001 VIDEO; hi friends :B

[cicatrize]

Alright, kids, gather round. [ says the man in an expensive suit with Flawless Hair (it's a legitmate power now, he loves it), as he eases back into a leather office chair in what looks like a government building. if anyone's been inside the imPort public relations office, you might notice the wallpaper behind his head looks familiar. ] Seeing as our hosts have assigned me a post in the imPort Public Relations department, it seemed natural I should get to know the people I'm to be relating to.

So.

Show of hands: How many of you would've sold your nanny to get a vacation like this back home? Or something slightly less hyperbolic if you'd rather - you get the idea. [ a hand is waved dismissively, giving a flash of a watch that could probably pay for a new car, and like three rings on a single hand because son has an obsession ok. however, pricey taste aside, his voice is perfectly amiable and good-natured. casual, even, like he's chatting up friends, no hint of arrogance or pomp to it. ]

I'm not demanding life stories, so don't start hanging me for prying; just what you're willing to share. I'm only trying to get a general picture of our community. [ a pause, jack slouching some as he shrugs, nonchalant. ] Can be for anything - the powers, the second lease on life with a clean slate, or just getting away from whatever tragedy your day-to-day had turned to.

Or, maybe, the contrary. Who would sell old Nana for a chance to get out? Important chores to get to, love affairs put on hold, disagreements with the restless natives? Again, details are yours to disclose, or not, in your judgment. [ but he does want to hear the details. because he's nosey, because he's bored, because he likes knowing more about other people than they know about him. ]

By the way, manners - I'm Jack Benjamin, and a preemptive 'lovely to meet you' to all. Retraction of sentiment pending on how actually pleasant you may or may not be as an individual.

[ a beat passes, and Jack flops back some, a lopsided, boyish sort of smile pulling across his lips. if there's anything disingenious to it, it's impossible to spot. ]

But it seems like a benefit-of-the-doubt kind of day.


[[ ooc; PS, Jack's powers include Charm Speak, which he isn't using at the moment and won't be over the network, but if I could get you guys to check out his permissions page for that, that'd be badass. also, if you'd rather have your dude run into jack in person, there's an open log as well /o/ Thanks! ]]

Comments

private; video

[quaerit]

[ Well, there's a familiar face. This is all very polite and Gansey would generally comment publicly, but -

Well. Jack had left something rather obvious out of that little speech. ]

That's a lovely office they've given you.

Should I take it you want to avoid your title becoming public knowledge? I obviously don't mind, but I thought it was best to check if you'd prefer that didn't slip.

private; video

[cicatrize]

[ aw, hey, it's this kid. the one with the important father. jack chuckles, and shrugs one shoulder. ]

I don't mind people knowing, no. It just tends to come off a little pompous to claim royalty at first meetings, you know?

[ said with a little squint in one eye, and a half-smile. just trying to be congenial, buddy. ]

But thanks for asking. I do appreciate that. Gansey, wasn't it?

video;

[coppelganger]

I'd go home if I could, yeah. I think most people would.

video;

[cicatrize]

[ jack nods a moment, considering it. ]

That's fair. You've left behind family, friends, everything you built up there. Your home.

What do you miss most?

voice.

[caerulea]

Why would you sell anyone? I feel like this question is geared towards the extreme.

voice.

[cicatrize]

Hyperbole. Sorry. Not meant to be taken literally. [ he answers, with a light chuckle, not bothered by it. ] I'm not actually endorsing human trafficking.

But who knows, maybe some did have it that bad prior to their interdimensional field trip.

Video

[steeletto]

Our own PR department? Makes sense. We've certainly spent the last few months creating a demand for the service.

Video

[cicatrize]

Really. [ the kind of dry 'r u fuckin kidding me' voice that somehow manages to still be in good nature because jack benjamin. ] I've been here a day and you're already maximizing my workload?

[ spoken more in wry humor than actual annoyance. he's more interested in what they've actually been doing to need someone to handle public opinion of them ]

Anything in particular I should be aware of, or shall I just jump straight to fawning apologies and hope for the best?

[ text ]

[bestversion]

hot bucky barnes?!

wait no who are you???

[ text ]

[cicatrize]

[ ...ok what. no part of that made sense. ]

Bless you?

Jack. Were you expecting someone else?

[mightthinkthat]

[ Francis is a little amused that this department isn't exactly a cross-section of the populace. Two rich and possibly powerful people.

And, sure, he could probably walk down the hall to talk to him. But nah. This is funnier, also a minor sign that Francis is keeping an eye on his activities, on and off the network.

The right first impression, let's say. ]

Well, hello, Mr Benjamin. Glad to meet you. I'm Francis Urquhart. Undersecretary of imPort Public Relations. [ AKA: your boss. ] How do you do.

[cicatrize]

[ if jack were the kind of person who'd often been employed by anyone other than the state aka his father, he might have snapped to, and at least looked a little bit sheepish to be caught on his phone while at work. or if jack were the kind of person who even genuinely felt sheepish ever in his life, he might have.

as it stands, he doesn't so much as sit up straighter in his chair. instead, the mild, vaguely pleasant half-smile on his lips widens, looking genuinely pleased to have his new boss drop in like this. ]

The pleasure's all mine, Mr. Urquhart. [ that name's a mouth full. ] I'm well, yourself?

Just getting to know the community. Who seem to think we have our work cut out for us. [ absolutely going to call chatting on his phone a work related activity right now. ]

video;

[attainment]

Public relations. Well...you've certainly got your work cut out for you, Mr. Benjamin.

[Spoken by someone who put his own PR skills to use by helping clean up the mess Operation Archangel created.]

My name is Barnaby Brooks Jr. I worked as a professional hero back home, so my life has stayed the same in many respects. I try not to dwell too much on whether I like it here or not. Focusing on what I can actually control tends to work best for me.

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[cicatrize]

So I've been hearing thus far. Are we at least enjoying ourselves while wreaking havoc on the locals? Or particular ones of you enjoying themselves?

[ spoken in a wry, mock-exasperation, more in humor than a serious sentiment. but for real, what the shit have you people been up to and why. somewhere out of sight of the phone camera, he's already started googling recent press to try to pinpoint at least the names of those making his new job hard. ]

A professional hero. [ jack's chin tilts up, voice impressioned as his brows raise ] My world hadn't had that job listing. You must not have had a long adjustment period for this place, then.

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[mousquetaire]

Is it surprising that many of us want to leave?

[ Not everyone does. It had taken d'Artagnan a while to realise that, and still he assumes that the number who want to stay must be much lower than those who want to go. ]

We were all brought here against our will. We're doing the best we can with the situation we've landed in. That doesn't mean that we belong here.

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[cicatrize]

No, not surprising, but not everyone is the same. Surprising would be identical answers across the board.

[ in anything, identical answers across the board would be surprising. people never agree so completely on something. it could be 'should we go around clubbing baby bunnies' and you could bet money there'd be one asshole to raise their hand and say 'yes, absolutely, fuck baby bunnies'. in this, disagreement seems much easier to expect on the stay or go topic. ]

Life takes you to a lot of places you never asked to be or wanted for yourself. Perhaps not so literally, but for some, 'better than the alternative' could be a blessing.

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[assays]

You look so much like him.

[Give Peggy a moment or two.]

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[cicatrize]

[ ...okay that's another strange one. for a moment, jack arches a single brow at the woman, waiting for more, before answering simply - ]

Pardon?

video PRETENDING TDM WOULDN'T HAPPEN so that they can learn to hate each other anew

[rathercommon]

[ A little uncertainly: ]

That was a joke, yeah? You haven't got slavery back home.

video; LMFAO YES LOVELY :'3

[cicatrize]

[ while the slightly sheepish chuckle jack lets out is entirely lies (no there's not fucking slavery back home), no part of that shows. because jack is lying 90% of the time he's in public anyway, and has been since around age nine. ]

No, sorry - hyperbole. I hadn't actually expected people might take that literally, but-- [ a shrugs, making an 'oops' sort of expression ] New worlds, new staples. Things to keep in mind.

I'm not actually a fan of human trafficking, to clear the air. And my nanny was a gem.

[ no, thomasina was a bitch and he hates her :'3 ]

[Video]

[malfurion]

Well, I see no harm in those here trying to get to know each other a bit better.

[It seemed like a friendly enough idea.]

I am Archuid Malfurion Stormrage, I lead the Druids of the Cenarion Circle, and am co-leader of the Night Elf people along with my wife, Tyrande. My power can vary given on my surrounding, but I believe one of my more useful abilities come as a healer. I would like to return to my wife and work, but I do not believe I would be willing to sell anyone to do so.

[He laugh at that.]

[Video]

[cicatrize]

[ well that's something jack has definetely not seen before. what had he said, night elf people? elf people? he'd been brought up to speed on all the transdimensional shenanigans, but it's one thing hearing about differing races of humanoid and another seeing it.

it's... sort of incredible. and would make absolutely everyone in his world shit themselves. which jack finds endlessly amusing. partly contributing to the smile that stretches a little wider on his lips before he answers. ]

Forgive me, but I've never heard of your people. If you don't mind my asking, what exactly does 'Druid' entail?

I can't imagine a healer would go unneeded anywhere, least of all here, but I'm sorry you're missing your home and family. That can't be easy.

text. ( id: c. dearing )

[blahnik]

Do we get to know the new face of the PR department?

text.

[cicatrize]

Of course. It wouldn't be fair to give you all the 20 questions gambit without answering a few myself. [ which was exactly what he was going to do. woops. ]

What would you like to know?

[tardily]

Or the third and completely ignored option of neither where no one gets sold to get out or in and we all can rest easy knowing that we didn't sell someone out to get our goal.

[ Even if it's a joke, Barry just has to say it because who does that. He shrugs. ]

Do you always open with introductions like that? Or did you save that for just the right time?

[cicatrize]

[ internally: dear freaking lord all these alarmist fucks, how do they live with themselves. externally: two and a half decades worth of training in not letting what he actually thinks of people around him show through. hahaaaa. ]

Oh, it's a right moment sort of thing, and even then, as you can see, tenuous. [ carrying on in good humor, with a languid half-smile and an easy tone ] There's always a gamble in what crowd will let human trafficking quips fly under the radar and which will start phoning authorities and lawyers.

But 'Hi, I'm Jack' was boring.

Would you like a personal assurance that I'm not advocating slavery as well, or are we good?

[bindsthedead]

While I'd prefer to be home, I can't object to being here, given that time doesn't pass while we're in this world- when I return, I won't have missed anything.

[cicatrize]

[ oh... that's interesting. and jack might take a moment to bookmark this conversation quietly. so his world's still waiting for him at home. his father, his cell, and his sentence.

that's not okay. ]

Really? [ he answers, looking more on the side of just mildly interested than aggressively focused on this. ] How do you know? Have people returned home and sent word back here on it?

[slightlyoffchilt]

Do you have a plan set to relate us to the public? Or is this just an old fashioned gimmick for gossip? Inquiring minds.

[cicatrize]

Considering I've known both you and the public for not even twenty-four hours yet, and on top of that, I'm only an assistant - not exactly, the plan is still in the works as far as I know.

So, call it a little from column A, a little from column B.

[permavoice]

[makethman]

[Harry is having so many fucking flashbacks to public secondary school right now he can barely stand it. But he does, because that's still the polite thing to do.]

I try to stay away from the temptation of human trafficking, regardless of the supposed perks. [His tone is dry, but not unfriendly.]

Hanging is just as frowned upon as well, you'll be happy to know.

[cicatrize]

[ bless you harry hart, you're a trooper. ]

Good man. Nasty business, that. Not to mention, archaic. [ says the douche-prince from the old testament. not that he's aware of the latter. ]

For the record, neither sentiment had been serious. You won't be seeing me peddling old women or totting around nooses. [ since people seem to actually need clarification on that here. wow. ]

video; let's start anew ok?

[cupio]

Well, I already had the end of Gossip Girl spoiled for me so I'm not sure I have much to go home for.

[ She's kidding. But no one knows about her mother in a magic coma story and she likes to pretend everything is a-okay. ]

Also I have no grandparents to sell off. Bummer.

video; sure! :3 also wow gossip girl, hdu

[cicatrize]

[ pause. blink. a mild brow raise with a confused sort of smile ] I think I'm missing something - guessing Gossip Girl is a series?

[ is there a hot dude in it, is his name carter, am i using like 10 icons of him on the journal for reasons ]

Ah, well, I hear distant aunts and obnoxious cousins have been going up in value too. [ joke. it's a joke. everyone in this fucking dimension calm your fucking tits. ]

video;

[defensebonds]

[ He's speaking. He knows it, because his mouth is moving, and words are coming out, and Steve is catching something here and there about public relations, getting to know people, asking questions — but beyond that all he hears is the sort of ringing in the ears that tends to follow after a bomb goes off.

Or when a helicarrier falls to pieces but, y'know. Semantics.

For a moment all Steve can do is watch the feed, staring down at the face of his best friend. The Bucky he met here vanishing was an unexpected blow, but to then see his own showing up out of nowhere? That's a punch in the gut he never could have expected. There's differences, and a small nagging part of his brain tells him there's something wrong — but he wants to believe.

He finally turns his video on with a hand that he forces not to shake, looking for all the world like a man who's just seen a ghost. There's more hope in his voice than he means there to be, but there's just no holding it down. ]

Buck?

video;

[cicatrize]

[ by now, he's had both kamala and peggy tell him about 'bucky barnes', and he's had a moment to go through the network and dig for the id "bucky barnes". found both the teenager and, as kamala put it, the hot one. being, the one identical to him. not just similar - identical. unsettlingly so, though the man's personality seems a far stretch from Jack.

he hasn't quite decided how to feel about that, or even what to think of it. nothing so exact as this could have been an accident. out of all the genetic traits a man could have, what are the odds of having every single one of them repeated? besides, jack already has a twin. a twin sister, left behind in shiloh.

but for the most part, the conversations with peggy and kamala aren't taxing on the topic. but then this guy shows up, with his hope, and the shake in his voice, and a face that looks near ready to break. lord alfuckingmighty, who was this barnes guy, the messiah? ]

...This is beginning to feel cruel. [ there's no new yorker accent there, not even much close in how he holds his features, something still distant and detached in the way jack looks at the screen. ]

Jack Benjamin. Not Barnes. Sorry to disappoint.