Welcome to the Network! ;video

[truthchanges]

[ The camera opens onto a somewhat cluttered office. It didn't seem like it was cleaned often, if at all, with several cabinets only half closed, notices and sticky notes pinned about the wall, the window letting in the city lights from outside through shifted, broken blinds. The NSO building was a nice place, but some people had issues with tidyness. And Aya Hosada, the bespectacled woman smiling at the camera, was probably the worst case of it. Hey, she did used to be a programmer. She was used to this.

On her desk was her holokeyboard, a coffee thermos... three of them, actually, strewn papers, and several small, cute statues of anthropomorphized animals. This was basically home for her, though she supposed she could present it better. Ah well. ]

Greetings, everyone! If you're new around here, my name is Aya Hosada, Director of Personnel and Resident Liaison for the Neo Sapien Organization. And this is the Neo Sapien Network! It's a new feature we're going to be putting out from here on, programmed by yours truly~!

[ She's pretty proud of it, giving a wink at the camera before sipping her coffee. ]

Here's how it works; it's essentially a city-wide semi-private intranet. The NSO catalogs nothing, nor do we attach any software for tacking or conservation of data without user consent. It's basically the ultimate "safe" internet for people who don't particularly trust communications networks run by other companies. [ They knew the one she meant. ]

You can do test posts, voice posts, video posts, holo posts, you name it! Think of it like a social media service with, like, actual free speech. Try it out!

Let's see... [ Aya adjusts her glasses, taking another sip of her coffee and going over some other notes ]

Alright, a big special thanks to everyone who attended the fundraising gala. I know they can be a bit of a... hard pill to swallow, sometimes, but it's really important we keep up impressions! And look, Dr. Annan didn't get into a fist-fight this time with some rich heckler! Be sure to congratulate him when you see him next~! [ Aya giggled, winking again ]

Also, NSO efforts to restore power in the Parish were successful, and the shelter directors there send their regards. I won't name names, or call anyone out on a public post like this, but you know who you are when I say thank you, from the deepest place in my heart. You're the good we work for in this world, in action. Again, thank you...

... Although, I do fear I have to report that Yakashbah's stunt in Arcadia has lead to a lot of arrests and spiked security. Please be careful out there, okay?

[ Aya let out a heavy sigh, her expression drooping for a moment before picking up another sheet of pepper, pepping up once she saw what it was. ]

Oh! Also, the roommate assignments for this year are out, so be sure to check the roster postings at the nearest terminal to know who your new roomie is! The roommate program is Dr. Annan's way of helping us all socialize a little more, in an otherwise kinda hostile world, so hopefully you manage to make a new friend! Let's see, who did everyone get... [ She sips her coffee, going over the list until her eyes go wide and she spits out a bit of her drink, immediately reaching for a terminal beside her. ]

Um! Dr. Annan! This is Ms. Hosada, and I just saw the roommate roster, and I noticed my name was on it despite explicitly not volunteering [ said through her teeth ] Could you please explain?!

[ There was a long silence on the other end, leaving Aya looking progressively more nervous until Dr. Annan's familiar chuckled came through over the voice channel, before calmly saying...

"Your congratulations, Ms. Hosada, are graciously accepted. Thank you."

Aya's hand slowly drew back and she slumped in her desk some. ]

Oh boy... Welcome to the network, everyone.

[ Another dramatic sigh from Aya before she reached to shut the video off. ]

OOC: Welcome to the game! The network and log comms are now both open to be freely posted in, but feel free to use this post as a network mingle if you like! There will be a sub-header for threads specifically for Aya, if you want them, but otherwise feel free to make your own top level comments and respond to others!

Comments

text henceforth

[windblownrose]

Wonderful! I do look forward to it. A little thoughtlessness can be a true gift.

I hope you got back home without any trouble after that unfortunate incident earlier?

same but with audio

[rubricatus]

It I hadn't, I suspect you would be able to tell. [ There's a second where he considers trying not to laugh, considering the severity of the situation underpinning that question. In the end, though, he allows himself, a low and only-faintly tired chuckle coming across clearly. ] I should like to hear that you're safely settled in as well?

[windblownrose]

Yes, I suppose it would have made the news. I'm afraid all I ever watch on the networks is hockey, though, so I'm never quite as up on news as a responsible citizen ought to be.

Thanks to your assistance, yes, I made it home in one piece.

[rubricatus]

Oh, I hope not. [ He laughs again, and though Andrei can't see it, it's accompanied with a faintly helpless shake of his head. ] I've been enough trouble for the people in my life without my trouble-making being newsworthy on top of it. But, [ the pause here is a little more pointed than he means it to be, as Magnus is weighing the wisdom of something ] I'm certain you would be able to tell for yourself, had any particular misfortune befallen me.

But enough of that. I'm sure, between the lot of us, we've said enough about Arcadia's troubled days to last a lifetime. Assuming the invitation extends, how is the menu at Enyart's?

[windblownrose]

Perhaps you're right, my friend. The Tarot are a reliable, if sometimes oblique, source of information!

Our menu is limited but very reasonably priced -- and I can manage special orders if I'm given a touch of advance warning. Would you like directions?

[rubricatus]

No need for special orders. It would do me good to taste the local color more often — or, at least, that's what I can already hear certain people telling me. Directions, on the other hand, should always be accepted with gratitude.

[ There's a small pause, and then: ]

Do you read?

[windblownrose]

Everything I can get my hands on, especially if it's on paper. I'm an antique myself! I prefer old-fashioned books.

[He is, however, sufficiently modern to respond to the request for directions by attaching GPS coordinates.]

[rubricatus]

I still do owe you that book on art history. And I'm quite fond of paper as well, so I don't believe you'll be disappointed in that regard. But, [ and there's a small fond note here ] I was asking if you read the tarot.

[windblownrose]

Oh! Of course. Yes, I do. Are you interested in it?

[rubricatus]

I've found that this often comes as a surprise to those I tell, but I've been known to consult the cards from time to time myself. Of course, I'm certain there are some who can glean a clearer picture from the deck than I can — but nonetheless, I can't quite bring myself to believe in the idea of coincidence. If there is a pattern in the cards, there must be some reason that is the pattern that was shown to me. Do you find the same?

[windblownrose]

Oh, yes. The patterns don't always make sense soon enough to do anything useful about it, but they're accurate far too often for one's peace of mind.

Besides, it's a much more versatile method than tea leaves, more specific than palmistry and so much less messy than haruspicy.

[rubricatus]

True enough! To say nothing of how much more pleasant it is to look at. I can't recall much talk of entrails kept as works of art, though perhaps I've merely forgotten.

In any case, it's always a pleasure to meet another soul who doesn't dismiss such things out of hand. They seem to be in short supply these days. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you would be one of them, though — if you'll pardon my presumption, you seem like a man with a wide breadth of interests.

[windblownrose]

They certainly wouldn't keep very long.

I suppose I am! There are so many more interesting things in the world than there is time to learn. A bit of fortune-telling can help with my budget in lean months, too; someone always wants to know what the future may hold.