001 [ video ]

[curiosityvoyage]

—and, got it!

[When the feed cuts in, the first thing anyone might see is—a mop of brown curls. Wow. So exciting. After a moment, a young boy's face comes into view, blue eyes alive with an excited curiosity. Some more adjustments, and the background finally makes itself clear: the kid's in a park somewhere in De Chima, and he happens to be dressed like a Ghostbuster like it's Halloween or something.]

Hey, so, I've got a few questions. A lot of questions, actually. [So many curiosity doors, so little time.] To start with: anyone else here from Hawkins? [He hopes so. He—really doesn't want to be alone.] Man, Mr. Clarke'd have a field day.

[Eat your heart out, Hugh Everett.]

Secondly, has anyone started up an imPort A/V club yet? I'm a little curious about how it would work, especially since people from all kinds of different worlds with varying levels of technology keep getting pulled in. I think it'd be a great opportunity for us to learn about technology from other worlds, and from this one too. I know I'd love a crash course in how to use this—they called it a phone, but it doesn't really look like one. [Phones looked very different where he's from, and they definitely can't do half the stuff this device can.

Something warbles shrilly nearby. Dustin's head turns, and he bends down a little out of frame to talk to something just off-screen:] Shh, Dart. I'll feed you nougat later, just gotta finish this up first. [Turning back to the comm:] Also: Is there a species on your world that, appearance-wise, might be comparable to a pollywog but isn't? Like, pollywogs are cold-blooded and need heat and light, for example, but that particular species actively avoids heat? What kind of food would you feed it? [Beat.] I'm asking for a friend.

Comments

[curiosityvoyage]

Yeah, but he's not Iron Man right now. At least he wasn't before I got here.

[That'd be Jim Rhodes, and so Dustin's more than a little baffled that somehow Tony Stark is Iron Man again. Like, what? What happened? Did he finally recover?]

You have a—[AAAAAAAAAAAAA]

D'you think I could ride in the passenger seat? Not right now, but maybe at some point.

[ghoulking]

I'm- pretty sure Tony Stark is the Iron man in MANY worlds. [ kaneki doesn't read comics and doesn't know iron man, sadly ]

Ah- [ should you really be asking strangers for rides, Dustin? ] I guess I can, but you should probably ask the adult taking care of you if that's okay. [ PLEASE tell him there is an adult taking care of you ]

[curiosityvoyage]

Not in the comics right now.

[It's a whole Thing and Dustin has been avidly following along, like the nerd that he is. He's a little annoyed that he got dragged here right in the middle of the arc, honestly.]

Yeah, uh. About that. [He coughs, a little shifty-eyed.] My mom's still back in Hawkins. It's just me—and Dart, I guess.

[ghoulking]

I'm not sure. There were no comics of him back home.

[ BUT ANYWAY what Dustin says next worries him a lot more ]

You are alone? There is no one else? [ WHAT ] Who- who is Dart? A friend of yours?

[curiosityvoyage]

Dart's my pet. Sort of. I only just picked him up when the Porter brought me here. [He turns the camera to show a small, slug-like creature with stubby little arms and a cute little yellow spot on his butt, peacefully eating a candy bar.] His name's actually D'Artagnan.

Sorta. I've got a few friends from Hawkins already here, but I haven't seen anyone older than eighteen from home yet. [So yeah there are no adults.]

[ghoulking]

Oh- [ the Porter usually brings pets in yes, but they are usually a power. But that one is completely new. ] I've never seen something like that. [ IS THAT A POKEMON ] I'm guessing by the question to the network, neither did you.

[ aaaaa CHILD.

WHY ARE YOU ALL ALONE CHILD ]

Are you alright? I mean, I know kids can handle themselves- [ there has been plenty of kids here before ] But if you need anything, really. having an adult around usually makes things a lot easier.

[curiosityvoyage]

Definitely not. I was hoping someone from another world could at least identify him, but that hasn't happened so far. [Mike did identify him, though.] There's a possibility I've just discovered a new species from my world, though.

[no he's got like

four others but they're just not over eighteen]

'Course we can. [They handled themselves pretty well against those government agents and that demogorgon last year! The only people who got eaten were the agents.] And I'm fine. Like I said, I'm not completely alone, and we're pretty good at looking out for each other.

[A pause.] Unless you can cook?

[ghoulking]

Uhm- sure, it's not that unusual. New species are discovered all the time. [ usually insects, but maybe someone missed a special kind of pollywog ]

[ you are still children.............. ]

I can yes. I have a coffee shop and we provide food too. [ and kaneki is a pretty darn cook but WAIT ] How... have you been feeding yourselves? [ BECAUSE THAT'S AN IMPORTANT QUESTION ]

[curiosityvoyage]

Cool. [A beat. Then, with a little smile that may just be the teensiest bit smug:] So what do you think? Does Dustonius pollywogus sound scientific enough?

[That's what you're worried about? The scientific name?]

Great! What kind of food do you provide? [Is it sweet. It better be.] Dunno, I just got here. You should ask Mike, but—I think maybe they've just been getting takeout. Or buying Eggos.

[ghoulking]

I'm not sure it counts if he came from your world- [ kaneki smiles, a little amused ] But yes, Dustinius spp. sounds like it could be a hit.

Japanese sweets and snacks. I can make actual meals though. [ specially after he hears that ] Eggos and takeout isn't exactly great food. You should eat actual meals- [ please, child, take care of yourself ]