[ 1 ] video + action option, mouseover translation;

[skennen]

[Oh hey, another video recording by some hapless new(-ish) Transport. The picture focuses quickly on the chin, neck, and upper chest of a man. That the shot lingers there, with only the stranger's breathing and the light patter of nearby rain for audio, is almost certainly evidence that he's not only hapless, he's technologically clueless.

After a few long moments, the silence is broken.]

Eedeh- Veedehoh. [He's determined to sort out this word. He goes on mumble to himself in a not-especially-common language:] Oh nahò:ten kén:ton?

[The tablet is finally held out away from him and there's the rest of the guy, clad in white and blue robes. His outfit is complete with a pointed hood that would easily cover half his face were his head not tilted back. Connor continues to size up the tablet, his eyebrows fixed low over his eyes - a hint of anger, or perhaps it's just suspicion, in an expression otherwise shaped by uncertainty and confusion.

The instructions on how to use this device have only been so much help. Much like the rest of the information given since his arrival, he finds himself forced to try and piece together understanding around too many words he's not once heard in his life. But he does get that this thing is meant for communication, supposedly with the other "Transports". With the other prisoners.

His frown firmly in place, he finally addresses the tablet - in English:]

Hello. Does anyone hear me? [When waiting expectantly doesn't yield a reply, his lip curls. Is he supposed to say more?]

I should not be here. I cannot help with this war. A man of great importance is in danger where I am from. I must get back. Should he be slain in my absence, the consequences will be unthinkable.

[Not the first time he's said this... and probably not the last, either. It's aggravating to have to repeat himself again and again, to be met with so many blank stares, answers of "there's no way out", and now a flexible window pane machine that seem to be ignoring him, but he feels it's necessary to continue repeating this particular message. It may only take one person who understands and knows of some well-guarded secret to help him escape this place. But that thought gives him pause.]

If there is a man named Thomas Hickey here, I would know where I might find him. [Hm.] Or a man who calls himself Charles Lee. I am interested in his whereabouts, as well.

[Is this machine even working? He's probably spent the last few minutes talking to himself. What a waste of time this is proving to be. But what's this button here do-]

[Action Option - City]
[Should anyone be wandering the rooftops, they just might run into the man wearing those distinct white and blue robes... and no small number of weapons. The robes and weapons practically cover him in equal parts.

From a distance, his hooded figure might even look vaguely similar to another white-robed, weapon-collecting, rooftop-frequenting Transport. You'd think they had some kind of club thing going on.

Fair warning, though: Connor's time in Exsilium thus far has been dedicated to searching for a way out, gathering information, and (begrudgingly) getting to know the lay of the city and some of the land around it. As such, he has yet to visit his assigned apartment... and he's yet to see a bar of soap here. At least there's all the rain he's been skulking around in?]

Comments

Action?

[the_hacker]

[She may not be perching on the rooftops, but she is having a nice little wall climb. She struggles a little bit, but it's preferable to hanging out in and among the fighting crowds. See, she's still trying to figure out all this noise in her headphones and whatnot, and that's easier to do when she's by herself.

Rebecca pulls herself up over the edge of a low roof, straightens, and dusts her hands off.]

Phew! Alright.

Action!

[skennen]

[He's temporarily given up on fighting the uncooperative machine and has taken to venting his frustrations with both it and the city around him by moving. What starts as a fast walk across a few rooftops he knows soon becomes an all-out sprint that takes him to parts of the city he's less familiar with. He pushes himself on at this pace for a while, jumping between gaps, scrambling up to higher vantage points, and throwing himself at any climbing challenge he can find in the general area.

He finally comes to a stop at the edge of one of the lower roofs, his hands resting on his hips as he catches his breath. He's just considering giving the tablet another try when he catches a glimpse of movement over his shoulder. Connor turns halfway around, his machine troubles forgotten when someone- some woman- appears over the opposite edge of the roof he's come to stand on.

He handles this unexpected development by... staring at her in complete silence. Though not alarmed, he is visibly alert and ready to draw a blade or his pistol if needed.]

[Video]

[foolish_seal]

I wouldn't worry too much about that. Time isn't much of a factor here.

[Video]

[skennen]

[Quite a bit of time passes before Minato gets a reply. Connor doesn't even notice something's changed on his tablet screen right away, and then when he does, he's left marveling over the moving pictures, an effect that almost gives the impression of a very small someone (with very blue hair) being stuck inside the machine. At least he gleaned enough off the instructions that he can connect some of the dots here. Before, when the machine had what looked like a mirror in it - maybe that was putting together this kind of living image...

Figuring out how to answer takes him even longer and several video fragments, clips no more than a couple seconds each, are posted in response before he's successful in relaying an actual message.]

What do you mean?

Re: [Video]

[foolish_seal]

[Minato's patient enough. Lot of people he's met here aren't too familiar with the tech.]

[Of course, this means he'd have to go with a simpler explanation for time travel shenanigans.]

They said they'd put us back at the same point in time they took us from.

voice

[gevurah]

I'm sorry, but right now there's no way back home. It just seems to happen randomly.

video

[skennen]

[Poor Minato got the brunt of his technological fumbling so Kate is at least spared some awkwardness.

Connor sticks with the video option, however curious he is about this reply made up only of a stranger's voice.]

Randomly? They choose people to send back at random?

video

[gevurah]

[ Congrats Connor! You are the first in Exsilium for Kate to turn on the video for. She's in the apartment provided by the Initiative. She figures having it on might bring him some comfort so he isn't talking to a "disembodied" voice. ]

They don't; it just happens on its own. [ Or perhaps they do, but there's no way to tell. ]

I know it might not be a great comfort, however whenever you're sent back you'll be put back exactly where you were before arriving here.

video

[ofthegrey]

While I can understand and appreciate your sense of urgency, you must understand that any escape will not be easy or soon in coming.

However, I have spoken to a few who have left this place only to return. They say that you return home to the point in time from which you are taken.

My name is Duncan. Although I am a stranger to you, I urge you to accept at least this one piece of solace. It will make the rest of the time you must spend here more bearable.

video

[skennen]

[Connor hates what he is about to say and it shows in his expression.]

I have begun to understand as much. [Was he a fool to hope that for once, just once, there would be an easy and painless solution for a terrible situation he's been forced into? Maybe so. But he doesn't regret having had that hope, even if it seems he'll have to give it up.]

What you have said and what others would claim is hard to believe. [He's skeptical of the idea that he could be sent back to the exact time he was taken from - but he's not rejecting the notion altogether. Probably because his experiences here so far have been made up of the unlikely and the impossible.

There's a pause before he goes on.]

Your words are kind... But I find no solace, no peace, in being told these things. I may very well come to know them as truth, but it does not change the fact that this is not the path I am meant to walk. This war is not one I have chosen to give my time to. It is wrong that our... that our captors have... [He catches himself before he's ranting openly at the machine again and quiets down. What could he say of the injustice of this place that a fellow prisoner wouldn't already know?]

Duncan. [Oh so slightly chagrined there.] My name is Connor.

Re: video

[ofthegrey]

[He listens to the entirety of what he has to say without interruption. It is a sentiment he understands on a personal level. As always, his mistrust of the devices and what can be gleaned from them has him circumspect when he does answer.]

Connor. Well met. There are things I would like to discuss with you in light of what you've said. I'm afraid I find these devices awkward.

Is there a chance we could meet in person? I believe you will find the information of interest.

voice;

[dirges]

[Oh, look who it is. She honestly sounds surprised to hear his voice.]

I did not expect to see you here.

video;

[skennen]

[Well, that response throws him off. If he wasn't frowning hard at his tablet before, he definitely is now. A woman's voice... one he doesn't recognize, but her words almost seem to suggest he... should? Maybe not. Maybe she has only heard of him, somehow. Or she's mistaken him for someone else... however unlikely that seems.

He takes his time composing a careful, albeit it short, reply.]

Is that... so?

[Fishing for information isn't one of his more polished abilities, okay.]

Where would you expect to see me, then?

video

[wolfmd]

[Isaac certainly recognizes Connor, and his first response is a gentle demonstration to help clarify the word--or at least how it's said.]

Video. And yes, we hear you. We see you too.

[There's a moment where he hesitates over what to say.]

For what it's worth, I hope you do find the way out. And remember to tell the rest of us, of course!

[He grimaces at the end, a forced laugh falling as flat.]

video

[skennen]

Video. [He smiles wanly.] So I have learned. Moving pictures that carry my voice. [He wouldn't mind being able to take this machine back with him, to show his people and Achilles.

The fleeting traces of a smile vanish, replaced by a troubled look.]

Any who desire freedom from this place... from this war... should have it... [It's an odd mix of softness and conviction that molds his tone. He doesn't take his promises lightly so he won't make one lightly, but what he's been told about people returning to the exact moment in time they were taken from... He's spent the past few weeks thinking his situation desperately urgent. Now it seems there's a chance that isn't the case. He has a lot of thinking to do.]

video

[wolfmd]

Useful, isn't it?

[Isaac is smiling again, but it's thoughtful.]

I agree with you. If they'd asked... But they didn't, and it's hard to trust anything here.

[Isaac wants to offer that same information as solace, but that's his problem with it. He doesn't want to spread misinformation and false hope, and he's been worrying at the issues of trust like a bone. He pushes off the thought with a physical shake and changes the subject.]

You've been exploring.

[Not a question, because his own runs have put him across Connor's scent a time or two, when the rain hasn't drowned everything out.]

How far out have you gone?

[video]

[trickstermentor]

You know, in my experience it seems that there are always men of great importance in danger somewhere in the world. But, reassuringly, there are more often than not always people there to guard them.

Having some trouble with the video?

[video]

[skennen]

I do not doubt that the man I speak of has many guards. [Especially now that the plot to murder him has been exposed.] But I fear those who would protect him underestimate the threat he is faced with.

[There's a pause lasting only a couple seconds as he considers it further and then makes up his mind:] They will fall with him. I am still needed.

[With that out of the way, he's free to address the other subject... in a rather short manner.] No. I have figured the video out. [Sure, Connor, sure.]

[Voice]

[biwinning]

...No, wait, go back to thpeaking that other language.

[Color him interested.]

[Video]

[skennen]

[Another faceless voice on the machine... and this one with what sounds like a lisp.]

What?

[What other language? He wasn't... Oh. Wait, the machine was listening then?]

... Why?

[That's just a touch defensive.]

[permavoice]

[biwinning]

I liked it. It thounded cool. I've never heard it before.

[voice]

[futurarex]

None of us should be here. Bu our captors don't much care about whatever danger any of your kingdom might be in.

[it's just a fact of life around here, so much so that he can sound a little sarcastic about it, instead of simply bitter. but okay, more seriously--]

Who are these men that you search for?

[video]

[skennen]

[Kingdom...]

It is my hope that they will soon realize the error of their thinking.

The men I am looking for... [What can he say without giving up too little or too much...] They would be allies of the Initiative... or members of that Order. They are men of... ill intent and evil deeds.

voice;

[unsparing]

And yet the world will continue on as though nothing were amiss.

[ Yep. Connor doesn't get face-to-face time with his father, not after what happened at the banquet. Maybe next time.

Can you hear the tone, Connor? Forever amused. ]

voice;

[skennen]

[As if he wants face-to-face time! As if hearing Haytham's voice coming from his machine inspires any other feeling than loathing! As if he's... now wondering where his father is... and what he might be up to...

At least Haytham's reply prompts him to figure out the audio option for his messages. Anything his father can do, he will learn to do, too.]

I have nothing to say to you. [Except that.] Let the world go on as it will. I will not be stopped by this place. I will find a way out and I will see to it that Washington and his cause are kept safe. [And that.]

But what about you, Haytham? [Ooh-- and that... Except... he's... already regretting that. Using his name doesn't feel right at all. Not that he's going to correct himself or anything.] What will you do? What new plans have you concocted during your stay here? Confess them now and save us both time, for you must know I will put an end to each in turn.

[Absolutely nothing to say. Mmhm.]