A new but probably familiar to some arrival

[youngnotstupid]

Well... This was interesting. Forte had been out exploring on her own in armor again, not that she could get very far with the wall blocking their home. Well, not usually.

But today was different. Today she'd found an opening. A gap. And she was planning to make the most of it. She'd missed the alternates, but there was no way of knowing if they were still around. Or if they're even around anymore. But the sign was familiar.

But she doesn't really have a question. Just curiosity and the urge to explore. Her Gospel was tagging along at her heels.

Comments

[hacker_twins]

Techno and Middy aren't sure either, exchanging a glance before Techno reaches to offer scritches to the wolf. Worst case, he figures, he'll end up seeing Gospel bounce off an anti-violence forcefield.

Middy just rubs the back of his head and looks up at Forte. "Hi? Um... have you been here before?"

[youngnotstupid]

Forte nods slowly. "It's been a while since I was. The route here vanished. It reopened, but smaller this time."

Gospel is loving any scritches she can get. She's just happy to see people here.

[hacker_twins]

Techno's more than happy to scritch, wondering if this might be the same wolf.

Middy wonders the same thing. "We've met a girl Forte before... but I'm not sure how to know if you're the same one. It's been a long time since we've seen anyone from that world."

[youngnotstupid]

Forte frowns at that. "My family used to come to the Nexus a lot. We have friends from another version of our universe that helped us. I've missed them."

Gospel's tail is wagging harder at the petting. This is great. Don't stop, Techno. "Gospel seems to like you."

[hacker_twins]

Middy thinks about it. "Did they stay in a warehouse here with a big Metool at the front door? Because that's still kind of our universe's 'Nexus embassy and import-export center', even if a lot of people don't really live there all the time any more."

"Heh, the other girl Gospel we met liked me too," Techno said, and he just keeps scritching.

[youngnotstupid]

Forte nods, smiling. "It's been a while then. The others will be glad to hear that we've got access here again... And Gospel loves anyone that'll give her a good scratching."

[hacker_twins]

"So, this is the same Gospel?" Techno says, piecing things together.

Middy just blinks for a bit, then nods. "I'd better update the network. Everyone will be so glad you're back. I think your alt is on Mars with his kids... should I send a message?"

[youngnotstupid]

Gospel yips happily.

Forte nods. "I've missed everyone. So have the others. They'll be so happy to find out we can get here again. Could you contact him?"

[hacker_twins]

"I can try!" Middy says.

"If he doesn't tell you to bite him and then hang up on you," snerks Techno, still scritching.

"He shouldn't if the first thing I tell him is that she's here."

[youngnotstupid]

Forte frowns at that. "He was never mean like that to me... Has he changed?"

Not thinking that's it's probably because it was her that's the reason Forte wasn't a jerk.

[hacker_twins]

The twins just pause and exchange a glance at that.

"Maybe it's a different Forte?" suggests Middy.

"Or it's because she's an alt," Techno says. "The Forte we know of is really... kind of wolfy. If you're not part of what he thinks of as his 'pack', or someone he likes to fight, he doesn't have much use for you... and we're not either one."

[youngnotstupid]

Forte paused at that. "He treated me like my brothers do... Like family."

[hacker_twins]

There are matching shrugs from the pair before Techno resumes scritching Gospel, though he adds, "Maybe that just means he thinks of you as part of his pack."

"He's on his way," says Middy.

[youngnotstupid]

Forte smiles. "I guess that's possible. He's been good to me." She perks up at the fact that he's coming. She missed him a lot.

Gospel is very happy with getting reacquainted with the old friend that gave such nice scritches. She actually hasn't really paid as much attention to the discussion.

[forte_wily]

The twins aren't too sure they shouldn't make themselves scarce before the other Forte arrives, but Techno's still scritching... so they stay.

Not that they would have had that long to get away, because there's soon a Forte heading that way... along with his Gospel and four wiry-looking kids in mostly black clothes with dog collars on. He hadn't even taken the time to find a pup-sitter.

[youngnotstupid]

Forte can't help a smile at seeing her alternate. The kids get an uncertain glance, but the older version of herself, she'd missed. "Hi."

[forte_wily]

"Stay," Forte says to the kids, who promptly do so. Ivan and Anna remain standing, while Andy sits and Toby decides to flop on his tummy and watch a bug he just spotted.

Gospel pads over to his alt, ignoring Techno despite the small reploid still scritching the female Gospel.

Forte gives a brief glance to Middy, who promptly finds somewhere else to look and wonders if he should pull his twin away. "So, what happened?" Forte finally asks his alt. "You've been missing for a while..."

Ivan watches the other 'pups', keeping some semblance of order, while Anna watches the female Forte and Gospel and wonders just how they fit into the pack order... or if they do.

[youngnotstupid]

Gospel lets out a happy yip at seeing her male alternate. She missed him...

Forte frowns at that. "A wall formed. We could get to the universe we came from, but not to the Nexus. I kept looking. The others had nearly given up. I finally found a hole in the wall. Not a big one, but big enough for us to get through." She probably shouldn't have done this, considering the wall could separate her from the others any time, but she hadn't considered.

[forte_wily]

Gospel just happily nuzzles and checks on his alt. He'd missed her too! And he's still mostly ignoring Techno.

Techno, for his part, makes sure that none of his scritching comes anywhere near the male Gospel, well aware of those sharp teeth.

"Huh. On our end it looked like your whole place had just vanished. We couldn't find it and there were some weird scanner readings." The possibility occurs to him, since he's heard about Harpuia and Fafnir's close call once in that respect. "Are you sure you'll be able to get back?"

[youngnotstupid]

Gospel is doing quite well. She's been well taken care of, even if some of the others fear her.

Forte couldn't help frowning at that question. Yea, that was something she should have considered more carefully. "I hope so."

[forte_wily]

Anna makes a curious whine. She wants to know more aboutt the female Gospel, but they were told to stay. She darts a look at the male Forte to see if maybe she can get away with moving now...

Forte frowns a bit and nods. "I like having you back, but your brothers will throw fits if you're stuck."

[youngnotstupid]

Forte smiles at her alternate. "You can't ever be sure you'll be able to get home. I know how to take care of myself now."

[forte_wily]

Anna decides to try creeping closer, curious about the other Gospel and Forte, and wondering just how they fit into the pack structure.

"Still got a back-up PINpoint?" Forte asks. As precautions went, it might work and it might not, but better than nothing.

[youngnotstupid]

Forte frowns at her alternate. She'd forgotten how protective he is... But he has his reasons. They all do. She's not allowed to forget that. She pulls out a small device. "I have one. Coordinates include home and our universe, just in case."

She looks at the kid, confused. "Who is that?"

[mosaic_archive]

Oh, busted? Anna looks back at the younger Forte with a curious tilt to her head.

"Anna," Forte gives the pup-girl a look.

Anna just sits where she is and tries to look like she wasn't up to anything

"That's right, you wouldn't have met any of them. The rest are Ivan, Andy, and Toby." Forte will point them out, though it's only half-needed as saying their names easily gets their attention. Well, except for Toby, who has decided to take a nap.