[voice, Japanese because LOL WAT YuNork]

[duelskateboard.livejournal.com]

[The communicator sounds as though it's moving, with air rushing against the speaker... and the sound of rolling wheels underfoot. They come skidding to a halt, and the person on the other end seems to wait a moment before speaking into the device.]

...This is unexpected.

[Said in a boyish voice, on a perfectly calm, smoothed-over tone, though there's a hint of dissatisfaction to it. So much for that riding duel... inwardly, he's actually fighting a great deal of frustration at this unanticipated obstacle, but nothing of that is audible in his words. He decides to put the demeanor of the impeccable transfer student back on for now, and so his speech almost sounds a little pretentious at first.]

So, since this looks like some kind of phone or communication device, I think I'll take a chance and ask anyone who may be listening: what is it, exactly, the person who brought me here wants from me? "Heroism"? Well, that's a little vague, isn't it? I don't think I'd be any good at that.

[He sounds flatly modest, as though saying so for a reason he'd rather not admit to. The rolling sound starts again, similar to the wheels of a skateboard. The rolling soon halts again, but only because the boy has just made a jump of some sort, and lands with a clack and further rolling of wheels on pavement. Suddenly, a car horn honks, and tires screech in the background. Luciano banks to the side with a clatter, riding away with a sigh.]

Jerk. Some people... do drivers in this place often not look where they're going? They ought to know boarders have the right of way.

...Ah, on a similar note, has anyone seen Ruka-chan or Rua-kun? I'd seen them practicing from the road up above and I was about to go down to join them... I suppose this machine had other plans, though.

[A total lie, but you couldn't tell he wasn't sincere just from listening to him, because he certainly sounds friendly enough. His next few lines are rather soft and somewhat distant.]

Interesting thing, that is. Does Momentum really have the capacity to power something like that...?

Anyway, my name is Luciano, and I recently transferred into the branch of Duel Academia in Neo Domino City. If anyone could please fill me in on what's going on here and where my friends are, I would be... much obliged.

[Click.]

Comments

[punmanarmy.livejournal.com]

Oh hey, you know Ruka and Rua?

[duelskateboard.livejournal.com]

I do. Are they here as well?

[punmanarmy.livejournal.com]

Sure thing. Heck, they'll probably pop up to talk to you themselves.

[duelskateboard.livejournal.com]

Ah, good, I was a little worried. Thank you.

oh yeah [voice; english/translated] forever aderp

[punmanarmy.livejournal.com]

Me, I'm Metabee. Nice to meetcha.

I bet they'll be real excited to be a pal from home!

OH HI THERE /audio

[dragony]

[................... what.]

It's the twenty-first of April, two-thousand-ten, and that machine you saw brought you to a... a different version of Earth, than you know. Domino City and Neo Domino City don't exist here. This is "The City," which is this place's version of New York City.

... You said your name was Luciano?

[permavoice]

[duelskateboard.livejournal.com]

...The past? I see... that's a little hard to wrap my head around, Neo Domino not existing, admittedly.

Yes. You don't recognize me, Ruka-chan...?

[dragony]

... No. I'm sorry, but I don't think I've ever met anyone with a name like yours.

[duelskateboard.livejournal.com]

[He kind of just... gapes, and it's obvious by the stunned silence on the other end.]

Oh... that's... a shame. We were fairly close friends. I'm not sure how this could've happened...

[voice] he is blunter than his sister.

[strongest-tool.livejournal.com]

I'm Rua!

... ...who're you?

[permavoice] ya don't say...!

[duelskateboard.livejournal.com]

Rua-kun? I've already said I was Luciano. Don't you remember...?

[strongest-tool.livejournal.com]

Luciano...Luciano...lemme think...

....ah! Are you one of the guys who delivered stuff to the house?

[duelskateboard.livejournal.com]

[HAHA RUA YOU'RE FUNNY. He sort of chuffles a little, but sounds fairly disappointed despite that.]

No, I was one of your friends from school. It's too bad you don't remember. I wonder what could've caused this...

[In his head he's going "dammit dammit dammit dammit dammit" ad infinitum. All his work to get close to the Signer, for nothing now that neither of them know him? Not happening.]

[voice: Japanese]

[satisfiedsigner]

A lot of people here aren't really cut out to be heroes. But she dragged us here anyway~

And it's not Momentum. There's no Momentum here. They didn't even have holograms until a few months ago, and those are still just in duel disks.

[permavoice]

[duelskateboard.livejournal.com]

........

Pardon me, but... huh? I can't imagine that machine isn't powered by anything else.

...Is it?

[permavoice]

[satisfiedsigner]

This isn't our world. Or time, actually, so they're really behind on that stuff. But it doesn't exist here, as far as I've been able to tell.

I don't know what she's powered by, though. I doubt she'd answer if you asked. Maybe it is Momentum, but I doubt it.

[duelskateboard.livejournal.com]

I see... what is the main power source, then? Plain electricity?

...Inquiring minds are interested to find out about that, in that case, heh.

[amonsterami.livejournal.com]

You...know Ruka and Rua?

[duelskateboard.livejournal.com]

Yes. They are my friends from school.

May I ask your name?

[amonsterami.livejournal.com]

...

[That...means he's ok to talk to for now maybe. Ok!]

Izayoi Aki.

[duelskateboard.livejournal.com]

[Another of the Signers. The one who'd just gotten her license. Yet, this girl is a child, probably even younger than he is... he can only assume it's due to the time differences Ruka had described.]

It's nice to meet you, Aki-chan.

[voice]

[teppoudama-crow.livejournal.com]

Luciano… huh?

And you know the twins from…?

[duelskateboard.livejournal.com]

School. I recently transferred to the Neo Domino branch of Duel Academy.

You are?

[teppoudama-crow.livejournal.com]

Oh really… [Ah, doesn't this sound familiar.]

I'm the guy, who'll know if you pull any funny business. So you better keep away from the twins.

[duelskateboard.livejournal.com]

[Someone onto him already? How annoying. But is he being overly cautious, or...?]

..."Funny business"? What kind of person do you take me for?