001. video

[neatniks]

[ The image here is of a large, well-kept young man, dressed in a green t-shirt with his dreadlocks tucked back behind a yellow headband. For those who haven't met him, this is Wasabi. He smiles a little nervously and waves hello. ]

Hey, there. I'm new. Or at least new-ish. Now that I've officially temporarily given up on trying to work out how all of this was engineered, I figured it was time to introduce myself to the general populous of my fellow kidnapped individuals.

So yeah. I'm Wasabi. That's what people tend to call me, at least. Normally, I'm a student at the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology, but seeing as how that doesn't exist here... Well. Maybe I can cheat a little and just say I'm a physicist, with most of my focus going into Applied Physics.

So maybe you can see why getting here threw me for a couple of extra loops. A lot about this world and the travel to and from it is amazing, but also supremely terrifying. It's a weird combo, and it's even weirder to consider that nobody around here seems to be able or willing to explain it. Maybe that's not here or there, though. I'm getting ahead of myself.

So. Right. Just in the way of ice-breakers, if anybody could recommend a good restaurant or two, that'd be great. Bonus points if anybody knows a really authentic Japanese joint. And remember: the sanitation grade counts for a lot.

Comments

video;

[grimreaping]

Do you have a preference for which city it's in?

permavid!

[neatniks]

Not necessarily, given that travel between the cities is fairly instantaneous.

Heropa would only be marginally more convenient, considering that I live there.

[grimreaping]

In Heropa, I'd recommend Kiku-do, on Athberdeen Avenue in the north end. They have an impeccable record, and their senior itamae is very experienced. Their fish is delivered on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, but they do their weekly bankroll on Mondays; therefore Tuesdays are the best, since they often spend extra from the weekend's profits to get premium fish.

text; comm tag is "Hiro"

[microbrobotics]

de chima has an amazing vietnamese place that delivers up until like. 4 am. and they have bubble tea.

text foreverrr

[neatniks]

I don't think they'd deliver this far, but that sounds promising.

[microbrobotics]

oh yeah where are you at? i guess i forgot

permatext; comm tag is "Tadashi"

[tadeadshi]

Alternatively, Heropa has a really good place to get alligator if you wanted to try something new.

[He loves you man he just has to mess with you a little bit]

[neatniks]

Alligator.

[ That's it that's his response. ]

[tadeadshi]

Alligator. If you get it fried, it tastes like chicken.

Video;

[hoboagogo]

Don't count on finding that many authentic Japanese places over here. I saw more over on the West Coast.

[Then again, Shinjiro is pretty damn biased about that.]

There's a couple good Asian markets, though. And like Tadashi said up there, the alligator in Heropa's alright, but nothing really special. If you're curious, just grab a fried piece from one of the vendors downtown, or at the beach in Canaveral.

Video;

[neatniks]

I don't know if I'm curious, really.

And so far, yeah, Florida seems pretty sparse on good Asian cuisine outside of Chinese takeout places. It's weird, too, because they have the do have the potential. I made sushi for that block party. The supplies are out there. You just don't want to cook for yourself all the time, you know?

video;

[oceanthief]

Cleanliness doesn't seem like the kind of thing you should be competing in.

[so says the girl who is very obviously an alien - if the literal (and puzzled) interpretation of his comment wasn't enough of a hint, she's blue. she also doesn't need to eat to survive, so what does she know about human food preparation? maybe it's another of their weird games.]

video;

[neatniks]

[ Oh. Well that's... Okay. (Interesting?) ]

Well, no. You're right. It's not a contest. It's an absolute necessity.

It's just that there's a certain margin of what's legally acceptable for a restaurant to keep running, but still... The higher the score, the better.

Video;

[honeyxlemon]

There's a ton of seafood restaurants in Virginia Beach - sushi included! I think you'd really like the Yama Sushi Bar.

Video;

[neatniks]

Yeah? We'll have to go check it out.

Might be a good idea to check out a couple of beaches before the season's over, anyway. How are they here?

video;

[cartesianspidertank]

[ It's a little CGI girl! ]

Let me know if you find one! I'd be very interested in trying authentic food from the country I ostensibly hail from!

Also you are another scientist?? There sure are a lot of really smart imPorts! It looks like you already know Hiro too??

video;

[neatniks]

[ Aw!! That's... unusual. But cute! ]

Sure. I'll keep you in the loop.

And yes. To both of those questions. Hiro's a friend of mine from back home.

audio;

[dragony]

There's a couple passable noodle houses in Maurtia Falls, if you're ever in the neighborhood and want something other than sushi and fish.

audio;

[neatniks]

I haven't been there yet, but I'll keep it in mind. A guy can't live off of one subcategory of cuisine along, right?

audio;

[orangehoodie]

You're Hiro and Tadashi-san's friend, right? You'd probably get better Japanese stuff from their roommate -- the one in De Chima -- than any of the restaurants around here.

I mean... these places aren't bad. But they're kind of weird.

[neatniks]

That's been the overall consensus.

Are you another new friend of a friend?

video;

[rassera]

Wasabi.

[Don't mind him trying not to crack up at that nickname, buddy. It's just...okay it's pretty funny.]

I've only seen burger joints around here, but if you find something Japanese, let me know.

I've been craving it like you couldn't believe.

video;

[neatniks]

[ He didn't pick it, okay? Gosh. ]

I've gotten a couple of recommendations, mostly for sushi, specifically. I'll let you know how promising they end up being.

Apparently, getting friends who cook is the best route to take.

VIDEO.

[mantlepieces]

[ Oh hello housemate. ]

Definitely "able," people are gonna be difficult in other ways. Do you really expect any of us to know how this works any more than you do? 'Cause it don't get easier.

[neatniks]

Thus the "or willing" bit.

And frankly... No. I guess expecting most people to know how a complex inter-dimensional machine might work is a bit of a stretch if I can't do it myself.

[ Happy, kid? ]