01 ☄ video

[chernobolt]

[the feed begins with a close-up (very close) of a young woman, staring intently at the screen of whatever she's written the numbers on. realizing that she's managed to trigger something she gasps softly and pulls back, surprise quickly turning to quizzical delight]

Ah! I did not think that anything would actually happen.

[she claps her hands together lightly before continuing to speak. as she talks more it becomes apparent that she has a soft Ukrainian accent - not enough to impede understanding, but fairly noticeable]

Although I am sorry, but I still not not understand what the purpose of these numbers are for. Is this part of the sorority fogging which I have heard so much about? I was under the impression that it would involve more verbal berating and possibly a malevolent figure with a knife?

[someone's been watching too many cult classics...]

Not that this is not fascinating as well! It is just that I am going to be taking the finals very soon and I still have a paper on nucleosynthesis to edit and also I do not...actually remember signing up for rushing anywhere.

[this is actually the only thing that's been bothering Kara about the whole discovery. shouldn't she have been given a little more official notice of this kind of thing? the recruitment for sororities had happened so long ago anyway, it seemed a bit delayed even if she had actually signed up.

but she doesn't let that bother her for long, recovering with a blithe shrug. things would work themselves out.]

Still, it is good to meet you all who are also wading through the fog! My name is Apollinariya Volodymyrivna Miroshnychenko, and I hope that we will all be friends. If anyone here is needing assistance, I would love to do whatever I can.

[it takes her a moment to realize that she's instinctively given her real name when introducing herself again. Kara flushes in embarrassment, grin becoming sheepish as she tucks a strand of bright red hair that's escaped from her messy updo behind her ear]

Also...you may call me Kara if it is easier. I understand that perhaps mine is not the simplest name to say in this place.

Comments

video;

[worldmother]

[You definitely don't forget a name like that.]

Kara. Aren't you in my [random subject] class?

[Wait, sorority knife club what the hell?]

This isn't--what? No! This isn't anything like that.

video;

[chernobolt]

Oh, yes! Hello! I did not think that I would be seeing anyone I knew here.

[her grin widens, if possible, at not being quite so alone in this confusing...whatever this network was. her eyebrows quickly contracted in confusion at the next statement, however.]

But if it is not fogging, then what could it possibly be? I do not remember being interested in anything else that could give me such an odd result.

video;

[worldmother]

I think you mean hazing.

So let me ask you a question. Over the last few days, do you remember something strange happening to you? Then suddenly you got these numbers stuck in your head?

text

[undermebius]

That's quite the name.

Russian, right? ...If you don't... mind me asking.

text

[chernobolt]

[thankfully she put the numbers into her laptop, so she's ready to go with the text! ...after a little finagling, of course. Kara is perfectly comfortable with video, but it seems impolite not to match the other person]

it is quite alright! i am used to people asking by now. :)

i am actually Ukrainian! it is not really a very odd name at home, but my guidebooks have said that Americans might find it difficult to pronounce so i have been trying to not use it as much.

it is...difficult to forget old habits, though. i believe the phrase is they die hard?

video;

[titansno]

[... ah, her friend from the gym. she hasn't been in for a while, but...]

So. You too?

It's not a hazing trick, either.

video;

[chernobolt]

Rachel!

[sorry did you think that she would forget your name? NOPE. Kara claps her hands together excitedly, jubilant at finding two people she already knew on this thing]

Yes, apparently me too! I have been told that it is not as hazy as I first suspected, but I still am not certain I grasp the entirety of it just yet.

[originaloddcouple]

Why, it's a pleasure to meet you, Kara!

We'd be happy to be your friends!

[chernobolt]

Glorious! [friends are always a good thing, ok]

May I request your names and how long you have been in the city and also this network? Oh, and your favorite places for the relaxing and fun!

[handwritten]

[moarnomsplz]

That is a really amazing name! I don't think I could say it even if I had eternity to try.

I'm not even in college yet so its not a rush thing. :)

video;

[chernobolt]

[she can switch to keyboard on her computer (mostly) just fine, but handwriting suddenly appearing is a little much for Kara. she lets out a soft gasp and claps her hands to her mouth, first from being startled and then from curiosity]

Oh, fascinating! How have you accomplished such a thing on a computer?

[she's leaning in super close again, but then remembers HEY THE WORDS WERE TALKING TO YOU BE POLITE AND ANSWER]

But thank you! It is really not so difficult to say at home, but perhaps this is because we are all used to saying such things every day. I am still having trouble with some of your words, so I suppose that we are even.

And yes, I have been told that this network is not as hazy as I thought it was at first! Although I still think that it was a very good guess, whatever anyone else may say.

[Video]

[allformii_ko]

You talk weird.

[Says the cat that is also talking.]

[Video]

[chernobolt]

Ah...

[Kara tilts her head to the side, brows knitting in confusion. this is a cat talking to her. a very cute cat, yes, but a cat nonetheless. should she say something? would that be rude? it would probably be rude, wouldn't it. Yuki had mentioned that there was a lot of bizarre stuff happening on the network, after all.

ok Kara, you can do this. just be the polite girl your mother raised you to be and keep talking like this isn't a cat. it can't be too difficult...probably.]

Well, English is a language that I have only learned somewhat recently. I am still working out the kinks, I believe it goes.

Text;

[parkourbot]

okay so
how do you spell your name exactly?

Text;

[chernobolt]

[what is with all you people and text, she's not that scary looking! at least she knows how to switch modes more smoothly by now]

apollinariya volodymyrivna miroshnychenko

was this not obvious from how it is pronounced? i had no idea! but then, it is my own name and i have had a lot of practice with it.

[handwritten]

[wastingtime]

Goodness, may I ask where you're from?

video;

[chernobolt]

[she still can't match that handwriting so he gets video as well, but at least Kara isn't startled by the sudden words this time. her tone is a little sheepish when she replies]

The Ukraine. I am here for school, but it has only been several months so I am still getting used to giving the easier name. It is a little difficult to remember when I get excited.

voice

[tenaciousc]

Unless things have really changed over the last few years, no. I'm pretty sure this isn't a sorority thing.

[With a knife, seriously?]

voice

[chernobolt]

That is what it is looking like, yes. Still, I thought that perhaps this was merely another of the odd hazy requirements. There are apparently a large variety of them!

[has no one else seen the classic sorority slashers here? she prepped for this moment before leaving Ukraine!!]

video. late late forever late

[betroth]

Oh, Kara!!

[ A BRIGHT SUNNY FACE TO GO WITH THAT BRIGHT SUNNY DISPOSITION

...

wait ]

[betroth]

Kara? What on earth are you doing here?

video; /latest

[earnedmystripes]

...Malevolent figure with a knife.

[OKAY SO HE NEVER WENT TO COLLEGE BUT HE'S PRETTY SURE THAT'S NOT HOW IT GOES....]

video;

[chernobolt]

Yes. You know, the shadowy one which chases the guilt-stricken sorority girls through their place of residence and builds tension by inefficiently killing them individually?

[Kara mimics a stabbing motion as if that's going to help the guy understand what she's talking about. THERE WERE LIKE A BILLION SORORITY SLASHERS ON NETFLIX SHE'D ASSUMED AT LEAST PART OF IT MUST BE TRUE TO LIFE]

[Voice]

[dododo]

May I ask the origin of that name? It's one of a kind.

[Voice]

[chernobolt]

[it's a good thing that this one is audio, because Kara is flushing a very impressive red from embarrassment. why couldn't she have wrangled her excitement a little and focused on what she was actually saying!! this is why she read all those tourism pamphlets in the first place!!!!]

I am not certain that it is quite so unique, but it is from the Ukraine. There were many people similarly named at home, but I suppose it is quite different here.