Ωvideo

[sophos]

[A teenager, roughly sixteen but no older than seventeen, flicks on the video. She looks pretty hesitant about showing her face, biting her lip and nervously running a hand through her hair, which is pulled back into a ponytail, and so she pulls out some strands with the motion, and the curls dangle. With careful attention, you might notice a streak of grey amongst the blonde.]

[But then she straightens up and her expression becomes something more determined. She hasn't seen anyone she knows in person, so here is a test. Hopefully it won't backfire.]

I need to know if anyone here is familiar with or from ‘Camp Half-Blood.’ [She pauses, then somewhat begrudgingly:] Or ‘Camp Jupiter,’ I guess.

[A sigh, then another pause. She taps her fingers on something off-screen]

Since a decent number of the population doesn’t really seem to be native, just how long have you all been here? I want to know if it’s a common trend or a newer phenomenon.

And does anyone know anything more about this place? Things you might have picked up on your own. I understand the basics, and I gather most of the newer residents have gotten similar lectures upon arrival, so don’t bother with reiterating. I’m mostly curious about things the kedan haven’t explained. I tried asking questions on the cart ride, but the ones who found me weren’t the most talkative on the way here. I’ve learned next to nothing about this Emperor.

[Her eyes widen slightly, as if she’s had a sudden realization] I thought I heard mention of a library – can someone tell me where it is? Or maybe it was a book store? Either way, the question still stands.

Comments

audio;

[tasteforpoison]

[Yelena has been searching for an herbalist nearly since her arrival. Taking a break for the moment, she's seated at one of the cafe consoles trying to catch up with what the other arrivals have been posting. This network is beyond strange to her, and seems a form of magic, but the kedan explained how it works enough that she can use it with only some awkwardness.]

They were awfully close-lipped with me too, but if you find out where that library or a book store are, I'd like to know as well.

[There, did she do that right?]

audio;

[sophos]

[She makes a noise, as if she's reached a conclusion]

I'm betting it's probably a trend, keeping their mouths shut. And yes, of course. [Because share ALL THE KNOWLEDGE] Who would I be sharing with?

audio;

[tasteforpoison]

[She hesitates a moment, but since the other girl has agreed to share information, giving her name seems no large thing.]

Yelena. What about you?

audio;

[sophos]

I'm Annabeth. You haven't been here long either, I take it? [casual enough conversation, but still information she will use to figure this place out, if given.]

audio;

[tasteforpoison]

Less than a day.

[A day was precious, however. Yelena had more or less hit the ground running as soon as she'd gotten settled in the city. Having only three days worth of antidote wasn't going to do her much good here.]

I haven't met anyone here who's been here longer that isn't a local.

[Actually she hasn't really met much of anyone yet.]

audio;

[sophos]

Me neither, really. I've talked to a few who weren't kedan. From what I can tell so far, no non-local seems to have been here more than a day or so, but I want to know for sure. There are a lot of places people could be staying.

audio;

[tasteforpoison]

[Yelena tucks that information away for later.]

You seem to know a lot...what else have you learned about the others here?

audio;

[sophos]

I've been exploring, watching, talking to as many people as I can. Unfortunately, the information isn't as forthcoming as I'd like. A lot of new arrivals are in the same boat, figuratively speaking, and the kedan ignore a lot of things I ask.

Unless you meant the other not-kedan people?

[video]

[dadissues]

"Camp Half-Blood"? [...] Haven't heard of it. What does that mean, though, half-blood? Half what?

I just got here and a bunch of other people were doing the whole "hey I just arrived and I don't know anything" so I think it's pretty recent.

[video]

[sophos]

Most people haven't, unless they've been there. And how do you know it's not just a name?

New arrivals are doing that, of course, but what if there are people who haven't just been fished out of the ocean?

[video]

[dadissues]

It'd be a really weird and stupid name if it was just totally random. Come on. What does it mean? [Please don't say half demon, no one ever told him he had to join a club...]

Tch, well I haven't exactly met everyone! It's a giant freaking city on a giant freaking turtle. And the kedan don't say anything.

[video]

[sophos]

It's not stupid. Look, it's -- [Exasperated sigh] Why do you want to know?

Nor have I, that's why I'm asking. The kedan don't like questions that go beyond the surface.

[video]

[dadissues]

Just, you know, curious.

Well, I haven't found out yet. I'm planning on going and talking to the turtle sometime soon. I'll beat answers out of it if I have to!

[video]

[sophos]

[Oh, the curiosity of another and her need to fulfill it.] Are you from Earth?

It seems a little big for you to beat the answers out of.

[video]

[dadissues]

Of course I'm from Earth. Er, I guess technically it's Asshai.

Ehehe...I've fought some pretty huge things before! It's no trouble for me. [Almost spilled the beans on the Impure King there. He mentally tells himself that he's supposed to keep silent about demons with the uninitiated...oops.]

[video]

[sophos]

I'm not sure everyone here is. Asshai? [Okay definitely not the same Earth]

Don't forget there are people living on the turtle. You don't want to do something stupid and endanger them all.

[video]

[dadissues]

Yeah, uh, you know... [He waves his hands vaguely, how to explain without mentioning demons.] Like...you know, a nickname or something?

Well, they're probably just... [HRGGH.] Argh! I'll figure it out!

[video]

[sophos]

I know what nicknames are. I just hadn't heard that one before, especially in relation to Earth.

Figure it out before you try.

audio;

[tasteforpoison]

Any information from anyone would do, to be honest.

[All information would be good to have, wouldn't it?]

The kedan put off a lot of my questions saying it was the Emperor's business.

[notpredictable]

Camp Half-Blood?

[Yes that's all he picked up from this post.]

[video]

[dadissues]

Well it's, uh, special, right? Anyway...I heard that everyone here is from different dimensions or worlds or something, so maybe our places are. Yanno, different.

Che, what do you take me for? I'll use my head.

[sophos]

That's what I said.

audio;

[sophos]

Well, the number of people who actually come from the same place seems pretty small. There's a pretty big variety of homeworlds, I guess. Different levels of technology, different systems. You'd probably have to ask them specifics yourself.

[A very audible and disappointed sigh] Yeah, I've been getting that, too. They won't answer anything about the Emperor either.

[video]

[sophos]

That's what I'm gathering. It doesn't sound like we come from the same place.

Considering you just thought about attempting to beat up the turtle we're currently stuck on, don't be surprised if I'm a little doubtful.

[video]

[dadissues]

I'll only beat it up if it doesn't answer my questions. There's no point in beating something up if it's being helpful. Maybe the turtle is as stuck as we are and the Emperor is to blame for everything.