first snowflake ❄ action/video ❄ life's too short

[fractalize]

Anna?

[ The first few moments are blurry and dark, barely any light peeking in. The moment Elsa opens her eyes a little wider, fear envelops her. Monsters. Metal monsters, whispering and buzzing, looking at her like she was some sort of alien. She almost screams, crawling off of the berth she'd been placed, the metal and concrete already beginning to hiss with cold and frost. There was a solid, plastic object in her hand, and she gripped it subconsciously. The cold crawled up the walls with her fear of the strange creatures. No one had a chance to tell her anything, not before she scrambled away from them, making a break for the door. The ice that followed her really deterred any pursuers at that point; each footstep she left grew a thin layer of crystals underneath it.

Once outside, out of the grasp of those nightmarish giants, she looked up.

What had she done?

Of course, that's instantly her fear; that she'd frozen over the kingdom, and there was no heat to be found at all. She steps back in awe, small flakes of ice brushing off on her skirt and onto the rocky ground. Pebbles grew little coats of crystals as she shrunk towards a wall, and her question was answered. No, the dark sky was not her doing, this was nothing like home. The pillow of frost grows around her, encasing the surrounding pebbles in ice. Getting a gold of herself, Elsa backs away, trying to stop herself from freezing anything else, but goodness, she was so scared. Where was she? ]

Anna?! Olaf...?

[ She looks around nervously--- ]

Anyone? [ She grips the object in her hand tighter. Elsa steps back, looking for anything, anyone to identify as familiar. ]

Okay, okay. We can do this---I can do this. Conceal. Don't feel, conceal.

[ Conceal, and only then, could she ask someone for help. This could be a while. Finally, a rational thought surfaces. What was this device, this plastic, shiny thing? A crackling and a click of a button ends up turning the feed on, then a sudden crack. It's almost static like, but there's a voice in the distance. She can hear things, voices, people, coming from the strange instrument. Turns out she's dropped it in fear of freezing it solid. What if it was a mirror, a magic one, like in the stories she's read? Monsters and magic, clearly a talking mirror wasn't too far out there to believe. ]

Hello?

Hello, is someone there?

Please, I---if there is, just tell me where I am. What this place is. Has anyone seen my sister?

Please----[ The voice sounds rather upset, regretful, almost. Another few clicks and there's a video, but it's jagged and blocky. Is that ice? ]

No, oh no, is it working? Please, she's only about as tall as me, with reddish blonde hair, in braids. She's loud, and clumsy---please, I need to find her. Her name is Anna.

[ A nervous hand nudges the device, attempting to scrape off some of the ice. She's successful for a moment, just long enough to show her face, before the feed dies. Yep. She froze it. So there she will stand, nervous and alone, looking around defensively to avoid the company of any more giants. ]

Comments

[Audio]

[calibrates_big_guns]

[Garrus has heard that tone of voice all too often. A few times back while he was in the army, once or twice while working at C-Sec. But he'd heard it more than anywhere on Omega. He didn't need to know who was talking to know that she was scared and confused, which, given the fact she probably just arrived her was a reasonable reaction. So naturally, he sets aside his phaeston mid-maintenance, and reaches for his comm, hesitating just a moment before replying. He should probably stick to audio for this. If she's a new arrival, seeing him might not exactly help matters.]

Don't worry, you're not alone out here.

[While he may not exactly be the most socially capable person you'll ever meet, he keeps his voice even, calm and as reassuring as he can. He's had some practice with this.]

My name's Garrus. What's yours?

[Right now, the goal is to just get her talking, make her feel as at ease as possible given the circumstances. It'll make the rest of this a little easier to swallow.]

You still there?

[video]

[fractalize]

[ In the silence, it feels like everything is on it's way to find her, like a sick nightmare. Maybe she was dreaming. But someone does speak to her, and she's startled. Oh, it's the mirror. ]

That's what I'm afraid of. There are monsters----tall, metal giants, they were all around me, I have---I have to find my sister, she can't be here too, not with them.

Elsa.

[ That name sounded so foreign compared to hers. The video is still frost and jagged. ]

Are you one of them, too? Please---I just want to go home!

[Audio]

[calibrates_big_guns]

No, I'm not, but I wouldn't worry all that much about them. They may be big, but they're not monsters, they just live here. Most of them aren't even all that bad. Even if your sister was here, they wouldn't hurt her.

That being said, I'm not sure she is. I haven't exactly been here for too long, but I haven't met anyone named Anna, no red hair, no braids ... More than likely she's safe and sound wherever it is home is for you.

[And here's where it gets hard for him. How do you break it to someone that they can't? That they're stuck here, potentially for a very long time? Slow and easy. It's just about the only approach that makes any sense given the situation.]

Elsa, I know this is a lot this a lot to take in but you need to try and stay calm. No one is going to hurt you. It may be hard to believe, but you're safe, and panicking isn't going to help.

audio;

[thxforthememories]

... Are you still there?

What happened to the device?

audio;

[fractalize]

Hello?

[ Elsa steps away from the mirror like device, like it's going to attack her. ]

It's---I---

It froze.

audio;

[thxforthememories]

Hello?

[This is just going to go back and forth.]

How did it freeze?

video;

[arnhaid]

Calm down, kid. Don't panic. That ain't helpin' anything here.

[What the hell is with all these kids popping up out of nowhere like this.]

Do uh... do whatever it is humans do to calm down.

video

[fractalize]

[ Well the good thing about a frozen over screen is you can't see anything clear enough to be afraid of it. ]

T-Trust me, if I could----I would, my sister, she's---

Have you seen anyone like that? With red hair, and she's with someone, a man, he's tall and broad.

S-She's going to be scared.

video

[arnhaid]

Isn't it breathin' or something? Don't all humans gotta do that?

[He grunts.]

No. Only little girl I seen has yellow on her head.

[He means "blonde."]

video

[deadlydoctor]

Lady, chill. One would think that this is the first time you hop between worlds. Oh, wait...[Sorry, he can't help but joke a little.]

I know this world is really surprising to organic newbies but panic won't help matters. Did you bother listening to the acolytes? And do you have a glyph.

video

[fractalize]

[ You are so lucky she has about a quarter inch of ice between seeing you properly and not right now K.O or she would've just hung up on you. ]

That isn't funny---who are you?

What acolytes? Those---things?

Glyph?

[ Oh. That white thing on her shoulder. That is new, and now she is significantly more freaked out. ]

H-H-How did that get there? What does it mean?

video

[deadlydoctor]

[Knock Out wouldn't have been surprised if she did that.] Oh, it is funny. But you need to see things in perspective.

I'm one of the resident doctors, the name's Knock Out.

They are not things, they are as alive as you and me. They're just not as smart.

[Aye, that thing in your arm it's quite important.] It means that you don't get crazy with time, that's what happened to those who arrived with no mark. It also means that you are connected to one of the Firstforged.

How come the weather is that bad where you are?

[Audio] Because I must. X3

[nobody_number_8]

{Ice? OK, Axel is curious. And he's now realizing, a bit concerned. That in itself is enough to prompt a response.]

Haven't seen anyone like that around here, sorry. I'll be sure and keep an eye out, though; never know who's going to show up around here.

Anyway, this place is called Haven. As its name implies, it's reasonably safe, as long as you're smart enough to stay out of the way of big metal feet, which I think you've got covered.

[audio] HE MUST BE HERE TO MELT THE COMPETITION

[fractalize]

[ HOLY BEANS IT'S SOMEONE NOT TELLING HER TO CALM DOWN ]

Thank you. Thank you! I have to---I have to find her, I can't leave her alone here with them.

What do you mean? What are they? Are there more?

[Audio]

[perfavore]

[It always hurts Mirage to see (or hear) a lady distressed. Maybe he was just fond of them because they tended to have more brains than the male of the species (usually), or maybe they were just easier to impress.

But he'll try to calm this one down as much as he can. Sadness, confusion, fear...and even worse, trying to cover it up to worry about others. It's something he's been doing for over a year.]

Signorina~ Do not worry, you are not talking to yourself, as much as it may seem. There are many listening to your plight.

[A soft metallic tapping comes from the other end of the feed.]

However, I cannot say I have heard of this 'Anna'.

[Audio]

[fractalize]

[ There are many---oh no just how many? ]

You haven't?

Oh, no one has...

[ Not good not good not good. :c ]

I-I need to find her, so we can go home.

[heartdive]

I don't know an Anna, but...

Are you okay?

[ dumb question is dumb but he's a little worried, all right? ]

[fractalize]

You haven't.

[ This is only getting grimmer, and grimmer. ]

What?

Am I---oh. Yes. I'll be fine, I'm---It's not important, I just have to find Anna.

[Voice]

[0perator]

[Dude another magic user? Alia is so there. Of course.. the whole powers-seeming-out-of-control thing is less good, but a little cold isn't going to bother a reploid.]

You ok? I haven't heard of any Anna over the link, but she's probably fine at home.

I can meet you and bring you somewhere a bit more human-scaled if you want.

[She knows that feel.]

[Voice]

[fractalize]

No! I mean, no, no I can't, I---have to find someplace else to stay.

Then I need to get home, if I don't, she'll---everyone will freeze.

[Video]

[littlecrowgirl]

Hey...hey it's okay miss.

[Her voice is soft, trying not to sound too overly abrupt.]

Braids, brownish hair...lemme jot this down.

[Video]

[fractalize]

Red, it's red, she's with a snowman, and an older fellow.

Please tell me you've seen her.

[Action]

[tower_bound]

[Rapunzel knows from experience how jolting a surprise it is to wake up here, far away from anyone and everything one had ever known. However, she also knows things aren't completely bleak; people always seemed to be willing to help, and she's no exception.

The least she can do is reach out to someone with whom she can empathize with, someone who desperately needs some reassurance. This fellow young lady clearly needs someone who can lend her a proper hand, maybe one that can help calm her down. She isn't sure if she can do that, but Rapunzel is more than willing to try.

She makes haste out of her room in Vector's temple, not entirely certain where to head. Surely, if it was cold enough for the lady's video feed to end up showing ice, it wouldn't be hard to find her. Right?

Leave it to Rapunzel to spend entirely too long running around and trying to locate her; maybe it would have been better to ask one of her new acquaintances to help, but it's a little late for that. Luckily, she isn't one to give up when her mind is set on doing something.

It takes her a long while, but when she does finally catch sight of the toeheaded woman, she bolts over to her, the yards and yards of hair dragging behind her sprinting feet. Once she nears, she slows down to a halt, calling out with a surprisingly warm tone despite her breathlessness.]

There you are...! Are... are you okay?

Re: [Action]

[fractalize]

[ Elsa's confused still, scared even more, and she puts her hands up defensively. What a normal looking person....? Well. Except for the hair. Still, person or not, she was the first to approach. ]

Wh-who are you?

Please! Please, don't get any closer.

[video]

[aerospacecommander]

Oh hello. Do you need some help?