001 // Video

[framelessthird]

[The feed opens not onto someone's face, but onto a view of one of the typical Genessia Commonspace rooms - and while this is the sort of thing that might happen by accident, the way the feed gives such a clear view suggests that this is deliberate.

Because, of course, it is. Just as deliberate as the forced calm in the voice that speaks: male register, adult-seeming if on the younger side and cool enough to ice a whole room even in the midst of summer. Someone is not pleased, but is at least not about to throw a tantrum over it.]

Might I ask who it was who decided that such...accommodation, loathe as I am to even call it that, would be a suitable offering to those of higher standing? Is it not enough that we are torn away in the middle of something actually quite important, that we are then to be faced with this insult of a gesture? I understand a need for incentive, to ensure that we do not remain reliant on whomever it was that brought us here, but surely the notion of homelessness after a time would be enough.

Not that I plan to be here any longer than is necessary, of course. But a little hospitality goes a long way towards improving one's mood, and I hardly think this can be truly classed as hospitality.

[No, he's not about to show himself or introduce himself in any way. That'll come later, once he has a handle on the situation.

And speaking of that, because of course he's already searched the network for any record of the other Hosts:]

Private voice to Kaoru Hitachiin and Haruhi Fujioka.

Would either of you care to explain what, exactly, is going on here? And I don't mean regurgitation of that hologram. What are they not telling us?

[He's happy he's not the only one here, really. This is just how he shows it.]

Comments

private video;

[devilishkaoru]

[Kaoru had been at a dance studio. So when he finally switched the feed on, he had a towel draped around his neck and ion the background were a good number of mirrors.]

I have no idea. I mean there is a place where all known information is stored I believe but nothing that explains why we are brought here. I mean if someone knew you would think they would say something.

[Kaoru couldn't help but be happy to see someone else he knew, but yet at the same time it wasn't his brother. With a smile on his face, he figured he might as well be the bearer of this information at least.]

But welcome to the commoner life~

private video;

[framelessthird]

[It's not the answer he wanted. But it's an answer, and that's a start.

Though allow him to correct just one thing, first:]

You say that like I should be pleased about it.

[He doesn't want to play commoner thank you.]

private video;

[devilishkaoru]

I know you won't. But, it's not exactly quick and easy to build up what we had back home.

[Considering he is working two jobs for only two stars.]

I've been here nearly two months and I am still having to figure out how to do things I might not have done before.

private video;

[framelessthird]

And I suppose there is a reasonable explanation for my not having noticed our being down one Hitachiin for almost two months?

[He has to focus on that. Focusing on having to work for other people is...not something he wants to face until he's had a chance to plan how to maximise his gain from it.]

private video;

[devilishkaoru]

[He figured that subject was going to be brought up. After all it was probably an odd sight to only have one of them around.]

He just isn't here. I guess whatever the cause is picking who comes and who doesn't and decided to just bring me here and not my brother. It seems like the luck of the draw if we will find anyone else we know here beyond who you are aware of right now.

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[priceofmagic]

Are the commons really so uncomfortable..? Um...

I mean, hello! My name is Satou Kuroneko! What would you need to be more comfortable? I've been stuck here a while, so maybe I can help!

[framelessthird]

Honestly, I'm not sure how anyone could see this as anything other than uncomfortable. Even for commoners, this strikes me as appalling, let alone for those of us who were born to better things.

[And while he's hardly idle rich, Kyoya is still of wealthy stock and would prefer to keep it that way.]

[priceofmagic]

Commoners... huh..? You don't know a Kaoru-san, do you...?

[She giggles and shakes her head, trying to deflect the slight insult.]

Ah, never mind that. More importantly! I realize the commons aren't very cozy for normal people. That's why I'm offering some help..? Like if it's new blankets that you need, or pillows, or if you want me to upgrade the microwave? Can I help with something like that? Or is it the room?

[framelessthird]

Likely I know of several Kaorus. You'll have to be more specific.

[Not that he doesn't know who she might be referring to but he's not tipping his hand that easily.

The rest of his response comes as someone who is trying to be appreciative but also can't quite switch off that note of condescension and doesn't much care to while he's still irritable anyway.]

That's sweet, but I'm not certain new furnishings would do much to improve the overall quality of this...room.

[Video]

[solar_flare]

As far as I know, the one who set up those apartments is Guardian Haller. Before that, people just got dumped here and had to find their own housing. The funds came out of his own pocket.

[She won't lecture him or expect gratitude, because honestly? It does suck getting ripped out of your world and dropped into a new one. So she gets it. Yang shrugs.]

But that was a change made while I was absent, so I could be wrong. I'm Yang, by the way.

[Video]

[framelessthird]

But we are given a stipend on arrival too, correct? In which case, it seems extraordinarily philanthropic to not expect people to use that to secure housing, even if this...place is the result.

[And he's torn precisely because it seems both too much and not enough. Granted he's been raised to consider profit before all else so the notion of charity is a dubious one at best - even the stipend feels like an investment challenge, to his mind.]

Still, I suppose they must allow for those who are not capable of making such connections for themselves...or without the agency to fend for themselves until necessity forces their hand.

[Video]

[solar_flare]

Who knows how they think?

[Yang sighs, kicking back in her chair and folding her arms. As far as the spirits go, she's neutral. Doesn't hate them, but not a fan, so her expression is fairly mild.]

I don't think they're going out of their way to be malicious, though. --Oh, I don't know if anyone brought it up, but what you said about being in the middle of something important? You'll go back to that point when you leave this place, so don't stress about it too much.

[Video]

[framelessthird]

So you're suggesting some sort of time distortion is in effect? I'm not sure I'd be so quick to buy that as a possibility, save that it does explain a thing or two I had previously been wondering about.

[Like how he hadn't noticed Kaoru not being around. And heck, it shouldn't be possible to be dragged into another world to begin with and yet here they are. Skepticism at this point just seems unnecessary.]

[Video]

[guitar_hero]

There is no higher standing. If you're looking for Genessia's Peerage I'm afraid you'll find it lacking. You're on the same boat as everyone else, welcome to the circus.

[he says as he sips a rainbow colored slurpee and watches him through neon green ladder shades]

I would suggest to relax and realize nothing in this universe owes you anything. It'll go a long way.

[Video]

[framelessthird]

[...Where does he even start with this? Maybe with relief that from what he can tell, Tamaki isn't here to see that ladder shades are a thing and thus want to appropriate them for the club somehow.

A largely irrelevant thought, but it does go some way towards alleviating the reflexive revulsion and insult he feels from that assumption about his attitude. Enough that he manages to keep any inflection suggesting either from his tone as he speaks.]

I won't deny I've known those who think that way but I can assure you I am not and never have been one of them. And I intend to prove it, in time.

[Exactly how, he's still figuring out. But he knows he will, because he's Kyoya Ootori and that's what he does.]

[Video]

[guitar_hero]

You don't have to prove anything to me. Or to anyone. Life is not a test to see how well you do. [he reaches off screen and grabs a handful of popcorn which he munches.] Until it is. But, generally speaking, you're free to do as you like.

[Video]

[framelessthird]

Perhaps it isn't, to you. But as you have already said for yourself, that does not mean that is not the case for everyone.

[Given that he's grown up pretty much forever in competition with his older brothers and has been striving to outdo them since he was old enough to understand, operating outside of those parameters isn't something he's quite able to do yet.]

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[naturalsakura]

Oh, Kyouya-senpai, you're here too!

[ Haruhi taps her cheek. ]

You suspect something else is at play here too, huh? Same here. But I really don't know until I investigate. Inspector Fujioka is on the case!

private video

[framelessthird]

Well, it isn't an unreasonable suspicion to hold. Given the supposed impossibility of what has happened to us that we should be here at all, it's only natural to think that there is more than what is shown on the surface.

[Well, that's true of most things, isn't it? Still, he's glad if not surprised that Haruhi has picked up on it - she's always had a knack for that sort of thing.]

Just remember to keep us updated. And try not to land yourself in any trouble you can't remove yourself from.

[He doesn't have to worry about her as he might, say, Tamaki. But he knows she has, in the past, bitten off more than she can chew and while he'd never say it, he does worry for how much he can do for her without the full reach of the Ootori empire here.]

private video

[naturalsakura]

Don't worry, senpai, you can count on me. I'm pretty good at detective field work.

[ Sort of...kind of. Does reading detective novels make you a detective? She'd like to think that they're at least sort of accurate. ]

Asking the locals and putting together logical outcomes with the evidence. That's as safe as it gets. The people here don't seem dangerous so they're probably just as clueless as we are. But I've been here for only a little while so I really can't say...

private video

[framelessthird]

Well, danger doesn't always make itself apparent right away. Though it would be interesting to see just how closely we are monitored.

[For example, how many people and how many questions can they get away with before they're pulled up for sticking their noses where they don't belong.

More importantly:]

You'll have to be more specific than 'a little while'. Have you been here as long as Kaoru?

[Video]

[fashionably_strong]

[Bulla can't help but be amused, although she's really trying not to show it. Instead, she simply offers a pleasant smile. Here, Kyouya. Have a blue-haired girl.]

They start everyone off at the same level, regardless of their social standing back home. Even people who are royalty are given one of those little apartments in the Genessia commons. The sooner you find a job with decent pay, the sooner you can get out of there and into somewhere that might suit you a little better.

[Video]

[framelessthird]

I see. An intriguing way to induct people into a new society but I suppose it must work to some people's favour.

[That doesn't stop him resenting that he's amongst those who have been dragged down rather than boosted.]

Still. For so long as we are not forced to remain in these surroundings, it is nothing that cannot be dismissed as unimportant.

[Video]

[fashionably_strong]

I was lucky in that I already had family here.

[From completely different points in time, but still.]

What are your interests? You might be able to find a relevant job, depending on your skills.

[Video]

[framelessthird]

A blessing not everyone is so fortunate to receive, I can assume.

[He already knows there are at least two from home here, which goes some way towards alleviating the situation.]

As to my interests, I would imagine that the management and financial welfare of one of my school's clubs will go a long way in providing something a little above the menial.

[Not that he means to be immodest but he knows he's good at what he does. No minimum-wage slavery for him if he can avoid it.]