2nd hat ~ Video

[theveilisin]

[Hello network, have an at best only vaguely familiar face, since this is the second time he appears and he hasn't been entirely active as an imPort in general. He looks kind of tired.]

I made the mistake, on arriving here, of assuming that I was given a job at the department store because of my experience in running a shop. I feel now that this was somewhat naive, but do try to be charitable.

[Well, that sounds like... nonsense. Does he have a point? It appears he's not finished, at least.]

It is now obvious to me that this decision was instead based on the fact that I have experience if war, and of being a professional soldier. [He levels a wry smile at the camera.] I was not aware just what the holiday season entails around here, or exactly what lengths people during this time of the year. In particular, don't let's even go near the whole 'Black Friday' thing again... although it did not really get much better from there.

[Being done with this rant, he seems to relax somewhat, and his unimpressed look is changed for something closer to amusement. He leans back somewhat, showing off more of clothes that look a lot less Victorian and significantly more fashionable than the ones he arrived in, if still somewhat... eccentric. And very colorful.]

With that I of course wish to have said that this is the reason why I've not made that many attempts to reach out toward the imPort community or actually do what I was taken here to do. It would have been somewhat easier if someone had warned me.

So, that being said, any advice and warnings concerning this more modern world would be appreciated. I seem to be almost two centuries behind on developments, and I'm assuming there have been people other than me in the same situation.

Comments

Permavid

[governorkang]

[If Luvander hasn't somehow seen Kang's true form around the house yet, he should recognize the accent.]

I've heard that retail is very... rough at the end of the year. I see you survived, though.

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[theveilisin]

[Hey there, dragon-person sharing his house. Luvander still thinks Kang is so weird, but then again, he has seen a lot of other weird things and rallied pretty quickly.]

It was an unmitigated nightmare. And working in 'Customer Service', it appears that every holiday shopper regards me as their natural enemy. [He grins.] Ah, but I have survived a war and an impromptu revolution, so at least I'd had some light practice before.

[governorkang]

[He winces and laughs. He might have been lucky enough to avoid working customer service, but he's been around long enough to notice how those individuals get treated.]

Would you prefer the war or this job?

[theveilisin]

[That gets an answering wince, followed by a complicated little shrug.]

Yes and no. The war... it meant riding into battle with my girl, and all of my comrades still being alive, and flying. If I could have it back exactly the way it was, I probably would.

[He laughs softly.] But I can't. And I honestly wasn't very made for war - I was just never given much of a choice in the matter.

I'm... assuming by now they've talked a little bit about being ex-soldiers

[governorkang]

I miss the war at times as well, despite how horribly it was handled. I had good, capable men by my side.

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[earnedmystripes]

[...Eesh, he does not envy you, good sir.]

What kinda advice are you looking for?

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[theveilisin]

[Luvander tilts his head slightly, contemplating.]

Well, there are some practical things which I have not grasped. For example, what exactly is the internet for, why is it apparently full of cats, and why do I have a feeling I ought to be very frightened?

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[earnedmystripes]

[He rubs at his beard, considering how to explain.]

Well the internet is like....you know how these communicators are all connected to a network? It's like that, but all over the world. It's a place where you can find all sorts of information, with some spaces for people to talk to each other.

...I guess the cats're there becauuuuse....they're cute?? And I wouldn't say it's scary. Just kinda confusing, if you're not up on the lingo kids these days use.

[Oh Kotetsu, you sweet summer child old man.]

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[theveilisin]

[Suddenly, something about Kotetsu reminds him strongly of Adamo, his sergeant being the only significantly older man permanently present for a long time in Luvander's life. He manages to hide a smile somewhat while righting his scarf, but not really well.]

I see. Well that sounds at once straightforward and deliciously complicated. [That's... one way of putting it, sir.] Rather like one gigantic rumor mill spanning the entire world, then? And with just about anyone being able to contribute to it... oh dear, now I think I know why I'm apprehensive.

[No seriously, he's imagining what people like Compagnon and Magoughin would do with something like that, and it's pretty terrifying. It would be like attaching a pair of papier-maché to the whole world (...don't ask).]

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[rathercommon]

[ She's not really the best for advice, so she jumps right into interrogation. ]

What sort of shop is it you run?

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[theveilisin]

[Interrogation is fine by him, it's not like Luvander ever shrinks away from talking about himself.]

Back in my own world, I was the proud if occasionally harassed owner of a hat shop, which also provided a selection of gloves... and the occasional overthrowing of our government, I suppose.

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[rathercommon]

[ WHAT IS THIS YOU SAY ABOUT OVERTHROWING THE GOVERNMENT. ]

Sorry - what was that last bit?

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[theveilisin]

Well, that mostly concerned how my hat shop - through no fault of mine, really - ended up being the base where a revolution was plotted and set in motion. Really, it was all a bit of an accident.

[What, like you've never overthrown a government by accident?]

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[anthropophagite]

I can try to help. What do you wish to know?

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[theveilisin]

Quite a number of things, though of course it is usually rather hard to quantify one's own ignorance.

[He taps his own lips thoughtfully.]

The problem I used to have back home was that information on current politics and events was often very scarce, and to be gleaned carefully from gossip and rumors from the Palace and the Basquiat. Here, there is a positive abundance of information from all sides, a lot of it conflicting and some quite nonsensical. Is there any hope for someone like me to traverse this jungle without getting hopelessly lost?

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[anthropophagite]

Politics can be pretty complicated and they vary from country to country. I'm going to be honest, a lot of what is happening here is confusing to me because it's very different from what I'm used to. And... I also don't care particularly about politics. [ a sheepish smile ]

However, there are many places where you can find this information. Libraries, the internet...

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[theveilisin]

[Luvander laughs.] To be frank, I try not to touch politics too much. It doesn't agree with my digestion. But regrettably, recent events have made it clear that politics you don't know anything about can kill you if you're not careful. [He grimaces slightly, shaking his head before his lips quirk into a slightly wry smile.]

And apparently they can also get you kidnapped to another world to function as government soldiers, but I'm not yet sure how a lack of ignorance would have prevented that.

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[slingshots]

tried any arcades yet?

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[theveilisin]

My dear, I'm afraid I don't even know what an arcade is.

Do please enlighten me.

[slingshots]

serious? how long you been here anyway

[theveilisin]

Something like a month and a half, I would think. I realize that this is most likely an egregious oversight on my part, but I beg you to have some compassion with a man catching up on two hundred years of very strange developments.

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[corviform]

The rush should be over with in another week. Most are usually on holiday around this time. There will be a back to school rush, but that tends to affect certain stores. Unless your store also carries clothes for young people?

video painfully late because adulting is hard o/

[theveilisin]

The whole place carries just about everything, to the point where I'm surprised that I haven't seen anyone leasing out elephants yet.

[Hyperbole, this is thy face.]

Since I work in customer service on the floor pertaining to women's clothes, I'm sure I won't be completely spared, but at least this time I will come prepared.

[corviform]

It might pick up again during Valentine's. I've noticed men will buy clothes and other things for women around that time.

[ At the last minute. Have fun with that. ]

[theveilisin]

Well, at least I'm used to dealing with that kind of thing. You would not believe how many men have come into my shop and asked for, "a hat, one of them dos that make it look like a bird has flown into it, don't you know".

[He sighs and rolls his eyes.] Really, the lists of love would be a great deal less complicated if people would just pay attention for once. And by people I mostly mean men.