First time

[browbeater]

[when the console clicks on, it doesn't look like the guy messing with it really expected it to. He was pressing buttons, finding out what the options where. his experience with cameras is also very, very limited. He presses the button again, and it switches off and to text.]

i'm new around here. not sure who this goes out to, but can someone tell me where i can find a news paper, or a job listings page? i'd appreciate it.

[there's a long, long pause, before he decides to add something else, this time switching it to video again. He seems to have figured out the camera, though he's still giving the camera a mostly apprehensive look]

Also, who checks these things? Do they go out to the whole city?

[a sigh, a bit annoyed, whether with the situation or his lack of understanding on what's going on with this form of mass communication is anyone's guess]

I'm Mako, if there's anyone listening.

Comments

[alphatar]

[Korra just stares, mouth slack and eyes unblinking.]

Mako.

[Then she’s smiling and incredibly happy, everything that has been happening recently completely wiped from her mind.]

Mako! You’re actually here!! What sector are you in?

[Containing her excitement, relief, and absolute giddiness was impossible.]

[browbeater]

[Mako looks a little surprised to hear her voice-- but it takes him only a second to realize it makes logical enough sense that she'd be there-- and why he might not have noticed it]

Korra?

I'm in the wood sector. [missing the theme was completely impossible at this point.]

Where are you?

Video;

[alphatar]

[If Lin could show up, Korra held out hope for the others and it finally paid off.]

I'm actually in the Wood Sector right now too. What suite did they put you in? I've been here for a while actually, there's a lot to tell you.

[A lot more than she was sure he'd ever expect in his lifetime.]

video;

[traitorously]

Wow, that's...way more proactive than I was when I first showed up here. Good on you! I can't actually help with the job thing, but it's cool that you're getting right into it.

[She taps on her lower lip thoughtfully] As far as I know, only people like us - they call us Foreigners - can see the network. I guess you can access it from some of the cafes around, but I've never seen a kedan talking on it before.

Oh, I'm Catty, by the way.

video;

[browbeater]

If we're gonna be stuck here awhile, I'd rather not get stuck having no means to survive.

[So only the 'foreigners' were on these things. Somehow, that was way more reassuring than thinking it went out to everyone else in the city. That would just be weird... and a bit excessive.]

I'll take you up on that offer, for the help. Nice to meet you, Catty.

video;

[traitorously]

That's a good attitude to have. I should introduce you to my friend. She was here for months before she even tried learning how to cook properly.

[There's a pause] Oh, no I mean - I don't know how you can get a job, I'm sorry. I haven't really needed one while I've been here, yet. So my comment was basically...sort of useless, but I'm trying to get out and meet new people, you know. I kind of kept to myself the first month I was here.

video;

[lineality]

You're in luck--the kedan are a lot more positive about our presence than they were even a few days ago. I'm sure someone will be willing to hire you.

[She isn't exactly smiling, but there's a lightness around the corners of her eyes. It's good to see a familiar face who isn't Amon. Or Tarrlok.]

Hello, Mako. I'm guessing Korra's filled you in?

video;

[browbeater]

Yeah, Korra told me that you were here, and about almost everything else I missed. [And Toph. But that went without saying.]

I heard some of our favorite people were here, too.

video;

[lineality]

Unfortunately. They've been staying quiet for now, but don't let your guard down.

[anomia]

Everyone checks these! Don't you have the internet where you're from?

Oh, and I'm Raimei.

[browbeater]

No, we don't and I have no idea what you're talking about.

[anomia]

What kind of place are you from?

[Is it under a rock?]

video;

[dustonmyfeet]

[Toph can't read text -- as of yet, she doesn't know it exists on the Network.]

[But yes, have a small, blind girl perched on her own twirly chair (having liked Korra's so much), munching on a piece of fruit.]

Goes out to the city. So if you work hard at it, you can sound like an idiot to everyone at once.

[She grins.]

Modern convenience!

video;

[browbeater]

[conflicting advice. Great. A sigh. He also doesn't immediately recognize Toph, assuming that she's another kid with unkempt hair. He knew a few of those.]

I'll pass on modern convenience, then.

video;

[dustonmyfeet]

[Toph doesn't recognize Mako either -- though she does have less to go on. She's heard his name, but that's not enough to make the connection.]

[She snickers at his answer.]

Most people use it around here. It's how everyone talks to each other.

video;

[sciencewhizard]

Pretty much, dude. You can put filters and encryptions on 'em, though. If you wanna just send messages to specific people and lock 'em away from from prying eyes. That sort of thing.

video;

[browbeater]

[he'd have to figure it out later, then.. That or turn it off and try again]

How would you send messages to specific people?

video;

[sciencewhizard]

It takes a little creative programming, last I heard. Uhhh- hold on.

[ He's not exactly good with this software stuff, but friends who actually are and time as a superhero have managed to teach him a couple of things.

He sends Mako a Text Post with instructions for setting that kind of thing up. ]

It might not be entirely fool-proof, but it's worth a shot if you need it. We also set up some personal inboxes a little while ago, so there's that as well.

Oh, and I'm Wally, by the way.

[disfavored]

Mako.

[He's not all that happy to see Mako, but he's not annoyed, either. That bridge has been crossed already.]

My brother and I are both here. I suppose I should tell you that.

[browbeater]

Tarrlok.

[a beat]

I heard already, from Korra. [he's not all that pleased to see him either-- but of the two brothers, Tarrlok was considerably less threatening]

[disfavored]

Alright.

...And, unfortunately, Amon has made his cause seem righteous to some people here, so be careful.

[holyflame]

Fortunately for you lots of people are listening...though as far as work goes, that might take some begging. I don't think they run any ads, but you might find someone who needs help with something...you could advertise yourself and the things you're good at.

[browbeater]

Figures they wouldn't advertise, since they didn't really seem the conversational types from the ride out to the suite...

[video]

[wallcrawler]

Mako, I should probably warn you, a lot of us can't read the message you typed up. Whatever magic is at work in this place, it only translates spoken word.

[Yes he actually just did refer to it as magic. Mostly because he doesn't think science could be at play here.

But Pete's trying his best to be accommodating and helpful here, so he tries to mask any annoyance at hearing That Question again. It wasn't Mako's fault he didn't know after all, and in all honesty, the blame probably rested somewhere with the official Kedan welcome party not explaining all this stuff adequately. So after a deep breath of his own, Pete gets to work explaining it as best he can.]

As for where they go, each message usually just goes out across the network. It's possible for anyone using a console to find them, sometimes even a while after you make the message. And the only way to keep everyone from noticing them is to try locking them, so that only certain people can see it. But that's probably going to take some practice.

[video]

[browbeater]

[well, it was the first time that Mako had heard anything to the contrary. So, thanks for the heads up, Pete! Literally, brand new information. So, he was going to have to spend some time figuring this out, if he wanted to not look like a complete idiot]

Thanks, pal. I had no clue about the text problem. [and... being from different worlds, it figures that most people wouldn't speak his language (though he has yet to realize how many speak English...)]

The rest, I've heard. [he's since switched to trying to find out more about the Malicant, and things that have recently happened...]