neosapien | Welcome to the Network! ;video

[ 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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's hard to give yourself credit sometimes, even if it's due. But I'll try to make sure she knows she did a good job since she's my roomie.

I've been to one of your workshops before, it was really good. I couldn't stay for the whole thing unfortunately, had an emergency I had to take care of.

[There was a young auburn-haired woman with a hat somewhat obscuring her face aaaaall the way in the back that had had to duck out about 3/4s of the way through. Tall for a girl, lean muscle, very southern accent, skittish as hell...]

I hope you have another one soon, I'd like to keep learning it. It's good for other stuff too.

Nice to speak with you again, Dr. Sohrab. I'm Nephenee Vertegrez. I can't remember if I said then, I'm part of security and repairing stuff made of metal at my forge since that's part of my powers.

[And apparently part of her powers is dumb puns if that username is any indication...]

[ Magnus has a good memory for names and faces, and despite the briefness of their interaction, he does recall her. It helps that, ironically, that timidness is what had made her stand out. Her figure would be imposing to someone of an average size, and yet... ]

I'm glad to hear you say so, Ms. Vertegrez. It's only unfortunate that you couldn't stay for the whole duration. Those last few minutes are often the most valuable, given that generalities can only carry a person so far.

[ That is to say, they're when he discusses how meditation might fit together with the attendees' abilities in particular. Though, of course, given how shy she had seemed, who can say if she would have been brave enough to speak up and volunteer the information when asked.

She hadn't mentioned being security, and he has to wonder about that given her demeanor. It would be an obvious faux pas to say as much, though, so instead he focuses on what is ultimately a more interesting subject to him anyway: her post-human abilities. ]

No, I don't recall you having mentioned so. I presume, then, that you have some power over metal?

[ A forge can mean heat, or it can mean what is crafted within that heat — but, given that she mentions metal in specific, he's left to presume it's the latter. ]

Wish I could've too. I'll just have to come to another workshop I reckon. I'd like to see how getting more in-depth would help.

[Magnus wouldn't be the first to think that her NSO job and her demeanor don't seem to line up...by any stretch. It's a very odd dichotomy. He'd probably wonder even more if he knew her 'job' previous to coming to the city and the NSO...]

Yep. I can manipulate just about any metal in some way, it seems. Can't heat it or freeze it, but I can bend and shape it and move it around. Purification and sensing it are things, too. Can't get around physics of course, so I still use blowtorches and things to make those easier. Makes it easier to blend in too if I'm using more normal methods.

[Even with odd hair dye colors being prevalent, hair changing color like hers does...isn't a normal thing. Maybe some weird cybernetics can do it, but hers is just some weird quirk of her powers. Or the rig she uses. One of them, she figures.]

Of course, I would love to have you again — but we're speaking now, are we not? There's no reason we should have to put it off until next time.

[ Magnus prefers face-to-face interactions for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that, presented with only a carefully edited text message, it's difficult for him to gauge what her true mood is on the other side of the screen. He can only make assumptions with the help of a single, very brief meeting to guide him. Right now, that assumption is one of nervousness, so he keeps his tone light, with a friendly and encouraging verve in the cadence of his words. ]

Granted, it sometimes is easier if I have an in-person demonstration for my own reference. [ The admission is punctuated by a brief laugh. ] But something I've found to be a constant in nearly everyone I've spoken with is that fine control is far, far easier when you know how to purge any unnecessary thoughts from your mind.

If you say a face-to-face is better, than I think that'd be best. I do want to learn it after all.

[She is nervous, but she's trying very hard to push past it...despite the fact Magnus is...intimidating at best.]

if you're not too busy I could come over, but I can work with whatever.

Actually, why not let me see you at work in your forge? That seems to me the most natural way of observing your abilities in action.

Assuming my presence won't be too much of a distraction, of course.

[ Or... You know... That things won't be too cramped. He knows how it is. ]

Welcome to the Network! ;video

Text; Username: Fe_maiden

audio

Text because she's skittish

audio because Magnus loves the sound of his own voice

I know his eye socket has skin grown over, but I keep seeing it as him winking, it's very odd

he would wink if he could so it probably evens out