second shot; first network post ; video ;

[nohalfway]

[ It's pretty clear that whoever is handling the TAB is having difficulty figuring it out. Following some muffled profanities and crackling as the video is essentially a moving blur, the image clears to the visual of a young teen. Her red hair is messy, pulled back into a loose bun where her bangs continuously fall in her face. Different from her initial arrival, she is clean and devoid of any showing injury. There's a very clear scar on her eyebrow, which seems to have uniquely ceased the growth of hair, leaving a wide gap. That very brow wrinkles as she leans over the TAB and inspects. ]

Is this stupid thing working or what?

[ "Stupid", says the one who found this thing super awesome five minutes ago. The charm died out when she realized just how incapable she is of utilizing most technology. ]

Oh--

Oh, I see it now. It says "recording".

[ Ellie's voice is a touch hoarse, so she speaks quietly. She leans back in her chair when she is comfortable in knowing it's working. The teen takes a deep breath, exhaling heavily before speaking. ]

Okay, so I'm... Basically being told here that I should take a shot at, [ Ellie shrugs, waving her arms a bit to make a gesture. ] this. Getting acclimated, socializing, or something.

Anyway.

[ She waves, lips curled in a crooked, awkward and shy sort of smile. ]

What's up? I'm Ellie. I've been here a few weeks, but I haven't done anything on the network yet. So, er.

Nice... To meet everyone? I guess.

[ Her glance shifts away, and she eventually shakes her head and begins to reach for the TAB. ]

So that was pointless. How do I shut this thing off?

[ Ellie picks up the TAB, where the camera shows a pretty full image up her nose and under her chin as she flips it this way and that. A few more profanities, and eventually the feed shuts off. ]

Comments

Video

[beautifulspaceraptor]

It's lovely to meet you Ellie. [ The alien, toothy raptor fellow sounds awfully amused. ] I hope you settle in without too many hitches. If you'd like a crash-course in TAB usage, don't be afraid to ask.

Video

[nohalfway]

[ OH MY GOD ANOTHER ALIEN. Excuse Ellie, because the excitement hasn't left her yet. ]

Holy fuck another one!

[ She grins ear to ear, leaning in on the screen. ]

Hi! Oh man.

Are you another one of the aliens here? You don't look like the other dude I talked to, but you definitely are not human. Totally digging the, y'know--

[ Ellie gestures a circle around her face, referring to the markings he has. ]

So fucking cool.

[beautifulspaceraptor]

Thank you, [ Nihlus laughs. The girls excitement was kind of infectious. ] They are my colony markings. It takes five damn hours to repaint every six months. I'm glad my efforts are appreciated.

[ Seriously, it's pin-striping hell. ]

I am a Turian, but I am not a native of this universe. I arrived through the Ingress onboard a ship known as the Moira before arriving here.

You will find many, many different species residing in this region of space. If you need help integrating or finding anything, I am happy to help on that front too.

[nohalfway]

[ Seriously, this is legitimately a page out of her comics. She still looks completely entranced by his marking as he explains them, and she grins ear to ear. ]

Dude.

[ The fact that there are multiple alien races spanned across... However many universes that are apparently out there is so incredible to her. She laughs as she leans back against her little setup of pillows. ]

If I didn't feel small before... Holy shit.

[ A pause. ]

Uh... Thanks, by the way. For the offer.

[ She laughs, meekly rubbing the back of her neck. ]

Kinda got lost in myself there for a second. I've always kinda wondered what it would be like to meet an alien, and I've basically been experiencing that whole deal all day? Pretty overwhelming.

Video

[morethan084]

[Daisy isn't used to seeing many younger people here, and it still bothers her a lot when she does. Of all of the people that came here, why did children have to be among them?]

Hey Ellie. I'm Daisy. I know this place can be a bit jarring, let me know if you need anything.

Video

[nohalfway]

[ Boy, she just... Keeps struggling with this darn thing. There's a lot of rustling before she gets the camera functioning again, and she finally sees the girl in the screen. ]

Wow, this thing is actually getting attention? Weird.

Uh, hi Daisy.

[ She pauses, finally leaning back in her seat. ]

Yeah, it's... Not exactly something I'm used to. But I'm getting there. Slowly but surely.

Have you been here long?

[morethan084]

Usually does, it's the only way for all of us to communicate. Unless mail is your thing I guess.

[...]

I don't even think they have a post office on this planet.

[Well that was a tiny bit complicated, considering at one point a year went past on what was essentially one giant orgy/party planet. Way to cheat her out of a birthday.]

9 months, or a year and 9 months depending on what actually counts.

Long story short, we were stuck on a planet for a year without knowing it.

[...Way to not freak this kid out, Daisy.]

Not that that sort of thing usually happens.

video;;

[archea]

Hey.

[ Archer can't help but smile, even if she feels that might bother Ellie. Little kids get angry by the weirdest things. ]

You've been doing well, I see.

[ Archer herself looks... dirty, tired and in the middle of a forest. ]

video;;

[nohalfway]

[ This girl looks familiar. ]

Oh--

[ Ellie immediately feels bad when she recalls her behavior. She wrinkles her nose. ]

Ah... Yeah. A little bit.

Hey, sorry about, y'know. All the theatrics from before. I wasn't in a good place.

[archea]

Hey, trust me when I say that experience tells me you had every right to reach that way. At least you didn't try to shank me.

[ Always a good thing in her book. ]

Found a good place to stay?

video

[knaval]

I give it a 4/10. Coulda done with more forced enthusiasm.

video

[nohalfway]

[ Sorry. Ellie can only manage to stare at her TAB with her mouth wide open and her jaw practically on the floor. Is that a fucking robot? ]

Re: video

[knaval]

[ahhh. riptide has long since forgotten how people usually react.]

Uh. Hello? Did you disconnect?

video;

[brochtuarach]

[ Jamie is similarly in a position of finding the TAB pretty pointless - anti-socials unite, maybe? ]

I canna see what purpose these devices serve, except to attempt to find people ye know.

[ Says the guy who's basically been hiding in a stable since he got here. ]

video;

[nohalfway]

Oh hey, I remember you!

[ See? She's in... Slightly better spirits these days. ]

Bet you're just as confused as I am with these weird things, huh?

voice;

[deconstruct]

You don't have to.

[ socialize, he means. granted, andyr isn't the best person to get healthy Humaning advice from, but he feels like he gets some of what Ellie's going through, in coming to a place this peaceful, from somewhere so... not. ]

I didn't for... five or six months, I think? [ basically andyr is a weird hermit, don't be like him, make real friends. don't stalk them through vents. ]

voice;

[nohalfway]

Eh, I know I don't have to.

But I'm kind of getting cabin fever here, which sucks because I don't want to leave the house either.

voice;

[deconstruct]

Point is it's up to you.

There's a lot of places in this region you can still explore. Want someone to go with?

video;

[infailtration]

Hey Ellie. I've been here a few months and I've never used the network, so you're not alone. Maybe I need to socialize too, huh? Name's York.

What've you been up to since you got here?

video;

[nohalfway]

[ Ellie waves into the camera. She's finally getting the hang of this! ]

How's it hangin', York?

I don't feel so bad about being tardy to this network thing, now. Hah. Looks like I'm not the only one.

[ She shrugs ]

Eating, video games, pretty much everything I couldn't do back in the trash pit called Earth. It's fucking paradise here, honestly.

[ Said paradise is missing a certain person. And honestly, she... Probably should get back to where she came from. Considering she's the only means of saving the damn planet. Basically. More or less. ]

You?

Re: video;

[infailtration]

[ He waves back, grinning. ]

It's the best it's been for me in years, that's for sure. And you're definitely not the only one, I bet there are lots of us who haven't bothered yet.

[ Something she says gets the quirk of an eyebrow, though, so instead of answering her question he asks his own first... ]

What do you mean Earth's a trash pit?

[nishizono]

you smash your face into it to shut it down permanently.

video;

[nohalfway]

[ Ellie perks a brow as she reads the message. She hasn't quite figured out texting yet. ]

Pffffft. Ha ha. Because that makes sense.

text

[nishizono]

sure it does. if the ringing in your ears doesn't stop you from checking the tab again, breaking the damn thing will.

it's a smart play.

[ today's a slow day. ]

video;

[tearsinajar]

If you've been here for weeks, where have you been staying...?

[ She's just a kid. A kid who looks like she could be around Cassie's age. ]