video; un: Julian Delphiki | Bean

[justlittle]

[ Bean hadn't intended to use the Nets under his default assigned profile so soon, but he doesn't think this complaint will give any insight to his actual mindset or any important work.

The video opens up on a scene of a suburban desert street. The device is clearly fastened to the handlebars of a bike. There's a basket of newspapers and a little bell visible. The person riding the bike isn't visible, but when he speaks, his voice is the small, high pitched time of a child. ]

Print media is a dead industry! Or, I'm sorry, in this time period I suppose it's still dying, not dead yet. [ He pauses to throw a newspaper in the general direction of a front porch. ] Still, there's absolutely no reason these people can't get their news from the Nets like any sane informed citizen! This job is greeyaz! Worthless! Complete waste of time.

[ And yet, here he is doing it anyway. He turns into a driveway, coming to a stop outside a building some might recognize as one of the imPort housing abodes, number 002 to be precise. He gets off his bike and comes around to grab the camera from the front. He really is a small bit. Doesn't look more than five years old. ]

I don't expect them to put me in charge of anyone, but I'm wasted like this. Currently taking ideas for something, anything better to do.

Also, if there's anyone here who can teach me Greek? Call me. [ He pauses, considering something. ] ...Or Russian. That might come in handy.

Comments

[plentystrong]

If you wanna be... [ There's a rustling sound as Catra opens the file with her data. ] "Hostess at the Royal Purrincess Cat Cafe", the job is yours.

[justlittle]

[ I'd say Bean can't help the way he snickers at that, but no. He can help it. He laughs because he chooses to. ]

Hahaha! They've really got you by the kintamas for that one. No, I think I'll leave that to you.

[plentystrong]

[ Grumble grumble!! ]

You're lucky you're not here, kid, or I'd be pulling you by the ears right now.

video; un: gmason

[choosetruth]

[Georgia looks disapproving under her sunglasses, but to be fair, that's really her default expression.]

And what, precisely, is your issue with print?

[justlittle]

It's outdated. All of this information is available online!

[ By his time, the only thing newspapers were good for was lining beds for homeless people so they didn't freeze on the cold ground. ]

[choosetruth]

So it's the paper you have an issue with, not the news itself.

[janus_scholar]

I believe I may be able to assist you. The Greek language is something I've studied extensively in my own time.

[He also knows how to speak Russian, along with a number of other languages. But that's a skill better suited to his former spy work. Greek alone can still pass for a history teacher's hobby.]

Would you prefer to receive tutoring in person, or digitally?

[justlittle]

[ Wonderful. He won't have to be at a complete disadvantage when he finally returns to his Earth and meets Nikolai's family.

...His family. ]

I learn fast enough either way, so it's up to how you would prefer to teach.

[janus_scholar]

I think digitally may be our best option for now. I live in De Chima, and while commuting would be possible, it's not ideal. Besides, this way I can send you learning materials directly.

[He's all geared up to prepare a course, write homework assignments, and go find some decent books.]

We'll have to conduct tutoring in the evening. Like you, I've been assigned a job that I'm utterly wasted on.

video

[dontwyattme]

How is print dead? I get my newspaper every day.

[ Judging by her accent -- southern -- and her dress -- looking rough and homespun -- she's probably not from a time like this. ]

Well, if you don't like it, I guess you don't have to do anything. That's -- [ A beat. ] I think someone told me that once.

video

[justlittle]

[ She's like a caricature of someone from an old vid about the American South. Or West. A relic, either way. ]

If it's not dead, it should be. Paper mills are probably bad for the environment, and there's nothing paper can do that digital can't.

...Except be folded up into little airplanes, I guess.

video

[dontwyattme]

Bad for the environment? [ She sounds...confused about that. ]

Anyway, there's something about holding a newspaper, or a good book in your hand, and reading it. My daddy loved to read the papers whenever I brought them in from town. It's nothing like these... pad-things.

[ She holds up a digital pad with no lack of disgust. ]

video!

[hellosirs]

[ Whoa, hey, someone significantly younger than him! ]

What do you like doing? You might be able to find an internship or something that you'd find more, um, challenging.

[ He was gonna suggest the library, but given this kid's feelings about print media...! ]

... Oh, um, a lot of the adults here are pretty picky about what they'll let minors do, so finding a job might be tough, depending on your interests.

permavideo!

[justlittle]

[ Bean is slightly relieved that he's not the only kid here, even if he does still seem to be the youngest. ]

I've never really considered what I like doing. There hasn't ever been time for that.

[ Between Battle School and Command School, and before that the struggle to survive... ]

Toguro. So they expect us to make enough money to live, but won't give us any worthwhile jobs to earn that money.

[hellosirs]

[ Oof. As the kids say, 'big mood'. Angus is very familiar with not being sure of his own hobbies and interests, apart from his job. That said, this kid looks about five or six, and man. That's rough. Is this what it feels like when other people ask him these sorts of questions? ]

Oh, no, I meant like... if your interests are investigating crime scenes, or doing stuff that adults think is 'too dangerous or potentially mind-scarring' for kids, [ he absolutely does the finger-quotes! ] then you probably won't have much luck. The government will still provide a weekly monetary stipend and housing and stuff, and you're certainly not obligated to stick with whatever job they gave you!

voice

[prayercycles]

[ Fortunato normally isn't one to be on the network much- but it's not every day children ask to learn other languages.

It reminds him of something. He sounds a bit cautious while speaking, despite it all. ]

Uh- why do you want to learn those languages?

voice

[justlittle]

I want to learn Greek because I'm supposed to go live there. [ Because he is Greek, apparently. ]

I want to learn Russian because it might come in handy, with the changing political climate of my world.

voice

[prayercycles]

[ So he's not learning in for reasons in this world. Well. That isn't going to work out. ]

In this world- you are not going to remember what you learned, when you return to yours.

audio; id is tim drake-wayne

[alreadywon]

[That... sure is a child. A very young child, talking like someone considerably older. Tim - honestly kind of can't help but think of Damian, slightly, but he'll do his best not to hold that against this, again, very young child.]

What do you like doing?

audio;

[justlittle]

Why does everyone keep asking me that?

[ Bean's less frustrated by the repeated question, and more frustrated that he still doesn't have an answer. ]

It would be easier to say what I'm good at, than what I like.

audio;

[alreadywon]

[So... Tim's not a child psychologist or anything, but there's something going on with this kid, and it's - concerning. Most kids, you ask what they like, and you get an answer. The distinction between what he likes and what he's good at, on the other hand, reminds Tim of - himself, if he's being honest.

He's quiet for a moment, then answers, his voice a little gentler:] Because what you're good at isn't always what you like to do, and it's important to do at least some things you like.

But we could start with what you're good at. Which is what?

video

[ghoulking]

No one is forced to take the job they are offered.

Why not school, since you seem to be eager to learn?

video

[justlittle]

They've set me up in school. I haven't gone yet. It'll probably be a joke as well.

[ They probably put him in classes they thought would be age-appropriate. They know nothing about his former education. ]

video;

[a_good]

[Oh, another kid! And he looks to be Thoma and Lannion's age. Norman usually defaults to text on the network, but with someone here even younger than him, it seems unnecessary to hide behind that.]

But don't you think it's good to have a record that's harder to alter?

video;

[justlittle]

[ Good, another kid. Bean was starting to feel a little strange being surrounded by people so much older than him.

The number printed on his neck is curious... Bean notes it, but doesn't say anything. ]

That's one advantage to print. Harder to edit, after the fact. But not impossible. They update textbooks with new information all the time.