first; video and text

[cravats]

[The video flicks on to show an interested face, though it's... mostly obscured by what looks like a cross between a pair of glasses and a pair of binoculars that grotesquely magnify one eye.]

Fascinating. When this appeared in my office I was hardly expecting it to be so unusual.

[Thankfully for everyone, the glasses come off now to reveal a man of indeterminate age, sandy hair neatly combed and cravat impeccably tied. He doesn't look directly into the camera, instead staring off into space, voice thoughtful.]

Perhaps some sort of aetheric device... ah.

[A thought strikes him and he leans in to type slowly- the book, or the device that appears to be a book, has keys with letters on them. They must be to communicate with something...]

Please inform me of your purpose.

Comments

[atadflamboyant]

Dolly!

[cravats]

Lord Akeldama. [Of course.]

What a surprise. How are you communicating with me through this device?

[atadflamboyant]

Through my Aethographic Transmitter, of course!

[cravats]

I was not aware that it could transmit to something besides another aethographic transmitter. How odd.

[atadflamboyant]

Neither was I, until of course, this happened! I only receive a text description, but I must tell you, it is delightful!

Alexia is here too! In fact, she has been for months, the minx!

[chapter_behind]

I'm afraid, sir, that you have discovered the Community.

[cravats]

The Community? I'm afraid that your meaning is unclear.

[chapter_behind]

I apologize.

This place is called "Drama Drama Duck," but most of us simply refer to it as the Community. It is, simply put, a place that links together different universes. There may be some people here you already know.

[cravats]

"Drama Drama Duck"... I can see why you would prefer to call it the Community.

An acquaintance has already introduced himself, but I find it hard to believe that there are different universes, as you say. Not, of course, that I would presume you are a liar, but it is not quite the thing one hears every day.

[carriesparasol]

[Alexia is quite comfortable in her room at the moment with her own odd device when she notices the new message.]

Professor Lyall?

[cravats]

Ah, Lady Maccon. Lord Akeldama informed me that you have been aware of this community for some time already.

[carriesparasol]

Yes. This strange place revealed itself to me in the October before all the trouble with the Hypocras Club began.

[cravats]

So long ago? That really is quite a while. Does Lord Maccon know?

[chimeranomore]

... I'm going to assume you're addressing the machine with that one. Though I suppose by now you've probably gotten enough replies to have your answer.

[cravats]

I was addressing the device, yes. Though it worked just as well as a question for this community that I'm told I've been chosen to take part in.

[chimeranomore]

Yes. It's... interesting. It seems to just be for communication - apparently some worlds have something more mundane like it. It's called social networking, I think.

On the other hand, this one links between universes and seems to pick its users on its own. And occasionally does odd things to them.

[cravats]

Really? My world has nothing like that. We have the aethographic transmitter, of course, but it's nothing like so easy to use.

Hmm. Yes, I've heard about the odd things it can do.

[sandinmyboots]

The purpose of it is to be a pest!

[cravats]

I have not found it annoying yet.

[sandinmyboots]

Give it time! It'll surprise you!

[cravats]

You've warned me. Perhaps that will ruin the surprise.

permavideo from Elizabeth!

[theblackswann]

You needn't get so close. We can hear you. [As she sits in her hammock that swings back and forth with the rocking of a ship.]

[cravats]

I beg your pardon, miss. [He will sit at a more reasonable distance, then.]

[theblackswann]

[Elizabeth offers a half-smile.] No pardon needed, I made a similar mistake myself.

[cravats]

You were also unfamiliar with this sort of device, then?