001 // [ACCIDENTAL VIDEO] // Is that an anchovy in my hair?

[echo_of_utopia]

[If you happen to catch this transmission you will see an empty room, small and generic, perhaps very much like your own before you decided to customise it. There is the usual bed, the usual closet, one door leading to the bathroom and- oh look, somebody's home

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[echo_of_utopia]

[Awkward. That certainly is one way to put it.

She'd almost forgotten about the clothes, but now they suddenly seem even more uncomfortable than before.]

As much as I'd love to do that, I'm afraid the only thing I will be getting out of this closet is a coat of cigarettes.

[She swings open the door to demonstrate and steps aside, expecting another cigarette attack. Instead she finds the closet empty, with the exception of a dry set of clothes, identical to the one she's wearing now.]

...oh.

[jesusing_clown]

The cupboards do that, you can't request specific items but they can provide you with most things you ask for. I'll... Turn the communicator off while you change.

[echo_of_utopia]

Thank you, I appreciate it.

[She takes the clothes and disappears into the bathroom. One communicator may be off, but she has no idea who else might be watching. She returns after a moment, dry and visibly relieved.]

Much better indeed.

Say, Allen... may I call you Allen? How long have you been here?

[jesusing_clown]

[Reconnecting Tim's video feed once she's done]

Allen is fine, if you like. I've been here... About five months I think.

[echo_of_utopia]

Five months.

[She thinks about what Jack said to her earlier.]

Voluntarily?

[jesusing_clown]

No, I was in the middle of important things back home and I'd like to get back there as soon as possible. But, there are people who need help here too and it's not so bad most of the time. I don't mind staying here for a while.

[echo_of_utopia]

They need help?

[jesusing_clown]

Has nobody told you about the events?

[echo_of_utopia]

Events?

[She is not sure she likes the sound of that.]

No, I'm still getting acquainted with the magical closet and the "different worlds".

[jesusing_clown]

Some of them are okay, but a lot of them... Strange things happen here, and they upset a lot of people. And sometimes they're dangerous, so you have to be careful. When I first came here, this mansion turned into a strange ship and we went to Mars, and the last one everyone here aged or de-aged ten years.

[echo_of_utopia]

...

I see.

[She says this quietly, almost to herself.] Perhaps my presence here is not as ill-founded as I thought.

Thank you, Allen, you've been a great help.

[jesusing_clown]

You get used to how weird everything here is after a while, I promise.

Oh, it's alright. I'm happy to help, if there's anything else you need don't hesitate to ask.

[echo_of_utopia]

I suppose I've lived with weird long enough, it's only a matter of getting used to a different brand. [She sighs again.]

Thank you, Allen, I'll make sure to contact you if I do.