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Video 001; Accidental Introductions

[Someone clearly hasn't read the instructions that come with his new phone. Clearly, someone has just pressed random buttons out of frustration and then set it down as they continue to go through the strangely crafted blessings basket in their room, so the transmission is side-on and slightly wonky, as if dropped on the uneven surface of a bed. They clearly have no idea the buttons they have pressed in that order will begin a video transmission, and they seem to be talking to themselves.

Some of the other things inside the basket have already been set out: a jar of strangely coloured raspberries, a worn book that looks similar to a pocket bible, and some carefully folded clothes.

Or rather, they were carefully folded. They aren't now, not as the blonde man that occasionally appears in the frame pulls them free.]

Where is it? It has to be here!

[There's further rustling, a noise of frustration as a bright red jacket is pulled out of the basket and shaken out. Whatever the man is looking for he doesn't find, but what does fall free from the jacket is a wooden box, no larger than a hardback book, and it drops onto the table heavily, the contents rattling inside.]

Maker's breath.

[The man reaches for it, sitting down heavily on the bed as he realises what the object is. His hands tremble slightly, opening the lid. Inside, there's various bits and pieces, a potion, spoons that are discoloured and warped slightly with heat and use. Someone might associate that with the way certain drugs are prepared. He stares at it a little longer, and then he tosses it aside, a fit of sudden rage filling him.]

I will not give in, no matter what this damned place is! You can not make me do so, whoever you are!

[Then the basket is swept from the dresser, the rest of its contents tumbling onto the floor, crashing and banging.]

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[From his Fluid comes a dry, deadpan voice:]

New arrival?

[ Perhaps Cullen's audience will find it amusing to see him jump at the sound of the disembodied voice, perhaps not. The truth is, nothing that Cullen has ever come across speaks so clearly with another sentient voice, and it takes a moment or three of glaring at the room to see the strange thin box is now displaying the image of another man.

He picks it up, gingerly, and the image doesn't change. It's almost like a mirror, save it reflects what isn't there. ]

I... Yes. Is it that obvious?

Just a bit, yeah.

[He sounds amused, even if his display icon is static.]

You're broadcasting on the network so we can all see you.

What's in the box?

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[The woman who responds on the Fluid has only just managed to grasp the concept of such advanced technology herself; in fact, she's still very much confused by it all, and she isn't yet convinced the Fluid isn't some strange, advanced form of magic she hasn't yet heard of.

She is, however, concerned about the man tossing things about the room that just suddenly appeared on the screen of her own device. Her instincts as both Auror and Someone Who Cares Too Much take over, then.]

Sir, are you alright? You seem...agitated.

Edited 2019-02-13 11:38 (UTC)

[ The fact that the strange box talks with the voices of people some way away is not quite as terrifying as it might have been, if say, he hadn't recently had to battle demons and corrupted mages in the middle of the desert.

Cullen pants, agitated is the right word, his shoulders and chest rising and falling as he tries hard to get a grip on himself. He looks tired, as no doubt many new people do, nightmares fill his nights and pain and tremors fill his waking hours. At home, he had it almost under control. Here? Not so much.

Not at all, in fact.

He reaches for the Fluid, not sure why or how it really works, or why this woman is speaking to him. ]

What is this?

[He looks...haunted, she thinks. She isn't sure that it's the right word exactly, but he very much looks like the sort of person weighed down by his own ghosts. Tina can't help but let her concern show, though she's not quite certain how she might help this stranger.

But she knows, looking at him, that she doesn't want to leave him to his own devices.]

I believe, if I'm understanding the instruction manual I've been reading correctly, it's a communication device, meant to help us connect with others here.

[Like Floo Powder, but without the aspect of fire involved, she thinks. Best not to mention Floo Powder out loud; this man won't likely know what that is.]

Are you alone? Pardon me for saying so, but you don't look well. Do you have access to a glass of water, or something?

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[It's a little strange, suddenly having a roommate. On the James Mike had some 300 men and women living and working in close proximity at all times, but at home... his life had become a quiet, solitary affair. So after helping as best as he thought he could, Mike was happy to drift back and leave Cullen to his own devices.

Give the man some time to adjust, and let himself ease into the idea too.

At least until he's scrolling the feed and realizes (a beat after he's passed it by) that he recognizes the wallpaper in one of the newest videos. He thumbs back, looks again, and catches the blonde as he passes through the frame. He watches for a moment, as curious as the next guy, then hesitates....

There's a chance Cullen's a world-class actor, but if he wasn't, doing nothing was just cruel.

So Mike swallows the awkwardness and knocks on the man's door.]

[ Cullen has been here a couple of days now. Enough to have settled a little, but by no means long enough for him to adjust to being here, or to really understand the strange place he finds himself in.

He has tried, as much as possible, not to cause a fuss or bother Mike, who has been kind enough to allow him to stay here. As far as Cullen is concerned, there is no reason he should, and there seems not to be anything compelling him to do so. He is being extremely charitable, as Cullen can't afford to pay his way.

Unfortunately, it seems that he has disturbed him, and Cullen curses himself as he pulls open the door. He looks a mess, in truth, hair pushed by his hand until it is almost stood on end, bags under his eyes, pale.]

Maker, forgive me. I... I didn't mean to make so much noise.

[It catches Mike a little offguard, both the fast apology and how much like crap Cullen actually looks. He hadn't really noticed before, just wanting to close the feed before he felt really bad about it, but now there's no missing it. Or the apparent mess his new roomie's been squatting in.

Mike's eyes flick to it, the haphazard spread of belongings, then back to Cullen's worn and weary face.]

...No. That's alright. I just-- [His gaze narrows slightly, studying the other's man face for clues before he potentially makes a fool of himself.] Do you know you're broadcasting right now?

[As evidence, he turns his own device out, showing Cullen the view as he'd seen it - which is now offering a perfectly framed view of Cullen's ass.]

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[Dorian is feeling ill and scrolling through the network to try and keep his mind off of the discomfort worming back under his skin and into his joints when he sees this transmission from Cullen. He's about to speak up and let the other know he's recording but is softly amused as the other goes through his things muttering to himself. He's not expecting it to go from somewhat innocent and silly to sort of dark and sad in a matter of moments. He's quiet as Cullen finds the Lyrium Kit and at first Dorian's not sure what it is, but the heaviness that follows gives him a good clue.

What's surprising is he had no idea Cullen even went off the stuff. It takes a lot of strength to do so. He's heard... all sorts of things that can happen when a Templar tries to kick their addiction and the withdrawal sets in. This is not something he should be showing to all of Deerington. This is a private, personal and painful thing that no one here would understand. Not even Dorian can claim to know what he's going through but at least he has some semblance of an idea.]

Cullen?

[He finally speaks up, his concerned face appearing on the screen of his fluid.]

Darling. Pick up your fluid and push that little symbol at the bottom that looks like a boxy milk can turned on its side. [ the "camera" icon indicating he's recording.]

[ Cullen has sunk back down onto the bed by that point, head in his hands. Everything hurts at this point, he can feel every beat of his heart across the sore part of his ribs, and in his forehead, pounding into his skull.

At Dorian's voice he looks up, and around, not sure why he can hear but not see the mage. ]

Dorian?

[ His voice is uncertain, it wouldn't be hard to suppose, with that tone, that it is not the first time in recent days that he has imagined the familiar voice of someone he knows. When he has slept, his dreams have been full of his friends or the Templars he had known in Kirkwall and Ferelden, and the Mages that were in his care. He had seen them warp into monsters and watched himself change with them, powerless to do anything.

But when Dorian's voice continues, he looks around again with more focus, hands dropping to the blankets on the bed, to the bundles of clothes, and he eventually finds the source, the little box which shows a very pale and out of sorts Dorian.

In fact someone looking at both of them would probably say Dorian looks much worse.]

What's happened to you?

Yes. Down here. Your device... You need to turn off the video.

[He waits patiently as the other finally figures out where his voice is coming from and picks the Fluid up. There's that familiar furrow of his brow and a concerned look. He knows he must look awful, but that still doesn't mean he's exactly happy with that expression on the other's face. He hates not looking good. He ALWAYS looks good.

Still he can't help the small smile, it's sort of endearing the other cares so.]

I'm a little under the weather, nothing to worry about. [Which is a lie, last time it nearly killed him.]

I'm at home with my feet up or I would come see you. I don't want you to catch it.

[His voice is a little scratchy, throat and mouth rather dry and he's unable to really fix that. He clears his throat.]

Are you alright? I... had no idea you stopped, well... you know. How long has it been?

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CW: mention of suicide and mental illness or addiction etc

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Action!

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its good to note that I have no clue how to play chess so pretend dorian is very good a it

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it's okay we will fake it till we make it!

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Um...

[The voice that replies back to him is soft and sweet. A pair of bright azure blue eyes focus on the screen while a mask of uncertainty falls across her pretty features. Airy's hair is loose, sweeping in lazy curls around her slender shoulders.

She chews nervously at her lower lip, groping silently for the right thing to say.]

I can tell that things aren't alright but-

[A beat.]

-Maybe I can help in some way? I haven't been here very long but for a little bit. If you'd like some help.

[ Cullen isn't sure where the voices are coming from, if the soft voice of the young woman is from inside his head or beyond, but it's getting increasingly hard to tell.

Still, as she continues, it becomes clear that it's not someone he knows. The voice is utterly unfamiliar, and eventually he looks up, towards the source of the noise, and looks at the picture of the girl who looks as concerned as she sounds. ]

I... Thank you. I don't know if you can do anything. But... there's something. Something I need, I can't find it.

What is it? Maybe I can help keep an eye out for it.

At the very least.

[The fluid is a strange way to talk, even for Airy who's from the 21st century but she's gotten used to it over the months of her arrival and is fairly comfortable talking now. She shifts, her hair falling in front of one eye before she pushes it behind an ear.]

I didn't come with all my stuff but I think if you ask your basket... nicely, things will come through it. I'm not sure. It's just something I've heard about. Like these three eyed dogs deliver things.

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[That was certainly a sight. Vira-Lorr watched more or less the whole thing simply because she had little better to do than lie on the cot in her tent. Recovery was never good for avoiding boredom.

When it finished, she raised an eyebrow and typed out a response.]

I daresay you must not have intended this to be public. Still getting used to this infernal device, are we?

[ It takes a little while for Cullen to respond. If only because someone actually has to show him how to work the Fluid, and then he has to try and type on it.

So... enjoy. ]

inf

in

fero nad twoce damned

Marker protec us

[Oh, wow, she couldn't decipher a lick of that. Marker Protec? No, no, she wasn't dealing with this. He'd just have to deal with her coughing occasionally. She switched to audio and sighed.]

Oh, dear, you must be new to the phone. [Hack.] We will try audio, yes? Just mind the cough. I am... under the weather.

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Normally I don't say this to anyone but my self but...Buddy, you need a Xanax.

(It'll make this all 100% easier, he assures you personally from the bottom of his own anxiety-ridden heart.)

[ Cullen has at least adjusted now to the fact that the box talks. He doesn't like the fact that it talks, but he's not sure yet how to stop it. ]

I'm sorry, a Xanax?

[ What the Maker is that meant to be?]

(Eddie can kind of empathize here. Not exactly to the same extent, but hailing from the 50s meant he had a rough time settling into this kind of technology too when he first got to a different world.)

It's like this kind of medicine that makes your head become real quiet and calm. It's really nice, but it can make you kind of sleepy too.

(Eddie pauses, trying to think of the best way to help.)

Um- the device won't hurt you or anything. It's pretty scary, I know. But it's like a book without the pages. Do you know magic or anything?

(A lot of people come from worlds with magic that he's met, so he's just trying to get a read here of what kind of language he should be using.)

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- > video

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Oh dear.

[She watched it all. And while she was worried giving him another face to gawk at him won't help. So she sticks with voice instead, low and worried but still clear through the device.]

I had some trouble with this device when I arrived too. Technology is very strange. But- more importantly- have you been able to check in with people? Or at least found some tea?

Oh! I'm Rei by the way. Rei Kurosawa.

[ Cullen is used now to the fact that sudden voices will speak to him through the device, although he has no idea how to stop them yet, or how to use this thing at all The general consensus seems to be read the instructions.

He laughs softly at the mention of tea. Oh he misses tea.]

My name is Cullen Rutherford. Unfortunately, we only seem to have coffee. Is there tea here?

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