[Video]

[mem0ry]

[The video opens to a somewhat nervous looking young girl, who fiddles with her one long strand of hair as she tries to think through what to say.]

Is... is it even legal, that they gave me a job? I'm 12, and back home, you would have to be 15 to work. It's not that I don't want to, [she adds hastily, as if just now realizing how that sounds.] But I've never had a job before. What if I mess up? And... do you think they'd let me take some parts home from the IT center I'm working at for my personal projects? Or is that not something IT centers do?

...if they don't have parts, where, uh, where would I get some scrap metal and wires, around Heropa?

[As much as that's off topic, she's much less awkward when discussing something she's mildly confident about, and she smiles weakly but genuinely for the camera before hitting the off button on the camera feed.]

Comments

permavideo

[mortalweapon]

[ She's very blue. And metal. A robot? ]

Please clarify: What sort of personal projects?

[mem0ry]

[Lain blinks precisely once, but the look on her face isn't startled, it's one of genuine joy. What a gorgeous robot; like something out of a wonderful sci-fi manga. She smiles, friendly as she can be. She was never good with human interaction, but this lady isn't human.]

I'm making an AI back home, and making him a body to stay in. But I also want to make Bikeh-chan, my first AI, over again. I didn't get his body right before. So I want to try again, since I have his old shell here with me.

[mortalweapon]

[ The machine is watching her back with something like curiosity, her head slightly tilted to one side and her stare unblinking. ]

Why do you make them?
What are they for?

Video

[by_candlelight]

[ Not too long after a teenage girl pops up on screen. The only thing that is lighting her face is the phone screen, and she looks like she needs a lot of sleep. Or at least one amazing nap. ]

It's the government, so it's probably legal because they make the laws. if it's not legal, people won't be able to call them on it anyway. Well, not something like this, since you can just... Choose not to work.

If you want to bring parts home you'll need to ask your employers though. They might if you ask nice enough? I know my workplace let me borrow an old toaster. But since it was on its last legs anyway I don't really know if that counts?

Video

[mem0ry]

[The lighting is a familiar one to Lain, as is the sleeplessness. It's not odd to see someone who resembles herself in those aspects; surely she's not the only sleepless nerd in the universe.] I don't think I want to quit before I start. It sounds interesting. I just don't know how well I can do it.

[Her IT knowledge is all self-taught, after all. Throw in being from 1998, and she's not sure how much she's going to be able to help out. Maybe they can teach her on the job? Is that how this works?]

Okay. I guess I'll ask. I just, I don't really know where to get anything, here. It's all so different from Japan...

Re: Video

[by_candlelight]

[ Oh and how her face lights up when Ruby hears 'Japan'. ]

You're from Japan too? Awesome! I've been here long enough to figure out some good places to eat. Well. By my standards, which are probably lower than average. But hey. I also know my way around a bunch of the cities so far. Which one are you in, and are you registered?

Your best friend here will be search engines. I think a lot of IT work is probably just looking up information on the internet and following the advice there.

[Video]

[pinetreehimself]

I guess it depends what kinda job you're given? I mean, I got given a paper route. Nothing unusual about taking newspapers around the block for a little extra cash, I don't think anyway.

[In case you're wondering, Dipper hasn't yet clocked the fact that you're in the same house as he is, and he can literally just get up and talk to you.]

[Video]

[mem0ry]

I'm working in IT. Which I can do, I think? I know enough. I just don't... actually, I don't know what age you have to be back home to work IT, either, come to think of it.

[Lain hasn't realized yet either that he's her housemate. When she got to her room, she holed up in there and she's content to stay safely within the confines of those four walls until she adjusts a little. It's a big, new world. Heck, it's a big house, compared to home.]

Can we spend out money however we want, here? I want crepes. [Priorities!]

Re: [Video]

[pinetreehimself]

Sure. I don't think it said anything about payment restrictions in the intro pamphlet. And crepes are pretty great too.

My name's Dipper, by the way. Dipper Pines.

[Video]

[mysterioisthetruth]

[It's the mention of IT and parts that gets his attention.]

You build things?

[Video]

[mem0ry]

[Lain nods, expression serious.]

Robots. Little ones, at first, but I made an AI for my last two projects. I'm... still working things out, with one.

[The first attempts went wrong, and the last time she'd tried to make Bikeh-chan a robotic skeleton, that had been a disaster. She chews at her lower lip, glancing down, obviously a little humbled by her mistakes.]

[bodilesswarrior]

[Barbara's frown is gently concerned.] I guess it must be. You don't need to keep the job you were assigned to, though. If you want to...I'm sure your coworkers would understand it's a learning process for you.

...They enrolled you in middle school, right?

[mem0ry]

Mm. [She nods, thinking.] I like to work with computers. I think I could be good at it. So I want to try.

[Another nod, but the mention of school makes her shoulders slump, and she looks away.] Yes. Do... do I have to go?

[duelo]

[ Color Derek concerned. They drag children into all of this? That makes him angry; really angry, but his tone is calm and soft when he speaks. ]

Are you here by yourself? I think it'll be okay if you mess up. They can't expect someone your age to be perfect in their first job. Do you want to know a secret?

[ He lowers his voice a little, like he's actually telling a secret. It's not something he's ever actually told anyone, so it kind of is, but it's also not something he's been actively hiding. ]

I'm 30 and this is still my first job, so I know I'm gonna mess up. So, you won't be the only one, if that makes you feel any better.

[mem0ry]

[Lain's not super freaked out, despite everything. She thinks she can manage this. It can't be harder than home, where she already does all the shopping and cleaning, right? Right. Her voice is a little quiet, but mostly calm when she replies.]

I am. Well, sort of. I brought Bikeh-chan with me. [She holds up her plush dog toy for him to see.] I guess since I fell asleep with him, he came along.

[Her eyes widen comically, surprised. Very few people in Japan would admit to that; the stigma of being a 'parasite single' would have been too strong. But it does make her feel better, in a way, and she nods.]

Thank you. I thought it would be just me... but are you going to be okay? What job did they give you?

[hatestrashcans]

We're sort of in legal limbo, I think. So they've covered the job part, but how about the rest of it. You can feed yourself and stuff?

[ He had to start doing that at 11 and she looks around that age, and he remembers that it was hard so he wants to check. ]

They'll probably let you take parts home if they're anything like nerds back home. Our house was always filled with computer parts.

[mem0ry]

[She nods. There are grocery stores here, and she's been given a small allowance by the government.] I can. I did it back home. [Ever since her dad left, anyway.]

Oh. That sounds good. Do, uh, do you like computers, too?

video;

[pullsheavendown]

You can quit it if you want to. They won't force you to work.

...and if they tried, a lot of other imPorts would probably do something about that.

Re: video;

[mem0ry]

I think I do want to, though. It sounds... interesting. In a good way. I just don't know if I can do it? I've never tried.

video;

[slapfight]

Ah-ha! You've also been assigned to whatever Facet Heropa is in. [Look she's learning that Earth doesn't designate itself by Facet, but that's what she's used to.] You're in luck. I'm an expert at finding and repurposing items for my use in creating new technology.

video;

[mem0ry]

You are? Ah, thank you, [Lain adds hastily, trying to remember her manners.] I would appreciate you help a lot, since I just got here.

voice

[prayercycles]

[ Fortunato can't see Lain, at least right now- but she sounds very young. He worries on impulse, though sometimes he thinks it's worthless to do so.

And he actually has an answer for her. ]

Um- there is a disposal center, near one of the churches in Heropa. You could ask them, if they would let you take something.

voice

[mem0ry]

[In all fairness, she is very young - and as her somewhat halting, unsure voice indicates, she's not terribly sure of herself or used to talking, either.]

Oh. Thank you; that might work, since I don't have money yet, until I start working. Thank you, Mr...?

video;

[cantgetanyworse]

[That thing she mentioned on the network a few weeks ago, about unattended children being dumped into this place without any proper care and simply left to their own devices? That thing she was so mad about, that way too many people seemed to think wasn't a big deal?

This. This is what she was talking about.]

Have they brought you here by yourself? [Straight to the topic at hand. If the girl wants to work, then that's fair, but...

Ugh, Jane's heart aches.]

Do you have someone to look after you? That is-- if you need it. [She tries a small, reassuring smile.] I'm sure you'll be just fine at your job.

video;

[mem0ry]

[Lain isn't mad, for whatever it's worth. Just nervous, mostly. There are a lot of changes going on here and she's not sure if she can manage all of them just yet. But she's learned from past mistakes to ask for help, so here she is.

She takes a deep, steadying breath, and nods.]

Yes. I was asleep, back home, and then I woke up here. Oh, but- [She holds up her toy dog, smiling a little shakily.] -I did get to bring Bikeh-chan, at least.

I have other people living in the same house as me. They're nice, and I looked after myself at home sometimes, so I think I'll be okay. Please don't worry about me. I'll get used to it.

[Everybody else here seems to have gotten used to all this stuff, so she can figure it out, too, right? Right. Lain tries to sound more confident than she feels.]