?

[She can't quite help it. At first, she hears it as a threat, which shocks her more than his words actually do and makes her shoulders tense up. It takes her a moment to realize that's (probably) not what he meant.]

I'm inside, Sasuke-kun, I'm not stupid. Are you going to answer my question?

[Not stupid?

Could have fooled him.

The thought is nasty, and for a moment he wants to pull it back from the forefront--but no. He left for a reason. If that brief sting helps to keep the distance he worked so hard to build up, he'll hang onto it as hard and as long as he can.]

I came in the same way you did.

How long have you been here?

[Yeah, she's going to keep grilling him as long as he'll tolerate it. But he's the only one from home she's run into so far.]

Three months.

Yeah, people are listening. You posted to the network. It's not possible to leave this city, which sucks, without bad shit going down. The Core is supposedly why we're all stuck here. It's like one of those horders you see have a huge problem with not letting go.

Okay, but what is it?

A machine, and it's under the diamond you arrived on. But we can't get to it.

Edited 2012-12-03 15:40 (UTC)

Why not?

High security. Guards, all the stuff you'd expect to keep out anyone with a flick of above average abilities. So far the only way to go back is wait for it to happen.

I'm not really comfortable doing that.

Then you're like a lot of us. We're all trying to figure out what's going on and how. Until we do, we're stuck here with unfriendly natives. If no one has told you about it yet, there's a bunch of people like us called the newcomer fund. They can help you get a foothold here, and a place away from those newcomer apartments. It's a good idea.

The natives that are bolder like hitting that spot.

["Hitting that spot." That could be taken a few different ways, but she prefers to err on the side of caution and assume that the apartments she was offered might not be entirely safe.]

It's nice to hear that people are pooling resources to help out other strangers. Who can I talk to?

You want to talk to Raul Creed, or anyone associated with him. He's the owner of the Lion's Gate club.

Ah, I'm afraid no one has yet to find a... intentional way out.

I've heard.

How the hell is it they can take people from their home and keep them trapped like this?

Not they, so much as it. The Core is a powerful spirit which prevents people from leaving a certain proximity. Sort of like a chain attached to a rock, it is possible to extend and move around, but ultimately you are tied to the rock.

And there's no way to... break the chain?

Not that I know of. For those of us who have arrived within the past three years or so, even death does not necessarily mean escape.

Three years?

Yes, some have built quite the life here too.

Sakura. [He stares at her in silence for a moment.]

I have been trying to find a way out.

... Kazekage-sama?

I wish it was more of a pleasure to see you...

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Damn it tiny phone keys...

happens to us all!

/headdesk

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