Day 81, Bert's Earth, morning

[amazing_am_i]

Bert was up early as usual to work out and it was a typical morning - except when he walked out of the bath to head to breakfast. The hallway was no longer the castle halls, it was a hotel room. The one he was in before he woke up in that crazy world. He was home! He couldn't believe it! He went to the front door of the suite and opened it to

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[gis_s_christ]

This was not her bed. Or her room. Or her castle. This wasn't a castle at all! She defitely went to bed in her bed, in her room, in her castle.

Gisela scrambled out of the not-her-bed and ran to the window. Outside, everything was ... wrong. This wasn't right. At all. There were things she didn't even recognize, buildings like she'd never seen. And there was noise - it was constant, like a rumble or swooshing or... she didn't even know.

She backed away from the window, breath coming quick, and then screamed.

[amazing_am_i]

Bert was about to open the door when he heard the scream. It didn't sound like the girl he was with - though he really didn't remember her at all. Instead, it was familiar, but something didn't click. He opened the door to find Gisela looking rather panicked. It was her voice he heard, but why was she here? Which Gisela was this? Bert was confused, but it was more for his simple brain to try and think about. Instead he acted on impulse and ran over to her and firmly held her shoulders. "Hey, hey! It's ok! There's nothin' wrong. Chill, relax."

[gis_s_christ]

"It is not okay!" She tried to wiggle out of Bert's grasp. "This very wrong! Everything is wrong! How can you say nothing is wrong!?" She was bordering on hysterics, but she didn't care. "Where are we?" Why wasn't he freaking out, too?

[amazing_am_i]

She seemed rather frantic still and pulled her in and hugged her to try and calm her down, not really thinking that might not be the best course of action. But she did ask where they were, so he could only assume she was the Gisela that heals people with her hands from that weird world. And she was now with him in his! And, as far as he knew, that pest Yuuri wasn't around.

"We're in my world, Earth. I dunno why. I left the bath area and boom! I was back in the hotel where I was before. Not even any lost time, really." Even the bathrobe he wore was from Shin Makoku, not the terrycloth one that was normally in a hotel like this. "So nothing here is wrong. It's all as it should be! And now you're here, I can show you all sorts of stuff! I'll probably have practice today since tomorrow is a game, but after that, I can show you all sorts of cool stuff!" Bert was getting more and more excited

[amazing_am_i]

It was kinda obvious that Gisela wanted to watch the program more. But he had to get to practice and the trainer there could answer questions he couldn't. "After they finish with surgery, they stitch up the patient and he recovers for a bit, then he's fine. Usually. You can ask the trainer stuff like that."

He put his coat over her shoulders and grabbed his hoodie. A sweatshirt was better than nothing. He led her to the elevator and down to the lobby. It was marble and had several large crystal chandeliers. Definitely a place that most people wouldn't stay at. He smiled at the doorman and waved a cab from the vestibule. He opened the door for Gisela to get inside. "Ladies first."

[gis_s_christ]

It couldn't be that simple. But pushing Bert for anything more was pointless. She was just going to have to wait until they got to this "trainer

[amazing_am_i]

Everything must be such a culture shock for Gisela, from going to such medieval living conditions to his modern type. He felt bad, having gone in reverse. He got in the cab after her and closed the door. "Stadium, gate G." Usually, his team stuck together, traveled on the bus together, but since they had a day off before official travel, he opted to come out here early and enjoy the city a bit. It was a rough thing to work out, but he was under the condition to show up on time or it was his ass, so he wasn't going to screw it up.

The cab pulled out and got onto a highway, weaving and speeding with other cars. He put his hand on Gisela's leg to show her that it was alright, and pointed out the window to show her various aspects of a big city for their short trip. Cars, parks, and all the billboards and signage on the highway. "I know it's a lot to take in so quickly. After I'm done at practice, we can see things at a slower pace."

[gis_s_christ]

The speed of the carriage was a bit frightening. She'd never been on or in anything that moved so fast. And other carriages were right outside the window, sometimes so close she could see the people in them. She scooted away from the window (and closer to Bert), unsure of how secure the door was.

It really was a big place. She tried to look between and past buildings, find the horizon, and still, the city seemed to go on and on. She thought she saw a hill at one point, but it disappeared when the road curved. Most of what he said was a blurr, but she nodded all the same.

"How long is practice?" It would be nice to get out of the very fast carriage. Maybe there were slower ones?

[gis_s_christ]

She stood as well, not sure she should believe him about inexpensive books. But she knew he had money here. She just didn't like the feeling of having to rely on someone else.

"No. I'm fine. I can take it with me?"

[amazing_am_i]

"Yeah. There's a lot of disposable stuff, so once you're done with that, it just gets thrown away." He dumped the tray into the trash and set it above the trash can. "In a city like this, there are bound to be used book stores, so you can get even cheaper books." He pulled out his phone and poked at it for a moment. He looked up nearby used book stores and luckily there was one about six blocks away. "Looks like there's one only a few blocks off. So we can walk, and you don't have to ride in a car." He held the door open for her and they stepped out into the cold winter. Luckily it wasn't snowing.

[gis_s_christ]

"Oh." They threw away cups. Huh.

She peered over his arm to try and see what he was doing. It was the same device that beeped in the hotel when it was time to go. It apparently did more than that.

Did it just tell him where to go?

She stepped outside, puzzled, and yanked the coat over her so it overlapped in the front. It was more like a cape, as she didn't use the sleeves - but that was fine. She was used to capes. There were cars on the street, and still people walking everywhere. She pressed close to him. "How many people live here?"

[amazing_am_i]

Bert wasn't aiming to draw her closer, but he liked that she did from time to time. He was now more concerned with her returning home, since he doubted he'd end up back there. After all, he was home. So, at least for the time being, he could make the most of it. And if that stupid Yuuri was there when she went back, maybe she would see how awful he was for her and put him aside. Though it made him seriously think about finding his ex-girlfriend.

He had no idea how many people lived in the city, though, it was far more than lived in hers. Even a guess should be better than nothing. "Probably a few million people. There are good parts of town, there are not so good areas. Once you get further away from the city, it gets to be a little more countryish. Fields and forests and all. We're lucky that it's not deep into winter, or this place would be knee deep in snow." And for Bert's knees, that was pretty far up Gisela's legs.

[gis_s_christ]

She watched the TV a little longer, frowning. "It's ... entertaining to watch things explode? Those people really are okay?" They had some violent plays back home, but nothing that looked so real. She picked up the remote, but didn't change the channel, curious to see more of this play. "Are people really like this, though? Chasing each other and exploding their carriages?"

She settled back, and found herself leaning on Bert's arm.

[amazing_am_i]

He was surprised she didn't change it, but rather relieved that she didn't. And even more pleased to have her settling next to him. "Nah, all this stuff is pretty exaggerated. There are bad guys and stuff in real life, but nothing really happens like this. But everyone's fine. The way they film the movie makes it look more impressive. Sometimes they blow up models instead of real things. There are movies that are a bit more realistic, without all the action, other movies are just made to be funny. Some are really full of history, war, and there are ones with fantasy too. But considering your world... daily events there would feel like a fantasy movie. Those types of movies have the magic and dragons and stuff." And were usually really long and really boring.

[gis_s_christ]

"There are history, um, movies?" She was curious about the fantasy movies too, wanting to see why he thought her world was like a fantasy. It was real enough for her! Magic and dragons were not fantasy...

A man on the TV pulled something out of his jacket and pointed it at someone else. "What is that?" There were harsh words spoken, and a bang, and another man on the TV fell over with a hole in his head. She stared wide-eyed. It didn't look fake!

[amazing_am_i]

"Yeah. They either make up an event or take something from history and dress it up so it's entertaining. No one was alive when Egyptians were powerful, but from what people know about them, and a bit of extra fiction, you got a mummy movie with some history to it." He was sure there were real history movies, but he didn't watch many of those.

Ah, hell. How was he going to explain guns. "That, was a gun. That one wasn't loaded with anything so the guy that looks like he died is fine. They added a few effects later on to make it look that impressive. But guns are very much real, and pretty scary. The bullet is full of gunpowder so it is like a mini explosion that pushes metal parts into it's target." He did watch a lot of mythbusters, so he gradually learned a little about some things. "I like those less than swords. A bullet in the wrong place and you're a goner. Some guns are also illegal to have." Maybe they shouldn't be watching this. It was looking like it was scaring her too much. Though, at least she wasn't watching a horror

[gis_s_christ]

She didn't know what to say. She really, really didn't. Part of her hoped he was right, and that she would go home soon. This world was interesting, but she didn't want to be trapped here. But she still had a lot to learn, a lot she wanted to try and take back with her (if it were possible).

"I don't like thinking this could be the last time I ever see you. You've been a good friend." She leaned back and crossed her arms loosely. "I hope we have more time than this. I don't know why I'm here, but if it's to make coming home easier for you, I guess it's worth it. I'm going to miss you around the castle, though."

[amazing_am_i]

Good friend... Damn. But, he supposed, it was better than nothing.

Bert leaned on the table with one elbow and put his face in his hand. "Shit, I didn't mean to bring down the evening." He sat back up and reached his hand across the table, palm up, to hopefully gain her hand. "Let's just try to make the rest of the time we got good. Even if it's only tonight, or we get some more time out of it." He nearly impressed himself with that line. Looks like all those chick flicks with his Gisela somehow paid off.

The waiter came by with wine glasses and wine, which he silently opened and poured for them, leaving the wine in a bucket of ice on a stand beside the table.

[gis_s_christ]

She smiled, a little sadly, across the table at him, and leaned forward to fit her smaller hand over his. She supposed that was confirmation enough, because she didn't want to say anything silly with the waiter there, and when he'd gone, it was too late.

[amazing_am_i]

Bert wasn't sure what to say next. He had a great line, got her hand and now had nothing left in his head that wouldn't get him punched. There was now wine, and that was an option. Before he could spit out anything definitive, he noticed some attention grabbing commotion at a table nearby. A man was getting down on his knees and the girl was looking all flustered. It wasn't something they could ignore so close to them and they weren't even being private about it. But despite the event that usually would be congratulated, Bert felt like it put an unnecessary pressure on him for an explaination and reminded him of several arguments he'd had in the past. Even now, he'd probably have those same arguments since his desire for marriage was not really something he thought about wanting at this point in life. He was too young.

He did bite his tounge and not tell them to disturb other people's meals. Gisela would get mad at him for that and he was doing his best to keep them having a good time.