video

[performance]

[ SOME NERD is addressing the network today, dressed for fall with a fashionable blue scarf and sipping a cup of coffee. It's been a while. He's feeling chatty. ]

Question! Are there any responsible-ish pseudo-adult figures out there who'd be willing to give driving lessons? Someone — hint, it's me — is turning sixteen in December. Time flies! And I'd also like to fly. Ideally in a hover car. Ideally-er without crashing it into a tree.

Not-question: welcome, newbies! I'm Dick Grayson. I'm a Sagittarius, I like long walks on the beach, computer programming, and electronics repair, I'm totally available for math tutoring, and I microwave a mean Hot Pocket.

And I've been here for about a year and a half, so if you need any questions answered, I can try really, really hard to give you more than just a giant question mark in response, but... well, there are still a lot of question marks. So here are a few quick answers to some common questions. Yes, this is actually happening, no, we don't know what the deal with the Porter is, yes, you really have superpowers now, and no, you don't have to put on a cape. But I totally support you if you do. You're doing important work, and almost everyone looks good in a cape. Science fact.

Comments

[performance]

Hi, Max! Nice to meet you. Don't worry — I'm registered and I don't do any of that stuff. It more or less just means that you're agreeing to play by the rules while you're here. No one's ever been forced to do anything.

[timecapture]

Oh! Well... I guess I can do that.

Nice to meet you, too. How do you like it here?

[performance]

Mm... I get a little homesick now and then, but I've gotten used to it. Mostly everyone's really nice, and that helps. Not to sound too cheerful about it or anything! I know that can be annoying.

You just arrived, right? Judging by your question. You settling in okay?

[timecapture]

I really miss my parents. And my friends at school. [Even though she feels a little silly and childish, saying that.]

I guess so. I haven't really spoken to my roommates yet. [Or many others, outside of the internet.]

[performance]

That's a bummer. What city did they put you in? I'm pretty familiar with Heropa and De Chima... maybe I could show you around sometime?

[timecapture]

I'm in Heropa right now.

And... thanks. I'd like that.

[performance]

That's where they put me when I first got here! It's pretty small compared to the other porter cities, but it's not bad. I'll totally give you a tour, it'll be cool.

[timecapture]

I'd like that. I've still only seen a little of Heropa.

Mostly from above. [And whose fault is that, Max?]

[performance]

What do you mean, from above?

[timecapture]

I mean that someone who can fly took me.

[performance]

That's impressive. Was it a nice view? I've never seen it from up high!

[timecapture]

It was beautiful! I got a ton of great shots.

[performance]

Oh, awesome! You're a photographer?

[timecapture]

Just as a hobby, so far. Unless you count my job. [And she... really doesn't.]

[performance]

What's your job?

[timecapture]

I work at a studio. You know, family pictures and everything.

[Her hipster sensibilities are outraged, she tells you. But at least she's learning how to use other cameras.]

[performance]

Ohhh, that kind of thing. So not real art.

[timecapture]

Sadly, not.

[performance]

Maybe you can art up the portrait studio a little. Go totally hipster with it.

[timecapture]

I'd like to do that, but with the holidays coming... you know.

[performance]

Probably shouldn't enhance anyone's family photos, yeah.

[timecapture]

Probably not. Oh, man, I'm going to be super busy.