01 | video/text

[lavelly]

[It's set to video, but the feed is dark, and there's some kind of ambient noise. After a few moments it becomes clear that Lavellan is unknowingly covering the camera with his hand. He's talking, too, but his voice is muffled.]

Hello. Hello? Is this--is it working? I can't tell--

[Then there's actual video: it's a fuzzy closeup of Lavellan's eye, and then his ear.]

Can... anyone hear me? Am I doing this correctly?

[There's more muffled noise, like someone manhandling a microphone; the feed jostles and then goes dark again. There's what sounds like muted cursing in a foreign language (elvish, for those who recognize it) before the video ends entirely. Trying to use advanced technology is rough when you're from medieval fantasy land :(

The video is accompanied by text that looks like someone poked uncertainly at the letters of an unfamiliar keyboard with one hand. Because they did.]

hello.isanyonethere///

Comments

video;

[redshitlord]

Totally, man. Hi.

Uh. You know we can see you, right?

permavideo... technically

[lavelly]

[The immediate response is a clatter, because Lavellan got startled and dropped the communicator as soon as Sideswipe spoke. After a few moments his very unfocused, very confused face appears onscreen.]

Yes. Hello? How?

[redshitlord]

You see me, right, man?

It's a video!

[Says the giant, bright red, robot.]

[lavelly]

[a what

what the fuck is a video

whatever it is a demon spirit demon seems to be in it]

Is that you speaking? Is this some kind of portal?

[neverheardofhim]

[Since arriving through the Ingress nearly three months prior, Varric had met a number of individuals with pointed ears and other such features. It turned out, they weren't nearly as exclusive of a feature as the Dalish might have thought.]

[Nevertheless, there was something familiar about the voice, and the ear was close enough to something her recalled from home. Despite his initial amusement (because laughing at those who experienced similar things to him was only natural), he quickly grew curious as to the speaker.] [The voice had been muffled, so Varric wasn't even sure the man on the other end would hear him.] Move your hand a little, you're blocking the microphone.

[Words he never thought he'd hear himself say.]

[lavelly]

[The advantage of having ears like his is an uncanny ability to distinguish sounds. As a result, Lavellan recognizes Varric's voice much more quickly than the reverse.]

Varric? Is that you? [The motion on-camera is still blurry, but still more recognizable as a face. Lavellan seems to be getting used to the functions.]

What do you mean by microphone?

[neverheardofhim]

[Andraste's Ass, the elf was one of his. He'd recognize the etchings of the blighted Vallaslin anywhere. He never claimed to know their intricate meanings, but he knew very few people had the balls to ink their entire faces.]

[Moreover, the look at his face helped him place the voice, even if the look and sound didn't match up entirely. By now, at least, he was used to it. Garrett didn't look or sound like a Hawke, either. At least not the ones he was used to.]

Herald, is that you? [To hell with the microphone, Varric was almost getting excited.]

[lavelly]

[Lavellan had to laugh. Of all the people to greet him here, of course it had to be Varric. Not that it was a complaint, he quite liked Varric... but the circumstances made the whole thing strangely hilarious.]

You would be the one to get here before me. I haven't missed an entire year again, have I?

[That was a joke. Please let it not be true.]

video;

[flashbanging]

You havin' fun there, partner?

[ He's got a chuckle in his tone, but he doesn't sound unkind. More just ... gently ribbing. ]

permavideo

[lavelly]

[He's actually sort of in the center of it this time around, give him a hand. At least he learns quickly!]

Yes, I am just having a wonderful time making an apparent fool of myself. [He doesn't sound bitter either, he can accept this is probably pretty funny to people already used to this... everything.]

[flashbanging]

[ He can't help it -- he's laughing. ]

Don't you worry none. You ain't the only fella 'round here who's fresh to the tech.

[ He shakes his head, grinning. ]

'Sides, shame is overrated.

[lavelly]

Well, that's a relief. I'm not used to being the farthest out of the loop, I was starting to take it personally.

[He's being flippant, but he's honestly not used to being this off-balance. It's weird feeling, and he doesn't like it.]

So, this is standard, ah, "tech," for most people, I take it? I don't see many others embarrassing themselves on this... network. [Fuck, he's not cut out for this.]

Video

[crowkiller]

You are so close, yet somehow still very far.

[From that ear shot he can tell it's another elf, and most likely someone from his world. They really were getting to be quite the population.]

It might work best if you move your hand.

permavideo

[lavelly]

[And abruptly, so he does, and now the feed is showing an actual face. It's a Wintersend miracle.]

Oh, there we go. I think I'm getting the hang of this. Is everything here so... complicated?

[He does note that he's talking to another elf, but that doesn't necessarily mean everything. Yeah, he's apparently in another dimension, but if humans are in all of them elves probably are too right? Right.]

[crowkiller]

A little bit different from Thedas, but things are quick to pick up.

[lavelly]

Ah, so you are from Thedas. I wasn't sure how to go about asking.

[He tilts his head.]

Everyone else here from Thedas, I think I've already met. But I don't know you.

video

[justonetouch]

[She is new to the whole TAB thing, but she knows what the functions do. It hasn't taken her long to figure it out.]

Mm. You were doing it right, although we're all kinda getting up close and personal with your face.

[lavelly]

[At least by now he's sort of figured out how this thing works, so he's at a much more normal distance when he responds to Marie.

And he gets that this is all pretty funny.]

Are you saying you don't like my face? I'm hurt.

[justonetouch]

[It earns a laugh from her.]

You're the one jumpin' to that conclusion.

video; and because Dorian is infamous for his epic lateness

[liberaltus]

Oh, they'll just bring anyone here won't they? Soon we'll have the entire Inquisition on our doorstep and then the universe will have more to worry about than just a ragtag crew of misfits.

[lavelly]

Dorian! There you are. I was beginning to think you didn't like me anymore.

[By now he's gotten the entire spiel from Varric and has more or less a grasp on how this odd little device works, so he's just been waiting for everyone else to pile in. That's pretty much the only way he'd be able to get in contact with them, after all--he hasn't adjusted that quickly.]

Should I assume Bull is with you?

[liberaltus]

Nonsense, everyone adores you, it would be unfashionable if I failed to do any less.

[If the Inquisitor is nothing he is certainly adaptable, either that or he simply coasts along with...everything.]

The Iron Bull? I'm certain he's around somewhere, most likely attempting to pick up some poor, unsuspecting redhead.

video;

[pubcrawl]

[ Close ups of an eye or an ear, it could be worse. ]

You're doing alright. Or you were.

[lavelly]

[The feed is much more clear this time, and Lavellan's face much more weary. He's pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation.]

Bull. Good. That should be everyone, as far as I know. I understand that... our points of experience may not be the same, so to cut down confusion: do you remember defeating Corypheus, and if so, how long ago was it?

[pubcrawl]

[ Oh. Well, Bull might not recognize him personally but he's familiar with his kind. And as he begins to speak, oh, it all makes sense. ]

Not long. Hours before I showed up here.