[ video ]

[notahawkingbird]

[ For a moment, the video appears to be stuck, as if in pause. The girl looking slightly askew of the camera is very still, and only the faint flutter of wind disturbing the bits of dark baby-hair sticking out from the top of her head indicates that the feed is, in fact, perfectly fine--

--and then, she snaps out of it, face gaining back it's animation and she blows her cheeks out, follows it up with a deep breath and nods. ]

So, uh.

Right.

[ Her hands come up in a sort of surrender, sort of awkward 'Hi, this is me' because wow this is weird, video calls when she is in her pajamas. Her salt-water-soaked-but-nevertheless-now-dry pajamas.

It is not comfortable. She doesn't mind Skyping with friends while dressed in her bedtime clothes, but wow, not like this.

She shakes her head, runs her fingers through her hair and huffs: ]

Okay let me start over.

[ The change is subtle, but the difference is huge. Shoulders straightened but not tense, she looks directly into the camera with purpose and suddenly it doesn't matter what she looks like. ]

Hello, my name is Katherine Bishop and I've just arrived in the city.

I've been appraised by the people who fished me out of the water on what little they seem to feel they can divulge, so you can consider this a shout-out to anyone who can supply me information that will give me a better idea of Turtle Land.

I haven't seen the city much, but I'm a keen observer and no stranger to tension in the atmosphere when I see it.

[ There's a brief and considering pause before she continues in a less blunt tone that leans more to negotiation. ] I have currently nothing to trade with or pay you by for the information and I know I don't really look like much at the moment, but I guarantee that I can offer you my resume and list of skillsets if you require all of that in writing.

[ A beat.] Also, if there is anyone from home out there who sees this, please drop me a message. I'm not even going to lie, guys. It would be awesome to see familiar faces right about now. [ There's a faint twitch of a smile at the corner of her mouth before she reaches over and the feed goes dark. ]

Comments

voice;

[arches]

_{( This place is overrun with little girls. )}

If anyone asks you to pay in exchange for information, please find them and punch them.

Re: voice;

[notahawkingbird]

[ She actually laughs at that. ]

So glad I get an endorsement for this. I totally would.

[ There's a pause. ] So, Turtle Land? So, I gathered from Resident Unhelpfuls that this place is a world of In-Between? Death, life, sleeping, awake. Think you can toss me anything else that would be helpful to know?

[arches]

Good. Then you might survive, here.

As for Turtle Land, I don't think we know so much, yet. They're right about the in-between, part. Death is sort of... iffy here.

voice; ALSO SADLY A PLACEHOLDER as i need sleeps

[skort]

No one's going to make you pay for information. And if they do, I'll have my cousin stare at them disapprovingly.

bby it be ok you go sleeps :">

[notahawkingbird]

That is so good to know.

Your cousin must be some big-shot if staring disapprovingly is an apt threat.

[skort]

That and he's just got this way of making you feel horribly guilty when he does it.

NOT HERE

[demon_brat]

[Congratulations, alien. You just joined the small number of people who've managed to make Damian snort out a laugh, behind his console.]

video;

[trainwrecked]

I hope that last bit gets answered, ma'am.

Sergeant Bucky Barnes, here, and if you have specific questions, I'll try to answer them - no need to pay back, it's probably going to be things you either need to know or you'd have found out, eventually, so it's fine.

Re: video;

[notahawkingbird]

[ If she'd taken a moment to actually absorb things better, she may have noted from the get-go that this was not the Bucky she knew. But Kate's just too relieved to see a familiar face -- any familiar face. Even one who, as far as she knew, was presumed a casualty in the insanity months and months ago.

So: foot, meet mouth. ]

Oh god, you're alive.

video;

[trainwrecked]

[... Bucky blinks. He hasn't had this kind of reaction - he's not expecting this kind of reaction - from anyone other than Steve. And he is rather certain that Katherine Bishop is not somebody he's met, let alone left this kind of lasting impression on.]

Ma'am?

And I don't believe so, the whole thing with this place being between life and death? Kind of means a few of us have this time here, and then that's it.

video;

[crotcharrow]

[He's about to reply in his usual flirtatious way, since it's a pretty girl in very little clothing but then she speaks. And then Tommy realises who it is.

He doesn't even watch the whole post, all his brain is doing is KATE KATE KATE and it bypasses everything.]

--ShitKatewhereareyouI'mgonnacomegetyou.

Re: video;

[notahawkingbird]

Tommy?!??

[ She may have exclaimed that a bit too loudly. Kate ducks her head, throwing an apologetic look to the people in the cafe who glance her way. But yes. Friends. Her shoulders relax visibly, sort of drooping with the sudden wash of relief. ]

Uh... [ she leans back in her seat and throws a look towards the windows, trying to figure out how to best describe her surroundings ] I dunno. There were a bunch of statues out on the streets, I don't know if that helps? [ she looks back at the screen and kind of manages an awkward smile ]

And yeah. Get your tush over here, twinkletoes. I thought you said you were fast.

Video -> action

[crotcharrow]

[Tommy looks like he's getting really impatient listening to her to try and explain where she is, and he eventually just waves a hand to stop her from trying whilst he hurriedly looks for his goggles. It's only occurring to him now how desperate to see her he probably looks. Nice going there Shepherd.]

Yeah, okay, fine. Just stay there, I'll find you.

[and then the video cuts out. It takes him a few minutes to actually track her down--because really Kate what kind of directions were they?--but he spots her, out of place in her pjs in the middle of a bustling street. He skids to a halt, sending a huge dust cloud up into the street, causing a few of the kedan to shout. He's actually used the time to compose himself too, and he grins at Kate. God she was a sight for sore eyes.]

Who you callin' slow?

video;

[notpredictable]

General information, my dear, is one of the few things that you can obtain freely here.

It's the juicy little tidbits that'll cost you.

Re: video;

[notahawkingbird]

[ Kate regards the man -- it is a man, right? definitely looks like one -- in the video response. ]

Well, it's general information that I'm more interested in right now, so I guess that's a good thing for me, then that no one's charging.

→ video

[controlledvariable]

Hi Katherine, I'm Steph. [a little wave] I'll start by seconding everyone else about not needing to pay for info, we're all in the same boat - turtle - whatever. [a+ at words, Steph] So, uh, most of us are happy to share what we know.

[there's a slightly awkward pause, and then she asks] This might be a weird question, but do you want me to bring some clothes over? I came in wearing my PJs, too, and I know it kinda sucks to go shopping in them.

Re: → video

[notahawkingbird]

Hel-lo Steph, you just made my list of favorite new people. [ she grins ] And feel free to call me Kate, all my friends do.

I'm currently with a friend of mine -- woo hoo lucky me -- apparently he got dragged into this place as well, but yes, please, to clothes.

[Video]

[myothertights]

[Billy has just woken up from passing the hell out, so he's a little slower to notice this, but when he does...He stares at it with sleepy eyes and his brain is slow to make things out. Until he hears her name any way, then it sort of quickens and shit! He scrambles to go and reply.

Rubbing sleep out of his eyes but trying to stare more.]

Kate? Oh my god is that really you? Like...really? I'm not still in some kind of sleep state and talking to a random person, thinking it's Kate...am I?

Re: [Video]

[notahawkingbird]

[ Aww yis. Today just keeps on getting better and better. ]

No, Billy Kaplan, I am a figment of your imagination because you miss me and our random moments of hanging out. [ she wags her eyebrows a little ] C'est moi, c'est moi, 'tis I. Rise and shine, beautiful.

[video]

[stickshift]

Hi, Katherine. I'm Asami.

[Her smile is warm and welcoming.]

What sort of information are you looking for? I might be able to help.

[video]

[notahawkingbird]

Hi Asami wow, that's a pretty name [ cough ] Um, mostly information about the city? I've asked two people now about the kind of work that's available [ shrug ] because I'd like to secure at least spending money since it looks like I'll be stuck here awhile.

I know I probably sound like a broken record by now, but I like to make sure I've got my bases covered.

I've done a lot of organizing in my time, but most of it was for charity events? [ she pauses, considering what to say next and then decides that she's got a good vibe from the girl so-- ] I'm feeling a little bit out of my depth, if that makes sense or, as much sense as that can make provided we're in a city on the back of a giant turtle.

video;

[usavatar]

Miss. [HE MISSES AND MA'AMS AT EVERYONE OKAY.] Captain Steve Rogers.

[A small nod like a salute, though his expression goes a little hesitant.] I see you're familiar with Sergeant Barnes, on some level. I - well. I'm sorry, but if you know me, we either haven't met or it's... [HAND GESTURES.] Another universe sort thing.

video;

[notahawkingbird]

[ She resists the urge to call him 'Cap', because... well. Not the Cap she knows.

oh what the hell. ]

I need to get this out: This is officially weird.

[ awkward laugh ] Sorry, sorry. It's just... I get the whole alternate universe thing, one of my f-- [ she stops, the word friend painfully awkward on her tongue when her thoughts turn to Iron Lad -- the boy who had once been her teammate ] erm, someone I knew was a... time traveler.

But yeah. [ she shakes her head ] I've clearly put my foot in my mouth with Mr. Barnes up there, and I'll just [ lifts a hand as she ducks her head and manages an... awkward... no Kate that is not a salute and buries her face in her hands before peeking back up ]

Can I start over with the introductions... erm, Mr. Ro-- [ and because she gets flashback of an old kids' show she settles for ] Captain.

[video]

[withoutaworld]

Hey, Ha- uh, Kate! [ Have a cheerful wave. ] Um... it's Rikki. We met a couple times back home, so... probably not a familiar face you're hoping for, but good to see you anyway.

I can, uh... fill you in on any questions you have that your friends can't answer. Or I'll do my best, anyway.

[ video » private ]

[notahawkingbird]

[ Kate's grinning. ] Any familiar face is welcome in my book.

So. City built on the back of a giant turtle with an assortment of people that range from you and me to humanoids with blue skin to alternate versions of familiar people that we would know but... yeah.

[ There's no need to speak softly, but her voice dips anyway. ] A guy who messaged me through this network thing mentioned something about the streets getting cleaned up? Is this in the literal sense or was there trouble before I got dropped in? [ To the point, that's Kate. ]