1st Mistake; video

[moralperil]

[Two lavender eyes stare deeply into the camera, leaning in too close.]

Testing, 1, 2, 3! Um, hi? Oh good, it's working...

[Mahdi slides backward. He's in the dining area of one of the assigned apartments. The guy looks about fifteen, and was clearly plucked right from his job: he's wearing a clean but old and stained black apron over khakis and a polo that have seen better days. There's a hairnet crumpled up on one side of the table, next to a glittery purple flashlight.]

Is there any way for me to contact my boss on this thing? You'd think a simple inter-realm transmission wouldn't be that hard considering how much other crazy stuff they have out here. [More to himself than to the netbook:] I really just want to tell her I won't be coming in. I'm supposed to be there for the breakfast crowd and she's gonna be up a creek without me. Probably can't get out of getting fired for not showing up... even if technically I was there. Early, even!

[He seems to remember himself, and addresses the camera once again.] Anyway, hi! I'm Mahdi. I'm new. They set me up with a place to stay, so I guess I'm gonna be a prisoner for awhile here, huh? [He doesn't exactly seem upset about it, though at least it's clear he's not enthusiastic.] I hope we can makes friends! That's what people do on the internet, right?

Comments

[healplz]

It... could be. [ what is dvds, what is movies ] I understand it stands for "virtual reality".

[moralperil]

So... like a video game?

I'm glad I wasn't here for that. I'm bad at video games. I can never figure out how to run or anything.

[healplz]

I'm—sorry, I'm unfamiliar with a "video game".

[moralperil]

[cheerfully] It's not important.

[But he becomes more concerned when he goes back to the original subject.] What happened? You said there was fighting.

[healplz]

Yes. We were pressed into our own memories to fight the people remembered within.

[moralperil]

That's terrible! Why? Why would anyone put someone through that?

[healplz]

We're been told it was a malfunction. Whether or not this is true remains to be seen.

[moralperil]

I'm not exactly the tactical type, but it doesn't make a lot of sense to bring such an inconsistent group here. It'd be like herding cats to get us all to do the same thing. Only less cute.

Maybe this really is all a mistake. In which case, we should be trying to help them fix their equipment so we can go home.

[healplz]

It's not impossible that this is a mistake. I've seen examples of their work, and that option would be no surprise.

Have you any experience with machines at this level?

[moralperil]

Nope! My last job I had to travel pretty light, and since then I've been broke as a joke so no way I could ever afford a computer. Even a cellphone's stretching it. [A pause.] I guess that probably doesn't mean much to you. I'd like to help however I can, though, but... I'd probably mess everything up and install a virus instead. [He seems apologetic for even doing this hypothetically.]

[healplz]

Perhaps another transport, then.

[ A pause, and, curiously: ] What was your last job?

[moralperil]

Top secret stuff! [As if this is an explanation:] When I say it like that, it sounds pretty cool and mysterious, huh?

[healplz]

[ hahaha he totally doesn't believe that :| ]

It does. [ and with a smile: ] I will not inquire further, then.

[moralperil]

[Perhaps fortunately, Mahdi doesn't often recognize when he's being patronized.] What about you? What did you do back in your world?

[healplz]

I'm a priest. In Rune-Midgard I gave assistance to adventurers, but here— [ slightly happier sounding here ] I give my aid at the Clinic, instead.

[moralperil]

A priest? So you like to help people and make their lives better? That's wonderful! [It really, really is. Mahdi is always happy to find out others enjoy helping as much as he does.] What sort of things do you do at the clinic? Are you a doctor too?

[healplz]

[ oh man someone else that doesn't automatically equate "priest" with "healer", WHAT SORT OF CRAZY WORLD DO THESE PEOPLE COME FROM. but he nods. ]

I try to, yes. And as a priest, my magic allows me to heal.

[moralperil]

That's amazing! Can you teach me to do it? [A pause, and apparently he's answered his own question because he's disappointed.] ...Probably not...

[healplz]

[ There's a pause, where he... actually has to think about that one. ]

It... is a possibility. I'd never considered attempting to teach a priest's magic.

[moralperil]

Are you a human? I've never met a human with his own magic before.

[healplz]

I am, yes. It's not my own magic, however; I wield it through my faith in God.

[moralperil]

Wow. Did you have to fill out paperwork?

[healplz]

[ uh. trying not to look totally perplexed by that. ]

I... did not, no.

[moralperil]

[Oops, he said something weird again.]

Anyway, my name is Mahdi. It's nice to meet you!

[healplz]

Ashraf Salib; it's a pleasure, Mahdi.

Do you have many non-humans in your world?