001: voice

[buttonedup]

( It's taken Cassandra a great deal of trial-and-error to be able to use the communicator at all. It sits awkwardly in her hands, as if mocking her ineptitude. The thought of people being able to see her face, from a distance, is frankly unnerving, so she quickly discounts the video option. Writing is bad enough when it's ink on paper, so that leaves her with one option she understands, really: voice communication. There are items in Thedas that have a similar function, Cassandra knows, but usually they're not so... bright. And rectangular.

Now, she knows, she is just procrastinating, and she is not the type of woman who likes to waste time. She flicks the audio function, like she'd been taught, and scowls at the device as if she expects it to stare back. )

I do not like this.

( A moment later, it's as though she's just realised she's already turned pressed the button. )

Oh! It's...on?

( Of course it is. And everyone has heard her confusion. Why did anyone think this form of communication was a good idea again? She does her best to gather both her composure and her thoughts. She starts to talk in a clipped staccato: )

I shall be brief. I am not familiar with this technology. Obviously. I was merely wondering if anyone else here is from a world similar to my own. I would like to hear your experiences, if you would share them.

( And she ends the call there partly because she's not sure what else to say but mostly because she's still not convinced that this actually worked. )

Comments

[buttonedup]

( She doesn't even know what a 'radio' is, but she refrains from asking for now. Maker knows she doesn't need to add to her confusion. )

There is a lot of information available. One of my associates has informed me that someone once told him these devices contain an entire library, but that must've been a jest. ( Because how would it fit?? )

How do you discern what information is pertinent?

[darwinatrix]

It wasn't. It's not actually in the damn things, but the network they're connected to contains pretty much every piece of information humanity has ever created, give or take some cave paintings.

You do that the same way you would if you were in a library. Use your head.

[buttonedup]

I see. Though the method is different, the process is still the same. ( A sharp intake of breath. )

Forgive me. This is a lot to take in at once.

[darwinatrix]

Pretty much. No reason it'd be different just because the books are digital.

You've done nothing needing forgiveness. Don't say pointless stuff like that.

[buttonedup]

( That earns Olivier a surprised - but pleased - snort. )

In that case, I will spare you the bullshit. I've now a place to start, and that is all I needed.

[darwinatrix]

I hate bullshit. Good.

[A brief pause.]

Major-General Olivier Armstrong. I run RISE, an organization dedicated to policing imPort activity.

[buttonedup]

Cassandra Pentaghast. My old title means little in this world, or so I have been told. ( A noise of approval. ) How is imPort activity policed?

[darwinatrix]

[Dryly.] Against the best efforts of obstructive bureaucrats, I can tell you that.

[buttonedup]

( She snorts again. )

Isn't that always the case. I'm not saying that some rules don't exist for good reason, but mostly? They are there to protect those who are afraid to take responsibility for what must be done.

[darwinatrix]

I couldn't agree more.

Civilians are uncomfortable with the idea of doing what is necessary.