001. Video

[incantamentum]

[The feed clicks on, showing a slightly flustered looking man in his late thirties... A slightly flustered looking man who only just got a look at his own face when he turned the camera on and visibly shudders.] Merde... [A hand moves up, smoothing down his hair and adjusting his glasses while he tries to calm himself down. He takes a deep breath, releasing it through his nose only a moment later.]

It appears I have been drafted to become a part of this little experiment, a hero as it were. [His voice sounds even enough, his English more than up to standard even with the slight accent.] Normally I would consider this a major problem, however even I can see the scope for discovery here, and well... curiosity is already getting the better of me. [He shakes his head slowly.] It isn't a wise thing, I know this, everyone knows this- it killed the cat, after all.

[He lets out one long sigh.] I must say though, I wouldn't mind speaking with some of you who have been here for a more substantial time period. [He smiles encouragingly.] It would render the whole process a little easier to come to terms with, if there were those available who might answer my questions.

[He rubs a hand through his hair one last time.] I appear to be forgetting myself, however. My name is Doctor Eric Dufosset, I'm somewhat pleased to make all of your acquaintance, regardless of the otherwise unique situation. But as I said, I'd be very obliged with those who would be agreeable enough to speak with me about life here. [Cute man, he's looking for friends.]

Comments

[mightthinkthat]

As I recall, satisfaction brought it back. I'm Francis Urquhart. I'll do my best to have answers for you.

[incantamentum]

That it did, monsieur. [A wide smile.] However I don't see exactly when I'll step beyond curiosity and into satisfaction in a place like this. It seems like there will be an almost endless learning curve. [He nods at that.] Enchanté Francis, have you been here long?

[mightthinkthat]

Ah, but that's true of life, really. And a good thing too! Wouldn't we be terribly bored otherwise?

September and it's now November, so not all that long. But I'm Nonah's ImPort ambassador, so I couldn't resist your call.

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[attainment]

Hello, Doctor. My name is Barnaby Brooks Jr., and I'm a registered hero who's lived here for well over a year now. I'd be willing to answer any questions you may have.

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[incantamentum]

Over a year? Gods... [Forgive him while he stares into the distance, processing that titbit of information.] A year seems like an unforgivably long time to be separate from my home.

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[attainment]

[Barnaby doesn't relish in being the bearer of bad news, but he's never been the type to sugar-coat the truth, either. As far as he's concerned, it's better for Dufosset to start considering all his options now, rather than bury his head under the sand.]

Perhaps you'll be sent home sooner. It's hard to know how long we'll be kept here before the Porter decides to send us back. Still, I'd avoid hanging your hopes onto that and start planning as if you'll be here for a little while.

[ video ]

[enucleation]

What is your specialty, doctor?

And I can answer whatever you'd like to know. [ he has been here for a year, after all ]

[ video ]

[incantamentum]

My speciality would be psychiatry. I'm no physician of the body but I make the mind my easel. [A coy smile.] I have another speciality too, but I'm not sure about revealing it quite so publicly here. [Which basically made him sound like a prostitute but it wasn't that at all.]

A couple of things; primarily, now that we are heroes are we expected to engage in heroic behaviour? And secondarily... are our work positions concrete? I can't help but feel somewhat insulted by my own.

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[enucleation]

[ oh... another shrink. Well, he will enjoy this place and have his hands full, then. A lot of nutcases around. kaneki included

Kaneki hums softly ]

You do not have to engage in any heroic behavior if you don't wish to. They ask you to be a hero, but you can refuse. And no - you don't have to do the job they assign you.

Most people don't like their jobs when they arrive. You can easily find a more suited one.

( video. )

[desequilibre]

[ Athos has been avoiding the majority of the network in favour of dealing with the set-up of his office. It's taking some time. There's moving of furniture, there's paperwork to be completed, there's wine to be drunk. He still keeps an eye out in case of danger, however, and that is how he comes across this post.

It's inevitably the accent that causes him to respond. ]

I have been here six months, Monsieur. Not as long as many people but hopefully enough to answer your questions.

( video. )

[incantamentum]

[He's almost surprised when he hears a distinctly French accent. Especially one with a northern lilt to it, if a little strange to his ears. It probably would've been stranger, if he hadn't heard French spoken in many forms crossing many hundreds of years.]

What a pleasure to hear a somewhat familiar accent. But Gods, Six months? If you don't mind a personal question, how have you borne it?

( video. )

[desequilibre]

As well as one might. [ Not very well at all. He's thankful for the power the Porter gave him, if only because he is able to drink many of his sorrows away. ]

It is indeed different from what I am used to. Though that would be the same if they had sent me to Paris.

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[foreshadower]

[ Who even wears top hats? This guy, apparently?? ]

I've been here for... oh, just over three years, is there something in particular you're looking for in particular?

[incantamentum]

[Special brands of psychopaths, that's who!]

Three years... impossible. I absolutely refuse to be here for three years. Don't you miss your home? [Sorry his questions are blown aside by the idea of three years.]

[foreshadower]

I miss my Opal desperately.

[ He says, with all the passion that comes from someone who could live in one place for like a hundred years.

He held a hand to his chest. ]

But that does not mean I've been able to find a way home, either. That's much more difficult than strolling to the porter and simply tapping it and asking to go home.

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[khajidont]

It looks like you've got plenty of people to answer your questions, and -- well, I've been here for a year too, so I can answer 'em if you've got any more.

But, Dr. Dufosset - [the French name doesn't come naturally to his tongue, but he makes a good go of it anyway] - you don't have to get used to it all at once. I still feel like I'm learning new things about this place.

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[incantamentum]

It seems like I have, rather surprisingly. They must pull out all the stops for these welcoming committees. It certainly helped push aside some of my fears that this process was going to be too much for my own psyche to handle. [A firm nod.]

I wouldn't tax myself with that, no. No-one could be expected to rationalize all of this- [He waves a hand in the air.] In such a short time, believe me... I know. I would advise my patients to take weeks to make good with a change such as this.

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[khajidont]

Oh -- are you a psychologist kind of doctor, then? Not a regular one?

[Okay, separating them between normal and not may be just a touch rude, but it's the only way of differentiating them that Jaime knows.

Besides, their track record with psychologists has been, let's say, not so good.]

[bad_in_latin]

A doc, huh. Can't say as I've been here long enough t'know what life's life 'round these parts.

[incantamentum]

Well, a certain kind of doctor yes. [Don't expect him to start giving people surgery or anything.] Oh? Are you also recently ported.

[bad_in_latin]

S'that what they're callin' kidnapping these days?

( video. )

[aberth]

[ He usually avoids using video if he can but he knows this man and maybe showing his face is better than just being a disembodied voice on the other end of the phone. ]

You settled in all right?

( video. )

[incantamentum]

As well as could be expected, Adam. [A bright smile. Simultaneously showing off that he remembered the boy and the fact that after finding the initial café he wasn't completely redundant.]

And yourself, mon ami, how have things been since we last saw one another?

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[givetheslip]

What is it you'd like to speak about, Doctor? That's a broad topic.

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[incantamentum]

Life is a broad topic. Life here, I'm realizing, is particularly wider than I anticipated.