[console] [video]

[quiet]

[the boy who appears on the screen is a handsome one, with artfully scruffed brown hair, hazel eyes, and a small, friendly smile. he looks directly into the camera with the sort of confidence that comes from public speaking experience.]

Well then. I feel a bit like a tourist on a very, very strange island. As much as I do enjoy traveling, most of the time I attempt to prepare more thoroughly.

[another little smile, this one more wry.]

In any case, my name is Gansey, and I'm looking for a companion. An exploration companion, to be precise. Maps are delightful, but actually learning your way around a place is even better. An experienced Traveler with some free time or other newcomers like me would be equally welcome. I'll be here in the Hotel lobby for a bit, and I've picked up one of those handset radios if that's your preferred method of communication.

[he gives a bit of a wave, and the video goes dark.]

Comments

[Console] [Video]

[nacl]

(Percy is partially nervous to be using any sort of communication device and partially excited to finally be able to. Didn't matter that he had been assured nothing dangerous would happen through using these things. Old habits die hard. But he was using them because in the end, curiosity won out. Still. He used one of the local consoles just to be safe. It was interesting too. And it didn't take too long for him to be a good deal more intrigued than anxious.

That's when he gets the video of a teenage boy. Percy listens and listens and then after a moment, decides- why not? He doesn't know anyone here so what a better way to change that than talking to someone his own age.

So, he configures a video feed of his own. He's not quite as polished off looking as Gansey. He looks pretty tired, actually, hair rumpled like he had just taken a nap. But he does manage a bit of a grin- which is three parts mischief and every other part friendly and teenage boy idiotic.)

Isn't this, like, an advertisement for online predators? 'Young dude looking for exploration companions'? I'm almost positive a school I went to handed out pamphlets about this sorta thing.

[Console] [Video]

[quiet]

[gansey gives the boy who responds a vaguely unimpressed raised eyebrow, although the rest of his face looks rather amused.]

I don't know, are you an online predator? Because you're the only one who's answered me so far.

[Console] [Video]

[nacl]

(Percy does the mature thing and respond with a raised eyebrow of his own. He attempts to look as serious as humanly possible. Considering this is Percy Jackson; it isn't very possible.)

Do I look like an online predator?

[Console] [Video]

[quiet]

[percy's 'seriousness' just makes gansey smile.]

Usually I imagine online predators to be, you know, adults. Although I suppose there's always an exception.

But no, you look more like living, if sarcastic, greek statuary than a weird kidnapper.

video

[backwordscompatible]

[New.]

[The first thing Zatanna thought to herself. She could usually tell when a person was new. And not just because she ran the Welcome Center. Attitudes might vary slightly, but there was always that sense of curiosity. Whether they were in awe, scared, annoyed, pissed off, relieved, or just plain confused. In the end, they always wanted to know more. And what better place than the public network?]

Where were you planning to go?

video

[quiet]

[with gansey, it's definitely curiosity that seems partly academic and partly genuinely interested. if he's thrown off by the entire experience, he's keeping that to himself.]

I really don't know. I heard there's a library, but for the moment I'm more interested in getting my bearings. From what little I've learned, there's no given way off this...turtle? So I may as well learn how to navigate it.

video

[backwordscompatible]

Not until the next time we hit landfall, no. And that one's usually up to A--the Great Turtle himself.

[A small slip of the tongue; it had been so many years since she knew the turtle as Asti...before she found out he had been possibly possessed as far back as then...even though he was alive and waking up, she had yet to re-meet him.]

I have a map of the city, if you're interested. Beyond that, you're on your own.

video

[quiet]

Landfall? No one mentioned that.

[gansey is still trying to accept the idea of living on an enormous turtle in the first place. the world was full of strange things, certainly, but gigantic space turtles are a new one.]

A map would be extremely helpful. You've been here for some time, then?

video;

[ruinsprofessor]

You aren't alone; none of us were able to prepare before we were drawn here.

[A polite if distant smile.]

My name is Raine Sage; I run the Healers' Guild here. I can recommend a few landmarks you should hunt down, if you're planning to explore.

It's best not to go alone, naturally, but you've reached that conclusion already.

video;

[quiet]

Somehow I had a feeling that was the case.

[he smiles back in kind.]

Pleased to meet you. I'd be grateful for any guidance you may have. What exactly is a Healer's Guild?

video;

[ruinsprofessor]

[Raine does appreciate the polite ones.]

An association of people dedicated to the purpose of healing. We have medical facilities and familiarity with mundane healing methods as well as magical, and in addition to helping the sick and injured, my goal is to collect and record as many healing techniques from the various worlds as possible, thereby creating a store of useful knowledge which will persist even after we Foreigners are gone.

[Usually people can infer what the Guild does, but she doesn't mind explaining. Her tone does start to sound like she's lecturing, though.]

The building is located in the Water sector. You said you have a map?

video;

[quiet]

[gansey listens, politely attentive. he's played enough video games to get the idea of what a healer's guild could be, but the word 'healer' sounds more magic than mundane to him, and he's curious about what sort of medical care they provide. luckily, he doesn't mind lecturing.]

I do have a map. I shall have to make it one of my stops. Best to always know were the hospital is.

Have you been here a long time?

video;

[isochrone]

[ Elizabeth returns his smile, having pretty quickly gotten used to the consoles already. ]

Welcome to Keeliai, Mr Gansey. In a way, we're all tourists here.

You sound like you've visited a lot of places before?

video;

[quiet]

Thank you.

[gansey nods.]

I'm starting to get that impression. Have you been here very long?

A fair number of places, I would say, but mostly Europe and the United States. Someday I'd like to see Asia and Africa, especially. Have you done a lot of traveling?

Re: video;

[isochrone]

Oh, no, not really. Just over a month, actually.

[ She falters a bit at being asked if she's traveled, but quickly turns it into something lighthearted. ]

Only on pages, I'm afraid. Would you believe this is the first place I've ever gone?

video;

[quiet]

That's not too long at all.

[gansey gives the sort of smile that's meant to smooth over that sort of slight falter.]

I would, actually, although there are plenty of places to explore on the page, as you put it. There are a lot of people who never venture far from the place they were born. Where they are is where they want to be, or they don't have the means to go elsewhere.

[judging from what he can see of her clothing, for her it might be the latter. but he's certainly not the type to say so.]

Video

[consultingbishop]

I recommend the turtle's head. You'll find it pretty calming.

Literally.

Video

[quiet]

[gansey's eyes widen.]

We can actually go to the head of the turtle? That's incredible. How far is it from the city?

Video

[consultingbishop]

Not that far. It's about a good half hour's walk. The road's signposted, and it should be on any kedanese maps you've got.

Video

[quiet]

Not that far at all. That's definitely worth a visit.

...do you know if there's any way to communicate with the turtle? Or do we just take for granted its willingness to cart around civilization on its back?

[Action]

[commandandcontrol]

Sonya appears in the hotel lobby spotting Gansey pretty easily from his visage on the console.

"Gansey, right? You wanted an exploring 'companion'?" She would definitely advise a better word choice.

"I just recently re-arrived and I'm interested in seeing how everything has changed. My name is Sonja."

She bowed in introduction.

[Action]

[quiet]

Gansey turns away from the console when he's approached, and he stands up from the console and greets his visitor with a smile.

"Yes, that's me, and that's exactly what I'm in the market for." He doesn't miss her emphasis on the word, but he also doesn't consider the more sexual connotations of it. The red light district isn't something he's aware of yet.

"Re-arrived? So you went home for a time and came back? That's rather fascinating." He opens his mouth to ask another question, but then closes it again and gives her a crooked little smile, recalling that he is a person with manners that shouldn't immediately jump on others for information, no matter how fascinating. "Pleased to meet you, Sonja."

He doesn't know how to bow appropriately, so instead he inclines his head and shoulders in a very Americanized version of the thing.

[commandandcontrol]

She's used to the bow being returned awkwardly but it was better than her trying to do the handshake thing in her opinion, because it was weird and uncomfortable and also unsanitary. There's apparently a wrong way to do a handshake? Much better to just leave that entire subject off the table.

"Yeah, exactly. I was here a few years ago, the exact period is different in 'realspace' than here." She actually made finger quotes on the word realspace. "But not hugely different."

[quiet]

Gansey is quite used to handshakes, but he's the 'when in Rome' sort, and he'd rather be the one feeling awkward than making someone else feel awkward. So this all works quite nicely.

"Realspace?" He mimics her finger quotes. "You consider this place more real than your home?"

[lasergrenades]

I'm not much for hiking, but if you ever want a view from the air, I can give you a ride some time.

[The redhead is grinning. She does enjoy taking people for flights.]

Feeling like a tourist makes sense. They don't call us 'Foreigners' for nothing. Oh, I'm Pepper, by the way, Pepper Potts. Welcome to Keeliai!