001 ✿ Video

[flowerette]

Hello, fellow imPorts.

[ A smile lights up her face -- friendly, warm, inviting. And her tone is much the same. ]

My name is Raina. As you can probably guess, I'm new to this world. But that doesn't make me any less fascinated by it. To be drawn here by forces beyond our control, given powers beyond some of our comprehension, and to have an opportunity beyond our wildest dreams to be heroes? I can't be the only one who is excited by the prospect, can I? This world is incredible. Beautiful, even.

[ Her lips purse in thought and she lowers her gaze toward her fingernails -- freshly manicured. It was one of the very first things she did since she got here, apart from buying the lovely flower dress she has on. ]

But there are things that the files and the debriefing can't explain; things that only those with experience in this world can share. And that is what I hope you'll do with me. Share.

[ Raina makes eye contact with the camera again, her smile -- still beautiful in nature -- houses something else. Something almost predatory. ]

What is it that makes you special? We were chosen for one reason or another. Perhaps you aren't aware of the reasons or perhaps you aren't comfortable sharing them over the network. I understand. We all have our secrets. But I hope at least some of you will help me understand your worlds and your lives and you, yourself. Now that we're all given a special power -- what was it that you have done with yours or what is it you will do?

I greatly look forward to meeting all of you and appreciate your time.

Comments

[slightlyoffchilt]

Of the few people who come here so optimistic and upbeat, most of that number escape some dystopian horror -- so this world is a relative improvement to their mood. Certainly understandable.

Is that your experience, or is this a clever way of gathering information from lowered guards?

[He might very well be joking, this eternally upsetting doctor, he very well could be.]

[flowerette]

[ Are we playing this game? Raina cants her head, expression coy. ]

That's an awfully large conclusion to draw from a series of innocent questions...

[ And if he's going to dodge those questions, then so is she! ]

text; comm tag is "Hiro"

[microbrobotics]

you really into superpowers or something?

permatext!

[flowerette]

Color me curious. We have superheroes in my world, perhaps even to the same magnitude and diversity. But with the very few exceptions, most of them are at least from the same world.

not here

[tadeadshi]

[HE IS WATCHING THIS LIKE A BRO-HAWK. watching and noting because bro. bro.]

AUDIO.

[selfimage]

It's as if you've never experienced a multiversal jaunt before.

[ he says with mild interest. ]

Most don't—so enjoy it while you have the chance.

AUDIO.

[flowerette]

This thing isn't entirely uncommon where I come from.

[ Her tone is rich with amusement. ]

I intend to make the most of my time here.

[ And then curious: ]

Do you?

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[brushoff]

[ beautiful, special, secrets? Oh yes. This is gonna end up great. ]

I suppose the answer here is what doesn't make me special. I'm, quite literally, one of a kind.

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[flowerette]

[ Dorian, pls. ]

Is that so? That sounds fascinating, Mr. One-of-a-kind. Will you at least drop me one piece of your complex puzzle? One thing that makes you stand out above the rest?

voice;

[debauchewy]

How interesting, you think we were chosen for a reason?

voice;

[flowerette]

I know so.

not here

[hypnotherapy]

[ reading all these comments and OK.JPG ]

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[honeyxlemon]

I figured we were here for a reason, but I didn't think that we were chosen specifically. I wonder if there's a pattern of some sort.

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[flowerette]

[ Oh hi, roomie! ]

There has to be. I'm not really one to believe in random chance.

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[rathercommon]

[ Kitty crosses her arms. Her voice is matter-of-fact, but certainly not unfriendly. ]

There's a difference, I think, between having something special and being special. I mean, we're all still just people - or trolls, or robots, or whatever we are. Just ones who can do a little more.

[ And, to be polite: ]

I'm Kitty, by the way.

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[flowerette]

Nice to meet you, Kitty.

[ Raina smiles kindly. ]

I'm afraid I disagree, however. Isn't having something special what makes you as a person special? Perhaps that you believe them to be two separate and distinct things is exactly what makes you special.

permatext

[deadtective]

What I've done with my "special abilities" is jack shit. What I intend to do with them is more of the same.

We're not all going to be remarkable. Some of us just have a universal Kick Me sign on our backs.

ditto!

[flowerette]

I hardly believe that is true. Do you ever believe that perhaps all you need to do is take charge? Life will always beat you down until you stand up against it.

Voice

[bindsthedead]

Chosen? Or simply very unlucky?

Voice

[flowerette]

Chosen. Think of the opportunities presented to you here. Think of the people you have had the chance to meet where you otherwise would not.

video.

[unhidden]

( Tara is powerless in the face of great fabulousness.
She flicks on the camera, grins, and leans back. Total swag, anyone? )

They really needed to up the sarcasm quota.

( Tara, please. )

video.

[flowerette]

[ Oh. Tara. Raina appears slightly amused. ]

I'm sure that isn't all you're worth.

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[restingstitchface]

Fascination is a glass that can make even a monster seem fascinating.

[Like Raina, a smile lights up Crane's face. He's friendly, polite, unassuming. And he's even a little bold.

He holds her eye contact, and like her smile, his own grin hides something else. Something almost horrifying.]

Of course. Fascination is also close to passion. You seem quite a passionate lady.

[He's quite happy to involve someone's beauty and to use appropriate terms - lady, passion - when it gets him something.

Also. He's totally stalking her video call with Chilton. Ugh. Flirting.]

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[flowerette]

[ Oh. Hello, Crane. Raina looks at him and almost does a doubletake at how closely he's mimicking her -- how that smile, though friendly and warm can seem so, so cold. And that is especially what attracts her interest along with his words. ]

Passionate to learn. Passionate to observe. There are so many worlds, all of them pulled together into this one. It's foolish not to take the opportunity to learn about all of them.

[ Her smile becomes predatory. ]

But I find you fascinating. Does that make you a monster...?

voice.

[glowsferatu]

[ the video clicks on to a tall girl with grey skin, two orange horns extending from either side of her head and large fangs poking out from between her black lips. she looks no less diligent in her presentation than raina, her short black hair coiffed just so, and every visible inch scrutinized and worked to cover any flaw.

it might work a little better if she actually smiled, but her thoughtful expression borders on being dour, instead. there's something about raina's eagerness that's surprising, it's almost offputtingly cheery for someone just pulled to another universe. ]

I'm afraid the sort of experiences you're asking wouldn't really help to prepare you for life here, at least not from me. My world and my place in it, that isn't something that's likely to translate to your own future.

[ but the way she makes so much of the world, she can't help wondering. ] Are you not originally from Earth?

[flowerette]

[ Raina is instantly intrigued by the sight of her -- monstrous in her own way, but still beautiful. There's a pang of jealousy deep inside of her that her own transformation couldn't have come out more like this. But after the question, she shakes her head. ]

No, I'm from Earth. At least a version of it. But our world is so closely tied to different universes, planes, alternate realities -- that this whole thing isn't so much surprising as it is welcoming. I always did love to travel.

[ She cracks a smile. ]

But even if it doesn't relate to my well-being or understanding of this world, I would love to hear about yours. Or your story in general -- if you're so inclined to share.

[ferrisbuellean]

[Well manicured nails, nice dress, good looking lady. Can't pass that up after far too many years surrounded by college students who don't give a fuck.]

I'm a newbie, so can't be much help on the experience front.

[A single shoulder shrug, he's playing it cool, yo.]

This place is like the plot device for a bad sci-fi film. Do you really believe we were specifically chosen?

[flowerette]

[ Raina's smile is instantly brighter at the sight of him. ]

Perhaps we can learn about this place together. But as for whether or not I believe we were specifically chosen?

[ And she leans in as though sharing a well-kept secret. ]

I know we were.

[ Drawing back, her lips purse in thought. ]

But I'm afraid I can't answer the question of why.

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[abduxel]

[Colour him intrigued. Although normally a manipulator himself - not that he was terribly good at it - he's felt a little hamstrung since returning to the mortal world, with regards to reading people. Something seems off about this woman, and he isn't sure what, but wants to know more. Her use of the word share in that dramatic, somewhat ominous way makes him smile; he's said it much like that to a fair number of people whose personal thoughts he was invading.]

[The comm tag reads Matthew Lin, and the man on screen seems fairly normal. His horns are hidden, made invisible by glamour-magic. He's dressed pretty formally by modern standards, an all-black suit like he's attending some fancy-dress event.]

If it's people you're interested in, you've been kidnapped to the right place. [He grins, closed-mouth.] I've never had the pleasure of meeting so many fascinating sinners all gathered together.

video

[flowerette]

[ Raina looks him over, her eyes greedy to devour every detail presented. Every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man. ]

Sinners...?

[ Everything about Raina oozes sin or a luring invitation into it. ]

I don't think it's a crime to have a little fun. Though perhaps you just figured out the one thing we all have in common.

[ She smiles afterward with a wink. ]

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[selfequipped]

Wow, someone's going to get a harsh and rude awakening rather soon, and I can bet some money that it's not going to be me. [She knows that's not a very nice opening, but she can't help it. Kate has her obnoxious moments.]

But that aside, you're either very used to people getting powers and are married to your ideas, or this is all new to you. So which is it? Either way, I wouldn't drink too much of the kool-aid.

Well, more of it.

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[flowerette]

[ If the obnoxiousness bothers her, she doesn't show it. Much. There is a slight tick of her eyebrow. ]

There are people in my world who have powers, yes. It's common place knowledge among even the general population. Though it's very rare for people to come into powers in a manner like this world. Possible, but rare. So I would have to say it's a little bit of both.

But why is it you seem to find it difficult to believe that someone can continue to be truly optimistic about this world?

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[corviform]

[ His bright eyes focus on Raina, evidently surprised by how enthusiastic she is being here. This is probably a first. ]

I'm not sure there's a reason for specific individuals.

[ As a whole, perhaps. Certain people like himself? There's nothing special about him. ]

It all seems random.

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[flowerette]

It may seem random, but is it? Don't you ever sit back and wonder why the porter chose you out of the number of individuals it could have chosen? Is your luck really that good? Or poor? Depending on how you view this world.

text | id is tipsyGnostalgic

[wonk]

theres so many italics in ur speech i can hear them

how do u do it

is that ur power 2 be able 2 do that so often

[flowerette]

[ What.... ]

I suppose it could be considered a talent. Maybe a power. Or maybe you're the one with the power to hear those kinds of things.

video; comm tag is "Tachikoma"

[cartesianspidertank]

[It's a little girl! She's being digitally projected, as if from a computer, rather than from a video camera]

Those are all very interesting questions!!!!

And I agree, there is so much more data that can be captured with difference senses that a simple text debriefing doesn't cover!

[Tachikoma finds Raina's enthusiasm infections! It does not have a very good algorithm for recognizing 'creepy']

In terms of my uniqueness, I have a number of capabilities that are well outside the range of normal human capability, being an artificial intelligence! My Tank form also has many advantages over a typical human body in combat terms, although it is inferior to human bodies in terms of maneuverability and convenience! Fortunately my human form allows me to transverse spaces designed for humans with minimal inconvenience! Although I have found that those spaces tend to be designed for taller, larger humans than my own is!!

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[flowerette]

[ Well.....if this isn't the most unusual and adorable thing Raina has ever seen. She is surprised by the video, and then absolutely delighted when the tiny girl starts talking with a formality well beyond her age group. And to top it off? She's artificial intelligence. ]

That is incredible. Can you take other human forms? Or is this your only one?

[ And a tank, too? Hell, Raina wonders if anyone has taken to 'adopting' this girl (this glorious artificial intelligence) so that she might pass more easily as a human. But those are questions and ideas saved for later because for now she just wants to understand. ]

Have you always been this way?