voice;

[faceguy]

[The voice coming over the radio is pretty upbeat, despite the nature of the topic he’s about to discuss. And also on the young side - for people who don’t know him, it’s an easy guess that Leo is a teenager or very young adult.]

Sooooo… I’ve been thinking, since we picked up new people. Last time, when our group got here, the convoy was totally empty, right? But this time we were already here. So, were we the first stop? Or did everyone before us get… uh, well, you know.

[He makes an uncertain noise through his teeth.]

But personally, I think we were the first stop. But not the first convoy! Maybe there’s multiple, or maybe the train goes in a loop. I dunno, but it’s probably something like that.

But what about those weird summoning circles? Does someone activate them when the convoy is coming? Or do you think it’s something about the convoy that activates them?

[There’s another option, that they activate regularly and some people who are summoned here get unlucky, but… yeah, he doesn’t feel like suggesting that.]

I guess I’m just spitballing theories here. There’s, like, nothing to look at right now. Just bush after bush. Seemed like a good time for some… thorny topics. Heh.

Comments

voice

[discolouredwings]

Are you saying this is like... A bus route? Where it goes around picking people up.

[Thinking about it for a moment. That did make sense, as much as anything could make sense here.]

I wonder how the circles choose people.

[faceguy]

Yeah, actually! That's a good way to think about it. [She can't see it, but Leo looks around with a grimace.] It's even got the same amount of grime and weirdos.

[As for the other question, though, Leo has no idea. At first he thought he was chosen because he was dead, but plenty of other people here are still alive.]

And that... I dunno. Maybe it's random.

[discolouredwings]

Is that so... [She's never been on a public bus in her life. The closest was a tour bus while on her honeymoon.]

The timing was... inconvenient. I was preparing for a family event. That would have already passed by now.

[By about 3 weeks if her math was right.]

[faceguy]

Oh. That sucks.

[He gets how family events are. He doesn't want to think about how many he's missed now...]

Who knows? Maybe we can find some way to time travel you back to when you got brought here!

[discolouredwings]

[When Natsuhi had been in bed the morning of the conference, she'd had to force herself out of bed but... She'd wanted to be there to support her husband. Even if she hated this time of year.]

I wonder... I'm really not sure how I'd explain my absence. Let alone what I look like now.

[The tail she could probably hide, the ears? Not so much.]

[faceguy]

There’s been ways to reverse some of the stuff that happens to us. That means there has to be a way to reverse it all.

[Nothing is hopeless! …Maybe!]

[discolouredwings]

I hope so... [She sighed, Natsuhi was tried already.]

The scales I grew the other week have faded away

[faceguy]

See? Perfect example! My brother’s snake tail went away, too.

[discolouredwings]

Oh, your brother is here as well? That must be a relief for you in some ways.

[Maybe not completely. Natsuhi wouldn't have been happy to see her daughter here but it was a little comfort for him. He sounded young.]

[faceguy]

...Well, it's sure... something.

[Not that he wasn't happy to see Donnie again, especially after thinking he never would, but it's not a relief to see his brother put through horrors when he was supposed to be safe at home. That's what Leo did all he did for.

But he doesn't want to say too much over the radio, where Donnie can hear.]

Maybe you'll see him around. His name's Donnie and... he's pretty hard to miss. [As is Leo, actually.]

[discolouredwings]

[Meanwhile Natsuhi had no idea others could listen in.]

...It feels like that phrase can be used for a lot of people here.

[faceguy]

...Heh, yeah, I guess you're right!

[Especially since everyone is turning into monsters around here.]

I guess in a way it's kind of nice not to stick out like a sore thumb... Then again, what about my beautiful individuality!?

[Woe.]

[discolouredwings]

[Give her a moment to work out what that means. What an energetic boy...

Thinking about it.]

You're a delinquent?

[With the dyed, spikey hair? But he spoke so politely.]

[faceguy]

[...What is that conclusion?

Then again, he has been arrested before...]

Uh, I mean, maybe some people would consider me one...

But I was actually talking about the fact that I'm a turtle.

[discolouredwings]

Oh... I'd imagine the shell would be rather noticeable then. [How would one even wear clothes over that? Or under it?]

[faceguy]

[The secret is they mostly don't!]

Heh, yeah! That's a good giveaway. My stripes are pretty sweet, too.

[discolouredwings]

Stripes? Normally, hexagons would be the first thing that springs to mind.

[...Apparently she had some thoughts on turtles. But anyway.]

I appear to be turning into something with fur.

[faceguy]

Never seen a red-eared slider? Our markings are literally what we're named for!

[He is definitely very stripey.]

Something with fur, though? Well, at least you're staying a mammal, right?

[discolouredwings]

I was thinking of the shells... [But didn't leaf turtles have stripes too? Urg, sighing.]

That doesn't narrow it down.

[faceguy]

Mmm, maybe my shell is kinda like that...

[How many sides is a hexagon? Anyway...]

You could be turning into a bird or a lizard! Look on the bright side.

[discolouredwings]

Being able to fly might have been helpful... [No real thoughts on if she'd been a reptile though.] I think the worst situation would be turning into a fish.

[faceguy]

Ooooh, yeah, that would suck. We'd have to drag you around in a big tank!

[That would sure be inconvenient.]

[discolouredwings]

I think...with the amount of travelling we do, we wouldn't be able to move a tank.

[Water was heavy and wouldn't the oxygen run out too?]

Hopefully, no one is caught in that situation.

[faceguy]

So far I don't think so... But it's not like I've done a survey.

[He's not sure it would do them much good. Anyway!]

Just look on the bright side, there might be some good things that come with it.

[discolouredwings]

I think we'd notice. [A beat.] Or we've just left someone behind back there..... [A moment of silence for that possibly abandoned person. Ahem-]

And what might those good things be?