aterat | I [ Video ]

Entry tags:

I [ Video ]

Who; Betsy + OTA
What; Network Post + continuation of TDM threads, if it's your turn feel free to move it here if you'd like to continue it!
Where;Network and around
When;backdated to 4/19
Warnings;None
I. Network Video

[ As far as new faces go, Betsy's happens to look about as unbothered as anyone possibly could. She's sipping a cup of tea and any glimpses of the room probably make it apparent that she's in her assigned housing. ]

I was given a recommendation by a man named Watts that there was a tailor here of highly praise worthy skill. With how much he talked them up, I have some high expectations. [ She already had high expectations for the quality of clothing. ] He gave me directions to the location, but I'm more used to making appointments for things like that. It seemed more polite to try to make a first contact through this since. Less of a chance for us to waste each other's time. [ And it's definitely not an attempt to fish for information about people here and how well they know each other and get along. Definitely not. ]

Fair warning, I'm particular about what I'm looking for.

II. Watts thread continuation

"I see," she looked over his example that he was showing with scrutiny and then shrugged. "I'll keep them in mind." It seemed more promising than trying to find something premade in this place. Then again she hadn't exactly seen much of this place.

"That makes things easier," she said with a quirk of her lips. At least she hoped it'd make things easier, nothing in his tone or body language gave her any indication he minded mutants. "What can you tell me about the ones you met?" Who else had been here? None of her direct team was here, that had been one of the first things she'd checked for upon arriving here, but that didn't stop her from being curious about who he'd known.

"I did, but I'm not sure how much of that I actually believe." There was absolutely no reason to believe anything they'd been told was the truth. It sounded like some sort of canned speech from people who wanted them to believe something specific. She listened carefully and patiently to his explanation of the first world he'd been in and shook her head. "It sounds like neither of these goals made much sense. At least I always understood my job in other realities, even if I didn't know when I might be able to leave. I appreciate having more concrete goals to work towards."

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Llewellyn was pleased with the answer, satisfied that he’d helped her and possibly sending new business the tailor shop’s way. It was a rare win/win situation for the involved parties he liked when he found those.

Llewellyn certainly didn’t mind them. He considered those he’d met to be friends. Rubbing the side of his face, he tried to recall those that he’d met. “Ah, well, the majority I met in the last world… But in this world there’s Illyana. We’ve had a few conversations on the subject since I arrived.” Though she sometimes threw him off a little off balance during those conversations, but it wasn’t like she was the only one to do so. “Her imps sometimes cause a bit of mischief, though. Stole my old pocket watch.” In hindsight, he probably could have let the strange little things keep it. He did get a new nicer one recently.

“To be honest, few of us are… Given the Aspects don’t seem to know what they’re doing most of the time, we’ve been trying to uh- put the pieces together ourselves.” Which mostly meant theories and hypothesis that they had yet to prove one way or another. Though, he supposed there were some details they had luck with. It helped when people had abilities that could prod beneath the surface of this world.

“No, they didn’t… I made the mistake of demanding the thing in the last world share the details of its plan and uh… Oof. Not my brightest idea…” He commented with a wince, so he tried to be a little more mindful when dealing with those in charge here… “If anything, this world seems to be building itself the longer we’re here. Things change every so often, locations that weren’t there before appearing and such.”

"Ah, Magik. Piotr's little sister," she shook her head at his explanation. "She's an interesting case. Even more so when Limbo is concerned." Then again, when weren't things made more interesting when one of the many pocket dimensions were involved? None of them were really safe places filled with happy things.

She quirked an eyebrow. "And how has putting the pieces together been going?" His tone and posture already gave him the answer: not exceptionally well. Might as well ask him just to see if that confirmed her suspicion though.

"Bit off more than you bargained for?" Not that she sounded like she was criticizing him, she couldn't blame him for that. It was a habit she often fell into herself. "How interesting. There are a few pocket dimensions in my own world that change based on the ruler's emotional state or whim."

"A small dimension that has crossroads leading to other dimensions and universes. The people that reside there are protectors of those roads." For the most part. "Not all of course, but many serve for the Captain Britain Corps."

She let out a chuckle and then shook her head. "Luck has never been something I've had. The X-Men came together out of necessity more than anything. We stick together because we believe it's the best hope our kind has." Though that hadn't been working out that great lately.

"Dwarf?"

“Oh- you know of her then.” Llewellyn smiled a bit, well that was convenient. “She’s told me a little of Limbo, it’s definitely an interesting topic… Though, I can’t help but think it doesn’t sound like the nicest place to be.” But if Illyana ruled there, he supposed she handled it well enough… Aside from the imps, but he suspected she let them follow her around for a reason.

The subject of putting the pieces together gets a long sigh, blown through puffed cheeks as he tried to at least think of something… positive to say on the subject. “I wish I could say that it was going well… But we really only have scattered theories, and very little to go on. The only thing that I believe we can say is confirmed is that this world is very new, practically in its infancy, and that it’s still figuring itself out. At least according to someone who had the ability to find out as much.” He shrugged his shoulders lightly. There really hadn’t been much progress.

“Mm… That would be an understatement, honestly.” Llewellyn responded awkwardly. “The headache wasn’t worth it, nothing it dumped into my head translated to anything understandable.” Knocked him on his ass, is what it had done. He’d just been lucky he was at his office and not out and about. He tilted his head slightly though at her comment, though. “So you’ve some experience with similar worlds? Perhaps you’ll be able to provide some new angles we hadn’t considered before, then.”

"We work in the same circles back in our own world." That was by far the easiest explanation she could think of for just how ridiculously complex the X-Men's branching teams often became. "I worked closely with her older brother for years though." They'd even faked their own deaths together, it'd been an interesting few adventures. As had just about all her experiences involving Limbo. "Most of the dimensions associated with hell aren't particular kind places." Then again, quite a lot of the nexus and splinter dimensions were just plain awful despite having no connection to any type of hell.

"It's still figuring itself out? Is it sentient?" It said so much about her life that she'd experienced sentient planets and islands before.

"I'm sorry," she said to him sympathetically. "Even when prepared it can be overwhelming to have information dumped into your head." Usually she was the one doing things like that, but she understood how it felt. "Limbo is one of them." Though she really wouldn't be surprised if Magik had left that out or twisted the truth here and there. "But yes, I have far too much experience with it all."

[When he responds by video it is with the most enamored smile possible. His husband spoke well of him!]

Watts-Maresh, actually. And he speaks well of me because we are married and I make all of his clothes at this point. But I do so adore a challenge. And the words you choose bespeak quite the challenge.

So she knew Illyana’s brother better than Illyana herself, it seemed… It was rather interesting to hear, really. From past conversations with the woman, he knew that the siblings had a very awkward relationship, and that Illyana could probably stand to connect with Piotr again. Though… he knew how complicated siblings could be. “She’s spoken of Piotr a few times, though he’s never been here.” Llewellyn responded with a small hum. He almost wondered what would happen if the siblings were both here.

“I can’t say that it’s something I understand fully, myself, but yes… Or at least something close to it, based on the way it was explained to me.” Llewellyn tended to puzzle over it, even if he trusted and preferred referring to the experts on matters like this. It was just… interesting… And he hoped to understand it properly one day, but for now he was stuck on the fact that this world was both ‘rebuilding’ itself from a disaster, but also being brand new in a way.

He waved off the apology. It wasn’t necessary, and he wasn’t particularly comfortable with apologies in most situations. “It uh- was a lesson in not letting one’s temper getting the better of them and demanding answers without thinking about how they might be provided.” He responded with an awkward shrug. He should have considered the risk at the time, considering how it communicated with everyone through the link in their heads… But he’d been frustrated and desperate for answers.

“Limbo is?” Llewellyn’s attention shifted rather quickly. No, Illyana had not mentioned that… Or at least not in a way that it had stood out to him… “As unfortunate as it is to have the experience in many situations… I look forward to hearing your thoughts on all of this once you’ve mm… had a chance to settle.”

"How interesting. It sounds like this place holds it's mysteries closely," she said with a shake of her head. "If it wanted our help, it'd do better to be more open. Secrets just create confusion." That much she knew from her own very recent experience. Though, to be fair, it didn't mean she'd acted on the idea of being more open with secrets. It simply meant she understood they often caused problems eventually.

"A lesson I've had to remind myself of plenty in the past," she replied with a chuckle. "Sometimes it takes a few attempts to get it to stick." Or sometimes it just never did and one simply decided upon accepting it as how things went. That was her case.

"It is. Many of the smaller pocket dimensions are shaped by the emotions or thoughts of their ruler at any given time." She supposed it had something to do with how connected they were to the person that gave them order. "I'd be happy to help in any way I can, but I'm not sure how helpful I can be. Is there anything specific you're looking to learn about?"

He said most call him Watts and that was his preference.[ She shrugs. ] He did show me an example he had on him, it was enough to raise my curiosity. I'm looking to find a few things to wear that aren't as conspicuous as what I had when I arrived.

“That it, really. Having so little to go on has made it rather difficult to actually figure this all out.” Trying to follow leads only seemed to go so far at the moment, if it didn’t lead to some rather horrible creature needing handling. “Though… I can’t help but think that it might be because those we could ask don’t know as much as they need to, what with the rather mm… bad things that can happen when they try to fix or change something.” They were, for a lack of a better way to put it, like abandoned children… At least in Llewellyn’s opinion. They meant well, and they were doing their best, but even they seemed to lack what was needed to deal with this place.

“You’re probably right, though I hope it’s a lesson that sticks, eventually. I rather like my head unscrambled.” He responded with a wry smile, even if she was correct. He’d undoubtedly do something as foolish again one day… He had a habit of slipping into trouble without meaning to.

“I see…” That actually made more sense than other things he’d heard before. The world changing on the whim or emotions of its ruler... It had seemed a lot like the Sphere was that way, especially when it… decided to put its experiment to the test.

Betsy's question gets a small laugh though, “I think I have, uh- a great many ‘specifics’ I’d like to learn about…” Too many things, really… Llewellyn hummed, though, and tried to narrow it down to the main two. “But these days I’ve been thinking more on the subject of if there could be someone behind the scenes that’s controlling all this, what with the Aspects uncertainty at times. There was apparently someone that guided them before that disappeared, so…” He waved a hand vaguely. Sometimes it made him wonder how gone the being that had been in charge really was.

“When I’m not thinking about that, I’m thinking of the people in this world. In the last world I was, the ‘locals’ changed depending on the situation they were in… We found out a few months before I left there that many hadn’t been real at all. Here the local community seems to not notice when new things arrive in the world. They act as though things had always been there. So… it’s worrying to think someone might be doing that to them.”

"The Captain Britain Corps?" Seriously? They couldn't come up with a better name for their multidimensional guard squad? "Did it have another name first, then England stuck a flag in it?" That sounded about right.

"Hey, you won the 'get stuck in another world again' lottery. Don't knock it, sister." Of course, this place probably had at least 1,000 things that wanted to kill them. He didn't have any evidence that suggested it, of course. He was just paranoid like that.

"Yeah, the little guy who helped us accessorize."

[Well now he's frowning and pouting because his husband has slighted him even while praising him. That was sad.]

I would happily render what help I am able to, my lady.

What typical styles do you prefer to work in? It's usually best to center ideas around what someone's most familiar with.

Ah, the answer there is complex. I have mainly been trained on the predominant styles that the locals like. This is what our shop needs. But I can do additional work if I have ideas. I'm not sure how well I would adapt of course.

Oh, and styles similar to my home, so very elegant, with rich colors.

"No, it's always had a connection to our land throughout dimensions," she replied rather curtly. He wasn't precisely wrong with the joke, but she still had some amount of pride in where she came from.

"I feel like I've won that lottery too many times already," she quirked her mouth up in a slight smirk.

"I'm sure he'd appreciate your description of him."

"Bad things? Such as?" That wasn't entirely unexpected for her either. "Middlemen always have a tendency to make a mess of things." Even when they had the best of intentions it seemed like they ended up knowing too little to do anything other than mess things up. It was interesting to note that this place evidently wasn't that different, at least in that regard.

"I might be able to help if it ever happens to you again," she offered. She wasn't quite sure why but she felt like this man would end up in trouble again. He seemed far too open to not land in problem situations.

“I see…” That actually made more sense than other things he’d heard before. The world changing on the whim or emotions of its ruler... It had seemed a lot like the Sphere was that way, especially when it… decided to put its experiment to the test.

"I see," she made a thoughtful humming noise as she listened to his explanations. "I take it there's not much you know about this someone that guided them then disappeared?" The answer was probably going to be no so she moved on rather quickly. "That is worrisome. Perhaps I could help with looking into that."

That makes sense to keep your shop stocked with what sells. I'm adaptable as long as it fits within a general quality I'm used to. I'm generally preferable to purple and magenta hues.

“Mm… There’ve been a few different things, but for an example? Shortly after I arrived, they attempted to… how did Athony put it? Redistribute power, cleaning out an issue with the graveyard and some trouble at the docks. But in doing so, a containment system in the historium that we knew as the ‘directory’ was destroyed. The spirits that had been contained within it could build themselves up with trash and refuse, then use an illusion to make themselves seem like someone you knew to lure you in to attack.” It had definitely been a mess, an unpleasant one… Exceptionally annoying given they’d been so sure that the entities that had been trapped for who knew how long in a spherical prison wouldn’t be out for blood when it was accidentally freed.

Llewellyn would honestly welcome the help if he did find himself in the position to experience something like had happened at the sphere… Because, undoubtedly, at some point… He would bite off more than he could chew again. “That’s uh- good of you to offer, thank you. I still hope to avoid it, but… You never know with these places.”

She was correct, of course… The answer was no. They hardly knew anything at all about the being that had left the aspects behind other than the fact that they’d existed. “It’s quite worrisome… Seems like the Aspects had a lot left to learn from whoever came before them. Your help would be welcomed by those of us trying to figure this all out, and them as well, I imagine.” And one more person working on the puzzle? Always good, meant for new ideas and theories that might push things forward.

Oh now that sounds a lovely challenge. It will be a bit more expensive, as those colors are costly. But I will happily start putting things aside to review.

"That's quite the mistake for them to have made," she said as she rubbed her temples. "Are their mistakes usually so dangerous?" As much as she wanted to judge them for making such a stupid mistake, it was difficult to do considering her own life choices. Too often, especially recently, she'd made a choice that had just caused more damage than good. The road to hell was paved with good intentions and all that.

"For your sake, I hope so as well. I know it's not a good experience." Some of the things she'd had dumped into her mind had definitely been the type of knowledge she'd never really wanted to hold onto.

"Are they still around? These Aspects?" Not that she thought talking to them would get her anywhere, she was mainly juts curious.

Llewellyn, unfortunately, would be delivering more headaches on the subject as he continued to answer her question. “I’m afraid that it’s certainly not an isolated case. Before I arrived there was also a… demonic bear? Or something of that nature that arrived when they tried to do something to the portal that brought us here. There are other things, of course, that I can’t say if they have had anything to do with or not… But as well-meaning as they are, they do make mistakes.”

He offered a smile with a tone was both appreciative and apologetic. It was nice that she understood, but it was unfortunate that she had experienced the unpleasantness as well.

Betsy got a quick nod to her question, though. “They are. Sometimes one of them broadcasts a message on the tell-phone network publicly to let us know things. If I can say one thing about them in the positive, they’re at least easier to get a hold of and talk to than the being that ran the last world I was in.” Even if they seemed just as lost as everyone else at times, and their answers could be vague? It was a step up from what he was used to.

Understandable. I take it you have to mix your own colors here? Things do seem behind the times so to speak.

Betsy frowned at the mention of a demon bear. "There's a demonic bear in my own world. It was native to it's own dimension where it fed on human emotion." Or some nonsense like that. The bear wasn't something she'd ever directly dealt with, though she'd heard tales of it from Doug, one of the New Mutants who had. If this bear was similar to that one...well, that was worrisome to think things from her Earth could show up here. "So, does that mean they can pull things from our own worlds here on accident?" Because there were quite a lot of things she'd really rather never see here.

"And you think that's genuine? Their apparent confusion over what's going on and what to do?" Or did he think they might be hiding something? Her first thought was that she wanted to try to figure that out herself. If someone from her own world was here they'd probably try to warn her about what a potentially dangerous idea that was, but luckily nobody was. Which meant Betsy was left to do what she did best: rush into things.

That was right, Llewellyn mused. If Betsy was from Illyana’s world, it made sense that she knew of the bear. “Yes, Illyana indicated that it was quite like the one from her world- er, both your world, I suppose.” It had been before his time, though, but it had sounded rather terrible, like most of the things that appeared when the Aspects broke something. “So… The answer to your question would be yes, I’m afraid…? They have no control over how we’ve been brought here and so they don’t have control over other things being brought here as well.” Which made sense in the worst way possible…

“Mm… I suppose that I’m not infallible, I have fallen for a lie once or twice before… But they do seem genuine, and it’s an opinion shared by a few people other than myself… That doesn’t mean I trust them exactly, but I have yet to find evidence to suggest they’re not being truthful.” Which he’d tried, of course. It was only that it seemed damnably hard to prove anything in a place like this. Though he hummed a moment later, rubbing the side of his face absentmindedly as a thought flitted through his mind. “And I would think that bringing in murderous creatures after bringing us here to help rebuild things seems a bit counterproductive.”

"Wait, so Britain exists in multiple dimensions?" He shouldn't be so surprised by that, but he always expected places to be, well, different.

He chuckled. "If the guy isn't used to bad attitudes from the rubes they yank here, that ain't my problem."

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I [ Video ]

II. Watts thread continuation

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