[Console - Video]

[valevectorian]

[The feed opens up with a headshot of a guy at the console. Moppy white hair that barely touches his shoulders, red eyes, pale skin. An expression that seems to embody a mixture of boredom and annoyance. A black choker encircles his neck, with a black box connected to it and wires that go from the box to somewhere behind his ears. A person who doesn't know any better would likely mistake it for a fancy, if unusually designed MP3 player. He takes a moment to glare daggers at the screen before proceeding to speak.]

To start off, I'm only going to bother with three questions.

[The rest could always wait.

Accelerator holds up the pointer finger of one hand.]

One- I don't care whether you're someone I'd hate or tolerate; does the name 'Academy City' mean anything to anyone else here?

[He holds up the middle finger now.]

Two- I need to know if anyone's come across a girl named Misaka who speaks in the third person. She was with me right before I woke up in this weird-ass place.

[He holds up a third finger.]

And three...

[Deliberate pause. His eyes narrow, brow furrowing. He hates to bring this up in case it brings too much attention to the topic he plans to ask about, but it's too important to ignore for the time being.]

Three. What's the norm for supernatural abilities when you're not from here?

[He's felt drained since he woke up. No matter what the truth of the nature of this place was, his connection to the Misaka Network doesn't seem to be compromised. His power, on the other hand, seems to be barely functional, based on the few testing attempts he made when he first woke up. Something was up.]

Comments

[backwordscompatible]

[She opened her mouth to comment. Then closed it. Realizing that, for a fleeting moment, she was at a loss as to how to respond to that.]

[Her own powers--yeah, no, definitely still working. She didn't even have to cast a spell. She could feel the power surging within her. Ready to let loose the moment she willed it so. That wasn't the problem.]

Has this happened to you before?

[valevectorian]

[Prepare for a big fat lie. Unfortunately Accelerator's too cautious to reveal the truth. Partly because the truth is due to a technical issue concerning remote access to his network terminal, which clearly isn't the same thing here, and partly because, well, he has no good reason to trust these people with that kind of information yet. Sorry, you get:]

No.

[backwordscompatible]

[Either unfortunately or fortunately--depending upon how one chose to look at it--Zatanna wasn't exactly a walking lie detector.]

[She shrugged.]

Then I'm not really sure what else to say. Sorry.

I know some people might have certain...um...requirements for certain abilities they might not be able to find here. Like a certain kind of sunlight, or extra food, or things like that. Could that be the problem?

[valevectorian]

No. I have the requirement.

It's fine, though. The others seem to think it'll be back tomorrow.

[backwordscompatible]

["Others"?]

Huh.

That's a relief to hear. Though, for what it's worth, I am sorry you have to wait so long. I always hated it when my magic was on the fritz.

[valevectorian]

[The others who replied to his message. But hey, it's not like everyone's going to go through all the other responses.]

I'm sure I'll live.

[backwordscompatible]

[She tried not to make too much of a habit of it, honestly. Unless something of interest to her, specifically, was brought up.]

...you're lucky, then.

Not everybody has that luxury.

[It wasn't a joke. She wasn't even being snippy. Thinking back to one person in particular, though there had been others. Those whose lives literally depended upon being able to maintain their supernatural abilities.]

[valevectorian]

[levels a stony glare at the screen for that.]

I know that better than anyone.

[He'd be alive without the Network. He would just be too damaged in the brain to be functional. But like hell will a complete stranger get that sort of information out of him. In the meantime, she is free to interpret his reaction as she sees fit.]

[backwordscompatible]

[Are you sure about that?]

[The question was on the tip of her tongue, before she realized...she really didn't have the right to judge anymore than he might've had the right to judge her, did she?]

Are you sure...you're going to be alright, then?

It's not anything to be ashamed of if this is something you're going to need help with. Some of us have been through it all before.

[valevectorian]

It's nothing for you to worry about.

[backwordscompatible]

Alright.

But don't say I didn't try to offer a friendly ear if things go south for you later on.

[Not that she was offended or anything. Just saying.]

[valevectorian]

Yeah, yeah. It's been noted.

[Grump grump.]