First Transmission | Audio/Voice

[angel_of_death]

[When Walter’s voice first comes in, it is loud despite his actually speaking in a normal tone; microphones were not so advanced in his day, and he has followed the example of his day in holding the microphone close to him when he speaks.]

I’ve been told we’re to use these things when we want to get in contact with each other. Frankly, I don’t see much of a point to it in a location like this. We’re all grouped so close together that a public announcement system would be a more efficient use of resources. If you want to talk to someone, you can just walk to their door and knock.

[There is a pause in the recording in which he frowns, though it cannot be seen on the screen of whoever it is that happens to be listening in due to Walter’s electing to make the recording audio-only. But if the listener is patient enough to endure the two-second pause, the young voice with the King’s English accent returns.]

I’ve been told to give this a try either way, so here it is. If you’re feeling at all helpful, you can respond in whatever way you want to let me know I’m actually doing it right. No small talk required. I just want to be able to use this thing in case of an emergency.

[And with that, the recording ends, the listener left to respond or disregard the message at will.]




[Speaking of going to someone's door, whoever walks into Housing Unit 131 will find a note posted to the inside of their door. It's written by hand, in cursive largely typical of the 1930s-40s era, though with a few unusual flourishes here and there on some of the letters.]

To whom it may concern:
I have been duly informed that these are to be my assigned quarters. I expect I shall be running into one of you in the near future, though my hours aren't exactly normal. As a matter of consideration, I have an acquaintance in the West Wing with whom I will be staying from time to time, so do not be alarmed at my absence. I might also bring her here in the future. That aside, if you wish to find me but are unable to you may contact me by means of the "tablet" devices we have been given.

Sincerely,
Walter C. Dornez

Comments

[angel_of_death]

[Although he skips over the topic in favour of responding to the last comment, the answer to the first question is much bigger. Think microphones used for radio. The big ones.]

It's hardly my fault if you're too lazy to put in the effort.

[anotheryosuke]

Man, why is that always people's first reaction? Some of us don't keep maps and numbers crammed in our heads, you know.

[angel_of_death]

And that's the reason you still have a hard time navigating, while I don't.

[Hurrah for circular arguments. Especially when they're rigged in his favour.]

[anotheryosuke]

[Good thing he's used to rigged arguments!]

Nah, I'd say it's 'cause they don't label their damn space station. [Almost cheerfully.] There'll be a map eventually!

[Or he'll scribble something, but he really is kind of a lazy bum.]

[angel_of_death]

Sure, there will be a map. But you'll be too busy being lost, you won't know where to find it.

[Until someone actually goes to the trouble of putting the full map on the network.]

[anotheryosuke]

You're too pessimistic! I could always ask somebody to send it to me over the tablet. Don't wish bad luck on a perfect stranger!

[angel_of_death]

I wasn't wishing bad luck on you. You just need to show more initiative. You can't expect to rely on the charity of others forever.

[anotheryosuke]

Ahh, you should be more careful what you say, then! You never know what your words might cause, especially in a place like this.

[His voice dips a bit to sound mock-solemn, but springs back up again immediately.]

You have a pretty funny idea of charity, though. I mean, we're all in this together, so it's more like cooperation, isn't it?

[angel_of_death]

[Somewhat baffled at the persistence and the whole upbeat tone that has permeated the other youth's responses, Walter nevertheless remains like a stubborn brick wall that won't budge. But he does at least recognize the other boy is tenacious in some respect. It's something, now if only he had the motivation to turn that persistence in talking to other, more productive pursuits.]

It's only cooperation if you offer something in return. Otherwise, it's charity and freeloading.

[anotheryosuke]

[He's very much used to people picking at him and on him and generally being sanctimonious at him (and also being brick walls at him, while we're at it), so Naoya really thinks nothing of it.

If anything, it's kind of nostalgic.]

I don't think you can call freeloading when we're all kidnapped. Anyway, I'm already doing plenty to help out!

[Or just a couple of things, but he's totally working on it.]

How about you? You sound new and all, so I'll cut you some slack. Didja remember to donate some of your Initiative salary to the Extra for Exiles fund? It's important!

[angel_of_death]

Extra for... Exiles fund?

[Nope. He doesn't even know what that is. Maybe he missed it while he was raging at the people who kidnapped him.]

sorry Walter

[anotheryosuke]

Yep! Technically there aren't supposed to be any Exiles up here at all -- aside from the Initiative, I guess, but they don't really count -- but we ended up with some anyway.

[Accidentally rescued some, smuggled some up, it's all the same difference in the end.]

So... technically the moon base doesn't really have enough food or space or anything for that many people, so we had to pool something to help out! If you head over to Room like 340 or something they can probably hook you up.

[Unfortunately, the room doesn't actually exist.]

He stayed with Seras in Room 196 so he can guess.

[angel_of_death]

[340 or something. Or something is right, because he hasn't seen that number on a door yet.]

Are you sure that's a room number and not a time? I stayed with someone else in the living quarters wing with the highest numbered rooms and it only went into the two-hundreds.

[anotheryosuke]

[Whoops.]

... Ahh, well, you do know the layout better. Maaaybe it was a time, then... You'd have to ask somebody else! [Good thing he already established he had no sense of direction.] I think there was this cool gal named Collette who was helping out with that stuff. Maybe if you could find her?

[angel_of_death]

I'll keep an eye out for her.

[Maybe he can bully persuade the Initiative to let him see the housing assignments chart. There has to be a way to do it.]

[anotheryosuke]

[What hath he unleashed--]

Good luck, then! Work hard!

[angel_of_death]

[Something horrible, Naoya. An ill-tempered English butler.]

I always do.