[Video] Azalea Town

[belphe]

[The feed turns on, briefly focusing on the newly-acquired hive badge sitting in Belphe's palm.   It almost seems like yet another accidental transmission before slender fingers close around the small object.   These victories are starting to feel hollow to her without a master to appreciate them being had in her name,  or sisters to compete with...]

Tell me...those of you who arrived in this fragment alone, were you eventually joined by those you'd left behind or did you all arrive at the same time...?   It's been months, and I am wondering if the window is closed to the rest of my family.

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[Video]

[francia]

[France's expression is sympathetic and rather pained.]

When I first came to this place, there were a lot more of those I recognized. Now...

[He makes a vague, helpless gesture.]

I don't expect anyone to stay very long in this place.

[Video]

[belphe]

[That is the exact opposite of encouraging. Her brow furrows as France speaks, and her eyes fall]

I see... [she murmurs after a pause]

Yet this fragment doesn't see fit to send some of us along with those who have left. I wonder what interest we hold for it...

[Video]

[francia]

[France makes an expansive gesture, palm open, but it's not one of his flourishing motions. It feels more resigned than anything.]

Exceptions often confirm norms. Perhaps we are used as markers of sort for whatever force brings and takes those of us from other dimensions.

[He smiles humorlessly.]

It's flattering in a backhanded way.

[Video]

[belphe]

[Red eyes cloud a bit as she considers what he's proposed]

I'm not sure that I would make the best beacon for anyone but my sisters.

Have you drawn anyone in yourself?

[Video]

[francia]

[France has to stop to consider this. It takes him a bit to respond as he thinks back over the others of his sort that have been and are currently here as well as a few figures related to his history that have appeared. There have been quite a few.]

[When he finally speaks, his tone is careful and uncertain.]

I don't know. There were quite a few of my sort who were here when I first arrived, so I don't believe that I was the originally marker. China arrived at the same time I did, but he has since left twice and returned once. Besides other Nations, there have been appearances of humans who have been important to me.

[The last sentence has the most obvious ring of grief about it, and France's lips twist on his next words.]

They did not always know me.