"So how many people could we bring with us with one marble?" Isra asks. "Wait, no, we should do this in order—can I have my laptop to make notes?" 

Her laptop appears in front of her and she pulls it into her lap. It's a brand-new 2405 model her dad bought her as a "congratulations on getting into space school" present, and Isra immediately pops out the holoscreen so she can spread her notes across two monitors. 

"Okay, give me a minute to set up a spreadsheet and a notes file, and then I want to know everything we can do with these marbles." 

"Oooh, what is that?"

Ellie floats closer. A bit too close into Isra's personal space. But she steps back after a moment.

"You own a sci-fi holographic laptop?"

"It's this year's model! I thought the pop-out holoscreen was gimmicky when I first saw it online, but it had surprisingly good reviews, and I like having the extra space to spread out." 

As she talks, she starts setting up her workspace to her satisfaction. She has a feeling she's going to want more than one spreadsheet tab up at once, at least once they get going, but for now, the spreadsheet can be on one monitor and her favourite notetaking app can have the other. 

The 'laptop' seems to be a brand-new, highly desirable commodity. And yet, not only does Millie not have one, she hasn't even heard of it, even though Meghan and Isra are clearly familiar with it. Isra didn't even know what magic was five minutes ago, and yet she knows about this and Millie doesn't. 

"This doesn't make sense. It's like you're all from a completely different world to me."

"We might be! I mean, there is going to be at least two. Why not more? Oh, and you can call me Ellie."

"Meghan. I don't think maybe-not-dyed there said her name."

"It's not dyed!" Millie says indignantly. "Although I suppose that wouldn't be obvious, if we are from different worlds. I'm Millicent, but you can call me Millie." 

Introducing herself by her full name when nobody else did will just make her look pretentious, and it seems like her family name won't mean anything to them anyway.

"I think I said already, but I'm Isra. Different worlds would explain why some of you knew about magic and I didn't." 

"Pleasure to meet you all," she has to refrain herself to hug the nearest one - which happens to be Isra. "And I think magic is known everywhere on my world? Maybe not on a very small island somewhere?"

"Magic would be pretty hard to miss. And impossible to miss if you could buy any sort of laptop."

"Alright, that sounds like we're from different worlds, neat! Um, the planet I live on is called Earth, the country I live in is called Canada, the year is 2405 CE or 1838 by the Islamic calendar, and as far as I know, it doesn't have any magic. What about all of yours?" 

"My world is also called Earth, but the year is 1805. I am from a country called Albion, but currently I live in Noregr. Magic comes from artifacts that when touched by a person grant two effects. A power and a side effect. Never heard of a Canada."

"Earth number three here, but it's 2010. We have a Canada above my country, the United States. I am one of the lucky 1% that was born with a power - healing - but there are also these annoying complicated engineered rituals that do a bunch of stuff. Nothing like creating a world. Maybe a magic version of that computer."

"I've never heard of any of those countries, and I've never heard of having a name for your world, either. Wouldn't that be pretty silly if you don't know other worlds exist?" Millie says.

"I live in Xenogoria in the Anglic Empire, and it's the three hundred and thirty-seventh year of the reign of Queen Liliana. Anyone can do magic, but it costs lifespan, and using it a lot turns your hair blue." 

"Well, are you serious, true-blue? Anyway, I guess I shouldn't be too mean to you if you are going to drop dead soon enough. Technically, anyone can do a ritual in my world, but it's not a good idea if you there isn't someone with a power around, or with a lot of annoying math to avoid the magic blowing up in your face."

"It's a lovely blue, Millie," Ellie says, mostly due to a lack of filter, but also to make the conversation vibe more positively. "And Earth is, like, the name of the planet. We don't have a name for the entire thing besides universe. I don't think. You know, I bet there are nerds somewhere that did come up with a specific name for the universe."

Isra takes notes on everyone else's worlds.

Meghan's sounds the most familiar other than the magic, but maybe Ellie's Earth has the same geography but with different names for the countries. Can she bring up a map of her Earth...ah, no internet connection. That makes sense, under the circumstances, but it's inconvenient. It also means she can't look up 'Albion' to see where she vaguely remembers hearing it before. 

"Thank you for your concern, but I have plenty of lifespan to spare," Millie clarifies smugly. "Lifespan can be bought and sold as well as burnt for fuel. With my family's means, I can expect to live for centuries." 

Meghan knew she was smelling a rich bitch. A rich bitch that literally can buy time.

"I am sure that reflects well on your own personal character, on your own personal merits." Meghan says brightly.

"Oh, an idea. Hey, magic! Should we address you as magic?" She is asking this to the baubles. "Do you do eternal youth?"

The marbles are happy to be given whatever nicknames the girls want to give them! And yes, they do! Eternal youth for everyone in the new world would cost 5 marbles, but eternal youth for just the four of them could fit into 2, alongside various other benefits like not needing to eat or sleep. 

"If that translates to infinite lifespan, it could make me the richest person in the world back home. I could buy the world." 

"Oooh, not the way I dreamed of solving aging, but I will take it."