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///

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[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.]

[flashbanging]

Dunno if I'd go so far as to say 'most', but I've always had stuff like it back 'round in my neck of the woods.

[ He tips up the brim of his hat, both to get a better look at the other man and vice versa. He doesn't miss the odd point of Lavellan's ears, but he's been here long enough to take them in stride. ]

You'll get used to it, in any case--and then you'll wonder how you ever got on without the damn thing.

[lavelly]

[Lavellan makes a face down at this... device.]

I don't know, I think I can imagine going without this. There's something unsettling about being able to talk to someone when they're not right next to me.

[Not least of all because he has no idea how it works, and that's weird. If it's magic, it's no magic he knows of.]

[flashbanging]

You might be thinkin' that now. But trust me, darlin'--if you ever get yourself in a pickle and you're all by your lonesome, you're gonna be real grateful for this little thing.

[ He shrugs, but he's still smiling. ]

Just takes a bit of getting used to, that's all.

[lavelly]

[He mouths "darling" to himself in confusion.]

And what sort of "pickles" [what] might I find myself in, exactly? [What in Thedas is this guy's dialect.]

[flashbanging]

[ No southern charm in Thedas, sadly ... ]

Dunno anymore. We had all kinds up on the ship. Time and space twistin' around all willy-nilly. Monsters running amok. That sort of thing. Can't say what it'll be like now that we're grounded, but ... there are a lot of worlds out there, apparently. Best be ready for anything.

[lavelly]

Of course there are.

[He can't stop a rueful smile, though.]

Well, this place has a lot to live up to if it wants to be the weirdest thing that's ever happened to me.

[flashbanging]

You already familiar with that kinda thing, huh? Got a leg up on me, then.

[ He tips his hat with his metal hand, its fingers glinting in the light. ]

Nice to meet you in any case. The name's McCree.

[lavelly]

Lavellan. And, ah, nothing quite like this, but... bizarre things do seem to happen to me quite frequently.

Once I ended up going a year into the future. Long story. You learn to take things in stride.

[flashbanging]

[ He grins. ]

Well, you're all set, then. Better than most, I'd reckon.

[lavelly]

We don't have to worry about time travel here, do we?

[Because that sucked. He can deal, but it sucked.]

[flashbanging]

Dunno 'bout where we are now, but up on the ship we did have a coupla incidents. Folks gettin' put back to their younger selves and whatnot. Not quite the same thing, but it sure was a trip.

[lavelly]

I--see. [He doesn't see, but that's okay.] Good to know. If I encounter anything similar, you'll be the first I tell.

[If only because that will be his only lead.]

I suppose you'll need a name, in that case. You can call me Lavellan.