[VIDEO] 001

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[So, with much effort, the MID starts broadcasting a close up of...well, it's a very green eye.]

Is...Is this thing on? Does the light mean it's on? Please let the light mean that it's on...

[The figure pulls back to reveal...a face! Just a normal face, covered in...soot? Burns? One of his bangs might be on fire.]

Okay, so...first off, I guess I should introduce myself. My name's Darin Altway, Master Blacksmith. I'm new here and I guess my new job is mechanical engineer on the Ingress?

[Darin is pointedly keeping the camera close to his face. He looks nervous.]

So uh...full disclosure? I don't know what an Ingress is. Or half of what these things are.

Most of what these things are.

...Almost all of these things.

And I lost my blacksmith hammer, so I've kind of been making due with the tools on hand and hahaha...so, funny story, you can't just hit things with hammers to make them work? Crazy, right? So...if anyone who knows anything about...uh...any of these gadgets and gizmos could come on down to engineering and give me a crash course in...um... everything, I would really appreciate--

[He's cut off by what sounds like something backfiring and creating a much larger fire.]

GAH!! OW!! HOT!! HOT HOT HO--

[The video ends there.]

Comments

Re: action; never be gomen I've been waiting for this friend

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Oh, don't worry, Tony. He hasn't left engineering. Once the fire was out, he's started doing his best to clean. But he's getting sidetracked. By what, you may ask?]

[Despite being covered in burns, he's got whatever was salvageable laid out on the floor. Sure, some of it is badly burned, but he's poring over the parts. He's sketching one out individually in his own store bought notebook, and comparing it to the enormous manual he managed to find, adding in his own notes to his sketches in his book.]

[When Tony comes huffing up, Darin just raises a hand, extends his index finger...]

One...second...

[And he finishes his sketch.]

Okay. Done. What were you saying about murder?

[arcreact]

[ This guy.

Normally Tony might find immediate dedication to the job somewhat more commendable than he does right this moment, what with how he's locked in a fit of uncharitability. ]

—Did you just hold up a finger at me?

[ People threaten his life almost daily back home, but somehow this feels more offensive. ]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Y...es?

I didn't want to lose my train of thought. I'm starting to figure this stuff out bit by bit and I wanted to finish this note.

But! Now that I'm done, what can I do for you, friend?

[arcreact]

Considering I'm your boss, and half the shit you set on fire is mine?

There are like, twelve things you could do for me, and keeping your finger to yourself is definitely one of them.

[ Is he being petty? Yes. Has he earned that right? YES. ]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Wait, you're my boss?

Then where the hell were you when I was yelling into my wrist camera thing about there being a fire and that I have no idea what any of this stuff does?!

Isn't a boss supposed to be here on the first day to, you know, train people??

[Darin is also petty. This is going to be good.]

[arcreact]

[ Darin just earns himself a truly tremendous eyeroll. ]

You act like we even knew you were showing up, Blue Man Group. Ingress lesson number one: nothing it does makes sense, and it never happens in any predictable pattern. I definitely would've been here with a taser had I known to expect a newbie with combustion problems.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[To which Darin responds with a might smack of his own forehead.]

Are you serious?! If no one can remotely understand what it does or why, how the hell do they expect a blacksmith to work on it?!

Magic is literally the most advanced form of anything where I'm from! This is like handing me two sticks and going 'Here bang these together until weapons come out!'

[He huffs in annoyance.]

Look, I'm sure as hell willing to learn, and I'll fix all of the damage I caused, but get off your high horse for a second, 'boss' and work with me here.

[arcreact]

A black— A blacksmith? Seriously?

[ The Captains are testing him. Not that blacksmithing isn't a damn respectable profession, Tony certainly figured that one out the hard way, but also: does this guy even know what a computer is? ]

Jesus. Okay. Fine. I'm gonna graciously ignore the 'M' word and just focus on the rest of that. If you've got more than fluff between your ears, we can teach you what you need to know, but that's also highly contingent upon you not setting any more shit on fire.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

A Master blacksmith. [Darin points an accusatory finger Tony's way.]

Been at the forge for almost twenty years now. There isn't a weapon or a piece of armor that I can't make. Don't undersell me just because my world doesn't have any of these nonsense gadgets. I don't mind learning from the basics. Hell, I spent the first two years of my apprenticeship picking iron shavings off of the ground with my fingers.

[Now, he could apologize for the fire. He could be humble and not-petty and an all around decent guy.]

[Darin, instead, decides to go with the 'petulant brat' approach.]

Oh, like you've never accidentally started a fire before.

[arcreact]

If we're being technical, other things around me start the fires.

[ It's not even a lie, so he's sticking to it. He also considerately does not point out that Darin doesn't look old enough to have spent twenty years anywhere. ]

I'm not underselling your craftsmanship, though I am interested in seeing you put your money where your mouth is.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Because being the center of a literal firestorm is a good thing?

[Darin's eyebrow perks up at that last bit, because it sounded like a challenge. And Darin does not shy away from a challenge.]

Yeah? What did you have in mind then?

[arcreact]

It's certainly good for a dramatic entrances.

[ Jokes. ]

You tell me. I can appraise you of the current situation, then it's on you to decide what you're gonna do to help us deal with that.

[ Tony may be "in charge" of the Ingress work crew, but he's not really one for telling people how to solve problems, or even which problems to solve (most of the time). If Darin really is as talented as he claims and as willing to learn as he seems, he'll be better off deciding for himself. ]