2016-12-28: So You Just Arrived from a Parallel Universe

[Bob Schroeck]

Oh, and for those of you who didn't bother to go to AO3, here's the "wrapper" we wrote to go around the link, which has its own share of hints and hooks to other stories and developments in it.

Welcome to the Displacees.yggdrasil message boards
Forum: So You're New to Refuge
Subject: So You Just Arrived from a Parallel Universe

Koyomi Mizuhara (koyomi.mizuhara@venice)
2017-01-29, 11:47 PM UTC

A few weeks ago, it occurred to those of us here at Aria House that there really ought to be some kind of handbook for new displacees, if only to save the managers from having to give the same speech and answer the same questions over and over again. And since after meeting everyone at Halloween we've noticed that no two managers explained things exactly the same way as any of the others, it also seemed like a good idea to consolidate all the little bits of information that one manager might share that another might not have thought of.

So with that in mind, Chiyo-chan, our manager Brent, and I put our heads together, did some research, talked to a bunch of the other managers and displacees, and did some writing. Then we did some arguing. Then we did some more writing, followed by some editing. And here's the result, the first guidebook by displacees for displacees:<dl>

So You Just Arrived from a Parallel Universe.pdf (file size: 1.81 MB, MIME type: application/pdf / Downloads: 223)

In addition to this PDF edition, we've had physical copies printed up by Chisa Tsukamoto from Douglass Gardens – but not before someone (I'm looking at *you*, Tomo!) stole the final draft and started scribbling in the margins. And then it got passed around to other people who added *their* comments, too. Finally, it made its way to New Jersey to be printed – *with* the comments still in it! And because Chiyo-chan and Brent thought the comments made it better, I had to add them all to the PDF!

Before I forget, I want to thank Chisa-chan and her friends for designing the front and back cover. We had the amount of input on it traditional for first-time authors of books, which is to say none. (And it's hard to say if Brent or I were more offended by the "About the Authors" section. ) But honestly, I think it came out great.

Anyway, please read, and let us know if there's anything we left out or that you think we ought to cover in more detail. If necessary, we can put out a second edition.

Yomi
Compulsive reader, unwilling tsukkomi
Why me, o Lord? Why me?

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Tomo Takino (tomo.takino@venice)
2017-01-29, 11:58 PM UTC

> I'm looking at *you*, Tomo!

I regret nothing.

Tomo Takino
Fifth Baroness of Ameno Uzume
Only true heir to Fujiko Mine
Enthusiastic boke
Proudly taking the Slauson Cutoff since 2016

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Chisa Tsukamoto (chisa.tsukamoto@dga)
2017-01-30, 1:25 AM UTC

You're welcome, Yomi-chan!

And everyone else, what Yomi-chan forgot to mention is that we're sending a dozen copies of the print edition to every residence in the network, *and* we've got another couple hundred copies stockpiled for new residences that might need them.

Oh, and I had to do *so* much work cleaning it up when it finally got here! It was really grubby in places -- don't people know to wash their hands? (Next time just email me the PDF, Yomi-chan! It'll get here faster and cleaner!)


Chisa!!!! ♥♥♥

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Weiss Schnee (weiss.schnee@dietmeierfarm)
2017-01-30, 1:32 AM UTC

This. This is what we needed when we arrived in November. Kris may be an adequate manager, but his first attempt to explain what had happened to us left us *more* confused than we were to start with. A copy of this pamphlet would have helped *immensely*.

Weiss Schnee
Dietmeier Farm, Lake Wobegon, MN
Yes, I live on a farm. No, I am *not* a farmgirl.

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Usagi Tsukino (usagi.tsukino@blossom)
2017-01-30, 12:17 PM UTC

My building manager's not any good at giving speeches. He doesn't mention Love and Justice *at all*. So thanks for writing this, Yomi and Brent and Chiyo-chan!

Who do I have to ask to get an autographed copy? Chibiusa wants one.

Usagi Tsukino
In the Name of the Moon, I'll be your friend!

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Usagi Chiba (chibiusa@blossom)
2017-01-30, 12:18 PM UTC

> Chibiusa wants one.

So do you, Usagi! Can we get two? Please?

Usagi Chiba
Yes, I've heard all the 'Bunny Chiba' jokes already.

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Hayakawa (hayakawa@bikerbabes)
2017-01-30, 12:44 PM UTC

> we're sending a dozen copies of the print edition to every residence in the network

Please save yourself some effort and expense, Miss Tsukamoto – the Okeechobee house has no need of more than a single copy. There are only seven of us here, and no room for more.


Proudly serving the Minowa family since 1950

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Chisa Tsukamoto (chisa.tsukamoto@dga)
2017-01-30, 1:05 PM UTC

> Please save yourself some effort and expense

Oh, it's no great expense, Hayakawa-san -- we're going to use the portal network to drop off the books over the next few days. But I'll make a note that Kickstand Cottage only needs the one.

> Who do I have to ask to get an autographed copy?

I'm sure Brent-san, Yomi-chan and Chiyo-chan will be happy to sign your copies if you portal over to Aria House one afternoon.


Chisa!!!! ♥♥♥

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Koyomi Mizuhara (koyomi.mizuhara@venice)
2017-01-30, 1:17 PM UTC

Oh, sure, no problem here.

Yomi
Compulsive reader, unwilling tsukkomi
Why me, o Lord? Why me?

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Gomez Addams (gomez.addams@addams-mansion)
2017-01-30, 1:49 PM UTC

Splendid job, my good people! Excellent work! We'll take a hundred!

Gomez Addams, Esq.
Specializing in criminal law

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Artemus Gordon (artemus.gordon@teikokukagekidan)
2017-01-30, 1:51 PM UTC

Speaking as a displacee originating in the nineteenth century, I feel that more space could have been devoted to the needs of those of us who face dramatic changes in society and technology from what we are used to. I myself have (mostly) adapted well, as the fact that I am even posting this message demonstrates, but I know of others who are having considerably more difficulty acculturating themselves to Refuge and its twenty-first century.

Might I suggest that your prospective second edition include an expanded section of advice for the timelost, possibly with a list of stratagems and suggestions compiled from interviews with those of us who are successfully coping with the changes facing us?

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Eunice Johnson (eunice.johnson@banzai-institute)
2017-01-30, 2:11 PM UTC

I have to agree, this is a great resource to have available. On behalf of the Institute I offer our thanks to Ms. Mizuhara, Mr. Laabs, and Ms. Mihama for taking it on themselves to write it. And as soon as Ms. Tsukamoto delivers our copies, I can assure you one will be going right into the Institute's Archives. (As will the PDF when we have settled on the design and implementation of their digital counterpart.)

Mrs. E. Johnson
Archivist and General Manager
The Banzai Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Strategic Information
Somerset, New Jersey

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Dr. Hooves (dr.hooves@lom)
2017-01-30, 2:21 PM UTC

Good work, quite, but... a bit on the human-centric side, isn't it? Derpy and I are far from the only non-ape-descendants among the displacees – not even counting our alien contingent in Hawaii – nor are we the only non-bipeds. Perhaps covering the special requirements of those displacees whose body structures are at a bit of a mis-match with the world they're stuck in wouldn't be out of the question?

That said, though, well done, good thinking and all that.

Dr. Hooves
Roaming researcher into the ways of sapient beings everywhere

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Marty McFly (marty.mcfly@lom)
2017-01-30, 2:29 PM UTC

That's all well and good, Doc... but what I want to know is why the 2015 I was in once looked nothing like the 2016 I'm living in now.

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Skuld Ravenhair (skuld@yggdrasil) (Moderator)
2017-01-30, 2:30 PM UTC

@Marty McFly, that's off-topic for this thread. Please take your question to Alternate Histories, or, Why Is Refuge Different From My Home Universe?

Skuld Ravenhair
Norn of the Future
Leader of the Valkyries
Sysop and moderator

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Marty McFly (marty.mcfly@lom)
2017-01-30, 2:35 PM UTC

Ah, yeah, sorry about that.

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Nabiki Tendo (nabiki.tendo@antigonish)
2017-01-30, 2:54 PM UTC

So you're just giving the printed copies away for free? What's the catch?

Nabiki Tendo
Entrepreneur
If you want it, I can get it.

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