video; default/unset username

[tealeafs]

Good day, everyone. Forgive me for taking up some of your time.

[ .. it's hard to see who's speaking though. It seems that the person has set down their Omni in front of them, which means that the camera is just filming.. someone's knees as they're kneeling on the ground. ]

My name is Chizuru, Chizuru Yukimura. I have a few questions about this place. Of course I mean to repay anyone for sharing their advice and time with me. I.. um, I could cook something for you, or I could try to see if I could help you with a different favour.. [ The voice momentarily trails off, like the person is thinking, before she speaks on. ]

I-In any case. My first question has to do with the food here. I've already found a lot of different sorts of food I'm not used to, and I would really appreciate it if someone could help me with figuring out some of them, like.. what they taste like, or how they are supposed to be used in dishes..

Secondly.. I'm looking for the Shinsengumi. [ Something dips in the tone as that's being said, a hint of sadness sneaking in. ] I know that the chance they have found themselves here is very low, but if they are here, or if anyone has heard of them, I would like to know.

[ Maybe she could use some technological help too, given.. you know. The obviously unintended pants-view. There's even shadows moving around, like she's moving her hands off screen since she thinks the device is filming all of her. ]

Aside from that.. I would honestly appreciate any and all advice on living here. I have to admit I've found myself.. um.. feeling a little overwhelmed, I suppose you could say.. [ Now there's some fluster in the tone. ] For example..

[ She pauses.

It's a long, awkward pause, and her voice is a little softer when she speaks on. ]

This method of communication.. is not just meant to find people to, um-- to get.. involved with, is it? [ Someone saw Obi-Wan's post, apparently. ] In that case.. I-I'm sorry, but that wasn't my intention..!

Comments

[imaglyphwitch]

Hiya Chizuru, good to meet you! I'm Luz Noceda!

So I'll try to help you out, but don't worry about repayment! Everyone starts out new at first, so the least we can do is help other Sleepers who just arrive!

First off? You might want to reposition your Omni so people can see you, and not your knees! You probably aren't used to that thing, but don't worry! It just takes some practice!

Ok, now, food can be tricky, depending on what it is you're looking at, but I don't mind showing you what's what if you want. What sort of food are YOU used to?

As for Shinsengumi...I don't know what that is, and most people probably don't either because it's not a word we're familiar with. That might be a good place to start!

Now, there is lot to get used to here, from blood magic to housing to what and where you want to work. Those things will take some figuring out, so you might want to start breaking down what you want to know first and we'll go from there. Do you have a place to stay?

Oh, and no, you just logged onto the net where we can all just talk to each other, like now! I don't think it's ever been used just for hooking up, although that has been happening a bit lately.

[tealeafs]

[ .. oh, dear. That is a lot to take in at once, especially when Chizuru is still so confused about half of the things here - and half of the answers being given to her.

As much is very obvious when she slowly bends forward, moving so her head finally actually comes into view - since she's bending over to look at the Omni up close, so her face is actually visible on the screen. ]

Um.. Thank you, you sound like a very wise and helpful person. But.. [ .. an awkward pause. ] What do you mean.. 'reposition your Omni'?

[ Apparently that's the part she already got lost on, huh. ]

[imaglyphwitch]

[That was Luz for you: giving you answers in bursts, and in turn giving you more questions]!

That's the thing you're using to communicate with me! You have to reposition it so people can more easily see your face. You just had it going and were displaying your knees, mostly.

[She chuckled, though, at the idea of her being wise, when she was sure someone like Usagi would ahve begged to differ].

video | un: degurechaff

[verrostet]

[ Shinsengumi?? Did she just say Shinsengumi? As in THAT Shinsengumi? Somehow, that feels more absurd to Tanya than any of the blood/monster/horror stuff. ]

It would be helpful if you could describe this Shinsengumi of yours. Furthermore, you yourself will be more easily found if you change your username to something more personally identifiable.

[ And she ignores the question about using the internet for hookups... That's way too much trouble to try to answer, and no one wants to hear about that sort of thing from a child anyway. ]

[tealeafs]

My.. username?

[ Look at the way Chizuru just says that. As if she's never even heard of the very word. The only reason she can pronounce it the right way is just because she's copying the way Tanya said it in the first place.

But it doesn't make her sound any less baffled. ]

I'm really sorry, but I'm not entirely sure what you mean..

[verrostet]

[ Can Tanya even see the way Chizuru says that when the view is of her knees......... that's fine though, it's obvious from her tone of voice. Tanya pauses for a brief second, never once having thought that she'd one day need to play an IT tech to someone from the Bakumatsu period (allegedly). ]

In other words, the name you choose to represent yourself on this omni. If you look, you'll see that mine is "Degurechaff," which happens to be my family name. Sometimes people choose more obscure usernames in order to retain some anonymity or advertise a certain trait.

[ ... ]

For instance, you might even change your username to "lookingforshinsengumi".

text, un: shouto

[swellter]

It takes time to get used to Trench. Have you settled into a place to live yet?

[tealeafs]

[ It takes Chizuru a moment to realise that there's actual text now on this device. And then it takes another moment to realise that, wait, that's actually someone sending her a message. Like an odd letter.

Which means that her reply arrives definitely on the late side, but there is an actual reply! ]

yes
i think so
i am not entirely sure if it is alright for me to live by myself but i could not bear to ask to impose on anyone else

[swellter]

[ Sometime later, his device pings, and Shouto finds himself staring at the message for a few seconds before it clicks. ]

If you don't feel comfortable on your own, there are plenty of people who'd like a roommate. Don't think you have to stay by yourself.

Video UN: 1stStrike

[strikefirster]

I have one tip for the food. Just throw it in a grill and cook it until it starts to turn black. It's the only way I've found to make any of it bearable.

It's not much but it's something.

And I don't think you have to use it to pick up dudes or chicks. But it's definitely something you should try to do. Man up and get out there and get some, chick.

[tealeafs]

[ .. wait, what?

Is he telling her to-- wait, what?!

Hold on for a moment, Chizuru's brain is bluescreening. It has to reboot for a second, and then it just decides to settle on the issue that is still shocking, but at least on a slightly less absolutely baffling level. ]

I-- I, um, I don't think you're actually meant to eat food once it turns black, that means that it's burnt..! It could be really bad for your health!

[strikefirster]

Nah, nah it's definitely doesn't do that.

Eating burnt meat just makes you more manly. Trust me, kid.

[It does not do that.]

Video; UN: lothrat

[ezra_of_lothal]

It's not just for looking for dates, I promise. [Ezra's grin is sheepish, because as far as he's concerned Obi-wan is family. That was not something he really needed to see, you know? In fact, it had seemed so unlike Obi-wan, he'd kinda panicked at first.]

I mean, it's not the only time I've seen people on the comms network indicate they were open to getting, uh, involved, but it's used for all kinds of chatter. Your questions are pretty normal for newcomers. I'm pretty new myself.

I'm Ezra Bridger. I'm from a planet called Lothal, but I do know some things about a place called Earth. Are you...from Japan?

[tealeafs]

[ Oh, Ezra. Thank god. You have no idea how much relief you just brought to this girl.

Or maybe he can get a slight idea, because Chizuru definitely lets out a sigh of relief she has absolutely no chance at holding back before she replies to anything else he's saying.

.. though it quickly turns into a more startled sound. ]

S-Sorry, I don't mean to be rude, but.. did you just say planet? [ She will answer that question, promise.

But maybe after she's gotten over this major surprise. ]

[ezra_of_lothal]

Um. Yes. [He's just gonna do his best to be calm, friendly, and informative.]

Sleepers come from many different places. Times. Worlds. Some of those places and people from them may seem sort of recognizable. Some will be pretty wildly different.

un: lumine

[traversal]

[ her clothes look very familiar ... and the fact that she's asking about food, does this mean she might be able to eat inazuman dishes again? ]

Which of the food items are you having challenges with? Maybe I can help out.

[tealeafs]

[ Oh gosh, more typing. Hold on! The slow typing means the reply takes a few moments before it arrives, but Chizuru is doing her best over here..! ]

for example a person here at the boardwalk was talking about hotdogs
i was not really sure what kind of food that is supposed to be
unless they were talking about actual hot dogs

video | un: caripan

[expiera]

[Another Japanese... Is it just her or inter-dimensional nexuses have a thing for the ethnicity?? She usually prefers text and would only resort to video if it's someone she already knows, but judging by the girl's hesitation and apparent unfamiliarity with the device (especially if her use of the term "Shinsengumi" is period appropriate), maybe she can make an exception today.]

It's nice to meet you, Chizuru, or would Yukimura-san be better? Food is important, but there's so many kinds that your question is probably easier to answer through an actual trip across the districts of Willful Machine, Feed, and Ache. And don't worry, everyone uses the Omni to communicate! You can send texts like letters, talk to each other over a great distance, and even transmit what you look like and what you're doing to other people. Judging by your current video feed, you have the black stone set face down in front of you on the ground, right? Why don't you try picking it up and using it as if you were talking into a mirror instead?

[One thing at a time... Even though that ended up more like 3 things, but still,]

[tealeafs]

[ That is quite a lot at once coming from this mysterious device.. But at least it is all helpful information, no matter how much it is to take in all at once!

It makes the girl's eyebrows raise, something that becomes very visible once she actually does lift the Omni up to her face, staring at it like it is indeed a mirror. It's only then that she realises she can see the person on the other side of the screen too! ]

Oh..!

[ Apparently that's all she can say at first - just that surprised noise as she stares at the screen, slowly blinking..

But then she does finally continue after a moment of staring. ]

Yukimura-san would be fine! Um-- unless that would be a bother for you, that is. [ Chizuru has definitely noticed that politeness standards here are.. a little weird. Especially when it comes to names.

But considering it's just one of the 50.000 things to adjust to, she can live with it if she really has to. ]

And what is your name, miss..?

[ Got to make sure to be able to properly refer to her before asking her more questions! ]

un: aether; video. eek sorry.

[skyshard]

Wait, this thing is supposed to be used for getting involved with people? That... can't be right.

[ ...can it? this place is so weird. ]

[tealeafs]

That's what I was wondering..

[ If it helps? Chizuru is very much sounding a little awkward about it herself. ]

I thought it was just for sending messages to people, since that's what someone told me, but.. [ She pauses, and when she speaks on, her voice is just a tad softer. Like she doesn't want to speak too loudly about this. ] But then I saw a message about someone looking to.. um.

.. you know.

[ She can't say it out loud, it'd be indecent!! ]

voice; lys.skvgrd

[pawper]

[If the usual jamjar communication device was some kind of futuristic machine instead of an oversized shiny bauble, Lys could have avoided all awareness of the network for a time. But it wasn't, and she didn't, and now she's messing around with the Omni crystal because...because she might as well, right? What else were you supposed to do with a magical miracle stone? That she can only see Chizuru's knees doesn't put a damper on her sense of quiet awe in the slightest; how could it, next to the miracle of having such a thing in her humble possession? And besides, she can recognize Chizuru's voice anyway. It's a talent.]

Hi again. [This is the conversational beat where a gentle reminder would go if Lys had better priorities.] If you still want help with getting a handle on the food in this place, I don't mind at all. I know a ton of recipes and ingredients.

[A beat.]

And I can taste-test anything that looks gross.

[tealeafs]

[ Oh, hey! Chizuru can't see the screen of the Omni from where she's sitting - obviously so, since the screen can't see her beyond her knees either - but she does recognize the voice as one of the people she had spoken to on her first day here. ]

I don't mind the help at all..! I could use it..

[ Especially since there's so much food she doesn't recognize. Chizuru could use an entire team helping her out, honestly. ]

.. though.. you really don't have to taste-test stuff, you know? I wouldn't want you to get hurt if it somehow ends up being dangerous, or bad for you.. [ Which doesn't seem to be off the table, considering how odd some of this stuff looks. ]

video | un: ilikemeat

[velvet_teen]

I'm Alice, I want food! I'll show you which mushrooms are good and not poison, and I can answer lots of questions.

[ Darkbloods are more self centered this moon but Alice very much Like This already; Chizuru will not notice a massive difference in attitude if she runs into her at any other time of year.]

And I want to know what your face looks like, I'm talking to your legs and that's weird. I don't care if you're ugly as long as you can cook.

[tealeafs]

[ Alice clearly just knows what she wants, huh.

And while Chizuru is more than willing to help out the other in return for information, like she promised.. It's definitely that last part of what Alice says that makes her pause for a moment. Partially since she hasn't had the realisation yet that she's not entirely visible, but.. w-wait, doesn't care if she's ugly?! A-Alice, please. ]

Are you saying you can't see me..?

[ At least her surprise here sounds very genuine, rather than this being some attempt on Chizuru's part to play a prank or something along those lines. ]