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

[thezekeinator]

And you haven't run into anyone else being stupid and egocentric about their power yet?

cutting in

[crusaderess]

the underground isn't like you assume it is, kid.

the only people brazen enough to show power already have it. the pecking order is pretty strictly enforced. just because the law isn't present there doesn't mean no order exists, it's just enforced by the powerful criminals.

[thezekeinator]

You're making my point. Powerful criminals enforce order. That order is as defined by their whim as anything. It's all self-serving in the end.

[crusaderess]

then why the fuck are you calling someone who's lived there for almost their whole life naive? they didn't say shit to contradict that

[thezekeinator]

So what's the difference between that and 'Lord of the Trash'?

[crusaderess]

it was a joke, dumbass.

[thezekeinator]

Wait, you've lost me. Which part was the joke?

[ashencoyote]

well, it's like the lady said...we've got our ways in the underground. anyone arrogant enough to try to act like that gets taken out and their power ends up in someone else's hands.

[thezekeinator]

Oh yeah? So all the powerful people down there don't demand respect? Or use their power to make clear the difference in status between them, those who serve them, and those who come to them?

[ashencoyote]

i never said any of that, but go off, i guess.

we have our ways down here. you know who's powerful and who demands respect when you deal with them. i'm just a scav who knows where to get things, nothing more. it's not like i'm one of the big guys down here where if you look at them the wrong way, you'll get a knife in the back.

[thezekeinator]

Sure. Point the first is, people don't know that to start, right? Better safe than sorry, they figure. Point the second is, you COULD get some of that going if you wanted. You don't. That's respectable, in my opinion.

[ashencoyote]

no one's going to offend a scav by being direct with what they need. they're less likely to piss them off that way.

[thezekeinator]

Knowing the etiquette's important. Sounds like a lot of people new to it all are getting in, though?

[ashencoyote]

well, the next person ask for something embarrassing with a silly euphemism is getting on my shit list. that's all.

[thezekeinator]

Well, fair enough. Here's hoping that works out for you!