VIDEO

[cuff]

[ Oh, christ on a cracker, this is seriously painful. Ray’s peering at his comm like it just insulted his mother, halfway between confused and seriously pissed off. He’s been at this for way too long and he’s not sure he’s even got a grip on it now - shaking it didn't help. His annoyance might be showing, just a little. Or a lot. ]

You guys know that video killed the radio star, right? Nothin’ good about plastering my face all over this bulletin board of woes, but hey- I can go with the flow. Me and the flow are best buddies, in fact. Go out for beers every friday night. Shoot pool. That sort of thing.

[ Yeah, okay, that’s enough running with that. Ray clears his throat, scratching at his neck uncomfortably. ]

But seriously, dudes, guys- folks, there’s something wrong with this. Communication wasn’t supposed to go in this direction. Telephones I understand, I get those, Edison sure knew what he was doing on that front. [ It was totally Edison, right? ] But whoever made these is laughing from the bowels of hell. I mean, c’mon, there’s more than enough ways to talk in person, when’d we start deciding we were never gonna leave the house again?

How’re you supposed to get real information outta anyone when they’re hiding behind a screen?

[ Call him old fashioned, but Ray is shaking his head, judging the hell out of the future he’s crawled his way into. ] But fine, okay, i’ll move on, no biggie. Other shit worth worrying about. Like how’s a guy just supposed to deal with the, uh- whole new shebang they hand you? I can barely manage my own shit, how am I, uh- supposed to cope with all sorts’a newfinagled powers?

… Guess i’ll worry about that once I gotta deal with it. Until then, I’ll just be… explorin’ the territories.

℘ | video 001 | erre es korakas

[kierkegaard]

[ the idea of texting people makes piper's head hurt, so video it is. she's just going to visualize skyping with her dad or chiron, frankly. this is how she is coping, shut up about it. demigods and technology aren't the best of friends, but she'll cope with that, too. despite the grumpy expression on her face and her general ruffled appearance, she radiates an aura of beauty that is impossible to miss.

her hair is tied up in a messy braid and her apprehensive eyes don't seem to be able to settle on a color, changing from brown to blue to amber to violet to copper to every other eye color imaginable like the shifting of a kaleidoscope. the outside of cape canaveral is her backdrop, twisting behind her as she paces back and forth, cheeks pink either with exertion or a little bit of hypothermia.

and for some reason she also looks... slightly damp. ]

Okay, aside from the welcoming committee not actually being very welcoming, if anyone can direct me to, uh, whoever can get me home? That would be awesome.

I was a little busy and we're under a time crunch. [ and that frigid cow stole her best friend AND AN ICE BOMB JUST EXPLODED so you know. she has to prioritize that. also she has a dragon to attend to and, god, she is just really busy right now. ]

If that isn't possible, could someone direct me to wherever Nonah 005 is?

[ she needs a freaking towel, stat.

she doesn't ask after her friends because she can't think about that now. she needs to focus on getting back to the argo ii and jason so she can work on getting them to leo. and then smack leo for scaring her.

it's a decently solid plan. like swiss cheese kind of solid.

oh wait, she has manners. ]

Thanks.

[video]

[shapedthecentury]

[ The video centers in on a young man with tired eyes and a smile that creases his face perhaps a little deeper than it should. ]

Right. Realized I never made an all-call on this before. I'm not new or nothing, just...never got around to it.

[ He shrugs loosely. ]

Short version? Name's James Barnes. Friends call me Bucky.

And right now I think I've got a sober streak to break. Anyone that can point out a favorite watering hole or wants to tag along, lemme know.

video; backdated to february 8th

[waiting]

[ Bradbury doesn't tend to post to the Network much -- but for those who've never seen him before, he's probably never looked so happy, either. Or like he's vibrating with energy, practically bursting with something to say. ]

First of all, congratulations to the imPorts that got voted into office. I'm sure the community'll be better off for your support. But I'm here to talk to you about something a little more important.

[ A pause, for dramatic flair. ]

Valentine's Day.

Now, I know it ain't everyone's favorite holiday -- it definitely wasn't mine after my ex-wife divorced me -- but hear me out. After a while, I realized all it's really about is being able to connect to someone else, finding someone who gets you. My job is helping people make those connections, and if you've seen any of my shows, you know I've got a lot of experience at it.

So, here's the deal: I'm helping Channel Five set up a few blind dates for Valentine's Day, but I'm gonna need people willing to get themselves matched up. It's gonna be recorded, but it's not like you'll have a camera crew following you around to do it, so you'll hardly even notice it's there.

Here's the best part: one couple gets an all-expenses paid trip to Disney World, Germany, France, England, or the Netherlands. Not a bad deal for a couple of hours having fun with someone, right?

If you're interested in signing up, or you know someone who is, go ahead and call this number. We'll get everything sorted out for you.

And if you're wondering if this is for you, give it it a shot anyway. Nothing wrong with taking a chance and putting your heart on the line -- ain't that just one way of proving you're still alive?

[ ooc: Related to this plot! Remember that your character can be signed up by another character (and hell, you can sign them up in their hero identity if you want to) and may be tricked into showing up for a date; feel free to use that post or this one for plotting/scheming! ]

★ 003 | Audio

[unbreaker]

Shit, shit, SHIT...!!

[That is not playfully pretend panic, that is serious this is so not great panic.]

I can't find it—my wallet! I retraced my steps and everything like five times, and it's fucking gone!

[If you attend Heropa High and are in any of Josuke's classes, you may have noticed that he wasn't there today.]

Last place I remember seeing it was yesterday near the marsh. I don't know if anyone's familiar with the area and wants to help look, but...

[He half wants to say please, but feels like he sounds desperate enough.]

It's a green leather bi-fold! Not real big, but...there was some real important stuff in there!

[More important than his cash (although that's seriously important, too—he had about 1/3 of his paycheck in that thing) is all of his personal ID and the picture his mom.]

...just let me know if you find it, alright? I...I'm going to keep looking.



[OOC: Alas, recovery of the wallet will be impossible! An evil clown took it and gave it to a thieving spider! :( Life is hard for a JoJo.]

< 01 . video >

[dormition]

[It takes a day or two after he shows up-- in which there is a flurry of reuniting with friends, and making a new one-- for Minato to make a network post. When he does, he doesn't have anything particularly exciting to say. He just knows from experience that if he wants to drag himself out of the temptation to mentally withdraw, to slump into a hazy drifting rather than deal with reality, he needs to make connections. In short, he needs social links as badly as he'd needed to make them when he'd first come to Iwatodai: not for his Persona's strength, but for his own happiness.

There's no reason the same strategies shouldn't work here.]

Hi. I just arrived. [He has a quiet but forthright tone.] It seems I'll be going to high school here as a senior... I'd like to meet any classmates, or underclassmen, if they're on here. Maybe we could study together or join a club. I work after school on Wednesdays and Thursdays, but otherwise I'm available.

And I was wondering... [He trails off, a bit of melancholy reserve echoing on his features.] How has everyone else liked living here?

[It's a simple, open-ended question. Non-intrusive. Minato is nonetheless legitimately interested in any answers.]

005 [Video]

[attainment]

[Oh hey, it's this guy again, wearing a little bit of concealer to hide the fact he hasn't slept well over the past week. People expect him to look fairly fresh and energetic, after all, especially since they've got one less killer roaming the streets.

Up until now he's made these types of videos while donning his powersuit, so he decides to keep up the tradition. Some people might think he looks like a pink Iron Man, but that's okay. His ego can take it just fine.

Naturally, his face plate is open, revealing a fair-skinned man wearing a polite smile.]

Hi, this is Barnaby. I've noticed some new faces lately, so now seemed like a good time to do this.

First of all, I'd like to once again thank everyone who helped apprehend the masked vigilante Lunatic, also known as Yuri Petrov. For privacy's sake, I won't mention anyone by name, although you are welcome to step forward and identify yourselves in response to this message so your fellow imPorts can properly thank you.

[Things are far from over back home, unfortunately, but...well, that isn't Barnaby's problem anymore, so he presses on without giving it another thought for the time being.]

Second, I want to remind people that we have an Emergency Notification System in place. Registered imPorts who sign up will receive a small device that lets you hear information from dispatchers. Unsettled imPorts who are interested can also sign up through any registered imPort who owns a device. In either case, people are welcome to sign up through either myself or Wild Tiger. Any other device-holding imPorts are also free to help people sign up.

Additionally, we have a communicator-based app that lets you send out a distress signal to any device-holding imPorts. Anyone who needs help learning how to use the Distress Signal Application, please let me know so we can arrange something.

Third thing: although Petrov is behind bars, I think most of us are well aware of the potential dangers both the imPort and native communities currently face. To anyone lacking concrete combat or rescue experience: please refrain from jumping onto the front lines. No one gets saved if you die, and you'll likely hinder other people's attempts to apprehend criminals or evacuate citizens.

There are other ways to help, though, which brings me to my next point: is anyone interested in receiving certifications for CPR and first aid? If enough people say yes, I could try to arrange something.

Anyway, I think that's everything. People who have questions or concerns about the Emergency Notification System, the Distress Signal Application, or possible first aid and CPR certification classes, feel free to ask in response to this message or in private.

Thank you for your cooperation.

[People who want their characters to sign up for the Emergency Notification System, check this link out!]

oo1 ▸ video

[animated]

[ More newbies on the network? Oh yes. At least this one seems well-acquainted with how to use a phone. In fact, he has an iPhone in hand- his own, from home. ]

So, iPhone. [ and he gives a nod towards the screen, indicating his communicator ] iPhone I can somehow access with my brain.

[ he gives a thoughtful pause, and then decides to let the subject drop for now ] Yeah, okay. Why not. Still not the weirdest thing I've heard all day. [ a sigh ] I won't bore you all with the "how do I get home" questions, because it's already been established that pretty much isn't going to happen, as much as I'd like it to.

What I'm really curious about is the whole... superpower thing. That's seriously just normal here? People can fly and walk through walls and- I don't know- cast magic spells and that's totally fine? Because when I went to bed last night I wasn't expecting to wake up in the middle of a comic book.

[ A beat ] My name's Charlie, by the way. Charlie Maxwell. I'm supposed to be living in, uh, Nonah 005, I guess.

... Also, if there's a guy by the name of Jacob Randall or a lady by the name of Kara Makenna running around, please point me in their direction.

04 | Voice

[outlawrain]

Y'know, I'm beginnin' to think that this stupid thing is necessary for every day life. Barely knew what was goin' on last month.

[He clears his throat.]

So, two things. One, we're lookin' for workers at the Red Branch for mercenary work, must work well with others, please contact Cu Chulainn for more information. Also I think we're looking for people at the bar.

Sorry, I don't do advertisements really. But maybe if you didn't hear him last time? I really recommend ya talk to him. He's a good boss! Better than my last one. And he loves dogs!

[Is this a dating profile or a job advertisement? Maybe Cu should be the only one to do advertisements.]

Uh, yeah, speaking of 'love', I wanna know more about this Valentine's Day. I suppose it should be obvious, with all the harts and all, but, might as well ask. You're all a lot smarter than me, so I don't wanna get this mixed up. Unless... I already did?

Shoot, I'm terrible at this stuff. Dunno why there's all these different days for things anyways! Can't you just spend time with people whenever you want? Why's there gotta be a day in the calendar for love or gettin' time with your family? Back home, I spent all my time with mine. This whole job thing is a sham.

[There's a small grumbling.]

So, yeah. Anyone have any dogs or animals they need takin' care of? I need a moment with 'em. Do it for free, I'm great. Ask Cu Chulainn if you wanna. He'll vouch for me.

001 | Voice

[megabytes]

[Hey there, everyone, got another new imPort hitting the network for the first time. Another child imPort too, if the voice is anything to go by.

The commuicator ID reads "Megaman.EXE." It also reads"Hub Hikari," a fact that he is blissfully unaware of. Feel free to enlighten him.]

Finally.

[There's a relieved sigh and a quiet thunk on the other end of the line. Getting the communicator to do what he wanted took him a lot longer than he would have liked. Being on this side of a GUI is so awkward, how do humans even manage it? It's part of why he went for voice instead of video or text - not having to stare at the screen the whole time hurts his eyes less.

His voice is a bit muffled when he continues, and he sounds very, very tired.]

So, um. This is probably a silly question, but...is it normal to have headaches all the time?

I mean, I know it's not normal-normal. It's just...they said the thing that brought me here didn't know how to handle me, that there were "leftovers" from my real body. But I don't really know what that means, or what being human is supposed to feel like, so I don't know if what I've been feeling is normal or if I should be concerned or what. I don't think they'd just let me go if there was something wrong with me, but...I don't know. I'm kind of new to this.

[It's not really a lie. He was only human for about a year, and he's been a Netnavi for over a decade now. This is so far off his concept of "normal" that it's not even funny. Especially since he has a very good reason to be paranoid about his health.]

--oh, almost forgot. My name's Megaman. Nice to meet everyone.