( 1 ) ( VIDEO )

[stillbetter]

[Sorry, guys. She's one of those newbies.]

For God's sake. Really? This has got to be a first. Do these people even know who they're taking in? What am I even going to do here? I'm just a radio host back home, not - whatever you think I am.

[She is no soldier worth kidnapping, no, not at all, thank you very much.]

I can't do this.

I won't do this.

[Look. She's even throwing in a pause to show how serious she is.]

Besides, Fred wouldn't begin to know what to do without me. My fiancé? I have a life back home, you know, and it can't wait. So - you ought to put me back. As soon as possible, if that's not too much trouble.

[She has spoken. ... Then she starts to press random buttons because what am this technology.]

... Hello? Can anyone hear me?

[...

beep beep beep]

Comments

[stillbetter]

[That's a nice thought. If only she could share it.]

Are you one of the people taken to this place, or-?

[velveteened]

Yes. Everyone who uses these tablets is. I don't think the Exiles have ever used the network.

( it's happened a couple of times, but that was before his time. )

[stillbetter]

So they just - want us to talk to each other? Over these things?

[velveteened]

Convenient, isn't it?

( brightly. )

[stillbetter]

I'm sorry, but - how is this convenient?

[velveteened]

( for the initiative to see what transports are saying, to observe sentiment, to help the unwilling in this so-called army to become friendly and gain reasons to fight.

but what he says is: )

If you ever need to speak to anyone, it's easier than having to go find them - isn't it?

[stillbetter]

I could use a phone for that, too. [But oh, look! They didn't allow her to keep one. That's convenient.]

[velveteened]

True, true! But the tablets can do things that phones can't, too.

( look wireless phones are still somewhat distant future for his time period; having text and video features is totally crazy. )

[stillbetter]

Such as?

[She was taught how to be a reporter. And she's nosy. Questioning him is going to be a thing.]

[velveteened]

( this seems like a funny conversation to have over a video feed, but he obliges - )

This, for instance - being able to see one another and speak. You can type on these, too, and of course they're portable. You can say things on this network or talk to people individually, and make individual conversations invisible to other people.

( you can also use emotes but she doesn't really seem like the type to care, so he leaves that bit out )

[stillbetter]

Sound like things you can do on any regular smartphone to me, really. [Not that she's unimpressed. At least he's trying to help.] So, Oz, where are you from?

[velveteened]

( it's not exactly a sigh, his exhale; more slightly amused and self-deprecating than anything else )

We don't have anything like that where I come from. ( as for the question - ) You wouldn't have heard of it, but it's a city called Reveil.

[stillbetter]

Reveil-? [beat.] Is it French?

[velveteened]

I've heard it is, in places other people are from. But there aren't any countries called "France" or ( for that matter - ) "England" where I'm from.

( in fact there are no country names provided at all! because canon is helpful like that )

[stillbetter]

I - really? So you're... not from Earth?

[velveteened]

It is Earth. At least - we call it Earth, and it's not so different from here in some ways.

[stillbetter]

That's so strange. And - well - fascinating, I suppose. Do you have a map of your world?

[velveteened]

( shakes his head )

There aren't any that came here with us. I could try to draw one for you if you're that interested, but it wouldn't be as accurate.

[stillbetter]

It's up to you, really.

[velveteened]

( this reply comes at a delay, in which he does indeed try to draw the basics of one and then realize he has no idea how to use these devices to actually send an image. what are cameras, man, what are future tiny digital cameras on tablets. which is to say nothing of the problem of attaching files.

poppy will indeed eventually get something but it's pretty zoomed out and maybe helpful if she squints a lot. hetried.jpg )

[stillbetter]

[and squint she does! It's not very helpful.]

... I see.

[not really]

[velveteened]

( an effort was made. )

What kind of place are you from?

[stillbetter]

I'm from... I'm from a rather busy place. Big. Very culture-centered.

[velveteened]

So — a big city?

[stillbetter]

That's right. London.