001 ➛ audio

[squanderlust]

If this magic works the way it was described, somebody should be able to hear me right now. [though the voice of the young lady that's coming through sounds incredibly skeptical about this entire endeavor.] If you can, and you can actually understand me, I want you to tell me whether 8,000 "creds" is a lot of money around here, and what I can do to get it. I can't believe your merchants don't take something as simple as gold for war supplies.

[there's ambient noise for a while, and some confused sounds from somebody who has obviously never seen, much less used, an omni-tool before. eventually she groans in exasperation.]

My sword's been stolen from me and you expect me to do repairs to survive. This is entirely unacceptable.

Comments

voice; private (easily hackable)

[tradecraftdude]

[ Well, she sounds cute. Then again, every female sounds cute to Marco. ]

Dude, that's a lot of credit. Sorry, but no one here operates on the gold standard anymore. [ ahem. ] So, you're like, new around here, right?

voice; private (easily hackable)

[squanderlust]

[it takes Severa a bit to figure out how to reply to these things, and a little longer to get the privacy right. finally, she thinks she's got it.]

"Anymore"? Gawds, I traveled through time again, didn't I? Never mind. Why not? What was so bad about gold?

[she'll just dodge the question about being new for now, even though she knows it's obvious.]

[tradecraftdude]

I mean, it's a pain in the ass to carry around compared to credits. But hey, if you know how to kick ass, you can totally get hooked up with a better gig than dragging rubble.

[ There is no escape from the getting to know you questions. Marco turns up the friendliness a notch. ]

Sooo, what's your name?

[squanderlust]

Hmph. [that makes perfect sense, really. a sack full of gold, even in large denominations, is remarkably heavy and an enormous risk. you win this round, strange probably-future.]

Severa. I'm a mercenary in the Ylissean army. Please tell me you know what Ylisse is.

[tradecraftdude]

Cool. I'm Marco! I deliver pizzas, and I've never heard of Yellerwhatever. Do you know where that is relative to good ol' planet Earth?

[ wait ]

...and are you a human?

voice

[distortedscream]

Not magic, technology.

...First time user?

voice

[squanderlust]

Technology? This is much more advanced than some... self-propelling ballista. Magic is the only thing that makes sense.

[of course she's a first-time user, but she knows enough not to say it. well, out loud.]

Re: voice

[distortedscream]

[Essentially a first-time user, yes. Dropping that point for now. BUT SELF-PROPELLING BALLISTA, WOAH. He'd learned the term on Earth only in historical contexts. Old, but interesting nonetheless.]

It is extremely advanced technology by the standards of a self-propelled ballista.

I'm still uncertain of the exact details of this place's currency, but I know gold is definitely out. Something about credits being more universal or something.

You seek to arm yourself? [Heavily implying you were weaponless out on this network didn't seem...that well thought out.]

[squanderlust]

I am looking for a new weapon. But unless you can find a better offer than the one the four-eyed... thing gave me, I think I'll be fine shopping around myself. [suddenly, though, she sounds excited at the idea!] Do you know what the best bargains are around here?

audio;

[shutupmarco]

It sounds like you're not in Kansas anymore. Or...wherever you're from. Well, welcome to the club. You're not the only one. What's your name?

audio;

[squanderlust]

I'm starting to get the idea. You can call me Severa.

I'm not the only one who's been dragged here? You're not all natives?

[shutupmarco]

God, no. I mean, most of the people here are, as far as I know. But most of us living in Zeta District, none of us are really from here. Anyway, nice to meet you, Severa. I'm Rachel. Watch out around this place. It can be pretty nasty.

[squanderlust]

I'm not worried. I can be pretty nasty, too. [listen to how smug she sounds!] You can't be a soldier if you're some softie.

audio;

[neverknocks]

[ York might as well have a lost-teen-dar implanted in her brain, because it'd be impossible for her to miss this post. She's been having kind of a shit week, what with the injury to her face and all, but she's starting to bounce back a little. And this poor girl looks pretty lost and out of her element. York can't really ignore that, in all honesty. Christ, she might as well be starting a collection. ]

Hate to break it to you, kiddo, but credits are all anyone operates on here anymore. If you need a new weapon, though, I think I can help you out. And it'll probably keep you a little safer around here than a sword will.

audio;

[squanderlust]

Great. [and wow, she sounds actually appreciative? well, sort of. still prickly, but at least somebody likes getting to the point around here.] Is it one of those "gun" things I've heard so much about?

[neverknocks]

[ York's dealt with way pricklier teens than Severa, that's for sure. Marco can be a real piece of work when he wants to. And hey, she's so not gonna let some poor girl wander around here without even a notion of how to defend herself with modern weaponry, and it gives her something to think about other than her bad eye. ]

Right on the money, yeah. I'm gonna guess you don't have those in your world. You need some lessons?

[squanderlust]

I can figure it out for myself. [all right, now she's back to sounding like her normal self.] I'd just need the gun. I'm pretty good at figuring things out.

[video]

[bearerofhope]

I had a hard time getting used to that thing, too.

[video]

[squanderlust]

[Severa fumbles around for a little bit, probably only proving this guy's point, until she finds out how to turn on whatever a "video feed" is.]

So you're from a place without this technology, too? I'm starting to wonder just how many people are native to this station.

[video]

[bearerofhope]

Well, this place is pretty advanced compared to what I'm used to. Magic is more of my forte.

[he waves his hand a bit.]

Most of the people here are, but there's a pretty good chunk of us that have never been here before now.

[video]

[squanderlust]

Thank the Gods, somebody who knows what magic is. I thought I'd be getting all sorts of crazy looks from people if I kept bringing it up. I don't exactly think "technology" [she does the air quotes] can explain away why everybody is here, of all places.

Where exactly is "here", anyway? Am I in... outer space?

[Text]

[anarrowtotheeye]

Get used to it. Everyone starts with repair work. But so long as you do not slack you will survive.

You mentioned a sword. How good are you?

[Text]

[squanderlust]

[okay, hold on, she can get a handle on the keyboard on this thing. never seen one before in her life, but since when has that stopped her.]

any slackers around here deserve what they get,.
im the most giftwed swordsman in the ylissean army.

[she's... sort of got it.]

[Text]

[anarrowtotheeye]

Really.

[It may be text, but even when it's text Dun somehow makes his decision of underestimating her tangible.]

It would not do then for you to go without a weapon then, Swordswoman. I have a spare I am willing to part with. Meet me here if you are interested, we can discuss how much the sword is worth there.

[Text]

[squanderlust]

i dont have the sword anymore it got stolen.
its not worth anythng if i dont have it.
im fine i can live without one.

[wow, it's really hard for her to get across emotion in text. it's like mailing letters, but somehow faster and a bigger pain in the ass at the same time.]