𝓿𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓸 𝑜𝓃𝑒

[debutaunt]

[When the video comes on, there is a gorgeous woman sitting in front of the camera, with a beautiful (but very clearly staged) background behind her. Flower arrangements, curtains, you get the picture. She smiles widely as she speaks up:]

Hello darlings! You would not believe what I had been through before suddenly showing up here—

[It makes it seem like a dream. But this whole ‘world’ where ‘superheroes are real,’ that also seems equally likely to be a dream! Or yet another afterlife...

But even when she had her suspicions about what’s real and what’s not, she’ll do what she’s always done. Stick it out, hope for the best, be the change she wants to see— et cetera, et cetera…]

Enough about that!

My name is Tahani Al-Jamil, you’ve probably heard of me.

[She knows they haven’t, her family name apparently has no connections here, BUT she is aware of her own powers. Namely right now, the one that means everyone will know of her, and she can work with that.]

It’s a pleasure to soon meet all of you! I’ve heard there is usually a large “welcome” party every month, is that true? Oh, it must be a joke that it’s called a “Swear In,” isn’t it? I almost really believed in that one! Truly terrible. So, what are they really called, and who is hosting them?

Comments

video;

[slightlyoffchilt]

[Well, wow.]

Ms. Al-Jamil, quite the pleasure. [He's read about you in the same tabloid publication that featured one of his own mentions. Chilton offers a closed-lipped smile, his eyes not leaving the screen.]

Doctor Frederick Chilton. Let me be the first to formally welcome you.

[debutaunt]

Thank you, Doctor. Only ImPorts can use this online service, correct?

video;

[setmatch]

Miss Al-Jamil, welcome.

[ He thinks he vaguely remembers her name from some newspaper article. ]

Unfortunately, it's not a joke. The Swear-Ins are called such so we can have a sort of governmental registration process. Less party, more... keeping track of people, in my opinion.

[ A pause, and then he shakes his head. ]

My apologies- I'm David Klein. I'm a partner at a law firm in Maurita Falls.

[debutaunt]

No apologies needed! It's nice to meet you, Mr. Klein.

It's quite funny, you sound a little miffed at the idea of keeping track of people!

video;

[forkingbullshirt]

[For a moment she had to compose herself, taking deep breaths. After Chidi and Jason left, Eleanor had resigned herself to the fact that she may just be alone here. But here was Tahani- it was really her.

There is nothing composed about the background of Eleanor's video. Clothes were thrown around the room, junk food wrappers on the bedside table. Eleanor is still in her pajamas since she had just spent the day inside playing with the dog and watching random internet videos.

She wasn't going to show her grief about losing her other friends, giving the camera and big smile.]

Hey there, hot stuff! Where are you right now?

video;

[debutaunt]

Oh, Eleanor! You're here?? I didn't think-

[That she'd ever see them again, really. The way things left off with the Judge...]

Nevermind that! The others are here too, then!

[She's assuming. Never assume, Tahani.]

I'm so relieved, I thought I would be completely alone for this... second go at it, I suppose?

video;

[grandtheftequine]

[ Of course Logan's heard of her—it's basically his job to know when there are new and interesting imPorts in his city. And he's even doing his job right now, the video feed showing him at his desk in the ambassadorial office with a drink in his hand and a grin on his face. ]

They're really called swear-ins, believe it or not. I guess that's what happens when you let a bunch of government suits name shit. Thankfully, they're not usually the ones in charge of party planning.

[debutaunt]

Small blessings, then. So who is? ...You, perhaps?

[He does look a bit like a government suit himself, but maybe that's just how it looks!]

VIDEO.

[bragnificent]

[ Reggie's heard of her, all right; who hasn't heard of Tahani Al-Jamil? Media darling, socialite legend, straight up hottie? And he's almost definitely had at least one or two not-necessarily-appropriate dreams about her, surely.

Needless to say, he's appropriately starry-eyed when he begins to respond, though he still tries to play it somewhat cool. ]

Yeah, who hasn't heard of you? [ Grinning, before he asks the more obvious: ] Wait, what's wrong with the name?

[debutaunt]

[She smiles and looks down, acting with an appropriate amount of 'humility.']

Oh, it's just a bit... drab, you know. A "Swear In?" Very militaresque. It should be something someone wants to do, something that draws you in and sounds fun! Like an "admittance party!"

video

[flameout]

Huh, I actually have heard of you. You wrote a book that one of my colleagues kept on his desk for a while. It was the only paper book on the whole ship. I don't even know where he got it, it just showed up one day and we were in deep space and I don't know how many thousands of lightyears away from Earth we were, and since you're--

[ He raises an eyebrow. ] Wait. Are you from Earth? You look human but I shouldn't assume. I mean, I know I look like a human right now, but I'm sure as hell not one.

[debutaunt]

[NOW WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO UNPACK EVERYTHING THERE BUT-]

Oh- hm- ah, what do you mean... not human?

video

[liverletdie]

[ HELL-O. ]

Well, no, they are actually called Swear-In Ceremoies. The purpose is to swear fealty to the government with a backdrop of luxury -- or at least wonder and curiosity.

But it's good to hear from you, how are your new digs?

[debutaunt]

What does "swearing fealty to the government" here mean, exactly? I'm a British citizen, I can't exactly just promise away my citizenship without a proper filing process- and without a passport, I don't think I can even do that!

Honestly? Pedestrian. I don't even know what the thread count on these sheets are, but I'm almost certain it's below 180.

Permavid

[governorkang]

...oddly enough, I have heard of a Tahani Al-Jamil.

[But she's certainly not dressed as a noblewoman from Palanthas. Maybe she's just highly adaptable?]

Do you hail from Krynn?

[debutaunt]

[She's just staring. Startled. Is this a giant lizard...??]

video

[cigarbribery]

You're Tahani Al-Jamil? I thought you'd be taller, one of my clients can't stop talking about you. [It's a wee bit worrying.]

Yeah, they really are called Swear-Ins, and who's hosting them tends to vary between cities. Most of the time, though, you can expect the answer to that last question to be "the government".

[debutaunt]

[She smiles pleasantly.]

What amazing eyesight you must have to be able to tell someone's height when they're sitting down! Or perhaps, that's an ability of yours?

video;

[cassassin]

[ oh. beautiful. WELL once her immediate reaction of baby gay embarrassment is out of the way, she responds. cass is dressed in a dark three-piece suit, seated in the back of a moving car. she's heard of tahani al-jamil for sure--usually coming up in the same breath as the wayne foundation, in the press. she might have seen her at a gala recently, she can't be sure.

cassandra puts on her own Winning Socialite Face, even if it's a little rusty from not getting as much use lately. she's already had to dust it off today for company obligations she couldn't avoid, anyway. with a nod-- ]

Good to... finally meet you, Ms. Al-Jamil. Cassandra Wayne.

[debutaunt]

Ah, Ms. Wayne! I've heard that name before as well... Wayne... Foundation wasn't it?

video;

[plentystrong]

You know what, I do actually know you. But what do I know you for?

[debutaunt]

Hm, well... I've raised sixty billion dollars for a non-profit organization. I've done countless interviews, modeled a number of times, curated a museum... Oh, the list can go on.

Surely one of those rings a bell?

[codeoracle]

Nope, can't say I know you at all.

[Look. She's a troll. She knows that the name is familiar, that she's seen it somewhere--but she can't place it and that bugs her considering how she keeps records. So she's going to be a little shit.]

Should I?

[debutaunt]

I suppose if you don't follow anything regarding social news, I can't expect you would! Oh, that's actually rather charming, living such a quiet and secluded lifestyle without a thought or care for the world at large! I envy it, really.

[Is it passive aggressive or accidentally condescending? You decide!!]

[bat_daughter]

[Of course, she knows Tahani Al-Jamil. The scions of wealthy families almost always know each other, especially when one of those families is the Waynes.]

Ms. Al-Jamil. Good to see you again.

[debutaunt]

[Ironically... Tahani does not actually know Helena, as she doesn't know anyone who isn't from her universe, even if her power makes the reverse possible!! But...

She's amazing at pretending as much. After all, she could have just forgotten who this is, she isn't sure. She meets so many people!]

And you as well, dear! Tell me, how are things?

Video

[drivesadesk]

Hey, you're from my universe! Or some version of you is. All I know is that you throw amazing parties.

Video

[debutaunt]

Oh, thank you! It's certainly possible I am!

audio;

[dragony]

Unfortunately, most of the jokes and jokers around here are sincere.

[ Sorry you don't get to see Ruka's trainwreck of an appearance, Tahani, but that #millennial boredom cadence is really all you need anyway. ]

The more unbelievable it seems, the more likely it is to be true.

[debutaunt]

Strange but wise words! That reminds me of something like what my good friend the Dalai Lama would say!

video;

[pullsheavendown]

[He thinks he's seen her on posters or something? Maybe in a magazine? Has he even read a magazine since getting ported in?]

I haven't been to one yet, but they want to fly us to the next one. On a plane.

[Italics due to the fact that he's still pondering travel that doesn't involve ripping a hole in reality.]

[debutaunt]

[She assumes the verbal use of italics indicates disappointment:]

Oh, chin up! I know a plane is not the most glamorous form of travel, but there's simply some places that a yacht would take so much longer to get to! A private jet won't be too taxing... except for before it takes off!

Get it? Because it will be taxiing, then.

video »

[eloquentness]

[ now there's a familiar face. Iris can't thank Tahani enough for all of her charitable efforts and endeavors - the hospital's gotten some amazing press from her! ]

Unfortunately, that's their real name. The hosts change all the time, so if you wanted to give it a shot, I don't think the Ambassadors would mind too much.

But also, hi, Tahani. I hope you're settling in okay.

[debutaunt]

Oh, so they just allow... anyone to host them, then?

[Now it kind of loses it's appeal but... well, she may still do it anyway...]

I'm settling in well enough, thank you! I did need to go get my own Brita filter though, do you know how I expense this purchase to the government for reimbursement?