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

[distortedscream]

Not magic, technology.

...First time user?

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.]

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.]

[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?

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]

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.

[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?

[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?

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?

[squanderlust]

Of course I'm human. There's only one non-human in Ylisse, but if you don't know what Ylisse is, there's no reason to expect you would know that.

[of course, that's not the only thing confusing the heck out of her right now.] Ylisse is on Archanea. I don't know what you mean about some... relation to Earth.

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.

[tradecraftdude]

Okay, okay, just checking. There's like, a million different kinds of aliens out here, so you never know.

[ how can someone even be a human if they're not from earth? WHO KNOWS. marco can suspend plenty of disbelief here. ]

I've never heard of Archanea, either, so this is probably some crazy alternate universe stuff. Well, welcome to Omega, mind the gap, please keep your arms and legs inside the car at all times! Lemme know if you like, need some food or a place to crash or something.

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?

[squanderlust]

Oh, thanks.

[is it possible for a voice to drip with more sarcasm? probably, but it would be difficult. if she knew how to close out of a conversation, she'd do it right now, but while she's fumbling, her stomach growls. reluctantly, she returns to her conversation with Marco.]

What is there to eat around here?

[video]

[bearerofhope]

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

[distortedscream]

What did this four-eyed being give you?

Ah, there is a market district here that you can try. Afraid I'm not an exact expert on the subject though.

[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.

[squanderlust]

I've already been to the market district. That's where I got the 8,000 creds offer from four-eyes. I might be new in town, but I can smell shopping wherever I go. It just usually isn't mixed with the smells of smoke and excrement.

[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.

[distortedscream]

Not the only one new in town.

How did your sword get stolen? Traditional mugging, or it suddenly wasn't where you left it?

[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?

[squanderlust]

I was standing in line at the merch—er, I mean, I lost it in a battle! With one of those ugly red-eyed monsters. With the condition this... city is in, it must be a common occurrence.

[distortedscream]

Sounds like some battle. [A bit dryly.]

May be easier to come by a gun first than another sword here. [He wouldn't rule out the possibility entirely though. Megatron still employed a sword.]

...Have you heard of a gun before?