riverview | video; un: youradhere

Hi, guys.

[The man on the other end of the network smiles awkwardly. He's gearing up for a conversation, but drawing attention to himself is a new experience. The way he draws a breath and fidgets makes it obvious that he's still feeling out the network.]

So, this is definitely on the list of moments that make you think you might be dreaming. It sounds like we have people from just about everywhere here. Someone tell me this isn't the weirdest thing you've ever had happen to you. It'll make me feel better.

Before you got here, did any of you have strange things happen? You know, things out of fantasy movies or fever dreams for everyone else? What's the weirdest thing that you've ever seen?

[He laughs, mixing an exhale into it as he ducks his head.]

Sorry, I'm trying out the whole coaching thing. My name's Christian. Apparently I'm working with the Gramarye Magic Research people as a life coach, so if anyone wants to get a drink sometime and discuss tragic life choices, I have a really open schedule. I'd say we can do lunch too, but is that weird? I don't want to be weird.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I don't see the point of the microwave when it can't even heat things evenly. [At least with fire, you know how to control the heat and make sure your food isn't cold in the middle.]

That's fascinating. So you're like an adviser. It sounds more interesting than my job.

They can be temperamental, but they're really useful once you get used to them. Especially if you don't have a good way to cook.

[He can be Damen's cheat meal guru. That's sort of like advice, right?]

Why? What's your job?

[Christian isn't even going to try assuming anything in this place.]

Perhaps one day you will have to show me. So far I have had much more luck with a pan on the stove top. ["Luck" in this case is very relative. His last attempt at eggs was disastrous. He's mostly been resorting to takeout and restaurant food, despite one person's insistence that only lazy people do that.]

I'm what they call a 'sports and fitness model'. They take pictures of me in gym clothes, working out, and the like. [He angles the camera down to a magazine on a table - Riverview's version of Men's Health, and sure enough, Damen is on the cover, looking buff and brown and shiny.]

I can show you. My dad and I used to cook together when he got home from work. Late nights were pizza toast and scrambled eggs a lot of the time.

[Christian can also relate to the takeout option, and if Damen were to tell him what he heard, he wouldn't deny that he can be lazy. Quick, hot convenience is what got him this far. And magic can sometimes be seen as a lazy way out.]

You're a model? Well, that ruins my whole science fiction dystopian future theory. Definitely a cooler job than the ones from those.

Good choice, though.

What's 'pizza toast'? Well, I'm always willing to learn some new recipes. [Damen smiles brightly at that. Honestly he's just glad to be having a nice conversation with someone. The last time he talked about food, all he got were insults.]

'Dystopian future'? [He's not dumb, but. Well, most of those words make sense individually, just not put together like that.] Honestly, it wasn't my first choice. It was offered to me when I arrived. I've found it quite boring to be honest.

Pizza toast is great. You'll like it. I can show you how to use that microwave if you want to try some.

[Food is no laughing matter. Christian can't very well insult anyone when he eats instant meals and improvised food.]

Yeah, you don't have jobs like that in a dystopian city. You have raiders or boring things like assembly lines and things that sap out individuality. At least that's how the books describe it.

But I guess if it's boring to you, it could be your end of the world job.

[He grins a little.]

You could help me with mine.

I would love that. Apparently I just do not know how to put it to best use. [Please teach him your easy cooking ways.]

Raiders? Do dystopian cities not have protection? Rulers to guide them? [Look, he takes safety seriously. The comment about helping him gets a laugh out of Damen though.] I doubt my life advice would be worth much. I know little and less of magic.

I could show you. I mean, I have time. It'll be fun.

[And helping might be a good way to settle in.]

I'm pretty sure dystopian futures a lot of the time don't have rules. They just have people running around as lawless survivors or things like that. That's why this place was surprising.

Mm, magic isn't all that normal for most people, I'd say.

video; un: youradhere

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