001; Video

[notyourfathersosborn]

[The feed starts, showing Normie sitting out on the balcony of his residence. He's dressed in a beige t-shirt over a green long-sleeved shirt, and his wavy brown hair (the signature Osborn look) slightly mussed. ...Did something on his shoulder just move? Nah, just your imagination, 'cos it's not now. Normie gives a little lopsided smile to the camera.]

Hey there. [Small wave.] My name’s Norman Osborn, and uh, according to my file I'm apparently a genealogist now. Well, "Family Genealogy Researcher," but I'm pretty sure that's the same thing. I don't think anyone seeing this will really need one, but honestly I don't know too much about genealogy so I'd appreciate any help anyone can give, even if it's just pointing me in the direction of the nearest library. Oh right, I'm in Nonah, so that would be the library there.

[He leans over to turn off the feed, then suddenly stops and resumes his original position.]

Before I forget, I'm looking for the location of the nearest junkyard, or maybe a pawn or thrift store that might have some broken electronics I can take off their hands. I'm also looking to buy some welding equipment. I need them for...

[For a fraction of a second, there's a crazed smile stretched across the young Osborn's face. However, just as quickly as it comes, it's gone, replaced by the lopsided grin that had been there all along.]

...reasons.

Comments

video.

[standardization]

And I only beat you by a month. [Which she considers to be an accomplishment, especially considering that many of the imPorts have been here for a while.]

Was there anything in particular that you'd like to get your hands on?

[notyourfathersosborn]

I'd say something clever about getting here sooner, but given the circumstances of how we all got here in the first place...

Nothing in particular. Right now I'm just curious to see how this technology differs from stuff back home. A lot of things are familiar, yet different, if that makes any sense.

[standardization]

It makes perfect sense. I'm an engineer back home, but we're ... if a new colleague of mine and I got it right, we're about sixty to seventy years behind this world's technology. But the progress is very different.

[notyourfathersosborn]

It's not the quite case for me. [He pulls his cell phone from back home out of his pocket and holds it up to the camera. It's akin to the old Motorola Razor.] But either way, the progress is definitely different for me too.

[standardization]

[She makes a sound that's akin to "ah, I understand" in nature.]

Then I'll definitely set aside things that would benefit you more in that arena. You said you're in Nonah right now? Will you be able to Port over to De Chima?

[notyourfathersosborn]

I don't see why I wouldn't. I believe we could use the, ah, porters, I think they were called? at any time?

[standardization]

As long as you're registered!

[notyourfathersosborn]

That's that swearing-in ceremony?

[standardization]

Once you go, yes. You should be able to use the Porters before you go—they gave me a grace period to decide, anyway.

[notyourfathersosborn]

And if you decide not to? What happens then? [Honestly, he's not sure which way he's going to go yet.]

[standardization]

Truthfully? I don't know yet. [She shrugs.] It's not something I really considered for myself. I haven't ran into anyone who's decided to take that route, either.

[As far as she knows, anyway.]

[notyourfathersosborn]

It's not what they're apparently asking of us that gives me pause, but rather who it is asking. I don't know anything about this government.

[standardization]

I ... don't blame you. I've seen what corrupt government officials can do.

[Korra's uncle, for one thing, but perhaps more pointedly, she's recently had to deal with Kuvira.]

But so far, they've been pleasant enough. There is some suspicious activity, but ... [She shakes her head.]

I think that's about par for the course. Politicians always put their agendas first.

[notyourfathersosborn]

That bad where you're from?

Exactly. I want to do the right thing, but I want to make sure it really is the right thing first.

[standardization]

Not all the time. There are good politicians, but the good always comes with the bad. [Or the moderate. President Raiko definitely counts as "moderate."]

I think it's understandable to be hesitant. To succeed in this world, I did have to go along with it. But I have no problem changing my mind if it comes to that. And as I understand it, you can.

[notyourfathersosborn]

[He nods.] It's the same for me.

Well that's good to know, at least. [Sighs.] Right now I'm leaning towards playing along myself, but I can't say I like it.

[standardization]

It might turn out that playing along isn't a bad thing. [At least on the scale of politics are not always bad.] I'm keeping an open mind.

[notyourfathersosborn]

It seems better than the alternative for now.

So what do they have you doing?

[standardization]

Laying electrical lines. [She wrinkles her nose.] But I think ... I got a lot luckier than you. [Family genealogy job when she has father issues: she has no interest in that.]

[notyourfathersosborn]

You sound like you love your job.

[He gives a small smile. He's all too familiar with daddy issues. And granddaddy issues.]

I don't know... I'm actually looking forward to it. After all, those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it.

[standardization]

Oh, yeah. I'm sure they'll be surprised when I switch careers.

[She can't help but want something a little more interesting to do. She is an engineer, after all.]

And that's ... fairly ominous.

[notyourfathersosborn]

With the way you're speaking, I'm surprised you haven't already. Still looking then, I take it?

[He definitely can't blame her there.]

I didn't mean it to be. It's just that sometimes things within families can be... cyclical. Knowing that can be the first step to breaking it.

[standardization]

Part of gathering everything is to make sure I'm prepared to do that. I don't want to apply for a position when I can't offer the best of my skills. [Asami is nothing if not a perfectionist.]

And I believe that's possible only if someone allows it. [Said like someone with an opinion but who isn't stating the entirety of that opinion outright.] But I admire the willingness to help others. Not everyone is able to ... have the same strong will when it comes to such things.

[notyourfathersosborn]

Wouldn't it be more fulfilling to find a position you could grow into, though?

Not always. Sometimes they feel like they don't have a choice. [He's totally not speaking from experience here. Nope.]

Thank you. I can't speak for others, but helping people is what gives me strength... as sappy as that sounds.

[standardization]

I have kind of a unique experience when it comes to my work environment. [Asami's already done the "growing" into the position in some way. She gives kind of a sheepish shrug before moving on.]

Helping people sounds like what they want here. You'll fit right in.