:...Goodness. How messy. I'm coming out to meet you, and, hmm - I think Van's up for it, he's had a week and a bit to find his bearings again: 

:That's good. Uh, he should be ready for some surprises on the far end but it'd be great to have him:

:Surprises, huh. How long do we have to get ready and, er, what sort of gear should we pack?:

:Two candlemarks. We'll be gating into a hospitable location but if you need any magic doodads or notes for anything you might do in the course of a complicated war that's worth grabbing, plus, like, clothes that aren't for somebody who's seven feet tall:

:How much of this should get explained to Randi before we Gate off with all his most powerful Herald-Mages?: A pause. :How...high a chance is there...of us not coming back: 

:I think you will have an opportunity to bail before leaving the safe hospitable location if you want after assessing the situation in more detail. Explain as much as you want, or I can talk to him directly if you're busy packing:

:I don't need two candlemarks to pack, I'll talk to him. I hope we'll have a way of passing messages back, later, once we know more? Guessing you don't have an estimate for how long it'll take to resolve...: 

:I don't, sorry:

:I understand. Randi will too. It sounds like something where we're very badly needed: 

And then Van is alerted. :Belrun! Savil says there are other universes?: 

:Yeah! I wish it were as exciting as it sounds but actually they are not that nice, though we will be gating to a safe place:

:Right. Savil said there was some sort of war? And she died in the other version of Valdemar?: A flicker of horror. :Anyway. Is Leareth over there with you too?: 

:Yes. Also his other version but conveniently they look different because that one died:

:Eep! I guess it's, er, less of a huge deal for him though: 

:Yeah. Other one's changed his name to Telumë:

:Huh. I'll try to remember that. Anyway, I guess I should pack and you'll explain everything once we're there? Also Savil says you're grabbing my nephew's twelve-year-old roommate, er, may I ask why?: 

:Useful Wild Gift, he can do painkilling via Bardic apparently. But, uh, I feel like I should warn you - do you know him already -?:

:We've met briefly, though, er, rather memorably - why?: 

:Your counterpart and his are lifebonded, which, uh, has got to be an incredibly awkward thing to have advance warning of but I figure it's better than not? I don't know when that kicks in, conventionally it's thought to be half a day of being in the same room or so but him being - young - could confound that:

:So, like, maybe give him some space if you are not into that? Sorry:

:–I am extremely not into the idea of being lifebonded to a twelve-year-old! Ack! Why: A pause. :Sorry. It's not your fault, just... Gah. I will try to avoid hanging around Stef too much, which will be hard because he has a really embarrassing case of hero worship regarding the version of me who exists in terrible songs - oh, no, and that suddenly has a way clearer explanation: 

:Oh gods, is it already affecting him? I'm so sorry:

A pause. :My Companion says we're not actually lifebonded at all yet? She, er, thinks he's probably too young for it to be more than potential. I should still avoid him though, just in case: 

:Yeah, I don't know how young it can happen, I just haven't heard of it happening younger than sixteen but maybe the bonds usually contrive to come with ways for people not to meet till then and this one doesn't: