When the Portal opened, Rhiannon smiled. She often wondered if she was the only one. In that moment, everything made sense. While she was eager to go, a part of her wondered if somehow it was dangerous. These other who could do what she did, maybe they weren't seeking friends; perhaps they were eliminating the competition. But if that were true they could have created any opportunity they wanted. Every instinct told her that this was something she needed to do.

Once on the other side, everything became a whirlwind. She had so many questions, but never once the opportunity to ask them. She got a tour and was assigned a room. How could this woman find her and bring her to the mansion in the way she did and never once think to offer an explanation or allow for any discussion. Maybe this assistant Cordelia offered would know something. Presented with the choice, Rhiannon looked them over. After some  consideration and some whim, she chose one called Kassidy. He was easy on the eyes and... that was all. She liked how he looked.

The rest of the tour was interesting insofar as Rhiannon wanted to know the layout of the mansion and where to go for whatever she needed. It was a beautiful estate, but she figured Kassidy would be there to help with whatever, so she just enjoyed the scenery. She did take note of the hot tub, though.

After Cordelia excused herself, Rhiannon followed Kassidy to her room. She expected he would know something of what was going on. She ran and hopped on the bed. It felt soft and comfortable, so she fell back on it to get a better feel.

"So, Kassidy, tell me what's going on. First, tell me what your responsibilities are. I mean, as my assistant, what are you supposed to assist me with? Also, where are we exactly? By using the portal, Cordelia could have brought me anywhere in the world. And I really want to use the pool and hot tub, but a bathing suit is the one thing i didn't pack. Is there a shop nearby where I can get one?"

Winter nodded along. "A parallel Earth," she repeated. She was familiar with the theory, and it made as much sense as anything else since 2004...Then she winced, turning a little green as she worked through the implications. "...So you didn't get rid of the Maoists in this world," she said. "That's...honestly, terrifying." She composed herself almost immediately and turned a bright smile up at Jasmin. "Thank you, you've been extremely helpful and this explains a lot of things. I'll contact you if I have more questions, but right now I'd like to settle in and rest a bit, so I can prepare for Ms. Chan's explanation."

When Cordelia tells him he has to chose an assistant, he grimaces.  Then turns and gives the whole room a once over, spending a few extra moments noting doors, windows, duct paneling, places someone or things could hide or enter or leave by, finishing by facing the assistants.

He just asks, "Do any of you spar?  Padded, bare knuckle, or practice weapon forms?"

That's not their function.

In reply to GameMaster (msg # 36):

Propped up on her elbows, Rhiannon listened to Kassidy give a broad description of he job. To her it sounded like she could get him to do anything or get anything she needed - probably within the house. Typical butler kind of stuff, or so she imagined. The virtual mall sounded fun. It sounded like that was the first thing she wanted to try. Especially if that was the best way to buy a bathing suit. Borrowing would be fine, for now, underwear in a pinch, going without was not the best way to make a first impression.

"Yes, that!" She pointed at Kassidy. "Show me how to use the Virtual Mall. I'll buy a suit there. Until it arrives, please do see I can borrow one."

Hearing that she was in a mansion in Carnelian at first sounded like Kassidy was being cheeky. Of course she was in a mansion, and giving the estate name meant absolutely nothing. When he went on to say it wasn't on Earth, Rhiannon got annoyed. If this was how her assigned servant was going to dodge questions, she wanted a new one. But then a thought pushed its way forward. It wasn't impossible considering the mode of transportation. The problem with that, though, was Rhiannon always had to visit a place the normal way before making a magic picture. If they were on another planet, Cordelia couldn't make that initial journey, unless she was so much better at it that she could work only from her imagination. The idea of it was both incredible and terrifying.

There was the other possibility to consider as well. During the tour, she did notice the sky had two moons, but she shrugged that of as a brilliant special effect. There was also the 'alien invasion' from a few years ago. Lots of people thought that was an absurd coverup of some illegal government  program. But what if both those were as they appeared. Maybe Cordelia came from some other planet and this magic was some ability she had.

Rhiannon reminded herself that she also had the ability, and that she tended to be smarter and physically more capable than her friends, bot male and female. She picked up dancing and parkour very quickly, and she was quite a bit stronger than her frame would suggest. She was an orphan in the system from the time she was an infant, so there was no family she could point to. The only thing that could counter the idea was that it was completely mental. But was that enough considering she arrived at Carnelian through a doorway drawn in the air?

Rhiannon would feel like an idiot asking these questions out loud, especially if this was Kassidy just kidding around. But redirecting the questions on that to Cordelia's early morning meeting, he might be unable or unwilling to elaborate. She decided to press with some cheek of her own so she didn't sound completely ridiculous.

"So if we're not on Earth, does the virtual mall delivery driver have a space ship?" She checked her watch. "And what's the time here now? Are we still on Eastern Standard?"

Kassidy will basically show you how to invoke the system as per the "Zou Yan and your Assistants" thread..which will also show the current time so circa 23:03. Note the time you get to your room is wrong, because I can't add properly, it should have been 23:00.



He will dash out of the door at that point..

He doesn't even turn to look at her and again address the line of assistants, "Do you guys exist only within the confines of your 'function'?"

Both Jade and Taurean go to speak simultaneously, they look at each other, Taurean gestures to Jade who says

"I suppose I can live with that"
At Cordelia's explanation and gesture, Cassandra nodded, lifting her bags before moving to enter the portal.

-----------

Taking in the room Cassandra whistled in her mind 'damn this place is extravagant'. Noticing Cordelia move into her field of vision and begin to talk, Cassandra turned her attention to the subject of the explanation 'eww to the uniform but points for colour pallet choices' At the offer of a PA she frowned slightly. So used to doing things on her own,  but a PA could be useful....

"Jade works for me"

---------

After dropping her bags albeit reluctantly, she followed after Cordelia for a very swift tour, she would have to explore by herself later on. After Cordelia had hurried off Cassandra turned to Jade "It's a pleasure to meet you, please call me Cassandra no need for titles I'm not used to them anyway" She paused offering her hand to shake "Once we've reached the room could you explain a couple of things for me, mostly where we are, what exactly is the Expo and Mizzurian, oh and why Cordelia asked you to help us this week?"

"Okay, okay, so then, do any of ya spar?  Or hunt, camp, fish?  So if nothing else we have something to talk about when the boredom sets in," he says with a grin.

In reply to GameMaster (msg # 45):

Following behind Jade, Cassandra listens to her explanation.
"I see could you tell me more about Carnelian or perhaps recommend me a book to read?"



"Ah ok," Cassandra nodded to that "I'm not used to following a fixed itinerary, so that may take some getting used to"

'Hmm if she's busy what exactly are we going to be doing I wonder'

"2 and a half weeks?" 'I'm definitely not in Kansas anymore Toto' Cassandra joked internally, shaking her head slightly  "I'm not sure I packed enough for that long, would I be able to go shopping later?"

Machk rolls his after Jade says "civilized modern society" and then answers her question by pointing to Taurean and saying, "You look like ya at least won't hurt ya'self if you have lift somethin heavy, come on, nickel tour time, I guess."

After Cordelia finishes the quick tour Machk asks his assistant, "Hey Bull, she said three a.m.," he leans his spear on his shoulder and pulls out his smart phone which has a beefy rubber and leather case, "what time is it here now?  I'll add a time zone for this place."

Taurean will leave the room at this point.

He will return after 10 minutes.

Basically as per descriptions..
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:45, Sat 04 June 2022.

While Taurean is gone Machk mostly just tests the chairs to see if they are sturdy looking and large enough, and then deciding not to test his luck, Taurean returns to find him sitting on the floor, jacket tossed over a chair, bag and spear leaning against it, and Machk contentedly eating his lunch with his fingers, spitting the bones back into the container.

When Taurean enters, "So like, ya people haven't made an app to do the time conversions from earth to earth then?"

Kenneth Elgrim did not seem to endure the trip well.

The young man was struck dumb, or more accurately mute, as the orientation began and the instructions were passed down. His eyes followed, but the young man was obviously stunned and barely able to keep up with the proceedings. It took him the better part of five minutes before he pried his hand from the pistol grip of the rifle slung about him.

By sheer proximity he gravitated towards Coral, and nodded to get as they began to disperse and move about.

He had no questions, but followed her and sort of nodded when she invited him to follow her to the Kyanite room. Wide eyed and hesitant, he looked all about interior and at the others in passing as he went, not having yet said a word, but looking like a fish out of water.

Edward steps through the portal, taking in the surrounding in relative calm.

He nods at each of the assistants as they are introduced, before selecting the beautiful Coral as his assistant.

Once they reach his room, he listens intently to her descriptions of all the features his room and the mansion has.

He finally asks..

"What can you tell me of this world I am in now?"

"Why the surprised reaction?" Edward asks

"Is it that unusual of a question?"

He ten motions for Coral to take a seat, if she is willing.
He has quite a few questions, if she is willing to answer.

He asks questions about the AI of the house, and how to create his Avatar.
He also asks questions about the host, what she is like, etc..

**

As their conversation concludes, Edward thanks her for her time and his plan to attend the meeting later this morning.

Edward then follows her instructions to set up his avatar, before setting an alarm to awake in time to attend the meeting.

You will know the name Marcus Trent. He's a really well  know financier, investor, and asset stripper. He has a significant fortune. He has a reputation as a womaniser, and there are lots of rumours of young girls he's dated disappearing or committing suicide. He's never be charged with any offences, and there are rumours he 'owns' a number of senators, Supreme and High Court Judges, and influential members of a number of law enforcement agencies.