008 - Video

[justlittle]

[Oh look, it's Bean's first video post. He's slowly becoming more comfortable with letting people see who he is, and if this proposition is going to work, it's only fair that he shows people who they're dealing with up front.]

Hello. My name is Bean, and I'd like to offer my services teaching people to read and write English. [He's offered before, but in text and audio forms. Perhaps those didn't reach as wide an audience.] I realize that I am young, but I assure you I am knowledgeable and a sufficient teacher. Besides, we all need work here, and this is the main thing I can offer. I am fluent in a number of other languages, but English seems to be the most common here.

If you are interested, you may reply here or to my personal inbox, if you are concerned with privacy.

Thank you.

Comments

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[demon_brat]

A commendable endeavor, Bean.

[ There's no trace of sarcasm or condescension in Damian's response. But he thought it might be good to. Show support. It's what one does, isn't it? ]

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[justlittle]

Thank you, Damian. Although it seems one not many are wont to take me up on. Perhaps I should have also offered to teach them Kedan.

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[demon_brat]

That is another option.

You could also talk with Frost to include your offer in the Welcome Center materials, for newcomers who might be interested?

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[justlittle]

That is a good idea. I will do that.

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[demon_brat]

[ Damian tilts his head to one side, then, idly, asks, ]

Just how bored are you?

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[justlittle]

[That is not a question Bean was expecting.]

Less bored and more looking for suitable employment.

But... I am rather bored.

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[demon_brat]

[ Well, good, so Damian can still keep him on his toes. ]

[ He nods, slightly. Bean has to know, by now, that the basics will be provided for him, as long as Damian, or Father, or Grayson are in Keeliai. And possibly a few other people, who would pick up Bat responsibilities. But that doesn't mean that he'll discourage Bean from taking what he can of his life in his hands. It is - others will say it's too early, though Damian has enough of an idea of Bean's past to know that it's kind of late for 'too early' for him. But it is important. And, possibly, sanity-preserving. ]

I have no doubt that you will accomplish that.

As to the boredom... I may have a few suggestions when I return home, if you are amenable? And, no. [ A corner of his mouth tugs up, just a trifle. ] They do not involve rides atop Taraja, this time.

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[justlittle]

[Bean exhales a small laugh. He... hadn't not enjoyed his turtle ride when Damian first offered, but he doesn't share the same connection with the hatchling that Damian has.]

What would those suggestions be?

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[demon_brat]

[ Which is why Damian clarified that he wasn't about to push it. But, since Taraja tends to make a mess of at least the ground floor of the suite - enthusiastic, merry mess, but mess all the same - it's nice to know she can make it up, a bit, with enjoyable occupations. ]

[ For now, the older boy waves at the console. Not over these. ]

Later. It would depend on what you have been working on, recently, and so on. Better discussed in person, no?

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[justlittle]

[Bean knows both he and Damian are capable of some of the best encryptions on the turtle, so the fact that Damian doesn't want to talk about his suggestions over the Network carries more weight than it might normally.]

Alright, then. Later.

video; -> action, later?

[demon_brat]

[ Damian had a look at what some people can, and are willing to, do with the network, in his brief interaction with Khan. After that, his trust on the network security - especially with Malicant clearly using the consoles, some way - is absolutely zilch. Besides, it's not that meeting would be very much out of their way, at the suite? ]

Thank you.

[ And, disconnect. He'll be 'home' from work promptly, after checking in on Taraja on his way. ]

Bean? [ He calls softly, once inside. ] I have returned.

action!

[justlittle]

[Bean comes downstairs once he hears Damian arrive.]

Welcome back.

[demon_brat]

Thank you.

[ Damian sheds the winter gear, then nods towards the living room area, an easier place to talk. ]

I apologize for making you wait. After two messages from the threat, I find it more and more difficult to trust more to the consoles than necessary.

[justlittle]

[Bean follows.]

It's not a problem. I understand your hesitation. So, what did you have in mind?

[demon_brat]

[ Damian is... reluctant to do this. To ask for anyone's help, anyone's, seems to go against the grain for him. But that doesn't make it any less necessary. ]

Since we lost our supposedly only source of actual information in this war, or at least the most accessible one, when Eshai was killed, it might be becoming very important to pool and preserve the information that we do have.

I do not have permission, at this time, to give you full access to all the information that I have, but I will make available as much of it as will ensure the secrecy of others. And I will ask you to share - with similar restrictions, of course - information that you may have I strongly doubt that you have stayed idle, during these months. And I am not making a demand.

But it is a request that I hope you will consider. You and I are resources that, hopefully, can be useful in some way to what is happening here. One day. Information is the only thing I can see, currently, that we can definitely contribute with. Information that adults may overlook, or ignore, or only have access to one side of.

[justlittle]

[Bean listens, carefully, taking in everything Damian is saying. At the end, he nods.]

I will gladly share whatever information I have gathered. You're right in saying that pooling our resources will be a critical move if we are to contribute to this war.

You'll allow me some time to gather and compile what I have learned, of course.

[demon_brat]

Of course.

[ Damian gives a tiny approving smile to Bean, heading off to one of the armchairs and sitting down, cross-legged, leaning against the back in a very, very brief show of tiredness. ]

It is not an assignment. It is something that I will greatly appreciate, as well as, eventually, your potential thoughts on patterns you may notice in the combined data.

[ Bean is brilliant, and he has been trained in both strategy and data analysis. ]

It should help with the boredom, at least for a while. And we could... step up with some of the physical training, if you so wish.

[justlittle]

[Damian is right, both in that he has not been entirely idle, and in that this will help Bean battle the boredom.]

That would be a prudent course of action. Just in case.

[demon_brat]

[ The two of them are way too much alike, seriously. Also enough alike that Damian knows better than to not state the situation clearly from the beginning. There is information he is not at liberty to discuss just yet, and he's not going to insult Bean's intelligence by attempting to hide the fact. But he is offering an exchange, not to use Bean, and that seems to at least balance things out somewhat. ]

Indeed. I do not know what we will need, exactly, but I would rather have as much, when it comes to information, as we can. Knowledge can be a weapon - if only we have enough of it not to shoot ourselves in the foot.

[ The last part is almost said humorously. ]

[justlittle]

[Bean catches the slight humor, and exhales a sort of almost laugh.]

I'll start by going through all the Network posts I have access to and get us at least some information on what Foreigners are here. Or at least, what Foreigners are posting.

[demon_brat]

There is a folder on the console. Password is quadruple. It may give a jumping point for some of the research. It also contains links to other data.

[ Quadruple. The Flying Graysons uniqueness. Whether or not Bean gets the importance now, Damian's pretty sure it won't escape him for long. But that's all right. If he's let the younger boy inside his home, he's willing to let him in on his family. ]

[justlittle]

[Bean doesn't catch the significance of the password, but aren't those the best passwords anyway?]

Thank you. I'll check it out.

[demon_brat]

[ It's okay. He probably will, eventually. ]

Thank you, Bean.

You will see what projects I have been paying special attention to.

[ Like the ghosting. Even after the ritual... he doesn't have the answers he was looking for. Who did it, why, and how to stop it from happening again. ]

[justlittle]

Since you're sharing, I might as well bring over my own personal files from my console. They're encrypted as well, the password is Poke. Capital P.

[demon_brat]

So noted, Bean.

Are you... in need of assistance with anything else?

[justlittle]

No, I believe this should give me plenty to focus my attentions on.

[demon_brat]

All right.

Good luck, Bean.

[ He'll bring in refreshments shortly. ]

[justlittle]

Thank you.

[Ah, refreshments.]