[video]

[fallen_stage]

A video from a new source comes to life: the view is framed by ledgers within a tastefully appointed study; the subject, a seated young androgynous person turned in mid-conversation toward a mild man.

" - the payments are accounted for? I'd like to know now while I'm doing the finances."

The man gave a bow, obviously a subordinate. "Yes. The first shipment has been set out for testing, last I heard. We have received Her Majesty's first payment in full."

"Excellent. You may go." With a casual wave of their hand, they turned back to their open ledger as the man left.

For a minute or two more, they attended to the ledger, checking columns and occasionally making a mark on the pages. Soon, however, they noticed they were being watched, nudging aside books to grasp the camera. The view shifts, clearly being set on the desk before them, as they fiddle with the device, blue eyes flicking as they read. Soon enough they notice the camera and, with a gasp, turn the video off.

When the video returns, the person is front and center, not a stray hair out of place, their makeup refreshed. With a sweet smile and hands demurely folded, they make their introduction.

"Greetings, community. I hope to become well acquainted, and you may call me Kuja." A deep nod, like a noble addressing their peers, "A most intriguing discovery, for while on the outside this appears to be a common pocket notebook, within is a technology of the like not to be seen on this planet! I hope you may be my gracious hosts as I make my discoveries through this most magnificent book, and that this be a fortuitous start of a long career!"

With that flowery speech, the video ends.

Comments

[refinedvillian]

[Talk of queens, a man who obviously has a servant, and speech easily recognizable as noble...this may turn out to be interesting.

The video shows a blonde man with a polite smile.]

I would offer you welcome but unfortunately, none of us can lay claim to the land your book connects you to. Nonetheless, I will welcome you to group you are now a member of.

Earl Edgar Ashenbert. It's a pleasure to meet you, Kuja.

[fallen_stage]

[Kuja tilts their head, eyes widened in curious surprise. An earl, is it?]

Really? Then my offhand comment turned out to be truth. Although we are peers in name only, Lord Ashenbert, might you enlighten me further on this community?

[refinedvillian]

With pleasure, though our knowledge is rather limited and it is a bit hard to believe for most.

Your world is just one of many, as most of us don't come from the same one. Using the device chosen for you, we're all able to connect to one another. It's a wonderful opportunity to gain knowledge and meet others such as yourself.

There are, however,some negative affects. It can show your life without your consent with little way of predicting when. [Used to all of this, Edgar rattles it off casually and calmly.]

During the months, there are also something called "viruses". The affects can literally be anything, though not everyone is hit with them all. It seems to choose randomly.

[fallen_stage]

[Kuja listens attentively, clearly fascinated. Of course they're not going to tell the real reason they're not surprised.]

Whole other worlds... Amazing! Like in a story where fairies spirit someone away! Except the supernatural has encroached outward instead of taking mortals within. This device really is miles ahead of anything around here. Why, we deliver mail by moogle carrier or pigeon if it really needs to be speedy. But those methods depend on distance, and traveling takes time. This, however, takes less than a blink! I wonder what sort of magic and technology created it.

[Once they're done babbling as only a true engineer could be, their face sobers at the second part of the message.]

Viruses? Clearly not just the stagnating kind, but would you care to explain in more detail? Perhaps some examples of the symptoms, if you would please.

[refinedvillian]

Ah, it's the same for me, I'm afraid. I've seen what our times will be in the future but compared to many, I'm still stuck a bit in the past, though I'm not familiar with a moogle carrier to give a good comparison.

[He sits back, getting comfortable now that he's a bit more assured this will be longer than a simple greeting. His clothes and surroundings are rich, quiet befitting of his title.]

It's a bit hard to describe a symptom of a virus because they could literally do anything. They can play with your memory, change your appearance, even interfere with your will. It's the biggest flaw.

[tries to handwave fuckup]

[fallen_stage]

That only makes sense: life develops so differently even on a single planet, so it stands to reason different planets would have even more changes. I'm surprised we're similar at all. Of course, whatever powers this community might be selecting for those similarities... Ah, moogles are a diminutive folk who can fly at amazing speeds for long distances. Of course, they charge quite exorbitantly for priority mail, so it's usually more efficient to send a pigeon for a direct message. Otherwise the Mognet post is used, but they've been down recently.

[After that lecture, Kuja takes a breath to listen, with growing concern, to Lord Ashenbert's information. Interfering with will is the most nightmarish of the bunch.]

Dire tidings indeed. Are those the most common symptoms? How are they spread?

I noticed nothing :)

[refinedvillian]

[Guessing his attention would be on the viruses rather than mail, he would choose now to focus on that.]

Spreading wouldn't be the right term for it. Normally, when a virus occurs, it happens all at once. If you're not hit right away, you most likely won't be.

For example, my first experience here had be going to a university far ahead of my time. Everyone seemed to think it was normal until it was over.

I remembered the moogle flute too late orz

[fallen_stage]

[That.... doesn't sound like any virus Kuja's ever heard of]

These aren't the usual microbes, are they? It sounds more like a curse than an illness. Is that what you meant by will? Just making you do things like that?

^_^ Easy thing to happen

[refinedvillian]

That does seem like a good comparison. If I were to guess, it's named a virus because most use computers to access this place. [This much is based on the brief time he did spend in the future.]

Ah, if your time is anything like mine, such things don't exist, do they?

[handwritten]

[x_battousai]

I do not believe all of us are lucky enough to have a book that acts as a camera. I know that I have to write everything down.

It is nice to meet you. I am Kenshin.

[text]

[fallen_stage]

[After a few moments, text appears from Kuja's side]

Luck of the draw, I suppose, but there is something much more pleasant about written words than these cold, practical letters. Your penship is quite lovely, Kenshin.

Re: [text]

[x_battousai]

You are very kind. I did not receive much formal schooling, at least as far as writing was concerned.

[fallen_stage]

I wouldn't have guessed! Most countries here have public schooling until one is of age, but some apprentice themselves earlier, whether to a trade or a family business.

Of course, practice makes perfect, they say; since your book accepts only the written word, I expect you'll improve rapidly enough.

[x_battousai]

Ideas such as that are beginning to come to my country. Normally, apprenticeship is the option. Though with the fall of the samurai class, things are beginning to change, perhaps for the better.

[fallen_stage]

A time of transition, how excited! What is your country like? And, who are "samurai"? Nobility?

[With so many worlds opening up, Kuja's curiosity burns, wanting to know more about all these people. Perhaps they can find something to their advantage while they're at it.]

[x_battousai]

My country is mostly full of farmers and townspeople, ruled by the Emperor. We lack a few of the technologies that are common outside our borders, so we may seem backwards to some of the other countries, but I am fond of my country.

The samurai were a noble class of warriors. However, many were corrupt and would kill their people for the most minor slight, rather than protecting them as they should. The class has been disbanded by the Emperor now, and now even the lowest-born person has a chance to make a better life for himself.

[fallen_stage]

I can see why, if the samurai would turn on their own people. If the nobles here did such things, why, they'd have a revolt. So instead they exploit the poor by more wellbred means.

[the sarcasm in the text is palpable]

The country I live in, Alexandria, isn't too different. It is more agrarian than industrial Lindblum to the far southwest. Much of civilization is on the one continent, since one continent is mostly arid and another is frozen.

[alldevouringabomination]

[C-C-C-combo breaker!

No penmanship or high manners here! Kirby will look at the new person, not knowing yet what to make of Kuja. Hey, it's his first time interacting with actual noble society, and no, neither King Dedede nor the Queen of the Faeries count.]

Mmmmm.

[fallen_stage]

[...Clearly not a monster. Whoever they are, they're so small. A child? Kuja tries a smile]

Hello there. Who might you be?

[alldevouringabomination]

[Well, you reacted better than some other people Kirby met!]

Kirby~

[It's likely not going to be long until Kuja finds out that Kirby can't actually hold a conversation...]

[fallen_stage]

[No, but Kuja doesn't know that yet, do they?]

A pleasure to meet you, Kirby. I assume you have a similar device to access this community?

How did I go this long without indicating just WHAT was recording Kirby?!

[alldevouringabomination]

[Key word being "yet".

Kirby nods. He points at the camera feed, before realizing that Kuja can't see it.

He reaches into a bag behind him and pulls out a mirror, holding it up to the view. Kuja should see a little camera in the reflection.]

Context?

[fallen_stage]

[Kuja waits patiently, then gives a little titter at the mirror]

Clever! Quite different from mine, I see. I suppose it varies from person to person. If I might employ the same method...

[They take out a compact, wiping off the powder before shifting the mirror around. the total view is of the open notepad, with a holograph screen and projected keyboard.]

I haven't seen much yet, but having instant communication that fits in one's pocket is very useful!

I just never mentioned what was making videos of Kirby, that's all.

[alldevouringabomination]

[Kirby watches Kuja, and nods in agreement to Kuja's comment about communication. He takes out his tablet-like device and draws a picture of people on different planets talking to each other, little electronic things in their hands.

It's what helps make the duck possible, after all.]

I really like how kuja is taking kirby seriously

[fallen_stage]

[So everyone has their own device, on different planets? Just how far do these communications go?]

I wonder, where are these worlds in relation to one another? Do you know if we're all in the same galaxy, or could it be beyond..? These devices must be powerful indeed to reach so far with such clarity!

[Kuja had their own plans here on Gaia, but interstellar space travel does sound awe-inspiring and tempting]