oo1. video. / let's get this party started;

[dragonaught]

[ There's a young person on the screen of the first broadcast since the new batch arrived. Other older members have used the network for their own communication, of course, but this one has all the hallmarks of a freshfaced, uncomfortable but trying newbie. ]

Um... so, what are we supposed to do here? I had a job back home... and I know—once we're assigned we might have more to do, but as it is, I'm just...

[ Beat. Casey's face turns a little red. ]

Right, my name is Casey. Everything here is a little weird for me — from what I understand, nothing here is powered by magic? Ah, but I guess I might be the weird one. No one else has said anything. My point was, it feels a lot like coming into something halfway. Where do we start? Is this it?

Comments

video

[mrsarcastic003]

[Enough time has passed that Tim isn't quite as frustrated as he'd been when he'd first arrived and gone through their little orientation program, but he's still not totally thrilled with the situation, and the little party thrown my their kidnappers hadn't entirely helped his mood.

They hadn't even had his favorite kind of pizza.

He gives the other newcomer a wry smile.]

There's magic where I come from, but it's the exception, rather than the rule, and it gives most of the rest of us a lot of headaches. I'm pretty glad that the superheroes deal with that kind of stuff so that the rest of us can get on with our lives. As for what we're supposed to do around here...

I have no idea. I'm feeling pretty useless, myself.

video;

[dragonaught]

[ Excuse the almost-uncomfortable length of the staring, Tim. Magic being the exception is like saying air is the exception. They catch themself before it goes on too long and cough into a closed hand, embarrassed. ]

I'm... I'm afraid I don't get that. At all. But, um, they said there's stuff to do... have you looked into any of it?

video;

[mrsarcastic003]

Well, I mean, I like a pool party as much as the next guy, but... back home I was pretty busy, and it's been kind of a while since I had a real vacation. [He laughs, a little embarrassed.] I'm not sure I remember how.

video;

[dragonaught]

[ It's here Casey assumes Tim must be a Fatemarked. Aren't they making the other half go take classes and things? They sound pretty rigorous. ]

I guess... it's kind of the same for me. There's so many people here already and you don't get to carve your own niche out. They already did all the work, so what's the point of, well, treating ourselves for nothing?

video;

[mrsarcastic003]

[And Casey would be right--it's definitely a bit chafing for Tim. He nods his agreement, then smiles a little.]

Yeah. It feels... really strange to be in tihs kind of position. I'm Tim, by the way. Sorry, I should have introduced myself sooner.

video;

[dragonaught]

That's okay. I already introduced myself — Casey, though, if you missed it.

[ They pause, head dipping without notice to run a hand through their hair before shifting back into a better position. ]

Guess you could say the party was supposed to help us feel involved, but... I don't? It hasn't really sunk in that this is supposed to be... forever.

video;

[mrsarcastic003]

[The idea of a forever in this place actually makes Tim visibly shudder.]

God I hope not.

video;

[dragonaught]

Or—I guess until they stop whatever that threat is. Stuff like that could take a while, though.

[ Liiike a lifetime. Humanoids only have semi-average lifespans, after all. Casey doesn't have trouble imagining such a conflict going on for even longer than that. ]

video

[ethology]

[Sarah gives only a cursory glance at Casey before responding.]

If you're a Sentinel, that's your job. I'm guessing you're not, though.

Fatemarked stay out of trouble. You could petition the governors to let you get a job aboveground once you're assigned, but I'm not sure they'll go for it.

video;

[dragonaught]

[ Yeah, it's pretty obvious this one is definitely not a Sentinel. At least, to Casey it's incredibly easy to see. ]

Stay out of trouble, live underground our whole lives... little chance of maybe getting to see aboveground. That's it?

video;

[ethology]

Oh, they let people go aboveground when sentinels are available.

[She shrugs.]

I'm not saying it's an easy situation - or a permanent one, actually - but it is what it is.

[A beat.]

There's nothing stopping you from attending classes with the Sentinels. It won't help against the Trust, but knowing some self-defense certainly can't hurt.

video;

[dragonaught]

You're such a ray of sunshine.

[ They take a moment to rub at their eyelids. ]

Maybe not, but I'm not really the most... self-defensable. How, um, exactly do those assignments work, anyway?

video;

[ethology]

[Her smile is thin; this isn't a good situation for the Fatemarked and she won't pretend like it is.]

They try to make it as painless as possible. If you request someone, chances are you'll get them. Otherwise, they'll assign someone to you based on who's available.

How old are you, Casey?

video;

[dragonaught]

I don't really know anyone here, or... who is 'what'. How do you even ask about that?

Oh, I'm twenty-one. That's adulthood where I'm from, full-grown.

[ Are the ages for that sort of thing different in different worlds? It's a complicated issue in modern society back home with different species having different lifespans and all. ]

video;

[ethology]

Hm.

[She doesn't argue that Casey seems rather...young, or that most minds don't stop developing until twenty-six, because in most countries, "fully grown" is a matter of perspective and nurture. Casey - whom Sarah, unknowing about their gender preference and herself from a time period when one wouldn't immediately think to ask, has pegged as a "he" - probably doesn't want to hear her thoughts on behaviorism right now.]

You can tell the Fatemarked from the Sentinels by their hands. The Fatemarked have just that - a mark - on their left hands, and the Sentinels don't. Those who have been assigned to guard someone will have a mark on their neck.

[She holds up her left hand.]

I'm a Sentinel, as you can see.

video;

[dragonaught]

[ It's hard for Casey to feel comfortable here, much less enough to not present as male even if it isn't an overt thing. They're not going to be surprised if everyone here starts calling them 'he' and they're not really in a place to claim ownership of their identity, either.

They look at the bare hand, and tilt their head. ]

Oh, look at that. Wanna be my sentinel?

[ It's clearly a joke. They barely know each other. ]

video;

[bastardofipswich]

Powered by magic?

[ How interesting. Although Chase has magic, he's not used to it being spoken about openly, and it's certainly not used to power a civilization or whatever. ]

video;

[dragonaught]

Yes! It's...

[ So hard to explain when it's the only context Casey has. ]

... a lot more intuitive than all this, if you ask me.

video;

[bastardofipswich]

What, like you think "Man, I need better lighting right now," and the lamp turns on?

video;

[dragonaught]

Well... yeah. Something like that. Some lights are adjustable. Others are just on and off.

video;

[bastardofipswich]

So, what, everyone in your world has magic?

video;

[dragonaught]

Mhmm. Everyone grows into it, some sooner than others. And, like, it's a skill like anything else so some people aren't good at casting spells with it, but using it for something like technology isn't hard at all.

video;

[bastardofipswich]

Well. [ He smiles. So friendly! ] That's pretty cool. I bet I wouldn't have to charge my iPod so much if I could power it with magic.

[ Actually... Huh. Why hasn't he tried that yet? ]

[traqueur]

I understand you on the job front, I was a doctor back home. This is weird.

[dragonaught]

A doctor? [ That actually gets Casey to brighten up, just a bit. ] I was studying pharmacology back home. It's not quite the same, but...